Chapter 167 - The Blame Game

Lance. 

I open my eyes to Ford staring at me with a bright smile. I went asleep late last night. After my call with mom, I was worried and that made me overthink a lot. I had to switch off my phone because of the fear that they would find us kept eating me up. 

"Morning,'' he smiles. 

I pull the covers over my body and he pulls me into his arms. He is happy this morning "What time is it,'' I try to turn around but his grip around me is tight.

"Six in the morning,'' he answers. 

This is a high day for him. In my research, people with Bipolar disorder have high and low days. I thought his low day yesterday was going to last for a while. That was my biggest worry but here he is now with a smile on his face. He is happy and that means we can spend some time together. We can be the way we were before. 

"It's so early,'' I exclaim. He lets go of me and his eyes bore into mine. They are sparkling this morning, it makes me happy and all the doubts I had yesterday, vanish. 

"I couldn't sleep with you next to me,'' he grabs me again and carries me up to his lap. My eyes close immediately because I have missed him. I have missed this. "I have missed you so much,'' he reads my mind as he places soft kisses on my face. it is weird that in the span of a couple of hours, his mood changed so drastically. Not that I am complaining. I like it when he is happy. 

"We should order breakfast, have a feast,'' he exclaims excitedly. 

I don't want to be the bummer that lets him know that we don't have so much money. All my savings amount to a thousand dollars. That is why I chose this hotel. It wasn't too expensive but if we spend lavishly, we will run out. 

"Okay,'' I tell him because I like him happy.

He leans forward until the phone by the bedside table it pulled so far that the cord is hanging. He places it on his ear and dials the kitchen. I am still sitting on his lap, frankly, I don't want to let go. I like the position we are in. it feels like home. 

"Hello,'' he breathes into my ear. The sound gives me goosebumps. "Yeah, can I have all that you have on meu for breakfast?''

I stiffen against him "Hey, you can't do that. We don't have enough money,'' I tell him, interrupting his conversation. He furrows his brow "Hold on a sec,'' he informs the person on the other end of the call. He covers the phone with his hand. 

"What do you mean?''

I sigh. So much for not wanting to be a bummer. Now I have to tell him that he cant spend money as he is used to. "I only have about a thousand bucks. This room is probably going to take the majority of it. so we can only order one thing off the menu.''

"I have money,'' he reminds me. 

I nod "I know but we don't have your cards,'' I remind him that his wallet is probably with his dad. As long as we don't have his wallet, we don't have his money.

"We can get another one. I can go to the bank for a new card. Cancel the old one.'' He informs me. 

"Won't your dad know about that, he will be able to track us with that,'' I remind him that we are kinda on the run. We can't be leaving traces of where we could be. 

"This money is from my trust fund. He doesn't have access to it," he tells me excitedly. 

I don't think it is a good idea but he would know better about his money. "It doesn't matter. We shouldn't be spending so much right now Ford. You cant even finish all the food you want to order,'' I am being too naggy. I don't like it but one of us has to be the adult one. I thought he would take that role but I guess it is on me. 

"Okay," he accepts. 

He orders eggs and sausages with toast and coffee and I tell him that I want the same. Once he is done with his phone conversation, he looks at me with a smile "You seem tense,'' he points out. 

I nod "I am, this is all weird to me. I don't know what we are going to do next,'' I confess because for now, I think he can handle all the uncertainty.

He nods "Did you call your mom?''

"Yeah, she was pissed.''

"I am sure my dad is too. He will try to control this, even though he is not even here. He will hate this.''

I know how he feels. John is very controlling. He likes to do things his way. He will not accept this. He will try to find us. He might even succeed but I hope Ford turns eighteen before he does.

"You will be eighteen soon. He wouldn't be able to control you anymore.'' I remind him that his birthday is coming soon. 

He smiles "Yeah. But do you really think that will stop him?'' he asks. 

I shrug "We don't have to worry about that right now. All that matters is that we are together and there is nothing he or anyone else can do about it.''

His smile is everything I can ask for. It makes me feel like this was the right thing to do. 

**************************

John. 

I never would have thought that Lance will take him. 

At this point, I am tired of Ford and all his problems. If I didn't know how serious this could turn, I would have left him with the kid. For now, I have to find a way to get him back before it ends up in a dire situation. 

"Do you know how serious this is?'' I ask Marybell. She has a guilty expression on her face. Almost like she feels like this is her fault. I don't blame her, at the end of it all. it is my fault. I haven't been the best father to Brad. I should have done better. Maybe if I had done things differently, maybe handled things in another way, we wouldn't be where we are. 

"Come here,'' I stretch my hands out for her and she walks over to me slowly. "This is not your fault…okay? I don't want you blaming yourself for this.'' I tell her. 

She nods her head in my arms "I am just so worried. He has never done anything like this before.''

"He is a teenager, they do these kinds of things. I will look for them. You have my word,'' I caress her hair softly. I don't want her to panic or worry but I can't help but feel worried about the whole situation. My son is sick, he could hurt himself—or worse, he could hurt Lance. 

I don't want to think about that right now because I have seen them together. He loves him—there is no way he will hurt him. I don't even want to be thinking worst-case scenario. My phone rings and I let go of her and grab it. it is my uncle. I don't want to talk to him. He will just judge me and blame me for everything like he always does. 

"Hello.''

"Have you found him?" he asks immediately. 

"No, Lance called Marybell, so they are okay. I will find him,'' I assure him because this doesn't even concern him. The fact that Ford just involved him in this just makes me upset. I have tried to keep his problems away from the family. I didn't want anyone to see him as the sick kid. I tried to shield him from the world and judgment but he will always see me as the bad guy, I will always be the monster that killed his mother. 

"You are not doing anything."

I sigh, as I said, he will just accuse me and blame me for the whole thing. I don't even have the energy for him right now "You don't have to worry about anything Uncle. I will find him.''

I end the call and Marybell walks back into my arms. We just got married. I didn't want to have her involved in Brad's drama but her son involved himself. He made her feel like this is all on her and I hate that the most "Don't worry about anything." I assure her with hopes that my assurance will not end up in negatives. 

I know what Ford is capable of. I know what he can do when he is not on his meds. If by chance, he doesn't take his meds.. He could end up doing something terrible but I don't want to think about that now, I just have to make sure I find him.