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Florida

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After Peyton was sure that Luca was asleep, she walked to the sitting room and picked up her phone from the center table. Peyton looked at her phone inbox and could see Charles' message. She quickly sat on a couch and dialed the number.

“Hello! Professor MacPherson!” Peyton said.

“Hi! Please, who is on the line?” professor MacPherson said.

“It’s Peyton, Charles’ wife,” Peyton said.

“Oh! Peyton! How are you? How did you get my phone number?” Professor MacPherson said.

“I am fine. Charles forwarded your phone number to me,” Peyton said calmly.

“Charles? Is he back?” professor MacPherson said.

“Not really; he sent your phone number as a message to my phone,” Peyton said.

“Alright. I was at your house in the early hours of the morning,” Professor MacPherson said.

“Margaret told me; that’s why I am calling you now. Is anything the problem?” Peyton said.

“Nothing, Peyton. Do you know about Charles’ journey?” professor MacPherson said.

“Yes, of course. He has gone to a seminar in Florida in the company of his co-workers,” Peyton said.

“Seminar?!” professor MacPherson said.

“Yes; you sound surprised. Is anything the problem?” Peyton said.

“No. When will he be back from Florida?” professor MacPherson said.

“He should be in California in three days' time,” Peyton said.

“Alright. I will come over then,” professor MacPherson said.

“We shall be expecting you,” Peyton said.

“Alright,” professor MacPherson said.

“How is work?” Peyton said.

“Work is fine; thank you,” professor MacPherson said.

“That’s good. Goodbye,” Peyton said and cut the call.

Peyton placed her phone back on the table, she sat down on the couch and used a pillow to support her head. Margaret walked into the sitting room holding a broom.

“You have worked very well today. Drop the broom. Your food is in the flask, go and eat,” Peyton said.

“Alright, aunt,” Margaret said and walked away.

Peyton put the pillow at one end of the couch, she lay down and soon slept off.

Professor MacPherson drove his car to his house, he parked the car and alighted from it. Professor MacPherson walked to the door and could hear Ayla's teary voice.

“Open this door!” professor MacPherson said.

“I am coming!” Evelyn said.

Evelyn walked to the door and opened it. She collected professor MacPherson’s briefcase.

“Welcome, professor MacPherson,” Evelyn said.

“Thank you, Evelyn,” professor MacPherson said.

Professor MacPherson closed the door and walked in Ayla’s direction. Evelyn placed Professor MacPherson’s briefcase beside the table and sat beside Ayla.

“Ayla, can’t you see me?” professor MacPherson said.

“Leave me alone, dad,” Ayla said.

“I won’t. Is it because of your mum? C'mon girl, your mum will definitely walk back to this house,” professor MacPherson said.

“When?!” Ayla screamed.

“Stop that, Ayla; he is your father,” Evelyn said.

Ayla looked at Evelyn’s face, she also looked at professor MacPherson's face and walked away.

“Come back here!” Professor MacPherson said.

Ayla ignored professor MacPherson’s voice and walked to her room. She sat at one side of her bed and started sobbing.

“What happened to her?” Professor MacPherson said, and sat down.

“She has been crying all day. She said she wanted to see her mum and that she would kill herself if something was not done,” Evelyn said.

“I reject that; my only daughter cannot commit suicide. Has she eaten anything?” professor MacPherson said.

“No, she hasn’t. I persuaded her to take something, but she bluntly refused. Professor MacPherson, how about my friend’s issue? Evelyn said.

“Well, I haven’t seen the guys, but I am not relaxed. I shall get them soon,” professor MacPherson said.

“Please, professor MacPherson, do something on time; this case is getting out of hand,” Evelyn said.

“Alright. Thank you for all you do,” professor MacPherson said.

“It’s okay, professor MacPherson. I want to go home now, it’s evening already and I need to prepare something,” Evelyn said.

“Alright…,” professor MacPherson said.

Evelyn walked out of the sitting room and closed the door. Professor MacPherson carried his briefcase, he walked to his room and placed the briefcase on the table. He removed his pair of shoes and then removed his tie, long sleeve shirt and his trousers. He walked to the wardrobe, put the clothes inside the wardrobe hangers and then hung the hangers inside the wardrobe. He removed his night coat from the wardrobe, dusted it and wore it. He wore a pair of slippers and walked in the direction of Ayla’s room.

“Ayla!! Open this door!” professor MacPherson said.

“Go away! Dad!” Ayla said with tears on her face.

“Please, let me in. I am sorry if I have wronged you in any way,” professor MacPherson said.

Ayla could observe sincerity in her father’s voice. She walked to the door and opened it. As soon as Ayla opened the door, Professor MacPherson held her left hand. He closed the door, the duo walked to the direction of the bed and they sat on the bed.

“Ayla, stop crying,” professor MacPherson said.

“Let me cry, dad. This house has been boring for me ever since my mum was abducted. I need my mum,” Ayla said with tears on her face.

“But you have me and Evelyn; we have tried our best to see that you always smile,” professor MacPherson said.

“I want my mum,” Ayla said.

Professor MacPherson raised Ayla from the bed, he walked her to the middle of the room.

“Your mum will come home soon, just be patient,” professor MacPherson whispered into Ayla’s left ear.

“Really?” Ayla said.

“Yes, I have been trying my best. The abductee will come back home sooner or later. Cheer up, Ayla,” professor MacPherson said.

“I will be the happiest on earth anytime I set my eyes on mum. I love my mum,” Ayla said.

“I love my wife too,” professor MacPherson said, and the duo smiled.

Professor MacPherson and Ayla walked to the bed and sat down. Ayla rested her head on her father’s shoulder and was gazing at the door.

“Ayla, will you eat something now?” professor MacPherson said.

“No, dad; I am not famished,” Ayla said.

“I don’t want to hear that again. You have been starving for days and you still don’t want to eat. You better eat so that you can stay healthy before your mum comes,” professor MacPherson said.

“Alright, dad. I will eat,” Ayla said and raised her head up from her father’s shoulder.

“That’s my girl,” professor MacPherson said.

“Will Mrs. Evelyn bring something for us to eat?” Ayla said.

“Yes, of course. Let’s go to the sitting room now,” professor MacPherson said.

“Alright, dad,” Ayla said.

Professor MacPherson and Ayla walked to the sitting room. They waited for Evelyn to bring their food.

“Should I switch on the television while we wait for our food?” professor MacPherson said.

“Yes, dad,” Ayla said.

Professor MacPherson walked to the television, he connected the Samsung LED plasma television, the Samsung Compact disc (CD) player and the speaker to the extension box which had already been linked to the stabilizer. He then connected the stabilizer cable to the wall socket. He switched on all the electronics and took the television remote. He sat close to Ayla and increased the volume of the television. Father and child gazed at the television as they awaited their food.