After dinner, the lot of them headed directly to the beach to await the commencement of the fireworks display. Illuminated by the light of the moon, the ripples upon the surface of the sea sparkled like glitter-a picture of perfect tranquility.
Although the beach was quite packed, there was not much noise. Immersed in such a setting, the masses sat around and indulged themselves in infrequent bits of quiet conversations.
With one hand holding Estella and the other on Benny, Roxanne weaved her way through the crowd while Lucian followed behind them.
Being surrounded by so many bodies, Roxanne could not help but worry about the little ones and was hoping to find a more secluded spot where they could stay.
As the beach grew increasingly populated, it drew a frown from Lucian who called out to the quartet ahead of him. “Come to Daddy, Essie.”
He was wary of Roxanne’s way of herding the children and was afraid that Benny, who was occupying the fringes, would get lost in the crowd.
Estella’s unwillingness to comply was written all over her face. She held on fast to Roxanne’s hand and refused to let go.
With a slightly more solemn look, Lucian reiterated what he said previously, “There are too many people here. Come over to Daddy and let me take you.”
The little girl stubbornly shook her head because she wanted to stick close to Roxanne and the boys.
Observing the stalemate, Roxanne felt sorry for the little girl. “I’ll look after her. Just keep an eye out for us from the rear,” she said in a gentle tone.
Hearing Roxanne’s words made the girl smile from ear to ear.
Lucian’s eyes darkened, and he went silent for a while before he quietly assented.
En route, Lucian kept pace with the four in front of him. His eyes were focused and vigilant on the off chance that any of the children were to become separated from the group
“Sir, Madam, how about some toys for your children!” said a toy vendor who came up to them to hawk his wares,
Forced to stop, Roxanne politely declined, “No, thank you.”
With that, she tried to guide the children around him, but the persistent vendor went on to impcde their advancement from the front.
Having both hands tied down by the children and surrounded by so many people around them, Roxanne could not be expected to free up her hands to make payment. Hence, the irate woman could only turn him down.
The children, who preferred to let their eyes wander all around them, did not mind that either.
Just as Roxanne was driven to the point of exasperation, the man behind them had already stepped up to the fore without her noticing.
“We’re not interested in buying anything.” The poker-faced Lucian regarded the vendor icily.
He was nearly a full head taller than his counterpart; he left the vendor doubtlessly dumbstruck
It took a moment before the latter replied sheepishly, “Sorry to bother you.
With that, the man promptly turned and vanished into the crowd.
Roxanne exhaled in relief. She was about to lead the children onward when she heard Archie’s fretful child-like voice. “Mommy!”
Her heart tensed up when she heard the boy’s voice.
“Benny’s gone, Mommy!” The overwrought boy clutched her hand with the inside of his palms slicked with sweat.
He distinctly recalled holding his younger brother’s hand, but in retrospect, he had no idea when exactly his own brother went missing.
Roxanne’s heart started racing, and she stopped in her tracks when she heard that. Regardless, she suppressed the perturbation she felt inside and promptly followed up with Archie, “Calm down, now. Could you tell Mommy when Benny go missing?”
Shaken up from self-reproach, the anxious boy shook his head. “I don’t know…”
The look on the liule chap caused the color to drain from Roxanne’s face.
“I think that might have happened during the time I was talking to that man back there,” came Lucian’s voice from beside her.
