Chapter Three

What Could Possibly…

Claire and Allie were in the Edwards house when Darcy came in after a day in the hospital. She wasn't crying this time.

She took little Peter into her room and stayed there.

Mr. Edwards was out, again, and his wife was doing the crying today.

Claire and Allie stayed in the living room, speaking in whispers.

"Claire, your house has so much drama," Allie said.

"I know! I don't know what to do." She fiddled with the rosary on her neck. Things were running out of control. Her sister had arrived just yesterday, and everything had suddenly changed. Claire had just become an aunt. Her mother had been crying all day over that, among other things.

She remembers last night, when her mother first saw this baby. There was screaming and crying. Her mother said that devil was in this family now. And when Claire had gotten in to bed, she would hear her mom moaning in sadness.

"I have a bastard for a grandchild!" she would bellow all through the night. Claire had never heard her mom talk like that.

Today, a Saturday, she called on Allie for comfort. Allie placed her hand on Claire's shoulder and sighed.

"It's going to be ok, Claire. Thing will work out. When is your father coming back?"

Claire shrugged; her face down.

"Well," Allie asked, perplexed, "How long has he been gone?"

Claire looked up and said, with a helpless voice, "Three days."

"Oh my gosh, is he missing?"

Claire didn't know how to answer that. Yes, she and her mother did not know where he was. But that didn't mean he was missing? Her parent's marriage was in turmoil. Who's to say that her father didn't just leave them? Maybe he had been planning on leaving them a long time ago.

Allie felt Claire's sadness, and she wanted to do something to make her feel better.

"Claire, we need to cheer you up. Let's find a way to get your mother out of here. We can have a party!"

"A party…" Claire muttered.

"Yes! Come on, your dad is not here, and all your sister does is cry or take care of the baby. Come on Claire. If we get your mother out of the house, we can have the hottest party ever."

Claire thought about it. Of course she was tired of this entire crisis. She wanted more than anything just to relax and have some fun, for once.

"Annnnnnd..." Allie said smiling, "You can talk to Eli."

That sealed it. "I'm in," Claire said with a smile.

They had found away into getting Ms. Edwards out of the house. There was a Christian Book club that had started today, and Claire went up to her mother to tell her about it.

At first, Ms. Edwards was skeptical, and she gave every reason in the book as to why she couldn't go.

"And Darcy with her…no I can't go." Ms. Edwards shook her head.

"Mom," Claire said.

"Yes,"

Claire waited a moment, and then said: "You shouldn't be in here crying, while he's out there having fun."

They both knew who this "he" was. And like magic, Ms. Edwards was convinced. She got dressed and began heading out to local church. Because it was the first meeting, there were so many things to organize. Who was going to be attending weekly? The books they were to read? There was also to be a little dinner for everyone. This would take just enough time for a party to be had and done.

Before leaving, Ms. Edwards kissed Claire on the forehead.

"You're right," she whispered, "I will take control of my life too."

And just like that, she was gone.

Claire and Allie took each other hands and jumped up and down. They did it.

"Victory!" Claire cried.

Allie was already on her phone, calling almost everybody.

"This will be the party to remember!" she said.

Allie didn't know how right she was. This would be the party that would change everything. Forever.

A/N: Hey guys; this has been really the "building up" of the story. Things are going to get really good from here on out. Hope you like them, and really hope you leave a comment. Thanks so much for reading!