Chapter Four – Coping Mechanism
The rain was terrible that day, pouring down so hard the windshield wipers in Riley Whitley-Carlton's car could not quite keep up with it. She kept switching the radio station, looking for some good music. Her absent minded actions were put to an end when the passenger side door opened, her sister entering the car, slamming the door shut. She was crying, sobbing violently. Riley shifted the gear and drove off.
"Fasten your seatbelt, please." After a moment Kara stopped her sobbing to follow her sisters instructions.
They stopped at a red light and Riley immedately began rubbing her little sister's back. Her mothering instinct was strong, managing four young children had taught her well.
"What happened?" she asked in a calm voice.
"I-" A violent sob and forceful need to suck in air interrupted the slumped woman, "I went there and knocked. He opened and before I could do or say anything we kissed and then I just gave him the bag and left.". Kara burst out in tears again.
"Did he say something?" The car was now moving again, driving along the roads of central London.
"No." Kara replied as soon as she could, "He had been drinking, I could taste it. He just stood there really confused with the bag when I left."
"Okay. Look, whatever happens, it's going to be okay." She looked at her sister who let a bitter laugh escape from the depths of her throat.
"Okay? I'm pregnant, probably don't have a boyfriend anymore and am there for alone and starting monday I won't have a job, since I have to quit it because I'm pregnant."
"I know it looks like a huge mess right now, but I'm here and I'll help you. We will work it out and you will be okay."
They stopped at a red light again.
"Kara look at me." The woman raised her head to look into her sister's eyes, "It will be okay."
Kara nodded, her sisters calm stern voice giving her a momentary feeling of clarity and calmness.
James realized that he was still standing in his doorway, not having moved for a couple of minutes. He turned around, closing the door and walked to the middle of his living room, where he sat down on the couch. He was still clinging to those two items that he had received only a short while ago. Some time passed by as he just sat, staring straight ahead, not moving, not capable of doing anything else than repeat that one phrase in his head.
This can not be happening right now.
It wasn't long before he had abandonned the couch, the test and the note. James had moved to the kitchen and a bottle of Jack Daniels. He had already consumed a fair amount of alcoholic liquid that night, but it was time to numb up his mind completely.
Kara and Riley sat inside the car in Riley's driveway until Kara had calmed down. Once the sobbing and tears had subsided they got up and walked into the house. It was close to midnight, the entire house dark. Riley switched on the lights in the hallway, the light glowing into the living room.
After Riley had checked on her daughter, they went up the stairs. Kara locked herself into the bathroom, trying to tend to her puffy face and swollen eyes.
"Hey." Riley had snuck into her bedroom and kissed her husband.
"Hey." He mumbled back, turning his head toward her, "How is she?"
"Bad. Did Ian make any fuss?" she whispered looking at the small sleeping boy in the middle of their bed.
"No. I made the bed ready for her already."
Riley nodded and kissed his cheek once more before she left the room.
On her way to the bedroom at the end of the hall she cracked the door open to the room on the way, eyeing over the two breathing creatures sleeping soundly in their beds. When she reached her destination, she found her sister, lying in bed, curled up into a ball on the covers.
Riley sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking the soft brown hair, just as she had when they were younger and Kara had gotten her heart broken.
"Come on." She said after a moment, ushering the woman to move and get under the covers.
She got under the covers herself too, hugging her sister tightly, rubbing her back soothingly. All the stress and crying had taken it's toll on Kara and so she fell asleep in only a few short minutes.