Chapter 7: Best Laid Plans
Audrey and Clementine were getting ready to leave Skid Row. Audrey packed a small blue suitcase, two outfits and shoes. Clementine had even less than Audrey, but she packed what she had in her small bag. Audrey had gotten her mother's wedding dress from the closet and gave Clementine a purple dress she had as a girl to wear. Clem got dressed, and while Audrey braided her hair, she looked in the mirror. She could hardly believe what had happened, or what was about to happen.
Seymour had proposed to Audrey. In fact, the plan was to get married that very night and stay in a hotel. Then they were going to leave Skid Row. Clementine was happy for her friends but at first was sad because they were leaving.
"Can I come to the wedding?" She had asked, holding back bittersweet tears.
"Well, sure, but we were hoping you would come with us!" Seymour said, his eyes sparkling.
Clementine's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure she had heard right.
"Come…with you?" She repeated, in a trance.
"If you want to, sweet pea." Audrey said. "We would love to adopt you!"
"Really?" Clem squeaked.
"Of course." Seymour said, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "We wouldn't leave you behind. Besides, we couldn't imagine life without you."
The small girl burst into tears and threw her arms around both adults. She didn't know what to say, so she ended up saying "thank you…thank you" in between sobs. They hugged one more time and then Audrey had whisked her away to get ready for the wedding/adoption ceremony. The girl hadn't processed the situation yet.
"There, how is that?" Audrey asked, snapping Clem back from her thoughts. Clementine admired her braided hair in the mirror and grinned.
"Love it!"
Suddenly, the blue phone on Audrey's side table rang, making the girls jump.
"That must be Seymour!" Audrey giggled, and answered with a "Hello?"
When she saw Audrey's confused face, Clem moved closer so she could hear the person on the other line. She prayed it wasn't Orin. She hadn't heard anything about him or from him in a while.
"Hey little lady, you looking cute!" She heard a rough deep voice say. She knew it wasn't Orin.
"Seymour!" Audrey grinned, thinking he was playing a joke.
"No, it ain't Seymour!" The voice laughed. "It's ME!"
"Oh my god…" Audrey's voice trailed off as she looked out her window and her eyes grew wide. She dropped the phone.
Clementine whirled around to see none other than the Audrey II. It was moving, and it seemed to be laughing. It waved at them with its branches ominously. Clem suddenly knew that this night was not going to go as planned.