One week. Seven days. One hundred sixty-eight hours. That is all the time
that had passed since the late autumn rain storm assaulted Salem. Now, an
array of damaged relationships lay in its wake.
His backpack slung over one shoulder, Philip Robert Kiriakis walked down the high school hallway. He projected his usual air of subdued charm despite his hidden uncertainties. Though widely considered the reigning prince of Salem High, Philip was beginning to feel much more like the court's jester.
Just as the tardy bell rang throughout the building, Philip slipped through the classroom door and into his seat. Knowing Mr. Woods' intolerance of tardiness, Philip breathed a sigh of relief for having made it just in time.
However, as he quickly glanced around at his companions, he realized that he had accepted relief far too early. He still had to get through fifty minutes of class time with the group of people he collectively called his friends.
First period Psychology was the only class that Philip, Belle, Shawn, Chloe, Zach, Jason, and Mimi all had together. That had usually caused it to be one of the louder, more fun classes. Yet, for the past week, the classroom had been drenched in silence - and Philip was far from being the only person to notice.
At the front of the classroom, Mr. Woods stood poised with his attendance book, ready to mark absent those not present. To his astonishment, there was not an empty seat in the classroom. His observant eyes drifted from the noisier side of the room to the silent back corner on his left.
For more than a week, the teens that populated the corner closest to the door had been unusually quiet and unsociable. On any given day, Mr. Woods could usually count on Shawn and Belle leaning forward in their seats, looking past Kevin, and staring at each other with eyes brimming with puppy love. And, when young Mr. Brady was not flirting with his girlfriend, he was surely making conversation with Chloe Lane whose assigned seat was directly behind his own. Yet, Belle had hardly glanced at her significant other and Shawn and Chloe had not once been caught whispering since the previous Friday.
Meanwhile, a typical class period would also include some type of bickering between Jason Masters and Mimi Lockhart. However, all week long, the two had not spoken to each other on a single occasion. In fact, the only people Mr. Woods had even see Jason speaking to were Zach and Chloe. That was enough to worry the teacher.
Beginning his lecture, Mr. Woods could only speculate what could have happened to divide the troupe in such a definite manner.
From his own seat, Philip surveyed his circle of friends. Though he had no idea what had happened, he was certain that he was missing at least one piece of the puzzle. He got the distinct feeling that each and every one of his pals was keeping something from him - and each other.
Philip would be the last person to say that his companions never angered or annoyed him. It was not as if the seven teens had always been best buddies. Yet, since school began at the end of August, the group had slowly transformed into a tight knit set of friends. Their lives had become irrevocably interwoven without any their approval.
There were the obvious problems; such as Chloe having dumped Philip and married Brady. But, even such a distressing experience had not torn the teens apart. They had somehow managed to remain loyal and steadfast.
Yet, whatever happened the previous Friday night took all that camaraderie and tossed it aside. Now, there was unsurpassable tension that hung over the teenagers. It was quickly becoming a feeling that the Kiriakis heir loathed.
To everyone's surprise, Belle and Shawn had still not reconciled. This left Belle and Mimi in their own group while Shawn began to hang out solely with Philip. The most shocking twist in the relationships was Chloe's choice in companions. For mostly unknown reasons, Chloe had distanced herself from both Belle and Shawn. This left the diva with the gang's other two outcasts: Jason and Zach.
As Mr. Woods continued to drone on about the history of behaviorism, Philip attempted to see the larger picture. He struggled to see what was buried in a haze of severed friendships.
The only thing he knew for sure was that something major had happened between Jason and Mimi when they were locked in the storage room at Titan. Yet, neither teen had bothered to hold a conversation with Philip since that night. Jason had entirely avoided Philip, and Mimi had purposely found excuses to walk away anytime Philip tried to carry on a personal conversation.
Philip was most puzzled by Belle's behavior. The generally perky blonde seemed to be assiduously avoiding her boyfriend. In fact, the only person Belle dodged more than Shawn was Zachary Wesley.
Philip inwardly groaned as the jigsaw pieces began to fall together. Seeing things in a new, less trusting light, Philip tried to not think too much about what could have been done or said that would make Belle not want to confront either of her leading men. The situation was again reminding Philip of the heartache he had endured when his girlfriend broke up with him and then decided that she would much rather be with someone a little more rebellious and shadowy.
Yet, none of Philip's speculations could explain why Chloe would rather endure Jason and Zach's company than that of her usual friends.
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
Like Mr. Wood's classroom, the cafeteria was noticeably less amiable without the combined amusements of seven of the school's most well-known students. In the center of the cafeteria sat the crowd's usual table, abandoned like the ancient civilizations the teens studied in history class. There were no clues left to prove what exactly happened to its inhabitants. They had simply disappeared - to other tables.
In his usual confident manner, Philip strode into the cafeteria and appraised his environment. Belle and Mimi were just sitting down at a table to Philip's right, clearly trying to look more engrossed in their conversation than they really were. Philip slowly shook his head but decided to let the girls pretend to be busy. He understood that it was not something to be taken personally. Belle and Mimi each had concerns that they were not yet ready to vocalize. Though a silent bond, it was a common one between the two girls.
Continuing to search the cafeteria for acceptable – and accepting – company, Philip's eyes finally landed on his lovely ex-girlfriend sitting alone at a small table pushed in the back corner. Though Chloe may not be entirely accepting, Philip felt that she was surely worth the effort. Besides, he was brimming with curiosity and could hardly wait to uncover why Chloe had avoided the other teens for a full week.
Sitting his overflowing tray down on the table's surface, Philip slid into the chair across from Chloe. At first he said nothing, as though physically allowing the silence to encompass him. Only after Chloe met his gaze did Philip speak.
"Haven't seen very much of you lately." The words were technically in the form of a statement, but Philip and Chloe both understood that they were truly a request for an explanation.
"It's been a really busy week."
"I bet," Philip impetuously responded. As Chloe once again avoided his gaze, Philip demanded, "Do you want to tell me what's really going on, Chloe?"
"What makes you think anything's going on?"
Philip found himself flabbergasted to the extent of being without a rebuttal. His eyes narrowing even more as he regained his composure, Philip incredulously stated, "You've been hanging out more with Zach Wesley and Jason Masters than the rest of us!"
Though her eyes were surely filling with mild guilt, Chloe kept her tone indignant. "Oh, and you think you are so much better than Jason and Zach, huh?"
"It's not about anyone being better than anyone else."
"Then, what is it about?"
"It's about you," softly responded Philip. "I'm worried about you." Treading on almost forgotten ground, Philip continued, "When you first came to Salem, you tried so hard to distance yourself from anyone who even tried to love you. Please, don't push us all away again."
Looking up into Philip's pleading eyes, Chloe found herself longing to tell him the truth. As he sat pleading with her, Chloe wanted little more than to confess kissing Shawn by accident. She wanted to complain about how distant and uncaring Brady had recently been. She wanted to express her fears of being trapped married to someone who may never truly love her.
Falling back into the old habits that had plagued her upon arriving in Salem, Chloe lied, "You're worrying over nothing. I just didn't want it to look like I was taking sides between Shawn and Belle. I thought it would just be easier to stay out of it until they worked out their problems."
Philip nodded his head in a thoughtful manner before giving it a steady shake. A demanding grin overtook his face as he declared, "Chloe Lane, you're lying to me."
"I am not," Chloe instinctively replied.
"Yes, you are." His lunch long forgotten, Philip crossed him arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. Showing no signs of weakness, Philip casually ordered, "Just tell me the truth. Whatever you say will stay between the two of us."
That was all the encouragement Chloe needed. Leaning across the table, Chloe whispered in a secretive manner, "I accidentally did something when the power was out last week."
"And, this something would be?"
"I kissed Shawn."
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
As the sound of the final bell faded away, the students of Salem High marched out into the chilly afternoon to welcome their Thanksgiving break. After a few minutes had passed, the crowd had drastically dissipated, everyone eager to reach their bus or vehicle to escape the cold.
Leaning against his sleek black car, Zach stood firm against the wind. He was a man with a mission and would not be deterred by a strong breeze - not even an icy cold one. He stifled a displeased moan as he stole a quick glance upward. The overcast skies looked heavy, threatening to prove correct the weatherman's tale of possible inclement weather over the weekend. Zach could scarcely remember a month that had been doomed by such an amount of precipitation.
Zach gave a mild nod as Jason neared. As usual the two friends had parked their vehicles side-by-side. While Jason carelessly tossed his backpack into his truck, Zach feigned casualness.
Allowing his open truck door to block the cold November wind, Jason watched his pal with mounting curiosity. "What are you up to, Wesley?"
Unable to suppress his grin, Zach replied with false innocence, "What makes you think I'm up to anything?"
Jason completely ignored the question, shaking his head with mild exasperation. "Never mind," muttered the blonde as he stepped into his truck. His hand pausing on the door handle, Jason waited a moment before closing the door. Meeting Zach's gaze, he wisely advised, "Whatever happens, be careful."
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
The hands of the grandfather clock declared the time to be 3:30 as Craig and Nancy plopped their luggage onto the foyer floor. The weeklong medical conference had left the couple weary and devoid of their usual energy. In addition, neither felt overwhelmingly cheerful after their hellish flight delays. Yet, Craig knew the worst had yet to come.
As her husband alternated his nervous gaze from the stairs to the living room, Nancy gave a critical scowl. "What are you doing?"
"Huh?" Craig distractedly responded, spinning back to look at his spouse.
"Don't huh me, Craig Wesley. You're looking around as though you expect some psycho to attack us at any moment."
"Psycho?" repeated Craig with a shallow laugh. Continuing to cast his eyes in a variety of directions, he remarked, "Nonsense. I doubt there's a psycho in here."
Nancy's eyes narrowed into cruel slits. She knew, without a doubt, that her husband was hiding something. He could lie to the rest of the world without batting a single eyelash. Yet, he could not lie to her. "I want the truth, Craig. Now."
Before Craig could mumble an exasperated answer, the front door was flung open. Craig's right hand instantly shot to his face and began to rub near his eyes as though massaging away a persistent headache. As Sinclair carried her shopping bags into the house, she flashed her most dazzling smile at Nancy and said, "Ah, you're home. How lovely."
Fire flickered in Nancy's eyes as she sent Craig a penetrating gaze. "Not in this lifetime, Craig. There is no way I'm welcoming that little piranha into my home." Looking toward Sinclair, Nancy added, "If you're here for some little weekend getaway – too bad."
"Weekend getaway? Not quite, Nancy. I'm going to be living here." As Nancy's mouth fell agape, the sarcastic brunette continued, "In fact, Zach and one of his little friends helped me move into my new room last weekend."
"You have been living in my house for a week?" Nancy angrily demanded.
"No," replied Sinclair as she carried her shopping bags into the living room. "I had to leave that same day to go back home and take care of some things. And, I just got back to Salem this morning."
Nancy followed the younger woman like a lion would stalk its prey. "Oh, and that is so much better," the redhead sarcastically declared, her arms flaring. "You seem to become more disrespectful and careless ever time I have to see you."
Sinclair, harnessing every ounce of her willpower, bit back the witty comment that rested on the tip of her tongue. For Craig's sake, she would abstain from entering in a war with Nancy – at least for the time being. "Don't worry, Nancy. I'll be a good little girl and stay out of your way."
"That's not good enough." Turning to face her cowering husband, Nancy made her demand. "I want that little trollop out of my house."
Craig struggled to not follow Nancy's lead and lose his temper. He had expected Nancy to be displeased with their latest houseguest, but Craig had hardly anticipated such insults early in the discussion. Though his voice was stern, Craig managed to conceal any rising hostility as he spoke. "Nancy, she's my baby sister. And, for the record, she didn't just drop in. I asked her to move in with us."
"You what?"
"You heard me," curtly responded Craig. "I won't turn my back on my sister. Casting his gaze toward Sinclair, Craig suggested, "Why don't you go ahead and take your bags upstairs? I'm sure you want to finish settling in."
Taking her cue like a pro, Sinclair swooped up her shopping bags and replied, "Yeah, that sounds great." Within seconds she had gracefully departed the room, leaving her brother alone with his seething wife.
Reiterating her earlier statements, Nancy said, "I don't want her living here."
Tired from his travels and the arguments he anticipated, Craig lowered his body into an armchair. He looked up at his wife with tired eyes, silently pleading for her cooperation. "Nancy, once you get accustomed to having Sinclair here, I think you'll be glad to have another female in the house - especially while you're trying to accept Chloe moving out on her own."
Craig's statement seemed to have the opposite effect of what he had desired. Almost to herself, Nancy murmured, "Chloe. "Nancy's face contorted into an even grimmer expression. "Sinclair can't stay here. I want her gone - tonight."
"What?" Craig questioned with exasperation. Nancy's desperation had made such a quick appearance; he was not yet sure how to react.
"I don't want your sister anywhere near Chloe."
Craig was beginning to lose the battle of controlling his temper as he rose to his feet. "As I recall, you said the exact same thing when Zach moved in with us. Then again, you didn't even really want Chloe living with us at first, now did you?" Craig had thrust forth that final, vindictive question before he realized he had even thought such a thing. Yet, on some level, he had been thinking it for quite some time.
Nancy paled, and Craig wandered what thoughts were racing through her mind. Deciding that he would much rather keep wandering than actually find out what Nancy thought, Craig abruptly stated, "I'm going to the hospital. I'm sure I have a lot to get done before Monday morning."
With uncommon reserve, Nancy silently watched her husband make his departure. Though Nancy would never intentionally jeopardize her marriage, she was determined to protect her only daughter from the people she perceived to be the predators of the human world.
His backpack slung over one shoulder, Philip Robert Kiriakis walked down the high school hallway. He projected his usual air of subdued charm despite his hidden uncertainties. Though widely considered the reigning prince of Salem High, Philip was beginning to feel much more like the court's jester.
Just as the tardy bell rang throughout the building, Philip slipped through the classroom door and into his seat. Knowing Mr. Woods' intolerance of tardiness, Philip breathed a sigh of relief for having made it just in time.
However, as he quickly glanced around at his companions, he realized that he had accepted relief far too early. He still had to get through fifty minutes of class time with the group of people he collectively called his friends.
First period Psychology was the only class that Philip, Belle, Shawn, Chloe, Zach, Jason, and Mimi all had together. That had usually caused it to be one of the louder, more fun classes. Yet, for the past week, the classroom had been drenched in silence - and Philip was far from being the only person to notice.
At the front of the classroom, Mr. Woods stood poised with his attendance book, ready to mark absent those not present. To his astonishment, there was not an empty seat in the classroom. His observant eyes drifted from the noisier side of the room to the silent back corner on his left.
For more than a week, the teens that populated the corner closest to the door had been unusually quiet and unsociable. On any given day, Mr. Woods could usually count on Shawn and Belle leaning forward in their seats, looking past Kevin, and staring at each other with eyes brimming with puppy love. And, when young Mr. Brady was not flirting with his girlfriend, he was surely making conversation with Chloe Lane whose assigned seat was directly behind his own. Yet, Belle had hardly glanced at her significant other and Shawn and Chloe had not once been caught whispering since the previous Friday.
Meanwhile, a typical class period would also include some type of bickering between Jason Masters and Mimi Lockhart. However, all week long, the two had not spoken to each other on a single occasion. In fact, the only people Mr. Woods had even see Jason speaking to were Zach and Chloe. That was enough to worry the teacher.
Beginning his lecture, Mr. Woods could only speculate what could have happened to divide the troupe in such a definite manner.
From his own seat, Philip surveyed his circle of friends. Though he had no idea what had happened, he was certain that he was missing at least one piece of the puzzle. He got the distinct feeling that each and every one of his pals was keeping something from him - and each other.
Philip would be the last person to say that his companions never angered or annoyed him. It was not as if the seven teens had always been best buddies. Yet, since school began at the end of August, the group had slowly transformed into a tight knit set of friends. Their lives had become irrevocably interwoven without any their approval.
There were the obvious problems; such as Chloe having dumped Philip and married Brady. But, even such a distressing experience had not torn the teens apart. They had somehow managed to remain loyal and steadfast.
Yet, whatever happened the previous Friday night took all that camaraderie and tossed it aside. Now, there was unsurpassable tension that hung over the teenagers. It was quickly becoming a feeling that the Kiriakis heir loathed.
To everyone's surprise, Belle and Shawn had still not reconciled. This left Belle and Mimi in their own group while Shawn began to hang out solely with Philip. The most shocking twist in the relationships was Chloe's choice in companions. For mostly unknown reasons, Chloe had distanced herself from both Belle and Shawn. This left the diva with the gang's other two outcasts: Jason and Zach.
As Mr. Woods continued to drone on about the history of behaviorism, Philip attempted to see the larger picture. He struggled to see what was buried in a haze of severed friendships.
The only thing he knew for sure was that something major had happened between Jason and Mimi when they were locked in the storage room at Titan. Yet, neither teen had bothered to hold a conversation with Philip since that night. Jason had entirely avoided Philip, and Mimi had purposely found excuses to walk away anytime Philip tried to carry on a personal conversation.
Philip was most puzzled by Belle's behavior. The generally perky blonde seemed to be assiduously avoiding her boyfriend. In fact, the only person Belle dodged more than Shawn was Zachary Wesley.
Philip inwardly groaned as the jigsaw pieces began to fall together. Seeing things in a new, less trusting light, Philip tried to not think too much about what could have been done or said that would make Belle not want to confront either of her leading men. The situation was again reminding Philip of the heartache he had endured when his girlfriend broke up with him and then decided that she would much rather be with someone a little more rebellious and shadowy.
Yet, none of Philip's speculations could explain why Chloe would rather endure Jason and Zach's company than that of her usual friends.
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
Like Mr. Wood's classroom, the cafeteria was noticeably less amiable without the combined amusements of seven of the school's most well-known students. In the center of the cafeteria sat the crowd's usual table, abandoned like the ancient civilizations the teens studied in history class. There were no clues left to prove what exactly happened to its inhabitants. They had simply disappeared - to other tables.
In his usual confident manner, Philip strode into the cafeteria and appraised his environment. Belle and Mimi were just sitting down at a table to Philip's right, clearly trying to look more engrossed in their conversation than they really were. Philip slowly shook his head but decided to let the girls pretend to be busy. He understood that it was not something to be taken personally. Belle and Mimi each had concerns that they were not yet ready to vocalize. Though a silent bond, it was a common one between the two girls.
Continuing to search the cafeteria for acceptable – and accepting – company, Philip's eyes finally landed on his lovely ex-girlfriend sitting alone at a small table pushed in the back corner. Though Chloe may not be entirely accepting, Philip felt that she was surely worth the effort. Besides, he was brimming with curiosity and could hardly wait to uncover why Chloe had avoided the other teens for a full week.
Sitting his overflowing tray down on the table's surface, Philip slid into the chair across from Chloe. At first he said nothing, as though physically allowing the silence to encompass him. Only after Chloe met his gaze did Philip speak.
"Haven't seen very much of you lately." The words were technically in the form of a statement, but Philip and Chloe both understood that they were truly a request for an explanation.
"It's been a really busy week."
"I bet," Philip impetuously responded. As Chloe once again avoided his gaze, Philip demanded, "Do you want to tell me what's really going on, Chloe?"
"What makes you think anything's going on?"
Philip found himself flabbergasted to the extent of being without a rebuttal. His eyes narrowing even more as he regained his composure, Philip incredulously stated, "You've been hanging out more with Zach Wesley and Jason Masters than the rest of us!"
Though her eyes were surely filling with mild guilt, Chloe kept her tone indignant. "Oh, and you think you are so much better than Jason and Zach, huh?"
"It's not about anyone being better than anyone else."
"Then, what is it about?"
"It's about you," softly responded Philip. "I'm worried about you." Treading on almost forgotten ground, Philip continued, "When you first came to Salem, you tried so hard to distance yourself from anyone who even tried to love you. Please, don't push us all away again."
Looking up into Philip's pleading eyes, Chloe found herself longing to tell him the truth. As he sat pleading with her, Chloe wanted little more than to confess kissing Shawn by accident. She wanted to complain about how distant and uncaring Brady had recently been. She wanted to express her fears of being trapped married to someone who may never truly love her.
Falling back into the old habits that had plagued her upon arriving in Salem, Chloe lied, "You're worrying over nothing. I just didn't want it to look like I was taking sides between Shawn and Belle. I thought it would just be easier to stay out of it until they worked out their problems."
Philip nodded his head in a thoughtful manner before giving it a steady shake. A demanding grin overtook his face as he declared, "Chloe Lane, you're lying to me."
"I am not," Chloe instinctively replied.
"Yes, you are." His lunch long forgotten, Philip crossed him arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. Showing no signs of weakness, Philip casually ordered, "Just tell me the truth. Whatever you say will stay between the two of us."
That was all the encouragement Chloe needed. Leaning across the table, Chloe whispered in a secretive manner, "I accidentally did something when the power was out last week."
"And, this something would be?"
"I kissed Shawn."
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
As the sound of the final bell faded away, the students of Salem High marched out into the chilly afternoon to welcome their Thanksgiving break. After a few minutes had passed, the crowd had drastically dissipated, everyone eager to reach their bus or vehicle to escape the cold.
Leaning against his sleek black car, Zach stood firm against the wind. He was a man with a mission and would not be deterred by a strong breeze - not even an icy cold one. He stifled a displeased moan as he stole a quick glance upward. The overcast skies looked heavy, threatening to prove correct the weatherman's tale of possible inclement weather over the weekend. Zach could scarcely remember a month that had been doomed by such an amount of precipitation.
Zach gave a mild nod as Jason neared. As usual the two friends had parked their vehicles side-by-side. While Jason carelessly tossed his backpack into his truck, Zach feigned casualness.
Allowing his open truck door to block the cold November wind, Jason watched his pal with mounting curiosity. "What are you up to, Wesley?"
Unable to suppress his grin, Zach replied with false innocence, "What makes you think I'm up to anything?"
Jason completely ignored the question, shaking his head with mild exasperation. "Never mind," muttered the blonde as he stepped into his truck. His hand pausing on the door handle, Jason waited a moment before closing the door. Meeting Zach's gaze, he wisely advised, "Whatever happens, be careful."
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
The hands of the grandfather clock declared the time to be 3:30 as Craig and Nancy plopped their luggage onto the foyer floor. The weeklong medical conference had left the couple weary and devoid of their usual energy. In addition, neither felt overwhelmingly cheerful after their hellish flight delays. Yet, Craig knew the worst had yet to come.
As her husband alternated his nervous gaze from the stairs to the living room, Nancy gave a critical scowl. "What are you doing?"
"Huh?" Craig distractedly responded, spinning back to look at his spouse.
"Don't huh me, Craig Wesley. You're looking around as though you expect some psycho to attack us at any moment."
"Psycho?" repeated Craig with a shallow laugh. Continuing to cast his eyes in a variety of directions, he remarked, "Nonsense. I doubt there's a psycho in here."
Nancy's eyes narrowed into cruel slits. She knew, without a doubt, that her husband was hiding something. He could lie to the rest of the world without batting a single eyelash. Yet, he could not lie to her. "I want the truth, Craig. Now."
Before Craig could mumble an exasperated answer, the front door was flung open. Craig's right hand instantly shot to his face and began to rub near his eyes as though massaging away a persistent headache. As Sinclair carried her shopping bags into the house, she flashed her most dazzling smile at Nancy and said, "Ah, you're home. How lovely."
Fire flickered in Nancy's eyes as she sent Craig a penetrating gaze. "Not in this lifetime, Craig. There is no way I'm welcoming that little piranha into my home." Looking toward Sinclair, Nancy added, "If you're here for some little weekend getaway – too bad."
"Weekend getaway? Not quite, Nancy. I'm going to be living here." As Nancy's mouth fell agape, the sarcastic brunette continued, "In fact, Zach and one of his little friends helped me move into my new room last weekend."
"You have been living in my house for a week?" Nancy angrily demanded.
"No," replied Sinclair as she carried her shopping bags into the living room. "I had to leave that same day to go back home and take care of some things. And, I just got back to Salem this morning."
Nancy followed the younger woman like a lion would stalk its prey. "Oh, and that is so much better," the redhead sarcastically declared, her arms flaring. "You seem to become more disrespectful and careless ever time I have to see you."
Sinclair, harnessing every ounce of her willpower, bit back the witty comment that rested on the tip of her tongue. For Craig's sake, she would abstain from entering in a war with Nancy – at least for the time being. "Don't worry, Nancy. I'll be a good little girl and stay out of your way."
"That's not good enough." Turning to face her cowering husband, Nancy made her demand. "I want that little trollop out of my house."
Craig struggled to not follow Nancy's lead and lose his temper. He had expected Nancy to be displeased with their latest houseguest, but Craig had hardly anticipated such insults early in the discussion. Though his voice was stern, Craig managed to conceal any rising hostility as he spoke. "Nancy, she's my baby sister. And, for the record, she didn't just drop in. I asked her to move in with us."
"You what?"
"You heard me," curtly responded Craig. "I won't turn my back on my sister. Casting his gaze toward Sinclair, Craig suggested, "Why don't you go ahead and take your bags upstairs? I'm sure you want to finish settling in."
Taking her cue like a pro, Sinclair swooped up her shopping bags and replied, "Yeah, that sounds great." Within seconds she had gracefully departed the room, leaving her brother alone with his seething wife.
Reiterating her earlier statements, Nancy said, "I don't want her living here."
Tired from his travels and the arguments he anticipated, Craig lowered his body into an armchair. He looked up at his wife with tired eyes, silently pleading for her cooperation. "Nancy, once you get accustomed to having Sinclair here, I think you'll be glad to have another female in the house - especially while you're trying to accept Chloe moving out on her own."
Craig's statement seemed to have the opposite effect of what he had desired. Almost to herself, Nancy murmured, "Chloe. "Nancy's face contorted into an even grimmer expression. "Sinclair can't stay here. I want her gone - tonight."
"What?" Craig questioned with exasperation. Nancy's desperation had made such a quick appearance; he was not yet sure how to react.
"I don't want your sister anywhere near Chloe."
Craig was beginning to lose the battle of controlling his temper as he rose to his feet. "As I recall, you said the exact same thing when Zach moved in with us. Then again, you didn't even really want Chloe living with us at first, now did you?" Craig had thrust forth that final, vindictive question before he realized he had even thought such a thing. Yet, on some level, he had been thinking it for quite some time.
Nancy paled, and Craig wandered what thoughts were racing through her mind. Deciding that he would much rather keep wandering than actually find out what Nancy thought, Craig abruptly stated, "I'm going to the hospital. I'm sure I have a lot to get done before Monday morning."
With uncommon reserve, Nancy silently watched her husband make his departure. Though Nancy would never intentionally jeopardize her marriage, she was determined to protect her only daughter from the people she perceived to be the predators of the human world.