Helen's alarm clock went off, sending an obnoxious ringing sound throughout the whole cabin. Helen wakes up with a moan. She rolls over and turns off the alarm. Then, she falls back into her pillow. Will awakes and stretches his arms out. He rolls over next to Helen.
"Good morning." Will tells Helen, her face still buried in her pillow.
Will fluffs and messes with her hair a bit. He has somewhat declined out of his mood. He lowers his head and kisses Helen's shoulder blade. This causes her to perk up. Will quickly gets up out of the bed. He slips on his housecoat and heads downstairs.
Helen is left to ponder. She has a perplexed look on her face, as she runs her fingers through her hair. She swings her legs over the edge of the bed and sits there a moment. She strokes the quilt on top on the bed that was sewn in colorful arrays of blue and green. Then, she slips her feet into her fuzzy slippers and heads downstairs, as well.
Kevin and Luke are quietly eating a bowl of cereal. They both notice their mother descending from the stairs. She walks over to them.
"Where's your father?" Helen asks them.
"He's outside, on the porch." Kevin bluntly replies.
Helen walks over to the front door. She slips her long winter's coat, the one with dark brown material and fur around the collar and cuffs. She reaches her hand down to turn the knob, when the door opens. Will is standing on the other side, newspaper in hand. He is apparently coming inside, but he takes Helen by the arm and guides her to the porch swing. They sit down, and Helen lays her head down on Will's shoulder. 'Hard to Say I'm Sorry' by Chicago is lightly playing in the background.
/Everybody needs a little time away,
I heard her say,
From each other.
Even lovers need a holiday,
Far away, from each other.
Hold me now.
It's hard for me to say I'm sorry…/
Joan is lying peacefully on the sofa bed in the downstairs bedroom she shared with Kevin and Luke. Her mind drifts away. She falls into a dream.
'Must Be Doing Something Right' by Billy Currington is playing. Joan is now lying on a sandy beach. The flaming sun is beaming down on her. She opens her eyes. The ocean waves wash over her. She stands up, confused. The beaches seem to go on and on, forever. There doesn't seem to be another human being in sight. Joan continues to look up and down the beach until she sees Adam. Strange. Adam being in her dream.
"Adam." Joan calls to him.
Adam just stares at her, not saying a word, as if she's not there. Joan runs to him. But the moment she reaches Adam, he disappears into thin air. Joan falls down into the sand.
"What is the meaning of this?" She asks, talking directly at no one.
"Joan."
Joan hears someone calling her name. It's not Adam, because he is no longer standing there. She picks herself up off the ground. She looks down the beach and sees Ty Parker.
"Joan." Ty states again. "Wake up, Joan."
Joan wakes with a startle. She looks up. Ty is sitting next to her. Joan lays back and tries to fall asleep.
"Come on, Joan." Ty pleads.
Joan doesn't respond.
"You just had a dream about Adam." Ty states.
Joan jolts up from her resting place.
"What are you. A physic?" Joan asks.
"It's up to you. What do you think?" Ty replies with another question.
"Are you, you know,… You?" Joan asks again.
"Yes, Joan. It's me, God. Why can't you just make the assumption on your own for once?" Ty inquires, slightly frustrated.
"Sorry." Joan replies.
"I want you to go to church."
"What? For like the rest of my life?"
"No. I mean, like, today. Go to the church up the street."
"When do services start?" Joan asks with a yawn.
"One hour, so you'd better hurry." Ty states as he walks out the door.
Outside, Will and Helen have been sitting on the swing all morning. Small snowflakes start falling around the house. Helen brings her head up and smiles at Will. She gets up, about ready to go back inside, as Will grabs her hand. He stands up as well.
"Helen…" Will starts. He puts his hands around Helen's waist. Helen wraps her arms around Will. They pull into a hug. "I'm so sorry." Will whispers in Helen's ear. She tears up a bit. Will hugs Helen tighter. "I love you." He whispers again.
Joan, then, rushes out the front door and heads down the front steps. Helen's head turns.
"Where are you going, may I ask?" She asks Joan.
"To the church up the street." Joan replies.
"Why?"
"Because… I am?"
Helen breaks away from Will. "Well, I can't let you go alone." She states.
"Well…" Joan rambles.
"I'll go with you." Helen heads inside.
"Helen, wait." Will states. "I'll go, too."
Helen has an amazed look on her face. Will hadn't gone to a church since they were married. Then, she smiles. They both head inside. Joan walks up and sits on the front steps.
"Where are you going." Kevin ask as Helen and Will rush upstairs.
"To the church up the street with your sister." Helen states, "You can come with us, if you'd like." Then, she follows her husband upstairs.
Kevin and Luke exchange glances and decide to go change.
After a long and peaceful walk, the Girardis reach the small church. There are a few cars parked outside. Will takes Helen by the hand. It's been a long time since he has been in a church, and he appears to be slightly nervous. Helen smiles, and tightly grasps Will's hand. Joan, Kevin, and Luke exchange glances. They all walk into the church.
I know it's short. Chapter six coming ASAP! JoAFreak. I need at least three reviews.