Chapter 7

Scofield Household:

Lincoln ended up back at Michael and Sara's house after a few hours of searching. Sara sat down, it has been four hours since Brittney left and she didn't hear from Michael. Matthew came in from the kitchen.

" When can I have some cake?" Matthew asked.

" As soon as your father comes home with your sister," Sara said.

" What if dad finds her, but she doesn't want to come home?" Matthew asked.

Sara didn't want to think of that. Matthew sat down and crossed his arms. Lincoln sat down next to Sara and Veronica sat in a chair besides the sofa.

" Michael will find her and bring Brittney home," Lincoln said.

" Michael will not give up on finding her," Veronica said," I'm sure Brittney is okay."

Matthew sat on the sofa and pouted.

" What's the matter?" Sara asked.

" I want cake," Matthew said.

" Matthew that's enough," Sara said.

Matthew continued to pout.

" Hey champ," Lincoln said," How about we play that video game again. I'll let you win."

" No thanks," Matthew said," I want dad to come home with Brittney."

The door opened and Michael came in.

" Daddy," Matthew said getting up and hugging him.

" Hey sport," Michael said hugging Matthew back.

Sara stood behind Matthew.

" Did you find her?" Sara asked.

Sara then saw Brittney, she just hugged her.

" I'm sorry," Brittney said," I sorry I worried you."

Sara didn't want to let go.

" May I have cake now?" Matthew asked," The birthday girl is home."

Brittney didn't feel like a celebration, she still wanted answers.

" You okay?" Veronica asked.

" Why did all of this happen?" Brittney asked," Why tell me now?"

" You're growing up," Michael told her," It was time you knew."

Brittney sat down," What else is there?" she asked," There has to be more."

There was more, but nobody said a word.

" Let's go have some cake," Sara said," Your brother has been waiting."

Matthew went to the kitchen.

" Come on," Michael told Brittney," It is your birthday."

Brittney got up," Some birthday," she said,"I discover my dad was in jail."

Brittney then went to the dining room and sat down. The cake was brought out and all around her they sang her a " Happy Birthday". Brittney didn't feel happy one bit. She looked at the cake and blew out the candles, clsoing her eyes in the process.

" Cake, cake," Matthew said," Happy birthday to my sister."

Brittney ended up smiling and everyone else laughed. Brittney then looked at her folks.

" Are you going to punish me?" Brittney asked.

" I think you've been punished enough," Sara told her," Let's have some cake and then we can talk."

Sara sliced up some cake for Matthew, who began eating it right away.

" Excuse me," Brittney said.

Brittney went upstairs and into the bathroom.

" What's wrong with her?" Veronica asked," It doesn't look like she's happy to be home."

" We need to tell her the whole story," Lincoln said," I think Brittney would understand."

" I think she'll be crushed even more," Sara said.

" Linc is right," Michael said," She needs to here the whole truth."

Brittney then came back downstairs.

" So what's the story?" Brittney asked," Why was my dad in jail?"

Nobody said a word, at least for now.