Chapter 9

As the day went on, Brittney didn't say much, she stayed up in her room. When Brittney wouldn't come down it worried Sara more.

" She'll come around," Michael assured her," Let's just leave her alone."

Lincoln, Veronica, and LJ were ready to leave, but wanted to see if Brittney was okay.

" Maybe we can come back at another time," Veronica said," We can celebrate her birthday later."

Michael shook his head. So did Sara. It was several minutes after that when Lincoln, Veronica, and LJ left.

" This is all wrong, Michael," Sara said," I'm worried about our daughter. What if she runs away again?"

Michael hugged Sara tight and let her cry. Sara then went upstairs to check on Matthew and Brittney. Matthew was in his room playing his video game. Sara smiled at that. She then went to check on Brittney who was sleeping. Sara went closer and looked at her. Brittney looked so sad and confused, but Sara was glad she was calm. Michael came up.

" Brittney's asleep," Sara said," At least for now."

Michael smiled," Don't worry about her," he said," Brittney will be fine."

Sara tried not to worry, but that's what mother's do, worry about their children.

It was durning the night when Brittney woke up. She looked around the dark room and got up. Brittney headed downstairs and sat on the sofa and hugged a pillow that was nearby and wrapped herself in a blanket.

" Why did all of this happen?" Brittney thought.

Upstairs Sara woke up and felt that something was wrong. She got up and checked on the children. When she didn't see Brittney in her room, she headed downstairs and was releaved to see Brittney on the sofa.

" There you are," Sara said sitting down.

" I couldn't get back to sleep," Brittney said.

Sara hugged her daughter. Brittney accepted it.

" Mom," Brittney said," What attracted you to dad? I mean he was in prison."

Sara looked at her.

" Your father made his mistakes," Sara told her," But he's a good person. He gives back to the community."

" I know," Brittney said," I just don't get it."

Michael then came downstairs.

" So this is where you went," Michael said.

" Brittney couldn't sleep," Sara said," And you know me."

" You worry too much," Michael said," So does Brittney. Like mother, like daughter."

Sara smiled," Brittney is like you too," she said," Tough and stubborn."

Brittney ended up laughing.

" Now that sounds like my princess," Michael said.

Brittney got up and hugged him. Michael hugged her back.

" I love you both," Brittney said," I'm sorry if I've been a pain today."

" Why don't you go back to bed," Michael said," We love you too."

Brittney walked away, but then stopped when she heard her parents talking.

" Should we tell her the rest?" Sara asked.

" What good will it do?" Michael asked," Do you think she needs to know that we escaped before we were cleared?"

" You escaped?" Brittney asked coming back in the room," Escaped? Did Uncle Lincoln escape too?"

Sara and Michael turned around to see Brittney standing there.

" Go upstairs," Michael said.

" Why did you escape?" Brittney asked again.

" Upstairs NOW," Michael said.

Brittney ran upstairs.

" Why did you yell at her?" Sara asked," Look at what you've done. You also could've woken up Matthew."

Michael sat down. More damage was on the way. Brittney was now discovering the whole truth.