Jade stood out of her car slamming the door. She looked ahead at the house, taking a deep breath Jade took steps walking towards the house. She walked up the porch, and knocked on the door. She watched as the door opened revealing Zeek.
Zeek: What? What do you want?
Jade: Give me my money back, Zeek.
Zeek: You came over here to tell me this?
Jade: I have to pay my bill. It's freezing in my house.
Zeek: Not my problem babe.
Zeek was about to close his door, Jade stopped him putting her foot in the way.
Jade: I'm not playing around Zeek. Give me my money back.
Zeek: Get out of here Jade, if you know what's good for you.
Jade: I'm not leaving, until you give me my money.
Zeek: I guess you're gonna be disappointed because I'm not giving you anything.
/ / / / / / / / / / /
Carolyn parked her car looking ahead to Jade's house. She noticed Jade's car wasn't parked in the driveway. She stood out of her car, closing the door she sounded the alert setting the car alarm. Carolyn walked over to the small white house, she walked up onto the small porch and knocked on the door. She stood looking around paranoid of her surroundings. Becoming nervous, Carolyn quickly knocked on the door again.
Carolyn: Jade? Are you there?
The toddlers inside sat on the floor shivering sitting close, they looked up at the door hearing Carolyn's voice.
Tori: Nana?
Tori stood up, she walked to the picture window that was cover with a bed sheet. Tori peeked under the sheet looking out.
Tori: It's nana, it's nana!
Cat: Nana!
Andre: Nana here? Where?
The other four toddlers ran over to the window peeking under the sheet.
Cat: Nana! Her can't hear me.
Trina: Nana!
The toddlers became frustrated trying to get Carolyn's attention, they watched as she walked away off the porch. Robbie started knocking on the window.
Robbie: No nana, don't leave. Come back.
Carolyn heard the knocking, she turned around seeing the toddlers smiling and waving. She rushed back to the porch knocking on the door.
Carolyn: Jade, open up.
Carolyn twisted the door knob, surprised it was unlocked she opened the door walking in. The toddlers all ran to her hugging her legs.
Trina: Hi nana.
Carolyn closed the door behind her, she knelt down hugging her grandkids.
Carolyn: Hi, oh look at you.
Carolyn laughed slightly as she hugged the toddlers close.
Carolyn: Why aren't you dressed?
Carolyn stood up from the toddlers. They smiled up to her shrugging, still wearing their oversized t-shirts, no underwear.
Carolyn: Where's your mom?
Andre: I don't know. She left a long time ago.
Cat: Her got really mad and run'd away.
Carolyn thought for a while.
Carolyn: Well go get your shoes, you'll have to come with me.
The small toddlers all shook their heads no.
Tori: We can't.
Carolyn: What do you mean you can't?
Robbie: She will get really mad.
Trina: I don't like it when she's mad.
Carolyn shook her head at the toddlers, trying to reassure them.
Carolyn: No, she won't get mad. I can't leave you here alone.
Trina: No. I stay here and wait for mommy.
Trina climb onto the couch sitting down, Cat stood next to the couch shaking her head.
Cat: Her be back again.
Carolyn: No, I can't just leave you here.
The toddlers all stood close shaking their heads to Carolyn.
Carolyn: Well, let me get you dressed for the day.
Tori: Okay. Can I wear a pretty dress?
Carolyn: You sure can, do you have any dresses?
Tori smiled nodding, she took Carolyn's fingers leading her to their bedroom. The other four toddlers followed behind.
Andre: But we stay here, right?
Carolyn: Right. I'll stay here with you.
Cat: Yay!
Trina: Are you gonna play with us?
They walked into the back bedroom where the toddlers sleep and spends most of their time. Carolyn has never seen their bedroom. She took a look around the room. There was a full sized mattress in the corner, with few blankets on it. Clothes were thrown across the floor, the windows were covered with newspaper, used pull ups were on the floor, Carolyn shivered.
Carolyn: Whoa, you guys aren't cold?
Cat: I cold Nana.
Robbie: Me too, I cold too.
Carolyn: Yeah, it's cold in here.
Carolyn tried turning on the light, she shook her head.
Carolyn: Now I know why.
Tori: Why?
/ / / / / / / /
Beck walked into the teacher's lounge carrying his lunch bag. He gave a light smile to his coworkers as he passed them, sitting alone at a table, Beck decided to give his mother a call.
Carolyn: Hello?
Beck could hear noise of laughter in the background, he knew it was coming from his toddlers, he grew concerned.
Beck: Mom, are you with them? What's going on?
Carolyn: Beck, I want you to give your lawyer a call, today.
Beck became nervous, he sat straight up in his chair.
Beck: What, what did Jade do?
Carolyn: I am at her house, keeping a close eye on these babies.
Beck: Where is she, what is she doing?
Carolyn: She's- No sweetie, you cannot cut your sister's hair.
Beck patiently waited as he listened to his mother handle the cranky toddlers.
Carolyn: She's not here.
Beck: Where'd she go?
Carolyn: I don't know, I found them here alone, she's been gone all day.
Beck: What?! She left them home alone!?
Carolyn: Beck, shh, calm down.
Beck looked over to see his coworkers, they were curiously looking at him. He quickly gathered his belongings before rushing out the teacher's lounge, heading back to his classroom.
Beck: Take them to your house, I'll be there to get them soon.
Carolyn: Beck, I tried, they refuse.
Beck: What do you mean they refuse? Just take them.
Carolyn: I don't know how she did it but, she has them afraid.
Beck: Okay, just take good care of them, I'll be at Jade's soon.
/ / / / / / / / / / /
Less than ten minutes later after Carolyn got off the phone with Beck, she was surprised to hear the front door open. She was in the kitchen busy cleaning jelly from Cat's face.
Carolyn: Who's playing with the door?
Carolyn took Cat's hand walking out to the living room, Jade stood shocked to see Carolyn.
Jade: What are you doing in my house? How'd you get in?
Carolyn stepped closer to Jade, she turned her head away.
Carolyn: What happened to your face?
Jade: None of your business. What are you doing here?
Carolyn: I uh, Beck asked me to check on them.
Jade angrily turned to the five toddlers standing against a wall. They were frightened by the glare Jade was giving them, her left eye was purple.
Jade: What did you say to her? Did you let her in?
The toddlers flinched at Jade's words as they stayed silent.
Carolyn: Your door was unlocked, and you were gone for hours, thank God I came.
Jade: I can call the cops on you for breaking into my house.
Carolyn: I can call the cops and tell them you left five three year olds alone in a freezing house.
Jade: I was out trying to pay my light bill!
Carolyn: Oh, did you trip on a rock on the way?
Jade touched her throbbing eye.
Carolyn: Jade, let me help you.
Jade: No! I don't need your help, Carolyn.
Jade walked over to the front door opening it.
Jade: Get out of my house.
Carolyn: I'm not leaving until I know my grandkids are safe.
Jade: What makes you think they're not safe?
Carolyn stood quiet, Jade scoffed at her shaking her head.
Jade: You are in no room to judge me considering your son.
Carolyn knew exactly what Jade was talking about, she became frustrated.
Carolyn: Ben's suicide has nothing to do with me.
Jade: Oh it has everything to do with you.
Carolyn: You're not doing a better job parenting yourself.
Jade: Get out of here Carolyn, you're not a threat to me.
Carolyn: Someone else obviously is.
Jade rubbed her eye, she became teary eyed.
Jade: I don't need you judging me!
Carolyn: You had so much potential, and you threw it all away.
Jade: Get out of here Carolyn.
Carolyn: You ruined my son's life.
Jade: I said get out!
Carolyn: And you're ruining their lives.
Carolyn pointed to the frightened toddlers who were sitting closely on the floor, with their backs to the wall.
Jade: (crying) You think I enjoy raising these brats?!
Carolyn: They're not brats, they are my grandchildren.
Jade: Well take them! I can't afford them!
Tori: You don't like us mommy?
Tori looked up to her mother hopeful.
Jade: Shut it Cat.
Tori: I'm Tori.
Jade: Like it matters.
Carolyn: You don't have to take your anger out on them.
Jade: Fuck you Carolyn, get out of my house.
Jade quickly wiped her face of tears.
Jade: All of you, go, get.
Jade stormed off to her bedroom, she slammed the door causing the toddlers to jump in fear.
Cat: Her mad at me?
Carolyn turned to the confused toddlers sitting on the floor, she sighed looking at them. She thought they looked so cute and innocent as they protectively held hands.
Carolyn: You're coming home with me.
Andre: No. I stay here.
Carolyn walked over to the group of toddlers helping them up from the floor.
Carolyn: I want you guys to come with me, okay?
Tori: Okay.
Trina: Mommy got hurt again?
Carolyn: Everything's gonna be okay.
Robbie: I want my daddy, I scared of mommy.
/ / / / / / / / / / /
Thanks for reading, more to come.
Eh, next chapter will better. Next update should be out by tomorrow. Thanks to those who reviewed the previous chapter. I was nervous to publish this story not sure of how my readers would react.
It gets intense.