May 4th, 2001, Friday:
"Boy, don't you cop that attitude with me." Sean roared at Walter.
"I'm not a little boy. You can't just send me away to America." Walter yelled back before his Father's hand flashed out and slapped him hard, across his face. He was dazed by the blow and nearly knocked flat to the ground, and would have if his one knee hadn't come to rest on the hardwood floor.
"You're what I say you are." Sean yelled even as Louise grabbed Walter and pulled him back, comforting him, protecting him from her husband.
"How dare you Sean Patrick!" Louise yelled. "I agreed to this nonsense of sending our girl to America for treatment and if Walter wanted to go, he could go to help her. But I'm not going to stand by why you beat my child. Demeaning him and taking away his right to choose."
"He's going and that's the end of it. Megan can't do this on her own. What would she do in an apartment if her legs quit working and she couldn't get to a phone to call for help? What if she hit her head and was unconscious? She needs someone to help. Walter is the logical choice." Sean yelled back.
"Stop it!" Megan yelled. "I'm nineteen Poppa. If I'm in an apartment there will be neighbors, they could hear me call out for help. If there is one I trust I could let them have a key so they could come check on me. There are all kinds of options that don't require you beating my brother into going with me." Megan broke down crying.
Walter's heart broke at her tears and he moved quickly to her side and hugged her fiercely.
"Please don't cry Megan, Dad didn't hurt me. I'll go with you, I don't want nothing to happen to you." Walter said quietly.
"Good, this is settled then." Sean proclaimed. "I'll tell that realtor lady to find you a suitable apartment. Once she does, we'll look at getting Walter's schooling transferred so you both can move over there." Sean looked at Louise. "What?"
"You're despicable Sean Patrick O'Brien. Where is the man I married? He never would have done this. Made his own daughter cry so it would influence his son to make the decision he doesn't want just so you can have your way." Louise all but spit at him.
"She needs the best care and you heard Doc Johnson, that's in America." Sean flung his arms apart.
Louise shook her head as she turned and put her arms around her children.
"And you also heard him, our girl has the worst kind and between fifteen and twenty years no matter the treatment she receives. You're just so scared of losing our little girl that you're willing to send her far away instead of staying right here with us, where we can love her. Take care of her, see that she has the best life possible. I don't want to lose her, but that isn't in my hands, it's in the Almighty's. And I'd rather she was right here where I can see her everyday, where I can touch her face. Kiss her cheek and let her know how much I love her for however much time we have." Louise told him before she broke down and began crying even as Walter and Megan hugged her back.
Sean turned and walked out the back door. Louise knew how much Megan meant to him, why was she fighting him. She was his first born and with being unable to bond with Walter when he was born Sean poured more of himself into Megan. He loved his son, but he knew that that love paled compared to his love for Megan. He walked out and into the barn. Sure, he'd give his life for either of his kids but he also knew if he had to choose between them, he'd choose Megan everyday, all day. Sean stopped by the plow horse and he swallowed hard as he stroked her face. His eyes shone with unshed tears. He actually hated knowing that he'd willingly sacrifice Walter for Megan. His eyes closed even as the tears ran down his face at that thought and he collapsed to his knees. He felt like a monster.
Walter slowly made his way across the way to where the Dineens lived. He struggled with his emotions. What with Paige having been so moody lately and the number of times she missed when they'd normally meet up between classes. He wanted to swear, he wanted to lash out and destroy things. But he gave his word to go with Megan, to ensure she'd be safe in America. He stopped as he came out from behind the hill that kept the two houses from seeing each other. The point where he stood was mostly north of the Dineen home with a slight view of the east side of the house. He saw Paige's bedroom window on the second floor of the house. and he swallowed hard. He sighed as he continued walking. It had only been thirty minutes since she'd stormed off after Cabe's words. Paige was going to be so mad.
"Hey Walter." Happy greeted him after he knocked on the door. She frowned before she asked. "Have you been crying?"
"Hey Happy. I've got some bad news to tell Paige." Walter told her while trying to smile. He stood with his position keeping the side of his face in the shadows.
"Paige, Walter is here." Happy yelled up the stairs after she stepped over to them.
Veronica came around the corner.
"Happy Dineen." Veronica said sharply. "How many times do I have to tell you, that is not how we let someone know they have a visitor?"
"Yes Mom, sorry, I forgot." Happy told her.
"Well then see if you can remember not to answer the door if you can't announce someone properly." Veronica huffed. "I'm sorry Walter, would you like to go upstairs?"
Walter gave her a weak smile.
"No Mom, it's okay." Walter told her.
Veronica nodded and walked off with Happy back into the family room.
Walter swallowed as he heard Paige's feet on the stairs.
"What is with all the yelling?" Paige demanded as she reached the floor.
Walter grinned.
"Mom got on Happy, for yelling for you." Walter said before he saw the look on her face. "Is something wrong?"
Paige shook her head.
"What's up?" Paige asked.
Walter frowned as his head tilted.
"Normally you hug me when we see each other, regardless of how long we've been apart. Did I do something wrong?" Walter asked.
"Of course not, I've told you that multiple times." Paige shook her head even as she stepped in and hugged him.
Walter kept his face so that Paige couldn't easily see where his Father slapped him.
"Can we take a walk?" Walter asked as he inhaled the scent of her lavender lotion.
Paige stepped back and was looking at him funny.
"You do mean for us to go on a walk and not, the other thing, right?" Paige asked quietly.
Walter nodded.
"Just a walk, to talk a little." Walter told her.
Paige stepped to the family room and looked at her Mom helping her sister work on her science fair project.
"Walter and I are going to take a little walk Mom." Paige told her.
"Okay sweetheart. Have a good time." Veronica looked up and nodded hoping this would turn things around for the young couple.
Cabe followed along behind them as they walked towards the lake, giving them plenty of space to talk. He noted that every time Walter tried to step a little closer, Paige stepped a little away from him. That was still puzzling to him as they were normally hand in hand at least if not arms around each other. But he knew how moody she had been lately and the way she'd been acting around Walter.
"What did you want to talk about?" Paige finally asked with an edge to her voice since Walter hadn't said anything.
"Well, I have some news to tell you but, and I know I keep asking, have I done something wrong Paige? You've been so different the last few days. When we've talked you have been kind of short with me and you aren't walking with me. Every time I step closer to you, you are stepping away. And then with what you asked in the house. Are you mad at me? Are you sorry we made love that night, or any of the other times since?" Walter asked quietly.
Paige huffed.
"No Walter, I'm not mad at you, I just wanted to be sure you weren't just coming around to have sex." Paige said a little abruptly.
Cabe's eyes went wide as his ears perked and let his breath out in one large expulsion.
Walter stopped and stared at Paige.
"Paige, I love you, more than anything. I wouldn't just come around for sex, we could wait until we're married if that would make you feel better. What is wrong?" Walter asked.
"Nothing. What did you want to talk about?" Paige pressed.
Walter stood there confused. It wasn't like Paige not to immediately reply that she loved him too. Once again the thought that she had found someone else in school she liked better creeped into his mind. His thoughts whirled about as he was trying, once again, to analyze everything that had happened the last few days. And he realized just how many times she'd missed meeting him between classes. Claiming she just had to go to the bathroom. Walter's heart lurched.
"Well this isn't what I came to talk to you about but I've got to press. You know the last few days you have been acting quite a bit different. Besides being short with me, we normally meet up in between classes several times and you've said you just had to go to the bathroom. You never go to the bathroom that much. Have you found someone else you are more interested in?" Walter asked weakly.
"How could you possibly ask me that? You know I love you." Paige nearly screamed back.
Cabe's head ticked as he was torn between giving them a bit more distance or trying to break it up.
Walter frowned at her, at her almost exploding at him.
Walter's head turned, still hiding the mark.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what I did wrong. But I'm really sorry for anything I did that has hurt you. Maybe it is for the best that you are mad at me. Dad is sending Megan to the States after her last MS spell, Doc Johnson recommended it. And he's making me go live with her." Walter said softly.
Paige's eyes went wide as her lips trembled.
"What?" Paige screamed.
"Dad's making me go to America to live with Megan for her safety while she gets treatment for her MS." Walter said with his eyes tightly squeezed together.
"I don't fucking believe you Walter. After all that we mean to each other. Has it all been a lie? You got to lose your virginity with me and now you want to skip off to be with some other whore?" Paige yelled.
Cabe looked around nervously but was grateful there was no one in sight. He began walking forward.
Walter frowned as his eyes opened and he looked at her.
"You better not be referring to yourself as a whore Paige. You know I see words. You are not a whore, you are the woman I love. Can't you see how this is killing me?" Walter demanded.
"Oh sure, killing you so bad you are out here dumping me. The girl you supposedly love. Thanks for nothing." Paige stormed as she turned to start walking away.
"I'm not dumping you Paige. I don't have a choice. I told you, my heart is yours forever and I mean that. I'm just trying to tell you what is happening." Walter pleaded.
"Go to hell Walter." Without looking back, Paige flipped him off as she continued walking back to her house. She started moving faster as she began crying.
Cabe was torn between his duty to Paige and his heart at the look on Walter's face. His hand came up and thumped his chest twice as he looked at Walter.
"It'll be okay Walter, go on home for now." Cabe told him gently. Cabe turned and began running to catch up with Paige as she started running.
Paige flew into her house and ran up the stairs after slamming the door.
Veronica and Happy both looked up.
"You keep going, Happy, I'll go check on Paige." Veronica told her.
Veronica stood at Paige's bedroom door and heard Paige wailing behind the door. She sighed as she reached up and knocked gently.
"Sweetheart, may I come in?" Veronica asked.
"Fine!" Paige screamed loudly into her pillow.
Veronica stepped in and saw Paige sit up even as she reached across to her desk and grabbed a little knick knack Walter had gotten her and then she threw it on the floor shattering it.
"Paige!" Veronica yelled. "What is going on?"
"Nothing, everything is fine." Paige snapped back. Paige's eyes saw the string art Walter had made for her and she started to stand to grab it. Veronica seemed to realize it and she stepped over and blocked her from getting to it.
"You are not destroying that. Walter made that with all the love he has for you. Now what happened?" Veronica demanded.
"He doesn't love me. He just told me." Paige told her as she turned and sat down on her bed.
Veronica frowned.
"What could he have said?" Veronica asked as she pulled the gift off the wall as she wasn't trusting Paige at the moment.
"His Dad is sending Megan to the States for treatment of her MS and he's going with her. Does that sound like love to you?" Paige demanded.
"Well there has to be more to it than that. But if that is what the problem is, calm down and call your Dad. He can surely work something out." Veronica told her. "Are you sure there isn't something else bothering you?" Veronica reached out and stroked her hair.
Paige looked down.
"I'm sure." Paige said softly as her demeanor changed quickly. "I'll call Daddy."
Veronica nodded but she took the string art from Walter with her as she left Paige's room.
"Hey Pumpkin, Debbie said you sounded upset, what's wrong?" Ralph answered his phone.
"Daddy, Mr. O'Brien is sending Megan to the States for treatments and he's making Walter go live with her to keep her safe." Paige wailed into her phone.
A little bit of Ralph wanted to yell yes, but the sound of his little girl's heart not to mention his own love for Walter tugged him back center.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry to hear that, I'm not sure what I can do but I'll make some phone calls and I'll do everything I can, I promise." Ralph told her.
"Please Daddy, I can't lose Walter." Paige sobbed.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong? You've been acting really differently the last few days." Ralph asked gently.
"Why does everyone keep saying that? Can't I be a little different from time to time?" Paige slammed the phone down.
Ralph frowned and just as he started to hang up to call her back Debbie announced she was on line three again.
"Daddy, I'm sorry." Paige wailed the second he picked up the line. "I didn't mean to yell at you and slam the phone down. I just miss him so much already and he isn't even gone."
Ralph nodded his head.
"I know baby, I'll make some calls, I will do everything I can." Ralph told her.
"Thank you Daddy, I'll see you when you get home." Paige told him. "I love you."
"I love you pumpkin." Ralph said before they hung up. He already knew he only had one choice in the matter.
Megan heard Walter's door slam and she powered on the little computer on her belt and it helped her to stand. Slowly she stepped out of her room and down to Walter's door using a crutch to compensate for her foot in a cast.
"Walter?" Megan knocked.
"It's open." Walter said softly.
Megan opened the door and stepped in.
"What happened?" Megan asked.
"Paige got mad at me, accusing me of…things. Of just using her, not really loving her. Of wanting to leave her behind and run off to America to meet other girls." Walter told her sadly.
"Oh Walter. We know that isn't true. If it wasn't for how Dad treated you, you'd never have said you'd go. I don't want you going with me Walter. Truth be told, I don't really want to go. I'd rather be here with my loved ones. But Dad's deadset on sending me, thinking that somehow America has a secret cure." Megan told him as she sat down with him.
"How's the braces working?" Walter asked to try to change the subject.
"Really good, the last software update you did for them really helped a lot. The arms are more natural now." Megan told him as she wrapped her arm around him. "Hopefully when my leg is healed the legs will work just as well."
"Megan, if you don't mind. I'd like to just sit here alone for a while." Walter nodded.
Megan nodded and kissed his cheek. She sighed seeing the mark their Dad left there. Megan got up and stepped out the door while closing it. She walked down the stairs and sat out on the front porch thinking. She was going to go have a talk with her little sister, but she had to wait until the other battery pack was done charging.
Greetings! Hope this finds you all well! Well, that didn't go well.
Marti - hehe Glad you are still interested in the story! Indeed the coming chapters will tell the tale. Communication seems to be a stumbling block for a lot of couples sadly. And I got a feeling the communications that Sean is going to get from Louise are not going to be endearing ones. lol
Railman - Yep, Paige is in a quagmire for sure. And it just seems to be getting worse. Funny you mention Megan...lol
Margaret - Yup, lots and lots of drama! lol It can certainly be a scary situation even in an established and mature relationship. But for a single teen imagining the worst, it can be overwhelming easily.
Susan - Definitely a bad feeling that someone does like you anymore...at any age. But for a fragile teen who has never had someone like this, I can't imagine. Sure seems like Sean is dead set to make Walter go...
Pearliegirl - hehe Yeah, I hate it too. I'll do my best! Friday's chapter should bring some of this under control. Is that ASAP enough? hehe
To the Adventure! -Tim