Dinner wasn’t easy. No one was up to eating expect for Alora so I had made her a small dinner and cleaned up the kitchen. Edward had locked himself up in his study, Seymour was on the cell phone again, Felicia was spreading Aloe over her skin, and Alora was now picking at her food as I put dishes in the washer then the pots and pans in the soapy dish water.

“Mommy.” I heard her small voice as she sat at the kitchen table. “Did I do something wrong?” I looked over at her as her green eyes looked up at me. I shook my head.

“Not that I know of. Why?”

“Because, your leaving.” She didn’t seem to cry yet, but watched my reactions as for a moment I just looked at her. Then continued the washing.

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. As you probably already know, Uncle Seymour isn’t going to take no for an answer.”

“Yes I know.” She said.

“Besides, I have to protect you and daddy right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Uncle Seymour will hurt you and daddy if I don’t go.”

“But mommy.. isn’t that blackenmails.”

“Blackmail.” I said low but chuckled at her attempt. “In a way yes.” She nodded, picked up her doll and headed out of the kitchen. I left the kitchen not far after she did as I found her playing a game with Felicia. Felicia was enjoying the playfulness of Alora as Seymour wasn’t in the living room. I walked up the steps to go to the study but when I tried to open the door, it was locked. I sighed and walked back down the steps. “OK Alora, bath time.”

“OK.” She said giving Felicia a hug before I took her in the bathroom of her bedroom. We did our normal bath time playing, then drying, then bed time story. She turned her back like she normally did and closed her eyes, to fall a sleep. I smiled and turned out the lights before going back into the kitchen to put the dishes away. As I returned to the living room the lights were off and no one was around so I went to my bedroom. I took the sun dress off and jumped in the shower. The warm water hitting my head as I stood there thinking. I turned the water off, pulled the door of the shower opened, and jumped back. I wasn’t expecting the six foot frame leaning against the sink with arms crossed, ankles crossed, and the sink holding the massive weight of his rear end. Green eyes looked back at me as I smelled the whiskey. I sighed, took my towel and dried off. He watched my movements as I wrapped the towel around me.

“Why cover up.” He asked with no emotion to his voice.

“It’s rude to stand there naked.” I said moving to the sink to take out the tooth brush and paste to brush my teeth. He watched me but never moved. “Bin inking again.” He chuckled at the attempt at talking and brushing my teeth.

“Yes but not as heavily as I should.”

“Should huh.” I said spitting and rinsing my mouth. I wiped my mouth and hands in the small hand towel looking up at him.

“Should have downed the whole bottle.” He watched as I moved around him to go into my room. He left the bathroom following but never taking his eyes off of my movements. “Someone once told me it was OK to drink but not so much.” I blushed as he had really remembered me saying that. I unwrapped the towel and placed it on the door knob before putting a night gown on. I pulled my hair from the garment, then looked up at him. “Jaq.. I want you to think about what you are doing.”

“I’m not a child.” I said with the same none emotional voice.

“I know that believe me I know.” I blushed slightly, looking away from the now cloudy green gaze. “You leave with him, and you are giving away a life that you want.”

“It isn’t about anything that I want.”

“Yes it is.” I shook my head in response.

“Edward, if that was the case then I wouldn’t be a Virgoians.” I went to the door and opened it. The living room was still dark as I opened the door. “Now please, I want to go to bed. I am tired, warn out, and I want to sleep.” Or at least get as little sleep as I could. He walked slowly to the door and turned. “Make sure.. you don’t drink much more.” I smiled then before he could say anything else, closed and locked the door. The other door was already locked so I didn’t go to it. I went instead to my bed and cried myself to sleep again.

Seymour stood by the door. Alora stood in front of me with her doll but she wasn’t crying. She must have taken what was happening to a logical stand point. I knelt down and hugged her tight feeling the fresh tears.

“I promise to come and visit OK.” She nodded. “Felicia will take good care of you. Let daddy know I appreciate him.” She nodded. Edward was still locked in the study. Doing what I wasn’t sure but it didn’t matter. Alora hugged me tight and kissed my cheek as I did the same. I got to Felicia as she grasped my hands and whispered.

“Darling, you know this is wrong.”

“Yes, it probably is but I know the people I love is in good hands with you.” She shook her head.

“That is not what I mean. You love him. Edward loves you too.” It was my turn to shake my head.

“No, he doesn’t. He has never mentioned it to me there fore I find it hard to believe that he does. He’s not here to try to stop me this morning so I am not going to think or hope anything that isn’t there.” She hugged me tight.

“Call me if you need anything.” I nodded.

“Thank you. Take good care of Alora.” She nodded. With the last good bye said, I turned to Seymour as he held his hand out for mine. I took it, waved back to the girls as Seymour headed out the door. The limo driver held the door opened for us as Seymour waited for me to get in. The girls were at the door. Alora with her arm around Felicia’s leg as they both waved. I got in, then Seymour did closing the door behind him. The driver got in front, started the engine and pulled down the driveway. I watched the house, as the door opened and Edward came busting out of it. I turned in my seat, pretending I didn’t see him come out. I looked out the window as neither one of us said anything. I felt his green blue eyes on me however as his elbow was on the door, his fist at his head. Then, surprising me he said:

“You really care for them, don’t you?” I looked at him as he watched me.

“Yes. But as it turns out, I can’t stop my fate.” He nodded.

“I am glad to hear you admit that.” he then looked out the window. I did the same with the tears streaming down my face.