Chapter 5
Beth was the last to roll out of her bed and make her way downstairs. The wonderful fresh baked bread smell drew her down in the end, mixed with the hypnotic sizzle of bacon. She was usually the last to stir, but only because the rest of her family were very early birds. She didn’t view 8am as being all that late, but everyone else had been up around 2 hours already on any given day. Emma would have been up, out to run, returned to shower and already be dressed and ready for college. Joanna, being a baker by trade, was usually up early to do some sort of prep work at home before she had to feed the girls and head out to work. She had her days off at the weekend to spend with Ben, yet they would still be up to make the most of their time together. Now they all lived together, and it was the summer holidays so no college, Beth thought they might have relaxed a bit. Lay in a little. Destress with warm and fuzzy conversation over breakfast, opposed to the usual frenzy to get fed and out of the door.
Nope.
Beth missed those chaotic mornings. They’d hardly been here 2 days and already a storm was brewing. Emma was sat at the opposite end of the kitchen island table to Ben and wearing her most intimidating ‘no bullshit’ stare. Beth passed her with a groggy ‘hi’ to take a seat beside her and thank Ben when he poured her a cup of coffee. She palmed it in both hands and was very comfortable in her blue unicorn onesie. She had messy ginger pillow hair and happily inhaled the rising steam from her coffee, as if hoping to inhale some caffeine whilst he waited for the actual drink to cool.
As per usual, Emma had obviously been an early bird again. She wore trainers, jeans and a long sleeved white thin jumper with black stripes, and a purple fashion scarf with a triangular point on her chest. She could tell her sister had been running, as her finger hair was still damp from her shower in a plait over her shoulder. Those hazel eyes were sharp, alert, and set to stun on Ben.
Joanna was fussing between them both, in her favourite pink frilly apron, and she’d clearly been stress baking already. One quick glance over the top of her coffee cup as she blew into it, and Beth saw trays of cookies, biscuits and buns covering every counter. Joanna came over and kissed Beth’s messy mop of hair and beamed a smile down at her.
“Good morning honey. Did you sleep well?”
“Like the dead.” Beth answered dramatically with a chuckle. “My new bed is super comfy.” Ben smiled and his chest puffed out a tad, so Beth ran with it. “Aren’t our new beds super comfy Emma? I bet you had a great night sleep on that mattress. You’re always complaining that your student halls accommodation is awful. Bed’s like cardboard and really noisy, right?”
Emma narrowed her eyes on Beth, saw straight through the cheap attempt to get flattery from her towards Ben, even if indirectly.
“Sure.” Emma answered flatly and returned her attention to the newspaper she was reading. Her plate had nothing but crumbs on it, and her mug was empty so she had to be lingering for something.
“Here you go.” Joanna put a fresh ciabatta with bacon and eggs in front of Beth. She nodded to her in thanks for her attempt to broker a pleasant conversation. She topped up Emma and then took her seat opposite Beth. They all sat at the table and drank coffee…in silence. Until Beth couldn’t take it anymore.
“So what’s the plan for today?”
“I’m going to the clinic to meet Deloris.” Emma declared without even looking up from her paper.
“No problem I can-”
“No Ben.” Emma half folded her paper to give him an icy stare. “I’ll be going on my own. I know the way now and it’s not far to walk. Ran the past it on my route this morning just to be sure.” She put the paper down completely and folded her arms at the aghast look on his face. “I want to meet her, face to face, one on one. Besides, it’s not like I need a chaperone, is it?” She inclined her head and her lips curved ever so, knowing she had him at a checkmate. “I am free to come and go as I please, as I’m practically 23 years old and don’t need a baby sitter. Right?”
“Well yes but-”
“Good.” Emma smiled arrogantly and put her hands together on her lap. She turned to look at Beth, dismissing Ben from the conversation and leaving him to stew. “So what are you up to today kid? Going with Ma to the Bakery to set up shop?” Beth paled with her mouth full of bacon and frantically chewed.
“N-no.” Beth swigged some coffee to help force the mushed food down before she could get lumbered with Mum duty. “Got plans.” She cleared her throat, drank more coffee, and then realised everyone was staring at her. Waiting for her explanation. “With Jason.” Emma’s eyebrow show up.
“How exactly do you have plans with that stranger?” Emma countered, but Ben came to Beth’s rescue.
“He called last night and let his number for her. So they could arrange to go shopping for a replacement camera. Though, I’m surprised you’re going out with him so soon.” Ben rubbed his beard in thought and shrugged. “He must really feel bad to be so eager to part with his money.”
“U-huh. That better be all he’s eager for.” Emma pointed squarely at Beth and make her intentions clear.
“What?!!” Beth flushed and shook her head vigorously. “I met the guy yesterday!”
“So?”
“…so he’s buying me a camera to replace my old one? It’s not a date.”
“Right. Anyone else gonna be there?”
“…no? What’s your point?”
“Ma?” Emma redirected at their rather sheepishly quiet mother. “Your innocent 18 year old air head of a daughter is going to be alone with a 19 year old bad boy. Why haven’t you vetoed this?” Emma demanded, and Joanna took a moment to look at her before cleared her throat and answering her plainly.
“Because Emma, she’s 18, and I trust her.”
“You can’t possibly allow-”
“Last I checked I’m the parent, not you. Though I’m quite sure you forget it sometimes.”
Beth’s jaw dropped. Joanna very rarely put Emma back in her place. Usually because she was right, but this time Joanna’s normally docile brown eyes were fiery as she shocked everyone at the table. “Glen Valley is our home now, and as unfortunate as yesterday’s misunderstanding was, that was all it was. Jason is making amends and purchasing your sister a new camera to make it up to her. We are going to therefore be reasonable adults and allow it. They are going shopping on the high street in broad daylight in public, in a town where everyone knows everyone, and gossip travels faster than the internet.” Joanna took a breath and smiled to signal she was regaining her good mood. Emma nodded, conceding to her mother on this one. “Now, as you’ve guessed cell service isn’t reliable here, so please make sure to be back home before dinner tonight. 7 sharp. We’ve got guests for dinner so don’t be tardy.”
“Ma?” Emma’s tone held a warning. “Tell me you didn’t invite that crook over for dinner?”
“Don’t call Caleb a crook, Em. It’s highly disrespectful.” Ben told her firmly, and regretted interfering it almost instantly. Emma snapped her hazel eyes onto him like the sight of a sniper rifle. With pinpoint precision and ready for combat.
“Oh?”
Oh here we go. Beth sighed, finishing the last of her breakfast and sipping her coffee. “More or less disrespectful, than sneaking up on me, walking and talking his way into the house, or interrogating and threatening me? How is he not a crook? He conducts police investigations, and lets my sister get manhandled without retribution? Like a poor assed apology and bribing her with a replacement camera would silence her?”
Joanna put her face in her hands. Ben gawked like he didn’t know where to start in answering that question.
“But I thought we started again last night?” Beth innocently and rather foolishly interjected. “He apologised too, didn’t he?”
“Beth? Baby girl?” Emma got up and braced her hands on the back of he chair. “One thing you’ll learn is how to spot a liar, know when to fight and when to play along to get the creepy dude out of your house. Caleb is the biggest liar I’ve ever met. Oh, after Ben of course.” Emma smirked coldly at her soon to be step-father.
“Emma!” Joanna jumped to her feet angrily. “You apologise to Ben right this instant!”
“I would be happy to, if I was wrong.” Emma countered, cool as a cucumber as she put her cards, and her hands, on the table. “I don’t know what the deal with this place is yet? But I smell a rat.” She pushed off and narrowed her stare at her mother, squaring up to her with indignation. “That crook is in the centre of it, I’m sure. I honestly don’t care what you and your Glen Valley buddies are into.” Emma pointed at Ben, and noted how shocked he was as another sign of her being right. “I honestly don’t. I’m not going to go snooping around for your secrets.” She put her hands up and started to back away from the table. “All I ask, is you keep them away from me and Beth. I’d say Ma too, but I’m pretty sure she’s already in on it.”
Emma stared at Joanna, daring her to deny it. “You hear me Ben?” She returned her attention to the ‘patriarch’. “Keep me and Beth out of whatever corrupt, backward, and or bizarre cult group thing you guys have going on. Okay? I’m going to qualify as a midwife, get my own place somewhere out of this weird town, and then I’m taking Beth with me. Unless, you know?” Emma waved her right hand palm up and across them in a sweeping motion before dropping it to her hip. “You want to come out with the truth right now and save us all the hassle? The truth might not be as bad as I’m imagining it is, but I’m pretty confident it is.” Emma rolled her wrist and held her palm over for him to take to the stage, but he didn’t. Instead Ben folded his arms and looked off to on side.
“We’re not a cult, you’re in no danger, and no one here is a crook. We really are like a family here in Glen Valley, and you’d see that if you’d just take that stick from up your ass for long enough to give us a chance.” He grunted and got to his feet angrily to point across the table at her. “Hell? We could be a family if you’d just try. When will you just accept that I love your mother, we’re a family and I’m doing my best to be a Dad you can be proud of? I’m just-”
“I have a Dad I’m proud of.” Emma seethed, silencing him utterly with her molten hazel glare. “That doesn’t change because he’s dead or I’m a grownup now. Sure, you and Ma be happy together, great.” She dismissively flicked her wrist over at them both. “Be together by all means.” Emma put her hands up and sneered. “I’m just saying don’t drag us into your village people shit.” She sniggered. “Or I’ll take the stick from up my ass, and smack the shit out of your cult friends with it.”
“Emma how dare you-” Joanna chased after Emma as she stalked towards the front door, head high and proud of herself. She was the victor in her book, and made her feelings and stance perfectly clear. “Do you have any idea how hard that man has tried to win you over?” Her mother snapped at her, stopping her in the entrance hall.
“No.” Emma answered apathetically. “I’m 22 and I don’t need a new dad. Nor do I want one. Be happy together Ma, but don’t expect me to join in and hold hands in this mad place.” She threw her hands upward to indicate more than just Ben’s house.
“Emma!” Joanna grabbed her arm and begged her with her eyes for patience. For sympathy. For compassion. “Please sweetheart? He’s trying so hard, and you’re seeing danger where there isn’t any. Trust me.”
“Trust you?” Emma countered with an incredulous laugh, taking her arm back and holding the front door knob. “After being secretly engaged for long enough to plan our family’s complete relocation, and waiting to tell us five minutes before we moved? Not exactly a stellar high ground you’re preaching from there.” Her mother faltered as she felt the foundations of her moral perch sway. “Why Ma? Why keep your engagement and Glen Valley a secret? You never said you’d visited this place before the day we moved here. You want me to trust you? Then tell me the truth, and I will.” For a heavy minute Emma could have sworn she saw the tug of war in her mother’s brown eyes over if she should do just that. Before this whole mess Emma thought her mother would never lie to her over anything.
“…” Joanna resisted her plea, buckling under the weight of something, sighed and her shoulders sank in defeat. She didn’t even offer an excuse or hide her guilt.
“Yeah, just like I thought.” Emma scowled and opened the door. “God I hope this isn’t a cult or a mob town or something. If we end up being offered to an ancient being as sacrifice, or forced into a life of crime, I’m going to be pissed. I’ll be back later.” Emma grunted and stormed out of the house.
“7 sharp.” Joanna held her elbows and looked at her retreating figure sadly.
“On the dot!” Emma sniggered and slammed the door behind her for good measure. She stormed down the side walk without looking back. Who do they think I am? An idiot? A polite smile and hand shake isn’t going to make me forget all the weird crap I’ve seen so far. I swear, if Deloris turns out to be a fake or not even a midwife, I’m going to go ape and really drag Beth back to Seattle with me.
Comments (0)
See all