The Whispers

12

Nate leaned closer over the counter to the receptionist.

"I need to talk to the manager!" He hissed through clenched teeth. "It's urgent."

"I'm sorry, sir. The manager is busy and you have to make an appointment first." Clearly her patience was quickly running out.

"I'm not going anywhere until I see your manager!" He turned and stormed to sit in the waiting area in front of the reception desk.

Damn it all! A tiny piece of information! Just a tiny bit, and they still won't tell him.

Where is Beatrice? The question bounced around his head. It was a simple question which he couldn't answer.

He'd somewhat assumed that maybe Bea was moving Ken's stuff because Bea leaving without a goodbye just wasn't Bea.

Ha! What do you know about Beatrice, Nathan? You've only known her what? Two months?

For three years he'd thought he knew Beth but she too had shown him you could never truly know a person. He'd somehow convinced himself that Bea was different. That he'd never disappear on him but...

Fate has dealt you the same hand again.

Rebecca's words echoed in his mind, giving him an idea.

Beatrice's parents!

Bea settled herself on the window seat in her bedroom with Twilight. The way Edward, the vampire and Jacob, the werewolf, fall for a human girl fascinated her every time. The romance. The action. It all took her into the land of fantasy.

She was so drawn in that she registered barely the commotion in the hall.

Damn the neighbours and their noise!

She tried to block it all out but she couldn't concentrate because the noise was getting louder as the owners approached her door.

Please pass! Please pass! Please pass!

She begged silently although going back to her reading was a moot point. Her head was already rapidly filled with Nate's face and her heart pounding loudly with the hope that Nate was here for her.

No! I don't want it to be him!

Who are you kidding? Her subconscious mocked. You want it to be him.

She was in the process of reminding herself the numerous reasons why she was better off without him when a loud knock snapped her to attention and she rushed to open the door.

"Mom? Dad? Nate?" She wanted to say something, anything, but her mouth was drier than the Sahara desert.

Candice's features darkened in a scowl. "I was so hoping Nate was mistaken! I'm so disappointed, Beatrice!"

"Mom..."

Candice held up her hand. "You couldn't tell me? Your mother?"

"I'm sorry, mom." Her eyes were already tearing up.

"I thought we shared everything?" Candice whispered, choking on her own tears.

Beatrice sniffed noisily. "We did. We do."

Nate cleared his throat. "Can we come in?" he asked Bea who nodded jerkily.

They all filed inside to the living room.

"Tell us what's going on, darling," Ryan asked as soon as,they were seated. "You know we won't judge."

She briefly closed her eyes and inhaled a shakily. Yes, she knew her parents wouldn't judge but they would be even more disappointed.