A Second Chance

Chapter 3

Susan was shaking. How was she supposed to go in there and act like everything was okay? This was the house she and her-no. She was going to push all that aside and focus on the night ahead of her.
"Well, here we are." Warren said, unbuckling his seat belt. Susan took a deep breath then unbuckled and got out of the car. She walked, with legs that were still shaking, up to the front door with Warren. As soon as he knocked they could hear the bustle inside. The door opened to reveal three small children smiling up at them.
"Uncle Warren!" The all squealed, almost in unison. Then the kids backed away from the door as Warren entered with Susan right behind him.
"Hello brother!" The man standing behind the kids said to Warren.
"Hello! Robert I would like you to meet Susan. Susan, this is my brother Robert." Warren said.
"Nice to meet you." Robert smiled. "I heard so much about you when Warren here was in highschool, now I finally get to meet you." He chuckled. Susan laughed.
"Oh hello you must be Susan." A woman said as she came in to the entryway from another room. She wore an apron, which was lightly stained, and was balancing a small girl on her hip.
"I'm Martha, Robert's wife." She introduced herself and shook Susan's hand with a smile.
"Oh and these are our kids." Robert said pointing down at the three little ones. "This is Mark, our oldest, and this is Jane, and John." Susan forced a small smile and waved at the kids. They reminded her so much of her siblings, especially John. He wore the same mischievous grin Edmund had so many years back.
"And this little pumpkin is Molly." Martha said tickling the little girl she was holding. Molly giggled the cute little giggle of a toddler.
"Well dinner is on! Shall we eat?" Robert offered after taking Susan and Warren's coats. They all sat down around a large dining table filled with steaming food. But, before they dug in the family all held hands and said grace. Then they passed around the food: salad, homemade rolls, a bowl of various fruits, and ham.
The meal was lovely and so was the conversation. Though Susan tried not to think about the house and her siblings, every so often the thoughts creeped into her mind. After dinner Susan helped clear the table while Martha put desert in the oven. Once everything was cleared the four adults sat down again to chat and the children went off to the living room to play. Susan couldn't help but glance at the four kids playing together on the same floor she and her siblings had. It was like watching her childhood played out before her eyes. She blinked back a couple tears and steered her attention to the conversation. Memories flooded back once again, however, when the smell of chocolate cake filled the house.
She could see it plain as day: She, Peter, Edmund, and Lucy all gathered around the table. Their mother walked in carrying a cake in honor of Lucy's eighth birthday. She remembered how Edmund had made such a fuss when he thought Lucy got a bigger piece than him. Then she remembered how Mum had scolded Peter for laughing when she got after Edmund. "You won't be laughing next time you get in trouble." She said wagging her cake server at him, but of course Peter continued to giggle under his breath. That had been the last birthday celebrated in that house.
Susan made the mistake of glancing at the children again. She felt a bucket of pain and memories dump on her all at once. She couldn't take it any longer.
"Um, Warren, I just remembered I have a meeting at school tonight." She lied. Warren furrowed his brows.
"You do? I didn't hear of any meeting."
"Well there is one." She said and stood up to leave.
"Oh. Are you sure?" He asked again.
"Yes. It's at..." she glanced at the clock. "seven-thirty." She said. It was currently seven-twelve. She walked over to the closet in the entryway and pulled out her coat.
"Are you sure you can't stay for a piece of cake?" Martha asked.
"Yes I'm sure but thank you. We really should be going." Susan declined politely.
"I'm sorry you have to leave in such a hurry, but thank you for coming." Martha said and shook Susan's hand once again. She waved a quick goodbye to the children then walked hastily out the door.
"Susan wait!" Warren said before she got into the car. "Are you positive there's a meeting tonight?" Susan sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, hoping the tears would go away.
"No." She finally said. Warren searched her eyes for more explanation. "I'm sorry. I just had to leave." She admitted.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Warren, this is the house I grew up in." Warren's eyes softened. "I just-I couldn't stand to watch those kids play together in the exact place I once played with my siblings. It just brings back so many memories and..." Susan trailed off. She bit her quivering lip.
"I'm sorry Phyllis." Yes, he still called her by that name. "Maybe you should give them all a call. It might make you feel better." He suggested. At this Susan began to sob.
"I can't call them Warren!" She cried. "They're dead!" Warren's face turned to shock.
"What-how-why didn't you tell me this before?" He asked.
"It just hurts too much to talk about it." Susan wiped the tears, along with smeared mascara, off her face. "Can I just go home?" Susan finally asked. Warren nodded and opened the car door for her.