Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
DARCIE'S LIFE HAD BECOME A HURRICANE.
Not only is she constantly worried about her sister, but Darcie's busy with her part-time job and volunteering. Rochelle doesn't confide in her sister either; after the barbeque, Rochelle had argued with Leah, which had ended with the two hugging and Leah telling Rochelle to stay out of it. Apparently, Rochelle had kept to her word — staying out of it and avoiding Sam.
"Hey, honey," says Lewis upon seeing his daughter enter the house. "How was work today?"
Bruno jumps up at her legs, tail wagging as Darcie reaches down to scratch behind his ears. "Hey, Bruno," she greets her dog brightly before turning to face her father. "Really good! I got to hold a snake today and watch an operation."
"An operation, huh?" Lewis questions, grinning lovingly at her excitement.
There's no holding Darcie back as she sits down in the living room, gushing about the operation from start to finish. It had been a small fracture repair on a cat with a broken leg, which had been successful.
"So you're defiantly enjoying it then?" Lewis realises.
"For sure!" Darcie exclaims, pulling Bruno onto her lap as she rubs his belly. "I think... I think I want to be a vet."
Lewis smile brightens. "That's my girl: Dr Combs."
Darcie blushes. "It'll be hard, though."
"Don't put yourself down," her father tells her. "If you want something, then you get it. Your mother loved her clothes, so what did she do? She made them and sold them around the community."
"And you opened your restaurant," points out Darcie.
"See," says Lewis. "You're a Combs, Darcie, you can do anything."
Darcie feels her heart swelling with hope. Maybe, she'll go for it, but she has to get the grades and graduate first. Though, her junior year is about to start soon so she'll be looking at colleges.
The front door opens again with Bruno jumping down, eager for more attention. Both father and daughter turn to see Rochelle entering, but she disappears upstairs without greeting them. Rochelle's crying that causes Darcie's heart to squeeze as the bedroom door slams shut above them.
"What...?" Darcie turns to her father.
"I don't know," Lewis stands as does Darcie. "I'll go talk—"
"No, I can, dad," Darice's fingers pull at his shirt to stop him. "I think I should."
Lewis looks torn before sighing, agreeing it would be best. Then, Darcie heads upstairs as she pauses outside her sister's door. She can hear muffled cries that causes her knuckles to knock against the wooden door.
"Rochelle?" Darcie questions. "Can I come in?"
There's silence, where Darcie's about to knock again, but then the door opens. Rochelle stands before her, where her dark brown eyes are glossy with tears.
