Deep Secrets, Deviants

Chapter 2

Chase

The night Chelsea arrives in Paradise Falls, I drive her to the motel on fifth street and help her carry all of her luggage to her 2014 white Honda Accord. She carries the two duffle bags and I carry the large, extremely heavy suitcase.

"Please don't tell me you carried this all the way up these stairs," I grunt, following her down from her vacant room. She glances over her shoulder, grinning at me.

"I'm stronger than I look," she says.

"What do you have in here? Gold?" I tease. She laughs. We drive back to my place in separate vehicles and as she showers and changes, I shift things around in the spare room, making room for the hide-away bed that I have stored in there. It's only temporary until I'm able to find time to shift things around more permanently, but I notice when I ask her how long she plans on staying, she gives a very vague and unenlightening answer.

In the morning, I'm met with the smell of fresh coffee and bacon. I enter the kitchen to see her sitting at the bar, reading my morning paper, dressed in a simple long sleeve purple shirt and dark pants, her odd brown hair pulled back in a high ponytail.

"You are so Dad," she comments as I pour myself some coffee. I chuckle.

"What do you mean?" I ask as she takes a bite of her bagel.

"I mean," she says with a mouth full of bagel, waving the news paper before me, "do you actually get your morning paper at seven o'clock every morning and sip at your coffee while still in your pajamas?" She says, swallowing. I laugh, snatching the paper from her.

"That's a subscription to Autumn News, which is where Ashlee works, and she's very persistent about my supporting her pictures. She's better than Jimmy Olsen," I say, glancing at the front page.

"Does she take nude pictures?" Chelsea teases with a stupid smile. I roll my eyes.

"Why is that relevant?" I ask. She raises her hands in defense.

"You said she was better than Jimmy Olsen, so I assumed..." she says, and starts laughing. I shake my head, not able to hide my smile.

"She's an amazing photographer," I say, "and the fact that she tested out... a particular... nude-ish... phase... in her career, is irrelevant." Chelsea bursts out laughing while I take a sip of my coffee, tossing the paper on the bar, and turning from her. "And besides," I say, turning back to her and motioning to my attire, "I'm fully dressed and headed out to work."

"Alright," she says, still giggling. I roll my eyes and grab my keys.

"See ya at lunch," I call to her.

"Alright. At Mare's Meals! Twelve o'clock! Be safe!" She calls right when I close the door. I shake my head and get into my car, heading straight to the fire department.

When I walk into the department, greeting my co-workers, my eyes immediately search out for Desmond. How would he react when I tell him that Chelsea is back? The last time Desmond saw Chelsea she was just my thirteen-year-old smitten sister who went beet red every time I brought him around. The memory still brings a smile to my face. Back then, Desmond was a little too old to notice someone who hadn't yet reached the height 5'3" at the least, but what would he think about her now? Chelsea was one of his favorites out of the triplets, and she still has her playful personality, that much is for sure.

"Hey, where's Desmond?" I ask Frank, our chief fireman.

"He went to check out an alarm on Black Street with Pete and Greg," he answers, not looking up from his current tasks. The name of the streets brings the memory of my dream back to me and I can't help but shiver before pushing it back out of my mind.