Without A Trace

Six.

The next morning Anna is up early sitting in the dining room, smoking a cigarette. I come down the stairs and tie my robe around my waist, "Anna? What are you doing up so early? Its half past four in the morning," I ask pouring myself a cup of coffee.

She flicks her ashes in the ashtray, "Couldn't sleep cause of the rain. The thunder kept Lewis up all night practically."

"Yeah I feel you on that. Thomas was just the same last night," I say taking a seat next to her sighing.

"You'd think it'd be better by now Cor," Anna says her voice cracking and tears forming in her eyes as she takes another puff out of her cigarette.

"Hey stop that," I say reaching across the table to hold her hand, "We're Shelbys. We can handle fuckin nightmares," I say nudging her with a small smile.

Back in their room, Lewis opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling, playing a lighter in his hand. He sighs before getting up and making his way into the dining room. He walks over to Anna and wipes her tears away with his thumb before kissing the top of her head, "I'm sorry for keeping you up, I didnt mean to make you cry."

Anna sniffles before taking another puff of her cigarette, "I'm not fuckin crying Lewis. I'm just tired is all."

Lewis looks over at me, "Tommy too?"

I nod my head taking a sip of my coffee before putting it back down. I take a deep breath running my fingers through my hair and look down the hallway, just to listen in case something happens.

In our room Tommy gasps before jerking up in bed breathing heavily. Sweat beads his forehead before he takes a couple deep breaths slinging his legs over the side of the bed and putting his head in his hand rubbing his eyes.

Ivy makes her way into the kitchen with Michael, "Everyone is just up early this morning eh?" She asks before pouring some coffee.

"Besides Aurthur and John. You know those fuckers will sleep through a bloody tornado," I say with a small laugh before fixing my attention to Thomas who just made his entrance in here as well.

"You look like shit," I say handing him a coffee. He sits next to me without saying a word, putting his other arm around the back of my chair.

Down the hallway you can hear the clatter of Pollys footsteps causing all of us girls to groan slightly.

She exchanges glances with us girls before sitting at the table. "Good morning everyone," she says breaking the silence. All of us reply in unison before going back to sipping on our coffee.

"You boys look like a bloody mess," she says sipping her coffee.

"Yeah well thats what War does to people Pol," Anna says defensively. Thomas goes to speak but I rest my hand on his and look at him shaking my head.

"You don't even know what you're talking about Anna. You have no idea what those fucking boys or I went through while they were gone," Polly says growing angry.

Anna sets her mug down and looks across the table at her, "Really? I'm fucking fed up with you Pol. Truly. You dont give two flying FUCKS about this family or anyone in it besides you. I was IN the war Pol. I was a fuckin combat nurse. But I guess you wouldn't care to know that since all you ever do is bitch about us girls and never gave us the time of fuckin day. All you do is bark orders at us and expect us to bow at your every fuckin whim but guess what? We dont fuckin care. You hate that we're so strong willed because it threatens your fuckin roll in this family. Tell me im wrong," Anna demands as she stands up from the table walking over to her.

"Ann-" Lew starts before reaching for her.

"Fuck off Lewis," She warns looking back at him before moving next to Polly.

Polly sits there gripping her mug before getting up and shoving Anna against the wall. Anna grabs ahold of Polly and sticks a knife against her throat, pressing the cool sharp blade against her skin, "You used to run the show but not anymore. This family was more of a bloody hell hole before we showed up so what I think you need to do is learn your fucking place in this family. You're not top dog anymore. But if you want to act like a bitch then I'll fuckin treat you like one," She says applying more pressure to her neck before letting go of her and backing away.

Pol sits there and looks at the boys, who don't say a word or give her any acknowledgment of what just happened. She takes her mug and disappears to the back of the house to her office.

"That was fucking brilliant," I say giving a smile to Anna.

"About fuckin time," Ive says high fiving her sister in law.

I look over at Tommy, "Any objections your lordship?"

Tommy shakes his head looking up at me before taking another drink of his coffee. I lean down and place a gentle kiss on his lips before walking back to the girls.

"While I'm on a roll, I wanted to call a meeting when the other boys wake up. I've been doing some thinking and I have a plan that will help our family tremendously," Anna says before puffing on her cigarette looking at Tommy.

"Very well, we'll do a family meeting half past noon. That way we can be sure to get the morning stock paperwork done beforehand," Thomas says getting up from the table.

Pippin slowly makes her way out into the kitchen where we all are, rubbing her eyes in her cute green nightgown and walking right over to Lewis, holding her arms up. He picks her up, "Well good morning lovely," he says with a smile.

"Uncle Lewie will you make me some toast with jam please?" She asks him with a big yawn.

He smiles at her, "It'll be the best toast with jam you've ever eaten."

Anna smiles at them before walking down the hallway with us girls and splitting off into our rooms.

"I hope you know what you're doing Anna, Tommys fuse is extra short these days," I say opening my door.

"Dont worry Cor, I have it handled. I just hope the boys hold on to their fuckin seats," she says before walking into her room and shutting the door to get ready.