SONGS AND TRAILS (Book 1)

CHAPTER 27

Arabella stormed in without talking to anyone and straight into the kitchen and behind followed Caldor who was just calm. The last time they came in, they were arguing the whole way but the walk back was quiet with Arabella leading the way upset.

Caldor had caught up to her and she could hear him walk behind her. He hadn't uttered a word and she didn't wish he would.

"Bella!" Mima followed her into the kitchen and saw her pacing and hyperventilating. "Hey!" she went to her. "Hey, calm down!" she stopped her. "Have a glass of water. You look dehydrated."

"The nerve of him!"

"What's wrong?" Mima asked but by the look on her face... she didn't even need to get into her mind to know what bothered her. "Aww, Bella."

"He almost took me there." her lips quivered.

"Sweetheart."

"I don't want to go there." Her voice was shaky and tears threatened to escape her eyes. "I will not..."

"No no no!" Mima hugged her. "You will not relive that. You will not."

"I don't want... to..."

"Shh!"

Arabella let a sob escape her just as Daya stormed in.

"Shoot! Sorry!" she was oblivious to what was going on.

"What's going on?" Daya asked "Why is Bella upset?"

"Not now, Daya. Please." Mima shooed her but Daya just stood there watching them.

Mima signaled her with her hand to leave and she finally did hesitantly.

"Hey... Bella."

"I almost saw it. I saw it." Bella cried.

"It's okay."

"Pappy...."

"No no!" Mima pulled away to look at her. "Look at me." Bella brought her blurry eyes to face hers. "You will not think of that. You don't have to if you don't want to."

"I don't want to go back." Bella spoke. "I don't want it to hurt again.

"And you won't." Mima assured her. "You'll not."

Bella nodded and Mima wiped off her tears. "I won't." she sniffled.

"Bella?" A small voice called and they turned to see Queenie.

"Hey!" Bella went to her and squatted in front of her. "Hey, you." she sniffed.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Did something bad happen? Is this about mommy?"

"No." Bella answered fast.

"I can smell your tears. Why are you upset?"

"It's nothing. It's just me. I promise. But enough about me... what have you been up to?" Bella sniffed back her tears as she wiped off her damp face.

"I'm playing hide and seek with Daya and Rai." Queenie giggled. "I'm the seeker."

"Oh!" Bella laughed. "How's that going?"

"It's so easy to catch them. They're terrible at hiding."

"They are now." Bella listened.

"They think just because I can't see, I can't find them." she smiled. "They don't know that I have a good sense of smell."

Bella smiled too. "I know you do." she poked at her nose.