Beyond the Family Ties

Part 17

When she finally climbed out of bed, knowing that she couldn't linger in her room any longer, or she was going to be late, Becky warily crept out of her room, half hoping that Freen would be cooking breakfast, her usual sunny self as she flipped pancakes and sipped at a cup of coffee, but she already knew that she wouldn't be. The apartment was dark, the first grey streaks of weak sunlight lightening the shadows outside, and Becky put the coffee on with a sigh. She had half an hour to get herself and Laurel ready, and Freen was nowhere to be seen or heard, despite her shift starting in less than an hour. If she hadn't heard her come home last night, Becky would've thought that she'd stayed out, but she knew that she'd come in, and she knew that she hadn't left again, which meant that she was avoiding her.

With a grim look on her face, Becky went to sort her clothes out, taking them into the laundry room and ironing a grey shirt and a pair of black slacks, coming out to the aroma of coffee beckoning her. With a cup in hand, she packed a few of Laurel's things into a bag and got a few snacks out, debating whether or not to sort out Freen's lunch too. On most days she did, but Freen was perfectly capable of buying her own lunch too, and Becky paused for a moment, wondering if she'd even take it if she made it for her. Still, she started making a sandwich anyway, listening to the hurried footsteps making their way into the bathroom as Freen realised that she was going to be late if she didn't come out of her room. Becky likewise eyed the clock with concern, especially as Freen took her time in the shower.

Waking Laurel up, Becky softly spoke to her as she got her daughter ready instead, knowing that she could sort herself out in a few minutes, but when Freen made no move to come out of the bathroom, Becky found herself walking down the hallway, leaving her daughter spooning cereal into her mouth. Turning the handle, Becky frowned as the door didn't budge, and it took her a moment to realise that Freen had locked it. That, more than anything, was like a slap in the face to Becky. She couldn't remember the last time that she'd gone a morning without Freen bursting in to brush her teeth, or when she'd walked in on her changing so that she could hop into the shower. It had just been another part of their daily routine. But now Freen was locking her out, both figuratively and literally it seemed, and a wounded look flashed across Becky's face as she stood in the hallway, staring at the polished wood.

"Freen? I'm going to be late," she told her, frowning as she listened to the sound of her roommate rummaging around in the cupboards. "Can you open the door, please."

"I'm getting dressed. I'll be out in five minutes."

Opening her mouth, an indignant protest forming on the tip of her tongue, Becky pressed her lips together in a thin line and turned away from the door. "You know what, don't worry about it."

Angrily padding through the apartment, she shoved a few items into a bag, slipped a pair of jeans on, and grabbed her ironed clothes. Fetching a coat for herself and Laurel, helping her daughter zip hers up, Becky grabbed the keys to the work issued car she'd been given upon completing her training, and drove to Winn's. Normally Freen took Laurel there on her way to get a coffee before her shift started, but Becky was annoyed, and if Freen was going to ignore her, then she wouldn't bother her to start with. Dropping her daughter off, Becky gave Winn a brittle smile, knowing she looked a mess, having not even showered yet, or had time to eat, and as if sensing that she was in a bad mood, she left with two cream cheese bagels that Winn had pressed into her hands, freshly baked before the sun had even risen as he prepped for the day at the diner. With orders to be good, Becky kissed her daughter on the cheek and thanked her friend, before hurrying the rest of the way to work.

She was allowed to drive herself now, being a full agent, and entrusted with the organisation's secrets, but she still took a roundabout way down to the docks, pressing a little button to open the roller door as she flew into the dark building. Glancing down at her watch, she swore under her breath, grabbing her things out of her car and rushing over to the elevator to make the jolting trip down below.