Chenford family

Storm and Solace

The evening had started off as any other, with the usual chatter and bustle of family life. But now, the tension in the house was palpable, a heavy weight that none of them seemed able to shake. Eliana had been looking forward to the sleepover all week—a sleepover at a new friend's house. She'd been so excited, imagining the fun they would have, the late-night snacks, the giggles, and the stories. But when she asked Lucy about it, her mother had said no.

Lucy had her reasons. As a detective in the LAPD, she knew the risks—how important it was to be cautious when it came to people you didn't know well. And she didn't trust the idea of Eliana spending the night at a new friend's house, especially with a family she'd never met. It wasn't just about the sleepover—it was about safety.

But Eliana didn't want to hear it. To her, it felt like just another instance of her mom holding her back, controlling everything, and not letting her have the same experiences as her friends. Her frustration had been building for days, and now, it finally erupted.

Eliana- (yelling) You're so unfair! You never let me do anything! All my friends get to do stuff like this, but you always say no!

Lucy- (calm but firm) Eliana, this isn't about being unfair. It's about being safe. You're still too young to just trust people like that. I've seen what can happen when you don't—

Eliana- (cutting her off, voice shaking with anger) I don't care about your stupid safety rules! I'm not a little kid anymore! I just want to have fun!

Tim, who had been quietly watching from the hallway, sighed. He knew better than to intervene right now. He'd been a part of many of these arguments before. Eliana was furious, but Lucy wasn't budging either. The same cycle repeated itself. After a few more heated words, Eliana did what she always did when things got too overwhelming—she stormed off to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Eliana- (screaming, as she left) I hate you, Mom! You ruin everything!

The words hung in the air like a weight, the harshness of them cutting deeper than Eliana could have known. Tim stood still for a moment, watching Lucy's face as she processed the words, her expression faltering. He could see the hurt flash across her eyes, the pain of being called something she never wanted to be: the enemy.

Tim stepped closer to Lucy, placing a hand on her shoulder as she stood motionless in the kitchen.

Tim- (softly) Hey, you know she didn't mean that, right? She's just angry.

Lucy- (shaking her head, voice tight) I know... but hearing her say that—

She paused, tears threatening to spill, but she held them back.

Lucy- I hate that she feels that way about me. I'm just trying to protect her. Why can't she see that?

Tim pulled her into a tight hug, rubbing her back in slow, soothing motions.

Tim- (gently) She'll come around. You know how she is. She just needs some time to cool off.

Lucy nodded into his chest, taking a deep breath. She knew he was right. It didn't make the sting any less painful, but she knew it was part of the process. Tim held her a little longer, just letting her take a moment to breathe.

Dinner that night was awkward. The boys ate quietly, glancing at each other as they tried to read the mood. They knew better than to ask questions when things were like this. Eliana didn't say anything during dinner, and Lucy was barely able to keep a smile on her face. The weight of the argument hung between them all.

When they were done, the boys started cleaning up, clearly aware that the mood hadn't lightened. Eliana went right up to her room and after a few minutes passed, Tim knocked softly on Eliana's door. He didn't want to push her, but he knew they needed to talk about what had happened. He waited a beat, then gently opened the door.