Chains

Chapter Seven

POV: Alex

Over the past week i'd stayed at the motel, I developed a routine. It didn't differ much from my usual one, the only difference the addition of a certain blonde. That small alteration to my day made all the difference. Not only had the perks of seeing her every morning included being able to check up on her, but also the fact that we would talk. Normal conversations about normal things, not about deaths or disappearances. Unfortunately, it was highly unlikely that that equilibrium was going to last. With all that was brewing with the death of Bob and the assumed death of Bradley Martin, there was a vicious storm ahead. Not to mention the fact that Natalie's arrival had disaster written all over it.

Although it was strange being back in my own home, my everyday routine neglected of seeing Norma every morning, it was a wise decision to come back. Norma, Natalie and I being in the same room for what must have only been 20 minutes had already almost been disastrous. It raised suspicions on my involvement in Bob Paris's 'disappearance'; definitely for Nat, for Norma I couldn't be sure. She was always difficult for me to read, so unpredictable and annoyingly good at playing games. Either way, I wasn't willing to risk sticking around long enough for Nat's metaphorically large mouth to reveal all my secrets in front of Norma.

Seven days was my limit. Embarrassingly, that was the longest time my subconscious allowed me to stay out of contact with Norma. With everything that was going on it was almost essential for me to know that she was alright. Not like i'd let her know that, or Natalie for that matter. My excuse for this visit to the motel, if it came up, would be that I was merely coming over to check up on my oh-so-troubled sister.

After parking my truck just outside the motel, I stepped onto the porch and took a quick glance into the office. Norma was sat at her desk, typing away on the computer. Just as I was about to draw my eyes away to see Natalie in her room, she unexpectedly popped up in the direction I was already looking. She came from the back room and stepped behind the desk next to Norma. She rested her elbow on her shoulder and pointed at something that I was too far away to see on the laptop in front of them both. Curiousness and frankly nosiness washing over me, I pushed open the door and walked inside.

Norma looked up, a smile flashing on her face. "Alex! Hey!" The expression and tone of her voice was almost identical to the time at the family dinner, where I walked in the house after taking the time to recover from my drunken state in one of the motel rooms. At first i'd thought it was some form of sarcasm, or something along those lines. But as she insisted that I stay for dinner, I knew then that she was genuinely pleased that I was there. I wasn't sure why, and I wasn't this time around either. My company was hardly thrilling.

"Uh--" I chuckled quietly, a nervous reaction to her happy mood that I wasn't great at mirroring. "Hey. How have things been?"

"Calm, surprisingly." She answered, and a feeling of relief washed over me. Just imagining the guilt I would feel if something bad had happened while I was gone was painful.

"Yeah? Oh, well, good. You been alright Nat?" I asked, my tone sounding less enthusiastic as I switched my attention to her. I meant nothing by it, she knew deep down that I will have been thinking about her. No matter the things she's done, I always worry about her. She knows that very well; uses it to her advantage half the time.

"I have actually, i've been brilliant. I'm so glad I came here. You know most motels take your booking, shove your room key in your hand and let you get on with it...but Norma has been really nice company." She smiled contently, switching her gaze between me and Norma.