Forever and Always

Chapter 9

"Dinner," Emma called. Paul hurried into the kitchen, starving. Scarlett sat still on the couch watched a reality program on the old television.

   "Scarlett, it's time for dinner."

   "I'm not hungry," she said flatly. "Where is dad?"

   Emma played with her hands in the kitchen entrance. "He had to work late," she replied and sat down next to Paul. "Are you sure you aren't hungry?" her voice tried to sound cheerfu ... normal.

   Scarlett just nodded and, instead of watching Riley yell at Derrek for the millionth time, she started wondering why her father had been "working late" so many nights this week. Scarlett had attended three therapy sessions, Paul was quiet and cause a fuss and Emma, Emma did everything she could to help them be a normal family again. It wasn't them, was it?

  "Does that even count as dancing?" Paul teased as his father lumbered about the room, twirling Emma with him.

   "At least I try," he replied.

   "Yeah, Paul ... dance with me, won't you?" Scarlett asked holding out her arms.

   It was a Friday and they were listening to Chris’ and Emma's CD, a mix of songs they had complied over the years.

"No thanks," he shook his head.

   Scarlett just grinned and pulled him out into the middle of their living room, twirling him in her arms.

   "Let go!" he begged, but that just made her hands tighten around him. Her arm draped around his waist, another holding his shoulder.

   "If this is anything compared to Dad, I'm so sorry Mom," he said and closed his eyes as they moved towards the dark coffee table, which had been pushed close to the wall.

   They jerked back to the middle of the room and both Paul and Scarlett smiled as they heard their father's meek laugh as their mother whispered something to him.

    "Someday you'll be giggling like Mom as a guy whispers in your ear," Paul said while made a face.

   Scarlett scrunched up her face. "Never!"

   "You are thirteen, love is right around the corner."

   "Shut up and dance," she said. Scarlett couldn't even fathom the thought of love. Family was everything she needed.

    "You missed dinner," Emma hissed as Chris walked in the back door.

   "I had to work Em," Christopher replied, his tone was harsh.

   "You can work and still make time for your family."

   "What's the point? Our daughter is...." he trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

   "I know, she's sick, she's sad, and what helps that is being with her family, or at least knowing her family is there if she needs them."

   "Then be there for her," he said, slammed a cupboard door and slopping cold stew into a large, blue bowl.

   "I'm not the only parent," Emma said with a heavy sigh.

  "Just stop," He shouted,and punched thirty seconds into the microwave.

   Neither of them heard Scarlett, who was standing in the kitchen entrance.

    "Maybe we would be better off if you let me stop breathing and not resuscitate  me." She said in her now usual quiet voice.

   Chris looked at his frail daughter and grabbed his wind breaker, which was laying on the table. "I'm not listening to this," he muttered and left, leaving the bowl of stew in the now beeping microwave.

   Scarlett turned on her heel. "I'm leaving," she said before disappearing down the hall and into her room.

   The two of them left Emma standing in the kitchen stunned, not to mention wondered what "I'm leaving" meant exactly.