Surviving

Chapter 1 Hot Spring

She had woken up that morning to the sound of Alec crying. Alec is her son. He’s going to be a year old tomorrow, she thought astonished and awestruck. She got up and made him a bottle. When she went to pick him up to feed him he was gone! She freaked out and started to panic. She started to search frantically for him when she remembered that her 17 year old daughter, Rose, and 37 year old husband, Damien, had gotten back from Italy yesterday. She walked back to her room but Damien was still sleeping. She half-ran to her daughter’s room hoping with all her might that Rose had heard his cries, picked him up, and took him to her room. She looked in from the door way and her tension melted. There he was laughing away at his sister while they played peek-a-boo.

The two look so much alike that when people just look at their facial features and hair color they assume their fraternal twins. That’s weird because of the age difference but it happens to Michelle almost every day. Although they are very similar they are also very different. Rose is a stunning girl with black hair that’s as soft as a cloud and cobalt blue eyes just like Damien. She is going to turn eighteen in a little over a month and she’s 5’8” like her dad. Alec on the other hand is a dazzling boy who also has silky smooth blonde hair but has one bright cobalt blue eye and one bright electric green eye just like his mom.

While Michelle was watching them Alec turned and his eyes instantly locked onto the bottle like it was his target and he was a missile. He started crying knowing his mom would pick him up to feed him. She did and when they had all eaten breakfast she asked Damien to get Alec and himself ready while she and Rose got ready in Rose’s room. “Where are we going mom?” Rose couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice.

Michelle knew she just got back but she didn’t need to be mean about not wanting to go. “It’s a surprise that your brother and I found while you were away with your father attending his meetings and enjoying yourselves in Italy.” Michelle snapped not appreciating her daughter’s tone. She really wanted to take them to this hot spring about 5 miles northeast of their cabin that she and Alec found last week while taking a new route in their hike. There was also a blueberry and strawberry patch with orange trees close by. “I’m sorry... I know you two just got back but I’m really excited to show this to you guys. I’m going to go finish getting ready and check on your dad and Alec. When you’re done can you go get the picnic basket and make a couple bottles for your brother please?”

“Do you want me to pack anything in the basket?”

“Not today just please go do what I asked and quit asking questions.”

“Okay mom.”

Michelle went to find Damien and Alec but couldn’t. She knew her husband had Alec but that still didn’t stop some of the panic from forming. She looked in all the rooms and was about to go outside and call them when she heard a noise from the bathroom in the guest bedroom. Why are they in there? She wondered. Michelle put her ear to the door to listen but she didn’t hear anything. Weird. She opened the door, shrieked, closed the door and started crying. Damien came barreling down the hallway asking what’s wrong. Michelle couldn’t speak all she could muster was pointing weakly at the door before another wave of tears hit her.

Damien opened the door and he understood why his wife reacted the way she did. On the bathroom floor laid a baby wolf’s head and their cat Spike was eating the brains that were scattered everywhere. He picked the cat up, opened the window in the guest bedroom, and threw the cat out. He then proceeded to clean up the mess. “Don’t throw the head away.” He heard his wife say quietly from the door. “I want to bury it near our hot spring.”

“What hot spring?” Damien said confusion written all over his face.

“Just put the head in a box and bring it with us. Can you do that for me sweetie? I would appreciate it immensely.” She said sadly.

“Anything for you dear,” he replied sweetly. He packed up the head and finished cleaning up the mess. Everyone finished getting dressed and put on their hiking boots. Michelle took Alec and started out for the spring.

The walk there was peaceful because Alec had fallen asleep in his mother’s arms, Rose and Damien were enjoying the view because they had never ventured this way before, and Michelle was just trying to get over what she had seen in her guest bathroom. Where did that wolf head come from? I’ve never seen or heard any around here. It’s just plain weird and I don’t like the feeling I have in the bottom of my stomach, but I don’t want to worry anybody.

When they arrived at the spring Damien and Rose stopped in their tracks. They were wide-eyed, open-mouthed, and shocked. They couldn’t believe that they had passed this spot several thousand times not 100 yards from where they stood. Michelle went to the edge of the biggest pool, eased herself down to a sitting position, and laid Alec down long enough to take her boots off. She picked him back up as she slowly eased her feet into the searing hot water. It hurt her feet but it felt so good because it was better than the foot massage she got every Sunday. Rose followed suit while Damien buried the box his wife told him to bring. Rose didn’t know what it was or why he was burying it but she didn’t care. She was surprised at how good her feet felt.