Her Safe Haven

Chapter 6 - Break Time's Over

Previously on Her Safe Haven: Rohan and Jonah had a talk about Winter because Rohan found it unusual for a child of a big company with a disability to go to school publicly. Jonah told Rohan about Winter's past: how she was mysteriously kidnapped and returned mute when her family was living in China.

"Winter! Phone! Mom's on the phone!"

She closed her homework and dashed downstairs, quickly taking the phone held out by Caleb.

"Hello? Winter? Is that you?"

Winter tapped once on the speaker phone, making sure her mother heard it clear. Yes.

"Oh sweetheart, it's so great to hear from you again! You weren't sleeping just now, were you?"

This time she tapped twice. No.

"No? Thank goodness. How are you doing, hon? Enjoying your first week of school?"

One tap.

"That's great! No one has been giving you trouble, I hope. Is Gray being mean to you again?"

Two taps — after a long thought.

"Haha, that's good to hear! Anyway, I'm calling to tell you that your father and I have just arrived back at St. Louis. Yay! Are you happy to hear that?"

One tap. And a smile.

"We're very excited to see the three of you! We're going to visit Lakeside this weekend — we're meeting Jonah's father to talk about the new McHalen-Ford Project. Make sure you clear your schedule, okay?"

She frowned and handed the phone to Caleb. 'Ask her what day they're coming.'

Caleb raised his eyebrows but cleared his throat. "Ma? It's Caleb. Winter asked what day you guys will come... Oh? I see — okay, I'll tell her that... Love you, too. Winter said to take care. Bye," he attached the phone back to the wall. "They're coming this Saturday, Winter. Why? You got something on that day?"

She frowned. 'Not sure... I may have student council duties,' she gestured. 'Do you know how many days they're staying for?'

"I'm... not sure. I'll text mom later and tell you tomorrow, okay? Now you go to sleep," he smiled and put one arm around her shoulder, nudging her to go.

She had been against living separately from her parents since the beginning — but her dad still insisted to buy them another house in Lakeside since their main house was very far from her school and Caleb's University. Now she could only meet her parents once a month or so.

She sighed and closed her eyes.

+++

"I'm telling you, that woman's crazy! Yesterday some guy from the karate club hit on her, and she almost break his arm trying to teach him a lesson!"

The rest of the table roared in laughter.

"Serves you right! Then maybe now you won't be so scared of girls anymore, Seth! Haha!" Kai said, banging his hand on the table.

"Or he'll be even more scared of them," Gray smirked, wiggling his eyebrows at Seth.

"I was never afraid of them! Geez..." Seth said, "I've told you: they're just too much trouble."

"It doesn't look like Winter is giving you too much trouble," Dylan said, munching on a casserole to try to hide his smirk.

Seth felt his face heating up on the mention of his former crush. True, Winter never gave him any trouble before (other than the whole not requiting his feelings thing — but that's a story for another day), but hey! Winter McHalen was not to be considered a normal girl in any way.