The Trap

Chapter 44

"So can we please go get them now, please?" Dylan asked, hoping that it was time to make their family complete again.

"Not yet, son. We have to think of a plan to get Mum and your sisters back," Simon replied, while looking at Dylan.

When Dylan and Rochelle had disappeared upstairs, Simon made his way into the kitchen. He notices that the mail covered most of the table almost looked like a white tablecloth. He sits down in the already pulled out chair. He guessed that Paula had sat there to go through the mail. Then he spotted the two page letter that she was talking about. He picked up the letter and walked to his office to read it in peace. After he finished reading the letter carefully, he had a better understanding of what the real situation was. Now he knows where she was coming from, but just as he suspected she had read it wrong.

Simon decided to call Paula hoping that she would pick up and they can discuss what the letter really said. This was only a half-backed plan, that he hopes will work. But he is so thankful that this huge mess was just one big misunderstanding. He picked up the land-line on the right side of his deck before dialing her number. He knew her digits by heart. As the phone began to ring he placed his feet on the edge of his desk and leaned back in his chair. The phone rang five times before transferring to her voicemail.

"Hey love, it's me. Just calling to see how you and the girls are doing. Please call me when you get this. I read the letter and we need to talk because you read it wrong. Tell the girls 'hi' for me and that I love them. I love you with all my heart! I'm sorry that I didn't say it back to you this afternoon, but everything was just happening way too fast. Anyway, talk to you soon. Bye!"

He waited five minutes to giver her time to call him back before calling again. But when he called her the second time, the same thing happened. The phone rang five times and went straight to the voicemail. He left another message, but this time he worded it differently. Even though she didn't answer her phone, he just couldn't resist hearing her sweet voice. So he continues to call her non-stop for an hour. Simon already misses hearing her voice all over the house, even though they just left ninety minutes ago.

Meanwhile back at the Baker's, Paula had just come in from chatting with Mason and Beth on the patio. She kept on hearing a beeping sound while she was outside. She was on a mission to locate the noise when she heard it again. It was coming from her purse. She checked her phone and saw that she had fifty missed calls and four voice mails. Then she looked up the caller I.D. and noticed that every single one came from Simon. Paula took a deep breath and decided to return his call to see what he needed. She was in the middle of dialing when her phone started singing at her. She was shocked to see who was calling her because it wasn't Simon.

"Hey Ryan, what's up?"

"Hey P, we're having a work meeting at my house tonight to talk about the new season. See you two at six!"

"Wait Ry, I can't tell him."

"Oh why not? Is he too busy just staring at himself in the mirror?"

"Ha, ha, funny but no. Um we're not talking right now. We had a huge fight and my girls and I moved out today."

"What happened between you two?"

"I don't want to talk abut it right now."

"Come on, please tell me. I promise, I won't tell anyone."

"Sorry Ry, but I'm not in the mood."

"Okay then, I'll see you at six, right?"

"Yep, I'll be there."

After she hung up, she went upstairs to check on the girls. When she arrived to the second level, she could hear laughter coming from the game room, the first door on the right hand side. She peaked her head into the room and sees that the girls were having a blast with all four of the Baker kids.

"Hey kids, what are you up to?" Paula asked the group.

"We're playing twister, Mom. Do you want to play?" Lily asked wondering. She had her head between her legs.

"No thanks, but maybe next time you play, I will. It looks fun!" she said smiling at all the kids in the room. "Anyway, Holly and Lily, are you okay?" she asked curiously.

"Yeah we're fine, Mom," Holly replied, concentrating on keeping her balance. She was twisted around with her hands so far apart from each other and she was almost doing the splits.

"Good. Let me know if you want to talk about anything that happened today," she said, hoping that her girls wanted to share their thoughts and feelings with her about this.

"Okay Mom we will," Lily said, trying to smile as her face got redder by the second. All the blood was rushing to her head.

"Is that it, Mom?" Holly asked, wondering. "We have an intense game to get back to," she said as politely as she could.

"No, actually I'm going out tonight, so you're staying here with the Baker's," she replied, hoping that they would be okay to be without her.

"Where are you going?" Lily asked. She in the middle of taking a break while the other kids were still in their positions.

"Ryan is having a work meeting at his house tonight," she said, while looking at her girls. She wasn't sure how they would take this news.

"Okay well have fun!" Lily replied with a smile.

"Thanks sweetie, you too," she said returning the smile.

Then she walked over to her girls and gave them hugs before leaving the room. Even Holly had got out of her odd position just to embrace her mother. The entire time that their mother was in the room, both girls were sporting fake smiles to hide what they truly felt inside. When the time was right, the girls will let their Mom know what was going on, but now wasn't the time or place.

"So when will you tell your Mom what you told us?" Bridget asked whispering. She is number three in the Baker clan.

"Later Bri, she wouldn't understand now. But don't worry when the time is right, we'll tell her," Holly replied, whispering back to her. She didn't want to risk letting her Mom hear her if she was listening on the other side of the door.

Meanwhile Paula had just arrived downstairs and went straight into the living room where the girls had just dumped their bags before going to find their friends. She unzips her suitcase and takes out her makeup bag and headed into the bathroom.

A few minutes later, Beth knocked on the door.

"Oh hey what's up?"

"Nothing, but I should be asking you that."

"I have a work meeting tonight. Can you watch the girls, please?"

"Of course! But no need to ask, you three are like family to us! But when do you plan to be home?"

"I have no idea. But if you need anything, just call me. I'll have my ringer on and in my pocket."

"Okay will do. Did you tell the girls?"

"Yep just did."

"Okay have a good time."

"Thanks, you too."

And with that, the two women hugged and Paula was on her way to Ryan's house. She wasn't looking forward to seeing Simon, but was glad that the meeting wasn't at his house. She didn't want to be back there yet. But she hoped that someday soon, she'll want to be living under the same roof again.