The Walks of Life

Chapter Eighteen

Aiden started awake at a sudden shaking throughout the house. He yelled and looked around for his daddy. Where was Daddy? He started to cry, but no one came. He crawled over the bars on his crib and landed on the floor. He lost his balance and sat down hard. He blinked back his tears and walked to the door. It was shut. He couldn't reach the handle.

Aiden looked around and spotted one of his toy buckets nearby. He dumped the contents out and used it as a step stool. He opened the door and scrambled out to the way so it wouldn't knock him over. He scurried out into the hall and noticed a big hole in the floor. He walked over to it and peered down. He saw his Daddy and his Grandpa. Grandma and Papa G were down the hall. There was Auntie J and that new lady.

"Daddy?" He called down. His Daddy said something back but he couldn't hear him very well. He leaned forward. He thought he heard him say stop. Aiden didn't like that word. "No!"

Aiden heard the floor beneath him crack and he yelled as he tipped forward. This was definitely the scariest experience of his life--which consisted of approximately eighteen months.

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The shaking stopped and Jacquline looked around incredulously. Lloyd finally appeared from the wall. He looked pale and annoyed.

"Dad!" Jacquline ran to him and threw her arms around him. "What happened?"

"What happened?! I lost control of my power! I haven't done that in years!" Lloyd retorted. "Wasn't that obvious?"

Jacquline looked startled at his tone of voice. He immediately regretted snapping at her and his face softened. He brushed strands of hair away from his daughter's face.

"I'm sorry," Lloyd apologized gently. "And before you ask, the shaking was caused by me. It happens when I-I loose control of my power."

"I understand," Jacquline smiled.

"Seriously though," Haden asked. "Where is Delilah?"

"I think she is the cat near your feet," Lloyd said pointing to the ground.

Haden looked down to see a cat rubbing up against his ankle. It meowed at him and began to purr.

"Delilah?" Haden asked as he picked her up. She blinked at him and meowed again. "Why aren't you changing back?"

"I'm so confused," Lloyd groaned.

Haden was still holding the cat when it suddenly changed into Delilah again. Haden toppled over and Delilah landed on top of him. Jacquline began to laugh and Lloyd rolled his eyes.

"Shift-shaper?" Haden asked incredulously.

"No," she snapped. "I have no idea what it is, but I can't control it very well."

"Can you get off of him?" Lloyd asked.

"Awww, Dad," Haden smirked. "I kind of like it."

Delilah turned scarlet and she scrambled up quickly. Lloyd threw his hands up in the air. Jacquline laughed even harder. Lloyd gave up and laughed too. Then he turned serious again.

"My son should not be making jokes like that," Lloyd grumbled.

"You make them about mom," Jacquline pointed out.

"I'm married to her!" Lloyd retorted.

"Daddy?" A tiny voice said.

"Aiden! Step away from the giant hole in the ceiling!" Haden commanded.