Saving Peyton

French Secrets

Chapter Six

It had been a few days since I had found out the truth, and everyday I became more and more paranoid. I am living in fear that someone would come and harm me. Mac tries to reassure me that he won't let anyone lay a single hand on me. I didn't understand why he would trouble himself with me and my safety when he has his own safety to worry about.

A knock on my door interrupts my depressing thoughts. "Yes, come in." I call out.

The door opens and Gerry is standing there, looking awfully nervous and fidgety. His eyes are looking everywhere, but me.

Shooting him a quizzical look, I ask, "Is everything alright, Gerry?"

"Ma'am, your parents, they have returned, both of them. They will be home within the hour."

"Shit." was all that could escape my mouth. No, my parents weren't terrible, I mean they didn't beat me or did drugs like Mac's, but they had this lovely way of making things awkward. It wasn't completely their fault, they were always busy with their jobs, and they did try to make up for it, but no amount of materialistic things would ever make up for their lack of presence in my life. "Why are they coming home?" I ask, rising from my bed.

Gerry begins to look even more uncomfortable, "They said they were coming home for the charity event and that they had something of dire importance to speak with you."

"Gerry," I begin cautiously, "is there something you're hiding from me?"

He shoots me a sympathetic look, "Ma'am, it is not my place to tell you, I'm sorry, it is your parent's wishes and I believe it is best if they told you and not me."

I nod, understanding, "Thank you, Gerry. I'll prepare myself, call me when dinner is ready."

"Yes, ma'am," he closes my door, leaving me to my thoughts once again.

If matters couldn't get any worse, my parents have chosen the worst time to come home and have something important to tell me. What could possibly be so important to tell me that they would leave their jobs and fly home and that would make Gerry so uncomfortable? Were they going to ship me off to boarding school? They couldn't, not now at least, I needed Mac, he was the only one who could protect me. He couldn't protect me if I was in England or some other fancy European country with a fancy European boarding school. We were in this together.

Strolling across my room to my large walk-in closet, I begin looking for a suitable outfit for tonight. I wasn't sure if we would be going out to eat or if we were dining in at home, either way I would have to dress fancy. Rummaging through my wardrobe, I finally settle on a navy blue sundress, paired with white high heels, white sweater and gold belt. That should be fashionable enough to dine-in or dine-out in.

Turning my curling iron on, I reapply my makeup and add a touch of my favorite Chanel lipgloss. Spending a record breaking time of only twenty minutes on my hair, I now have soft waves cascading down my back.

Hearing loud voices come from below, I sigh, it was time to see them.

Slowly, I descend the stairs, purposefully taking my time. Upon reaching the bottom steps, my parents still haven't noticed my presence. Clearing my throat, "Mother, father, I'm glad to see you've made it safely."

The both turn abruptly, ceasing all conversation with Gerry. They stand there, just looking at me. The silence was slowly starting to suffocate me. After two excruciatingly long minutes, my mother finally found her voice, "Sigourney, darling, it's so lovely to see you again."

Inwardly I cringe, I've always hated my first name. Sigourney. What kind of parent name's their child that? My parents never did tell me why they named me that, all I ever got from them was that it was French, and that was it. End of discussion. Every single time. "Thanks, mother," I forcefully say, "So what is this big important thing you must speak of?"