INTERLOCKED: A JOURNEY.

29. Saudade

Snow's house.

        CLAYTON BURST INSIDE THE house with a boiling rage and banged the front door with a loud thud. Della jumped back in fright and rushed towards her husband. "What's wrong honey?" she asked.

"Snow's with that liar." He yelled.

        "Calm down Hon. He is oblivious about it too. It's going to be heart-breaking news for that poor boy." Della tried to reason.

        "What about Snow? Don't you know how much she loves kids? Don't you remember all the times she's spoken about what she's going to do for her kids? Above all that, her real motivation for her success was the need to provide the best for her children. How big of a heart break it's going to be for our daughter?" Clayton bargained back.

        Della didn't get a chance to retort as Willow entered with Snow in his arms and Alicia following them.

"Oh my goodness!" Della exclaimed.

        Observing the blood stained banded on Snow's feet Clayton spoke, "What the hell happened?" He then turned to Willow and roared in his face, "What the hell did you do to her?"

"Uncle Clay, Snow stepped on the glass you broke in her cabin." Alicia informed.

Willow, Snow and Alicia were all bewildered at the outburst of Mr. Anderson.

Clayton's raged eyes filled with regret. "I-I'm sorry Snow." He sounded defeated.

        "Dad I'm perfectly fine. There's nothing to be sorry about." Snow assured once Willow gently laid her down on the sofa. When she realized he wasn't convinced she smiled and stood. "See?" She walked towards him, controlling her cries of pain all the way. The glass pieces pierced and tugged at her soul. Yet she walked anyway. Clayton's face remained emotionless. "What's the matter dad? What has got you so mad?"

        Willow who watched all of this intently fought hard with himself to stay glued at his spot. He could see the pain in Snow's eyes. The creases on her forehead were a dead giveaway that she was screaming the hell out in her head. He turned his face as he could no more see the torment his love fought with herself.

"Sno-" Her mother began but was interrupted by Clayton.

        "No more hiding Della." He walked Snow to the sofa and sat down along with her. "Snow, your mom and Mrs. Garner met at lunch today. Now we're completely aware of the reason they kept a proposal of marriage over a merger." Once more the dark shadows of anger covered his face.

        Clayton observed as Willow's ears perked up an inch and his curious eyes patiently wandered over each detail of Clayton's expression. He watched his daughter's bewildered face waiting for an explanation for his anger.

      "Snow, if you marry Willow, you won't be able to be a mother." Clayton dropped the bomb in the blink of an eye. He didn't care what kind of damage it will cause everyone present in the room. The moment Snow heard it she fell limp in his arms.

"Snow." He yelled.

"Dad? Dad what's wrong?" A voice much similar like Snow's called out for him.

"Snow?" Clayton was out of his trance. "There is some-"

        "Hey sis, you're home before me today." Roger's triumphant voice resonated through the hall as he returned from school. Alas! All the cheerfulness drained off of Roger's face as his eyes fell over Snow's bleeding feet. Tear's streamed down his eyes just by imagining the amount of pain Snow must have been gone through. "Why the hell is she down here? She should be resting in her room." Angrily enough he got rid of his school bag, lifted his sister bridal style and carried her to her room. "Willow, come with me. Alicia, bring the first aid kit and mom get a hot water bag. Dad, cook some veggies and please bring some juice." He barked orders at the entire family. All he wanted was to take away Snow's pain.