Totally Clueless

Chapter 28

Horace relaxed in his office soaking in the quiet.

He smiled to himself just thinking of the difference it made not having Josh and Chrisy there.

It was heaven.

His brain needed a break. Maybe he'd have a cigar or a shot of whisky to complete the serenity.

Then suddenly, disrupting his silence, the screech of tires as a vehicle came to an abrupt stop.

His forehead wrinkled. What could have been the comotion?

By the time he got to the foyer he was just in time to see Chrisy rush up the staircase to her room and Kerry following closely on her heels.

Then, another screech of tires. And twin boys came rushing through his door.

"What's happening?" He demanded to know.

Josh didn't know how to answer. He stared at Horace with so many expressions on his face that they were impossible to read. Guilt, worry, fear were among them.

"My mother..." he began. "...my mother told her everything."

Horace stared at Josh as if he didn't understand the words that came out of his mouth.

"I warned you about this....I told you to tell her...you promised me..." Expressions of panic and subtle anger hinted in his tone.

"I'm sorry Mr H. I was going to ...I was afraid ....but I'll fix it, just let me talk to her...explain things..." He took a step to the stairs but Horace stopped him with his palm to Joshs chest.

"No Josh...you've done enough...you both have....go wait in the living room." He instructed.

"But Mr H..." Josh began to protest.

"Now!..." He bellowed. Then, lowering his voice he continued. "...I'll go talk to her myself."

Horace pushed the door and let himself into his daughters spacious room.

Chrisy was folded in her bed crying into her raspberry pink pillows and Kerry tried to console her but it was no use.

"Uncle H...thank God....She won't tell me what's wrong.."

Horace took a deep breath. He already knew what was wrong. He had known from the beginning. He sat beside her opposite Kerry.

" Honey...what is it?" He rested his hand to her slender arms but she jerked it away. Her skin was prickly like thorns had stung them and her father's touch only aggravated it.

"Sweetheart...talk to me.."

This time she allowed him to raise her up.

Her eyes were blood red. Horace first thought was. "I'll kill that boy for doing this to my daughter."

"He's engaged daddy..." She said, then she sobbed even more, And Horace gathered her into a fatherly embrace.

Kerry lost her breath at those words.

She froze like the statue of liberty. She couldn't move even if she had tried. Her body had lost all obedience. She'd never experienced words so sharp. They slashed against her skin like razor blades. And every rip of her skin tortured her with excruciating pain. Her breath burnt against the dryness of her throat. Just trying to breath became torture.

"No..." She managed to choke. "...Surely not Reid....not my Reid?"

"They both are." came the dreaded reply to her question.

Kerry wanted to wake up from her nightmare but it was real. The one who she had confessed her love to both in word and deed had betrayed her.

What had she done to deserve this?

How was Horace to console these girls. This was Jasmines job. Chrisy's mother was good at this sort of thing. He didn't know the first thing about it.

"Maybe its all just a big misunderstanding....maybe there is more to it than you know...did you talk to them...? What did they say?"

"Daddy? Your on their side? Their own mother told me. Why would she lie? They,re both engaged to be married...they're going back to India soon...."

"Maybe it's not...maybe you should hear them out.."

The girls began to look at Horace suspiciously. This was not the reaction he was suppose to have...he was her father, he was suppose to be mad as hell...he was suppose to be furious at anyone who had caused her tears....unless?

"You knew didn't you..." Chrisy finally said. "...You knew and you said nothing."

Another stab in her chest.

Another unwelcoming pain.

Another betrayal.

"Uncle H...how could you?..."

"I'm sorry. Josh and Reid....are my clients....I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to..." He turned to Chrisy.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but it wasn't my story to tell. It was their's and now that it's out in the open what have you got to loose by giving them an ear...for me baby, I hate to see you hurt like this..." He turned to Kerry.

"They're waiting for you downstairs. You just say the word and I'll have them tell you everything or leave....which ever you prefer....I'm sorry it came to this."

Horace stretched a comforting hand to his daughter but she didn't reach for him at all.

"Ok. I'll listen." She finally said.

Horace lead them down stairs where Josh and Reid waited but he did not stay with them.

Josh sat at one end of the oversized L shaped sofa and Reid sat at the opposite end.

Chrisy came in and sat closer to Josh's end of the sofa while Kerry sat closer to Reid's end, yet still there could have comfortably been miles between them all.