Olive Tree (WAIK Sequel)

Chapter 17 - "Take Me Away."

When the next morning had finally crept up on me, the wind felt colder than before. Snow?! I jumped from my warm sheets and eagerly opened up the curtains. Disappointment struck me when all I saw was light drizzle. I forgot it didn't snow in America.

"It's not going to snow anytime soon," Anne said from behind me, cradling Sapphire in her new night gown; laced around the top and bottom with light, red silk in-between. "I know what you're like."

"Jeez, I didn't know you could read minds. I didn't know women got super powers once they've given birth." I sarcastically replied, pivoting around to pinch Sapphire's cheeks. She giggled.

"Giving birth is a super power." She smiled and stopped rocking from side to side. "I would let you hold her but we're off to see Josh's parents."

"The dreaded in-laws," I sighed contently. "They'll love you, Anne."

"I know," She winked, flipped her hair with her free hand and turned to walk out the room. "Beatrice already left to her friend's... Uh... Gale?"

"Gillian," I smirked and sat back on my bed. By the time I'd answered her, she'd already left to get her and Saph ready for Josh's parents. All I heard was a distant call of same difference from down the hall.

I snickered to myself and checked my phone. Next to it was a bright yellow sticky note that read, in Bea's signature swirly handwriting,

be back at 1:30 to baby sit Si and Rose, love you, Bea x

It was 1:50 and Beatrice hadn't showed up. I paced up and down the living room while trying to keep my siblings occupied. Where was she? I tried to phone her 5 times in the past 20 minutes, and sent her over 10 text messages. I couldn't help but think the worst. I imagined her collapsed in a ditch, dirt covering her face; suffocating her. Maybe her Celiliac kicked in and she couldn't help but take a rest. Her phone died and she needed my help. Maybe she had just took a stroll on the road because she just couldn't deal with the fact that her best friend had died. Maybe she wasn't phyically here anymore.

2:00 came and I began sweating. Everytime the gate would slam in the wind I would look out of the window in anticipation that I would just see her little dirty blonde hair bobbing up and down through the garden. I longed to know of her safety.

Bea finally arrived at 3:15 and claimed that Gillian and her were going through pictures of Louise and making a collage for Louise's gravestone. She pulled it out of the plastic bag she was clutching. It was pretty cute and kind of them, so I forgave her as soon as I saw the white roses in shape of a heart and pictures of Louise smiling and seeming happy; yet inside she felt like the world was falling down ontop of her. She pulled me into a massive embrace, wrapped up in a scarf, hat and furr coat, and promised not to be late next time.

Anne and Josh were home pretty early. Josh's parents were obnoxious. I've only met then once and that was when Anne was pregnant. They didn't approve of such an early pregnancy and they weren't married. So many sins, so little time.

We decided against a take away and I decided to attempt to make a stir fry.

"Dinner is ready," I shouted. Bea made the table; spread the table cloth and set out the cutlery and Anne made Saph's hot milk. She had been breast feeding but she stopped because she didn't feel comfortable making everyone watch her feed her baby, and her chest was as flat as a motorway. "I'm plating it up!"

I put the plates accordingly on the table with Bea's instruction and played up the stir fry, then shouted everyone again.

Good news, I didn't give anyone food poisoning. Well, give or take.

Later than night, when everyone was asleep, Beatrice sat awake, knees tucked to her chest, staring into darkness.

"Bea, try and get to-"

"Don't," Her voice shook within tears. "Don't tell me to go to sleep like I'm a kid."

"You're blowing this out of proportion." I honestly replied.

"Blowing this out of proportion? My best friend died. How can I blow that out of proportion? I have kept a brave face all day. Fake smiles for the grown ups. Fake laughs for the kids. Fake sex for you,"

My eyes widened as her last sentence hit me. I questioned it.

"I haven't felt right for months," She began sobbing into the duvet as I wrapped my arms around her. "I didn't mean it, my head is all over the place. Olly, can you please make this stop? Pause the pain. Take me away."

I grimaced into the darkness and thoughts jumped around my head. Idea after idea of how to make the pain stop. Suddenly I got a burst of wisdom in myself.

I knew what I had to do.