Wildflowers; After the long wait

chapter 2

Dwayne paced the living room of his parents house. It was past twelve, his mom and dad where already in bed and Dawn still wasn't back. Dwayne had been drinking from his fathers alcohol stash and he was drunk. Where the he'll, did his little brother take his wife? He had called Dawns cell about a hundred times already but that just when straight to voice mail. Was he sleeping with Alice? His stomach churned at the thought. What had Dawn and his wife been up to while he was gone? From the way he held her in his arms, it wasn't too hard to figure out. Dwayne's own mind was driving him crazy. He laid on the living room sofa, looking up at the ceiling, If only he had said the right words, maybe he would have been with her right now. Things had just gotten out of hand. He should have held her in his arms and told her he was sorry. He should have kissed her until she forgave him. He closed his eyes, he would just have to wait there until Dawn came home.

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"Dwayne! You're home." His mother called as she made her way into the kitchen. Dwayne was pouring himself a cup of coffee when she walked in, by the time he came into the house last night she and his dad were already in bed. He was up by five the next morning, a habit he had picked up while working on the Plants. He and his team rarely slept during their projects, working both day and night shifts.

"Hey, mom" he smiled, walking up to his mother and kissing her on the cheek. "I came last night but I didn't want to disturb you guys."

"Don't be silly, "She hugged her son, "you've lost weight."

"Just a little, nothing your cooking can't cure." Marlene laughed.

"Mom do you know where Alice stays now?" he asked carelessly. Marlene Harrison looked at her son confused. He was already asking for Alice and her heart sank a little. She loved Alice but she had always feared the child might one day come between her sons. She knew her eldest son was once in love with the young woman, they never had any type of relationship as far as she knew, after he went away, to her knowledge he had cut all contact with her. Marlene had naturally assumed that he had gotten over her, so she had openly supported Dawn's relationship with Alice and hoped he would marry her soon.

"Why do you ask son?" Dwayne released himself from his mother's arm, turning back to grab his coffee mug off the breakfast counter. He walked over to the dining table that was in the middle of the room. There were six chairs around the large table, he pulled out the nearest one and sat down.

"I'm just curious, I haven't seen her in a while." He lied. He wasn't about to tell his mom what happened last night.

Marlene smiled with relief, "Oh, she bought her old house back from the owners two years ago." Dwayne looked up over his mug at his mother both surprised and glad at the same time. Buying back the home she grew up in had always been one of her dreams.

"Oh really? That's great." he said casually but genuinely happy. Do you know where Dawn is?" He took a slow sip of his coffee. His mom stood before the refrigerator. She opened the door, pulling out a crate of eggs, some sweet peppers, a block of cheese and a carton of milk, placing them next to the counter by the sink.

"He comes and goes as he please, most of the time he's down at the construction site or he's hiding at Alice's place, especially when he drinks too much and doesn't want me to find out." Marlene laughed nonchalantly. Her son thought she didn't know but a mother had her ways.

"He's a big boy, so I let him think he can fool me." She turned the sink tap on before casually washing the peppers.

Dwayne gripped the handle of his mug so hard; the old ceramic gave a silent cry. 'It had become a normal thing for his brother to spend the night over at Alice's place, even his parents thought it was okay.' he fumed.  Dwayne stood up sending his chair flying over to the floor. Marlene looked up, startled.