A Shell In The Sand

Chapter 2-

Chicago- The Lachlan Household

The next morning at 12.45pm Aileen had enough waiting around for her boys to wake up so Gordon went up stairs and dragged the pair out of their beds and downstairs. Aileen is sitting in the living room with a cup of tea in her hand wondering if she had made the right decision or not but she was soon about to find out. Cameron and Laine both drag their feet against the ground feeling not only rough because of the drink but also because of the crash. Cameron sits on one side of the corner sofa and Laine sits on the other side of the corner sofa while Gordon decides to sit in his single chair by his wife. She takes one last sip of her tea and puts the cup back down on the table.

"How are you boys feeling this morning?" Aileen asks her boys seeing the bruises starting to appear on their skin.

Cameron and Laine both sit in silence not wanting to talk about it having agreed late last night that no one would find out what happened and that Cameron would pay Laine back all the money.

"Last night me and your father decided to call a very dear friend of ours for a little help" Aileen begins to tell the boys

"What kind of help?"Laine quickly sits up thinking that there is something wrong with his parents

"Me and your father are fully aware that Cameron was the one who caused the crash last night and we both discussed that this can't keep happening. We have had to get our cars repaired five times in the past three months. Laine we appreciate the fact you wanted to help your brother out and protect him but at the end of the day he decided to get behind the wheel and lie about it. We can't keep going round in circles so we have decided that you either get your life together or we will cut you off for good, no money, no cars, no roof over your head and no parents" Aileen reveals her intentions to Cameron

"You can't do that" Cameron sits up in shock at the words coming from his parents mouth

" Yes we can son. Luckily we made an agreement a long time ago with a friend and she is willing to help us out with this predicament. You either get a job and marry the girls daughter or be out this house in 10 minutes" Gordon informs his son of his choices

"Are you being serious? Laine drunk drive too and yet i'm the one having to do this. Are you kidding me?" Cameron shouts at them annoyed

" Yes Cameron we are serious, you have gone for too long thinking you can do whatever you want but you can't. So you have a decision to make" Aileen yells at him feeling disgusted with herself that she has to do this but knows if it means it will keep her family together than it must be done.

"Surely there is another way?" Laine asks his parents feeling bad for his brother

"Do you even know the girl, are you seriously going to get me to marry some stranger?" Cameron hits out them in a rage

"We know the girl, she is both beautiful and very loving. You also used to know her" Aileen replies to them

Laine and Cameron look at each other feeling confused

"The three of you used to play together as children before we moved away" Gordon explains to them

"We haven't seen her in years" Laine points out having no idea what she would look like now

"Seriously" Cameron sighs and sits on the edge of the seat thinking about what to do.

"She's doing good for herself. She goes to college in chicago and she is really bright. Trust me you will all still get along" Aileen assure them it will all be fine.