Flares - Book 1

0.4 - Cannon

John Cannon exited his SUV, making sure to lock it as he walked up the stone pathway to his home. His house was similar to the Beckett's next door, two floors, a smaller porch in the front and larger in the back, but the mahogany walls and the dark shingles on the roof set it apart. Unlike the Beckett's the Cannon's used their front door regularly, he entered his code to use the door, letting himself into his home.

The walls were a light sand colour, accenting the dark wooden floors and the black and gold patterned rugs placed delicately around the furniture. Immediately from the entrance was the kitchen, black cupboards sat upon the walls with marble countertops, a matching island rested in the center with a stainless Steel refrigerator and stove were placed along the far wall and the sink below the front window.

Behind the kitchen was the dining room, lined with oil paintings and lights attached to the walls between. Small, circular tables rested on the walls each holding large orchids - Michelle's favourites, in the center was a medium sized table, circular and black to match the four cushioned chairs surrounding it. The Cannon's dining room was smaller than the one in the Beckett house, but their large backyard made up for it making the Cannon's the perfect place for guests in the. Summer and the Backett's in the winter.
The living room was directly across from the dining room/kitchen area. They had a grey couch and loveseat set staring directly at the flat screen tv that was mounted to the wall. A black tv stand with glass doors to discreetly store the families gaming systems rested below with two matching shelves holding the families large movie collection, organized from genre then alphabetically.

There was a small office space to the far corner, two desks sat across from each other, one side held a skewered mess thanks to the father and son that used it, the other, nearly cleaned and organized, almost everything was labelled and put away neatly by the women of the household.

John removed his coat, the thick smell of cigarettes taking over the clean smelling home as he did so, while the loud arguing of his two children rang in his ears. Unlike Klara and Alex, Brody and Evan fought regularly at home, almost always at odds with each other. A content smile fell on John's lips as he watched them fight over the tv remote in the living room, it was uncommon for them to do homework at their house, always either completing their assignments in class or at school during a free period.

"Hello, my well behaved children." John snickered as the pair pulled away from each other. John's voice was thick with an English accent-having grown up in England before meeting Michelle and moving to be with her- and held a strong rasp from his years of smoking, an addiction he wouldn't soon quit.

John was a short man, with a slight beer gut and scruff he'd never let grow into a full beard. His eyes were brown as dark chocolate, and his hair was black aside from the few streaks of grey from his obvious age.

"He picked a movie yesterday, it's my turn." Evan pouted, ripping the remote from her distracted brother.

"Fuck off, I'm not watching some girly movie with you. Go to your room with that shit." Brody growled, reaching from the remote but ultimately missing.

"She's right Brody, it's her turn, you can go to your room if you don't like it." John shrugged, movie to the living room. It wasn't abnormal for John and Michelle to side with Evan, most situations they did and Brody was left frustrated.

"Whatever. I'll be in my room." Brody rolled his eyes standing from the couch.

"Also, we're going to the Beckett's for dinner today, Bruce invited me." John called stopping Brody on the stairs.

"You're joking."

"Why? Is something wrong? Is it Klara?" John looked between his kids. "Did she break your heart my boy?"