The Adolescence of Adele Scholz

Chapter 31: A Man's Lesson

By the time I finish sliding my shoes back on, I notice that we are all up.

"Now, what's the plan? Do you have any more secret exits?" Leigh-Anne asks.

"No. But would your parents realize if you are gone for the night, Philip?" Nathaniel asks.

"No! They are actually out of the country. In our Paris home."

"You have a Paris home?" Leigh-Anne asks.

"Yea, and a flat in London."

"Alright, let's pay attention. Philip, you need to sleepover, because if my mother catches you dropping Adele off this late, she is going to be angry."

"How do you know if your mother is still even up?" Philip ask.

"I saw the dining room light on. It never stays on all night." He answers. She must be still working on Walsh's paperwork."So here's the plan, I tell my mother I made the last-minute decision to attend the charity ball and that I ran into Adele and Philip there. And that I brought her home. In the meantime, Leigh-Anne and Philip go upstairs. Sounds like a plan?"

"No, why am I being forced upstairs? I do work here."

"Because she will question why you dressed like that. Now is everyone clear?"

"Yes." I say as Leigh-Anne and Philip shake their head yes.

"Alright, Adele, you're with me, and Philip and Leigh-Anne will start heading upstairs."Nathaniel takes the lead by opening his father's office door and begins to look down the hallway both ways. "Alright, the coast is clear." Nathaniel and I walk side by side, as Leigh-Anne and Philip follow behind us. Once we hit the stair room, we go our separate ways, but I find myself keep looking back at Philip."Stop looking around; you look sneaky." Nathaniel says, turning my head straight, right before we enter the dining room.

"Stop being so controlling. You look sneaky." I say back. When I get the first glance, I see Mrs.Reynolds alone but with two wine glasses. "Hello, Mrs.Reynolds." I say, causing her to look up.

"Oh, hello, Children. I thought you were asleep. And Nathaniel, why are you all dressed up?"

"Because I made the last-minute decision to attend the charity ball. I ran into Philip and Adele there, and I offered to take her home."

"Are you two just getting back now?"

"Yes." Nathaniel answers.

"Oh, I didn't even hear you come in."

"Yes, I thought you might have been asleep. So we didn't want to wake you, so we came in quietly."

"No, I am, not. How was the ball, Adele?"

"Great, Philip was a real gentleman."

"That's good. Well, you kids head to sleep. I will be finishing up soon."

"Good night." I say, ready to leave, but Nathaniel tugs me closer to him.

"Mother, why is there another glass here?"

"Oh, I didn't want to keep getting up to get a glass, so I just poured myself two." She responds with this laugh as if she is hiding something. And she's not doing such a great job.

"But, I can't help but notice the red lipstick print on it, and the other doesn't." Nathaniel says.

"Well, I don't know what you want me to say, Nathaniel. No one is here beside us, and staff." But that's not enough for him,  he marches into the kitchen through the swinging door. "No!" She yells. But it's too late. He has done his bidding. Seconds later, we hear the sound of the two masculine grunts. Mrs. Reynolds runs in first, and I follow her. When I come inside, I am frightened by the sight of Kendrick pushing Nathaniel's head against the counter, with a knife near his neck. "What's going on?"

"Your son decided that he wanted to come here and start a fight with me, thinking he could win. But I got the upper hand."

"Why is he wearing, father's robe?" Nathaniel asks. Kendrick wears a royal blue robe with the letter 'E.R.' in cursive sewn onto the top right of the robe.

"Because he was cold." Mrs.Reynolds answers.

"Well, he's not man enough to even wear something with such quality." Nathaniel says. Kendrick pushes his face harder against the counter and brings the knife so close that it now touches the surface of his neck.

"Alright, let's calm down. He's just a boy." Mrs.Reynolds says, trying to come to the side of her son.

"But he talks like a man." Kendrick says, laughing, bringing the knife so close to Nathaniel's neck that with one simple movement, it can end Nathaniel's life."And there is a time in every man's life when he deserves to have his beating. His lesson."

"Well, it seems you haven't had yours. So how about you go? Nobody wants you here." I blurt out.

The eyes of everyone turns on me, I become invisible to the most prominent person in that room, in the snap of a finger. Kendrick lets go of Nathaniel and pushes him towards us, nearly knocking down the tipsy Mrs.Reynold. He then slides the robe to the ground and dramatic steps on it three times.

"Is that how you feel? All of you!" He asks, gazing at both Mrs.Reynolds and Nathaniel in the eyes, but they refuse to answer. "Well, I'll leave, but you will regret this. Because everyone needs me." He then looks me into the eyes."And I am coming for you. You are a disrespectful little girl, and I am coming for you... If that's the last thing, I do." He then walks out, but his chilling words don't. No one says a word until we hear his car pull off, the property.

"You stupid, Boy." Mrs.Reynolds says regarding her son."You ruined everything. You couldn't just go to sleep. You had to start snooping. And because of you, we will lose this case." She says before returning into the dining room with a total loss of emotion.

"What is she talking about?" He asks me.

"I am not allowed to tell you."

"Does it have something to do with Leigh-Anne's father? Or Kendrick?" I am afraid to answer him because I am not suppose to say anything. But even in my silence, he knows the answer."Does it? Yes or no?" He says, bringing back his temper.

"If I tell you, you can not say anything. Deal?"

"Deal." He says, leaving his hand to shake, but I refuse. I don't know where his hands have been.

"Your mother told me that Plymouth is pressing charges against Walsh for attempted murder."

"And let me guess, Kendrick, has something to do with it?"

"Yes, he has influence. And what just happened is not helping in our favor." I say, causing the stare of guilt to fall upon Nathaniel's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Adele. I truly am. But if Kendrick is the bad guy in this whole situation, why is he having drinks with my mother? Is there something else going on?"

"Now, I can't answer that. It's not my secret to tell." I walk out without an official goodbye, only to be frighten by Connor waiting outside the kitchen's swinging door. I cover my mouth, with my hand forcing me to do a silent scream."What is wrong with you? Why aren't you sleeping? Why isn't anybody sleeping?" I ask of him.

"I was, but I heard talking and assumed you were back from the charity ball. How was it?"

"Good."

"So, I heard you went with Philip Chapman."

"Yes, I did." I see a look of pity and sadness on his face."But we are just friends."

"Good, I thought that since tomorrow I get the afternoon off, that maybe you would want to go into town and-"

"Go on a date?"

"Yes, that's what I mean. What do you say?"

"I am flattered... I am. But Mrs.Reynolds and I are working incredibly hard on something tomorrow, so maybe another time?"

"Oh...well. I guess I will see you around." He does a sad goodbye wave before turning around and walking up the stairs.