Again, the disclaimer holds true. I hope you enjoy reading The Quartet.
The
Quartet ~ Seara’s Story
Chapter
1
Seara brushed her hand along the top of her
dresser, stopping to look at her graduation picture. Four girls smiled back at
her. The Quartet they had named
themselves, the summer before she entered Middle School. Nearly eleven years
had past since that picture was taken. So much had changed in that time. Next
to the first picture, stood a picture of her and Brian in their cap and gowns.
Seara smiled at the memory, but refused to let herself go down memory lane.
Seara looked around the room she’d grown up in.
Sighing, she moved to her suitcase to finish unpacking. Seara never imagined
she’d be living in this house again. Seara wanted to scream. Neglecting the
unpacking, Seara headed down the stairs. Her feet moved of their own volition
seeking her private spot.
The leaves crunched beneath her feet as she
crossed the path that led through her woods. She stumbled on new roots hidden
beneath the fallen leaves. The path was overgrown by new life. The footprints
of long ago were nearly worn away. Twilight cast long shadows winding down the
path. While away she made a point to return here as often as she could: when
life and work allowed. This was her solace. The one place where time stood
still and the cares of the world melted away.
Reaching her hand out to feel the rough dark bark,
her fingers slid through the unnatural crevices carved into her tree. She
heaved a sigh. Twisting around, she fell backwards against her tree; the bark
scratched her back as she slumped to the ground. Head in hands she listened to
the soft sounds around her. Waiting for the pieces to fall together.
The murmur of children could be heard in the
distance. Lifting her head, she saw four girls she once recognized. They were
too far away to make out their words; however, their body language spoke
volumes. The girls were carefree, fearless as they embarked on their journey
into the woods. Their laughter ricocheted off the trees. The simple joy in
their surroundings. Life was perfect and they were at peace.
“My daddy built me this tree-house.” The littlest
said pointing toward her tree.
“It’ll be perfect for our meetings.” Said the
dark-haired one.
“I brought my pocketknife.” Said the littlest,
already beginning to pull it from her pocket.
“Peanut_” Scolded the tallest, presumably her sister, “You’re only to use that
when dad’s around.”
“We could carve our names into the tree,” the
dark-haired girl said, effectively stopping what would have surely become a
battle, “or at least our initials.”
“Everyone always puts BFF.” The
blonde-haired girl spoke up, “It’s in all the movies.”
Peanut looked around warily, then added in an
almost shy voice, “Yeah, but I think they forget the second ‘F’ when
they grow up.” The reality of this could be seen on the girl’s faces.
“I know,” said the blonde, “We could put BFN
- Best Friends Now.”
The girls giggled at her, but in the end decided
they would do whatever it took to remain Best Friends Forever. They also
knew they needed a name for their newly formed club. After bouncing around
several goofy names the tallest came up with one they all agreed on.
“How about The Quartet?” The tallest asked.
With that it was decided. The tallest, after a
series of negotiating, retrieved the knife and carved their name and her
initials into the tree. Each girl then followed suit. Peanut being the last
took extra care to make her S as perfect as possible.
She watched the girls disappear into the mist that
rose. Their laughter and school-girl chatter vanishing with them. Standing up,
she dusted the leaves that stuck to her bottom. Swiping at a stray tear, Seara
left her woods.
When had it all changed? All of a sudden they were
all grown up heading in different directions. Sure they talked occasionally on
the phone or over the Internet, taking time to get together over Christmas, and
their annual vacation, but Seara could already see things were changing.
Alyssa’s wedding three years ago, and Talli’s last year were changing their
circle. Again Seara sighed, feeling the usual emptiness inside.
Not ready to go into the empty house Seara walked
around the house, head looking up at the night sky. The thousands of stars both
comforted her and made her feel insignificant. Sinking to her knees head in her
hands Seara cried out.
“How? How am I to handle all of this? Why me? What
am I to do? I’m so confused.” Seara sucked in a deep breath. Tomorrow she would
head back to the hospital to visit her father. He wasn’t even sixty; and yet,
the doctor had declared he had Alzheimer’s. On top of that her dad had just a
heart attack. She had known he hadn’t been feeling well lately, but had no
idea. If it wasn’t for grandma she didn’t know what she would do. Grandma had
moved in with her dad five years ago shortly after grandpa passed away. Seara’s
mom passed away the summer after Seara graduated high school. She had fought
cancer for over six years, before it finally took her. Seara didn’t know how
she would be able to handle this.
Sucking in a deep breath, swallowing the tears she
refused to shed, she would press on as she always had. She would be strong for
her family. She would make sure dad was taken care of, find a part-time job,
and keep an eye on Grandma.
Car lights headed into the drive-way as Seara
stepped onto the porch, Grandma was home. Seara took comfort in this. Walking
to the car, Seara helped her grandmother into the house, ignoring her
objections.
“Your dad is fine.” Grandma patted Seara’s hand,
“The doctor said he should be able to come home by Monday.”
Seara ushered Grandma into the kitchen after
making sure she was settled, Seara went to the coffee pot, pouring her
grandmother a cup of black coffee and then adding a little cold water.
“Why didn’t you tell us about the Alzheimer’s?”
Seara asked kindly. She knew she could be blunt with her grandmother. They had
always had that kind of relationship.
“Your father wanted to tell you, Alyssa, and
Michael all at once. Michael should be home for Thanksgiving.” Grandma smiled.
Michael was Seara and Alyssa’s biological
half-brother. He had been placed with them in December of Seara’s sixth grade
year. It had taken nearly two years before all of the paperwork had gone
through for them to legally adopt him. Seara and Alyssa were ecstatic to have a
baby brother. He was 4 days old when he had come to live with them.
* * *
Seara and Alyssa came running in the house. “Mom!”
Alyssa shouted concern lacing her voice, “What are you doing home?”
Dad came around the corner. “Dad!” Seara squealed.
It wasn’t often that their parents beat them home in the afternoons. Seara
dropped her backpack on the couch and launched at her father. Even though
Seara was in middle school, she still loved snuggling with her father and
didn’t care what anyone else thought.
“Come sit down.” Dad said, guiding the girls into
the family room. Alyssa and mom sat on the love seat, while Seara and dad sat
on the couch. “How was school?”
“Good. No more school til next year.” Seara
smiled. “I just wish it would snow!”
“How ‘bout you, Sis?” Mom asked Alyssa.
“Fine. Why are you guys home early?” Alyssa asked coming right to the point, worry arching her brow.
Mom and dad looked at each other. Dad nodded
slightly to mom and mom started. “I got a call today at work. Michelle called.
After she called me, I called your dad. We decided that if you girls were okay
with it we would take this placement.”
“Who is it? How old are they? Will they be here
for Christmas? This is so exciting.” Seara rattled off.
“Hey, Peanut.” Dad gently broke into her chatter,
“Let mom and I finish okay.” Mom nodded and dad went on, “You know we haven’t
been taking placements recently because your mom’s not been feeling well, but
we decided that we would take this one. It’s a boy. He’s only a couple days
old." Dad paused, "He’s your brother.”
Seara and Alyssa sat in silence.
“You’re biological mother had a baby. But she
can’t keep him, she was on all kinds of drugs when she went into labor. We have
to go pick him up tonight if we’re going to take him.”
Seara moved off the couch and went over to stand
in front of her sister. Alyssa’s eyes were blank. Seara could tell she was in
that dark place again. Alyssa didn’t even notice mom move off the couch. Seara
did what she always did when this happened – it hadn’t happened as often as it
had in the beginning – gently Seara grabbed Alyssa’s hands, speaking softly to
her.
Alyssa looked at her, “We have to. He’s our
brother.”
Seara nodded. She knew her sister would want to
protect their brother in the same way Alyssa always protected her. Seara leaped
off the couch and ran to the kitchen, Alyssa following behind.
“We want him.” The girls shouted in unison. And
then the barrage of questions began. Mom and dad laughed at the girls. Finally
deciding mom would call Michelle, the social worker, and go pick up baby
Michael, while dad and the girls talked and worked on dinner.
* * *
Monday morning, Seara woke before dawn. It had
been a busy weekend, and would be a busy couple of hours before she could bring
her dad home. Seara peeked at the clock and realizing she wouldn’t get anymore
sleep decided to throw on her sweats on and go for a run.
Seara started out down the road she knew so well.
A mile down the road Seara took a sharp right that would swing her back around.
Slowing as she reached the familiar house. She didn’t want to run anymore. She
had run on auto-pilot and now regretted the way she came. Seara was winded and decided
she didn’t want to run the next two miles to complete her loop. Making a quick
decision, she decided to head through the yard toward the path she knew was
there. Walking quietly down the driveway toward the backyard in the first light
of morning, Seara was careful to be quiet. Halfway down the driveway the front
door of the house opened. Seara froze as she recognized that silhouette.
Brian.
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