7 Minutes Left -- 7:00|Part 3

Guys, I know these are so long and I'm sorry to those trying to stick with the story lol. If these don't get much attention then I won't post my entire book in sections and just end with this one but if anyone is wanting me to continue releasing parts of this draft of mine then I totally will!! 

Dad walked in, his glasses off. His face was confused and angry and sad and embarrassed – all the emotions colliding into each other to make one man. I wanted to cry, but I knew that even if I tried my hardest, no tears would come out. I was stuck. Because at this moment, Maddie didn’t know yet. No. No one could.

“Hey Julia?” His tone was clear and serious. He was stressed. He made a mistake. A mistake that would haunt the lives of this family for years. But no one knew that yet. No one but Dad – and me. I felt powerful in knowledge, but powerless in stopping this from happening.

Dad motioned his head toward their bedroom, and started walking in without Mom.

Mom kissed the top of Maddie’s head, and began to walk briskly toward the bedroom. She knew something was wrong. From the moment she said Dad, that was clear.

But Mom didn’t know yet.

No. Nothing would prepare her for what would happen next.

It had been three minutes since Mom walked into the bedroom. They were talking in hushed voices. Kelsey came out of her room and walked toward Maddie.

“Where’s Mom and Dad?” She asked. Her throat was tight in concern, but Maddie didn’t notice. She was coloring a Christmas tree and was not paying any attention to what was going on.

“Still in their bedroom.”

“What do you think they’re talking about?”

“I don’t know.” Maddie continued coloring while Kelsey began pacing.

“They’re whispering.”

Kelsey’s paranoia was more obvious than I remembered. It was clear she was worried about their parents, but didn’t know how to say that to a seven-year-old without scaring her. I didn’t blame her.

“Do you think they’re planning a Christmas surprise for us?” Kelsey said, finally getting a reaction out of Maddie. Kelsey knew what she was doing.

“Do you really think they are?”

“It’s worth finding out.”

Kelsey and Maddie went to the bedroom door, and stuck their heads right up close to the crack on the ground. Their parents’ voices were muffled, but they got a better idea of what Mom and Dad were saying. Their parents weren’t being as careful anymore. The tension was picking up and their voices were getting closer to yelling as time went on.

“How could you let this happen!?” This was Mom, practically screaming now as the pressure was becoming real.

“This was never supposed to happen.” Dad. Practically in a sob. Maddie had never heard him like this before. I remembered hearing this side of him for the first time this Christmas. It was – strange – to say the least.

There were a few moments of silence before Mom spoke again. “Is there anything we can do?” A sigh.

“I’m afraid not. There’s no hiding now.”

Liar.

That’s exactly what he chose to do.

Hide.

Maddie looked at Kelsey – terrified. Kelsey’s face mirrored hers. They didn’t know what this meant. They didn’t understand the costs, the consequences. I’d give anything to change the outcome. The outcome that ruined Christmas, ruined our family. It took away the one thing I would never get back from my childhood – my father.

Kelsey made a move before Maddie could. She threw the door open, and walked in on their parents confidently. Her face was braver, braver than Maddie was.

Mom and Dad were standing across the bed from each other, each holding different stages of emotion.

Mom was angry, with tears laced behind her eyes like shells ready to burst open.

Dad was sad, his eyes red and puffy. His damaged face distracted from the mess of hair sitting on his head. He’d been running his hand through it too many times – a nervous habit of his.

“Please tell us what’s going on.” Kelsey’s eyes were wide, staying open to keep the tears out. One blink, and they’d all pour down.

“Yeah,” Maddie tried to add, as mature as possible. “Don’t hide things from us.” Her voice was fragile, yet mighty.

Mom looked to Dad, a stony expression covering any emotion she’d had before. “You are telling them. Not me.” Her voice didn’t falter, staying strong despite everything that she knew now. Dad sighed and nodded his head. Mom left the room.

“Girls. Sit down.” Maddie and Kelsey sat at the base of their parents’ bed, leaving some space between them and Dad. He was scaring them.

They had reason to be scared.

I was scared – and I knew exactly what he was about to say. It stung – worse than he could’ve known at the time. I wish he’d told us everything. I wish he’d tried harder to be a better father. He should’ve done a lot of things. It was all too late now.

“Something happened at work, and Daddy’s going to leave for a little while until it gets sorted out.”

“What happened?” Maddie was the one to ask first, this case was no different. “Where are you going?”

“Daddy just got into some trouble at work – made my boss really mad. I’ll be staying with Uncle Richard.” Dad and Uncle Richard worked together at the office. I hadn’t thought about it at the time, the way it all connects. And now they’re both gone.

“When will you be back?” Maddie was still asking questions. Kelsey stayed quiet, resembling the stone wall from Mom earlier.

“There’s no way to tell now. I’ll try to be back soon though.” A tear formed subtly, dripping down his trembling face.

He was lying.

“I promise.”

Another lie.

His story had comforted Maddie, but Kelsey wasn’t filled. She remained quiet though. Maddie gave Dad a hug, smiling again like everything was normal, but Kelsey knew. Nothing about this was normal.

Maddie ran out of the room, leaving Kelsey and Dad together. I never knew what happened in that room after I’d left, but I heard the yelling that came from it. It was so unusual, hearing Kelsey yell. She was usually so put together and unfazed by everything around her, but this had hurt her, and hurt was pumping into her blood, running anger into her pulse.

Maddie tried to ignore the scream. It was probably fine, she’d told herself at the time.

It wasn’t.