Hidden Emerald's: Chapter 2

A L E C 

“Alec! ALEC!” He woke in a cold sweat to his frantic sounding wife.

“What’s wrong?” He said wiping the sweat off his forehead. 

“You were talking in your sleep again. It scared me this time.” 

Her eyes were wide with fear. Over the past few weeks Alec had begun saying strange things in his sleep. He knew he was also having nightmares (waking up full of fear most nights), but could never remember them. He chalked it down to stress. Work had been a bitch lately. 

He swung his legs off the side of the bed, “Sorry,” he grumbled, “ I just need some water”

Milly sat up, her Auburn hair a wiry mess framing her face. He loved when she looked like this: disheveled ...it reminded him of when they first met, lost in the jungles of Panama. She tightened the covers around herself, 

“You kept saying, ‘I’m leaving you one to spare. I’m leaving you one to spare. I’m leaving you one to spare”

"That doesn't sound too terribly frightening, love" He flashed her a smile and ruffled her hair in an attempt to calm her nerves, but she continued: 

"It was the way you said it, Alec. It didn't sound like you."

He kissed her forehead, "I'm fine." Stubbing his toe on the bed, he cursed under his breath as he headed down the stairs. 

Walking into the dimly lit kitchen he noticed an object by the refrigerator. It was Willie, Charlie's stuffed animal. The once vibrant and fluffy rabbit, was now a floppy, grey version of its former glory. 7 years of of being dragged throughout the house, wiping tears, playing king of the mud castle, and surviving countless bouts through the washer and dyer had taken a toll on poor Willie. If Willie was left behind, that meant Charlie must have been sneaking a midnight snack. He threw the battered bunny on the kitchen island and opened the fridge. 

The cold air felt good against his face. He stood there for a moment, rubbing his temples - he could feel another headache coming on. This deal was going to send him into an early grave if him and his team couldn't manage to pull it off. They already received a second extension and Alec was sure KermCo. would not be on board for a third. There was no way for him to have been able to predict the shit-storm that ensued last month - but it was his job to fix it. Looking at the shelves, he noticed a half eaten pudding cup, with the spoon still inside. He shook his head and chuckled - Charlie had to have eaten this in a hurry.

A memory flashed into his mind: Faith had come over for a sleepover, it was her 7th birthday. A 12 year old Alec ran downstairs once his parents were sleeping, and grabbed their entire stash of chocolate pudding. Between the three of them: him, Tabs and Faith ate all 24 cups. Needless to say, the next day all three of them had diarrhea. 

He wondered how Faith was doing in that God-forsaken house. She hadn't answered any of his calls. She was pissed, he knew, but it wasn't like her not to answer at least a text - even if it was to tell him how much of an asshole he was. He had been told off by Faith many times before. 

Alec searched for a water bottle, between an array of juice boxes and Milly's green teas, they were running low- he would need to restock tomorrow. 

Faith had been so withdrawn lately. No one noticed at first, how she was slowing slipping away, not even him. By the time he noticed, she had already changed. She had drifted, just beyond reach. Her eyes a little darker, her face a little more somber, and her smile had disappeared. Sure, she smiled, but it wasn't her smile. It was a smile she learned to plaster on her face so that everyone would stop telling her to be happy. It was a strangers smile. He missed her smile. Sometimes he felt like she was floating just above him, in another world, and if he could just reach out and grab her...

He was startled as he closed the refrigerator door only to be confronted with big, green eyes. 

"Scared the fuck out of me, Milly" he said unscrewing the water bottle and throwing back a few long gulps. 

Milly stood, arms crossed, with a look of deep concern in her eyes, "Baby, I think you should talk to someone about whats going on."  She leaned back against the kitchen island. She was wearing the Mickey Mouse t-shirt he had bought her at Disney World last summer, and his pajama pants (an old blue flannel pair he's had since college). 

"We have the big meeting with KermCo. in a few days. That's all it is. You worry too much about me, love"  he said, coming closer to her. 

Milly's green eyes gleamed as they bore into his - like a lioness, she was calculating the right moment to pounce. She lifted her chin so that, even though a few inches shorter, she was looking down at him, and Alec knew she was was coming in for the kill. 

"Remember my co-worker Angie, works in Accounting?" she said

"The one with the big nose?" 

"Yes. The one with the big nose" Milly replied with just a touch of annoyance. He knew she wasn't in the mood for his jokes right now, but he couldn't help himself: 

"That thing is huge. Just a big ol' schnoz.." he held his hand over his own nose, implying how big Angie's nose was. 

Unamused, Milly stared at him with her best mom face: the "I'm going to wait for you to stop being a total shit" face. Alec wrapped his arms around her and pressed his forehead against hers. She continued: 

"She has suffered from anxiety for many years. She finally started going to therapy - says its has completely changed her life." Alec felt her body stiffen in his arms, and she took a deep breath before saying, "I know you think therapy is useless - but whats going on here is not normal, baby. I'm worried about you. Worried this may be beyond just work stress." she said the next part very carefully, "Maybe, things from your childhood are starting to surface? The things you say in your sleep sometimes..." she trailed off, and quickly switched gears, "Just tell me you'll think about it?"

Alec gently pulled away from her, "I'll think about it" he said, taking a sip of water. Milly was unconvinced, and she had reason to be. Until this deal was done, Alec had no intention of giving any serious thought to silly nightmares. Milly grabbed the half eaten pudding out of the fridge, and glanced at the bunny of the counter, 

"Charlie." was all she said. She walked back over to the kitchen island and propped herself up onto it crossing her legs beneath her as she scooped the last of the pudding into her mouth. "Have you heard from Faith?" she said with a tone that meant she had definitely heard from Faith. 

"I'm worried about her, alone in that place. She won't answer my texts." Alec said scooping his hair back. He didn't share with Milly how laying eyes on the house for the first time made him feel like he was suffocating. Like he was trapped in a room with the walls closing in on him. That feeling, in the core of his stomach, was truly what made him worry about Faith. However, now was not the time to share that with Milly. She was already trying to convince him to go to therapy. 

"I don't blame her" Milly said closing an eye, aiming the pudding cup towards the trash bin. She missed.

"You and Tabitha took her to this supposed old family home - dropped her off, and without any explanation, drove off. You literally just drove off. Leaving her in the snow, with a folder and a suitcase. Did you even wait for her to unlock the door? What if the key didn't work?"

Alec walked over to pick up the cup and tossed it in the trash, "Shes been texting you hasn't she?"

"Yep"

Alec sighed deeply. The situation with the manor seemed surreal. About a month ago he got a call from a lawyer in Harbony - stating his great aunt, Kathryn Emerald, had passed away. The attorney sent Alec a folder containing her will, her wishes, and a journal of what seamed like the the ramblings of a senile old woman. She would be leaving the entire estate under his care, for he was "the true heir". However, she also listed a checklist of conditions. One of them being that "the writer with the little girl" needed to remain in the home for a period of time. Katheryn wanted Faith to write the family story. The last condition on the list was that no other Emerald was allowed to set foot on the property until Faith's story was complete. Katheryn's wishes seemed like a ridiculous, never-ending stew of crazy. 

The whole thing made no sense. How could Faith possibly write a book about a family none of them knew? A family, in fact, they were forbidden to even speak to. At first he thought this was all a joke, or some kind of scam, but after a couple of weeks of research, he found that the lawyer was legit. Bradley Vanallen, was a highly respected attorney in that region, with many recommendations and a plethora of 5 star reviews. A few days ago, Alec discovered an article regarding a similar situation on the west coast, a little under a decade ago. The family complied with all the strange conditions left by their grandfather - then sold the home for 3.2 million dollars. 

That kind of money could go a long way for the Emerald's. Alec could start his own business, Milly could finish her PhD, and Charlie's college tuition would be taken care of. Tabs could finally buy herself the dream home she had been designing since she was a kid. She could get Frankie and James into a good private school, and her and Rob could finally take the couples vacation they so desperately needed. 

And Faith... well, he was sure Faith would pack her bags and leave the country. She would end up buying a cottage in the green fields of Ireland, in a Romanian village, or in the forests of Germany. Faith was desperate to get away - now she finally could. All she had to do was write that damn story. Still... it made him uneasy. 

"Where is your mind, baby?" Milly's head tilted to the side as she studied him. 

He smiled at her and nudged her off the counter. They both needed some rest. Grabbing the bunny he nodded at Milly, telling her to follow. At the top of the stairs, he popped into Charlie's room. Spread eagle, with the covers on the floor, Charlie slept soundly. By the light of his rocket lamp, Alec could see a pudding streak across his face. Laughing, he wiped it away, tucked Willie under his arm, and threw the covers over him. As Alec reached over to turn off the light, he thought he noticed something moving across the room. He quickly shook his head. It must have been a shadow from the tree outside- Charlie liked to sleep with the curtains drawn. 

So innocent, Alec thought to himself as he looked down at his son. Charlie would never have to battle the demons he had to battle at his age. He would make sure of it.