Page 64 of Havoc's Fox

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. But I’m not going to allow him to dictate what I can and can’t do. I will not give up my career. I will not have him tell me when I can come and go. I worked too hard to build my career to have him tear it down because of a stupid bite on my ankle.”

“You really want to go home?” Emmalyn asked.

“I have to. I have to be back at work at the end of the week.”

“Malta?”

“No, Boston. The shipment should be arriving and I need to be there to meet it.”

“So, why not sit it out here for a while until you have to leave. Take some time, just feel. See what comes naturally to your heart and go from there.”

“Maybe. But I’m really fighting my instincts to just go. Fight or flight, you know, and I’m thinking flight!” Analise confessed.

“Well, you can’t go now anyway. And Mama always said don’t make any decisions when you’re emotional. Think them through with a clear head. Your head is not clear. And besides, your car is gone.”

Analise sat up. “Yeah, where is my rental car? And where are Mom and Dad? You screamed for Dad. I heard you in the shower, it’s why I got out.”

“That is strange. Why the hell didn’t he come when I called?” Emmalyn asked, getting up and going toward their bedroom to see if they’d somehow managed to sleep through all the ruckus. She quietly eased the door open, then pushed the door wide, flipped on the light and walked into their parents’ room, followed closely by Analise.

“They’re not in here,” Emmalyn said.

“And the bed is made,” Analise said.

“Maybe they went out for breakfast or something,” Emmalyn said.

“Maybe. I’m sure they’ll be home soon,” Analise said. “I’m going to get dressed.”

“Alright. You hungry? I could cook some eggs real quick.”

“I really have no appetite.”

“Coffee?”

“I’d love some coffee,” Analise said. “I’ll just be a minute.”

“I’ll have the coffee ready,” Emmalyn said.

Analise got dressed and walked into the kitchen to get a cup of the coffee she could smell from her bedroom. “Smells good,” she said.

Emmalyn smiled at her and handed her a cup of coffee and a folded piece of paper. “Found Mom and Dad.”

“Huh?” Analise asked, accepting the cup of coffee and taking a sip before putting it down on the counter top and unfolding the sheet of paper to see what was written on it.

Dear girls,

Mom and I have decided to take a vacation. While we’re away, fix your messes. We’re tired of being caught in the middle. Mom told me a long time ago that I needed to stop babying you and allow you to live your own lives. She’s right. Behave like adults.

Analise, I don’t know what you are going to do about Havoc, but I know there is not one among us that hasn’t made mistakes — some of us worse than others. He’s a man now and he’s trying to be a good one. Fix it.

Emmalyn, whatever you’ve done to Barron, I’m sure it’s your fault. Stop being so difficult, and if you can’t work it out now, at least leave it on good terms so that you don’t have bad feelings and can work it out later. At the very least, stop chasing him.

We’ll be home when there is no stressful situation to come home to.

We love you,

Mom and Dad