Tough Choices

Posted on Thu Jun 2nd, 2022 @ 11:46pm by Unawakened James Corrigan

Mission: The Factions
Location: James' Car Behind Karen's House
Timeline: Present

Kat sat still in the passenger-side seat of James' car. She'd read the note from their mother, but part of her didn't believe it. Part of her refused to believe it. So for several long seconds that seemed to stretch into infinity, she just stared at the dash in front of her, paper in her hands on her lap. She didn't even know what to say, what to do, now.

"What do we do now, James?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't really expect James to have any more answers than she did, but she had to say something, didn't she?

James didn't answer at first, didn't know how to answer. For the moment, therefore, he simply reached over and took the paper back, folding it neatly once more and putting it back into his pocket. "I don't know, Kat," he said finally, his own voice subdued. On one hand, if it had been only him, he would know exactly what to do. He'd take his mother's offer and run like hell. But it wasn't just him, and Kat had a different relationship with their dad. He couldn't just decide for her. "How do you feel?" He needed to now her thoughts and feelings about it before even attempting to answer her question.

What she felt was that she wanted to cry. She didn't though except for a few stray tears. "I'm confused and scared," she admitted softly, her voice carrying the anguish she felt.

James sat perfectly still for several seconds before he reached out and took his sister's hand in his. He was trying to be reassuring, but the truth was that he was just as conflicted as she was but for different reasons. "I know. I know the house isn't the same for you as it is for me. But if I took you back and left, I'm afraid dad would take out his frustrations on you. So either we both go or we both stay."

Kat nodded. "I know. And you're probably right. Why do you think I walk on eggshells all the time? It's safer not to get noticed. But…"

Kat didn't finish the sjentence, but James knew what she was driving at. He nodded again. "I know," he said again. And then where they were sitting registered again in his brain, and he groaned. "Damnit," he muttered.

"What?" Kat looked at him, a different confusion in her eyes now.

James looked past her to the garage and sidewalk that ran beside it and between it and the garage from the building next to it. "It's not that simple now," he pointed out, reminding her of their unexpected guest on this 'weekend trip'.

Kat followed his eyes then looked back at him. Her eyes were wide now. "Oh, shit!"

James almost laughed; her expression was priceless. He restrained himself though to only a tiny chuckle quickly cut off. "It's okay, Kat. You didn't know what Mom had given me until now. If it was just a weekend trip, then it would have been totally fine to invite her. The problem is that we can't just uninvite her now."

Kat nodded. "But what can we do then?"

James sighed as he thought about it. "We could go through the weekend as we had planned before Mom gave me this. After that, we can drop her off and decide what to do about our situation," he suggested. "Aftewr all, Mom and Dad won't know we're back in town until and unless we tell them or go home." It felt like a plan that made sense right now. And it would give Kat and him time to let the whole thing marinate and come to a decision. Maybe the time and refocusing would help?

Kat thought for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

It was then that Karen came skipping down the sidewalk between the buildings, bag in hand. James schooled his features, trying to project the happy, helpful guy. Getting out of the car, he rounded it to open the trunk. Karen put her bag in, and he closed it, opening the back passenger side door for her.

She grinned. "Wow, Kat! Your brother is such a gentleman. If only more guys at school could learn from him, right?"

Kat laughed softly having taken the time to wipe her eyes and refocus her mind on the fun that stood between them and hard decisions. "I know, right?" she said, grinning back at her friend.

James got back in and belted himself in once more. He heard Karen's seatbelt click, and he started the car once more. "Okay, is everyone ready for a weekend of fun?" he asked with some enthusiasm. Like Kat, he was focusing on the now and leaving the hard decision for later.

Two enthusiastic voices chorused, "Yes!" and they pulled away from Karen's house.

TBC>>>