Chapter 5

Chelsea rested her hands on the mantle; she slid her fingers across the smooth cool surface and took a deep shaky breath. She wasn’t sure what time it was but she felt exhausted.  Dropping her hands into her pockets brought little comfort and her eyes roamed the room looking for some relief from the pain. Chelsea watched her mobile phone for what felt like the hundredth time, maybe if she stared at it long enough it would ring but disappointed she looked away. Anxiety shot through her like a well-aimed spear but she resisted the urge to check her messages knowing the disappointment it would bring. Clay was dead and no matter how much she needed to hear her parents voices she was damned if she was going to call them.

The sound of Arthur’s approach made her shoulders stiffen, the trepidation in his step made his walk uneven, he hesitated a short space behind her before turning and joining the others on the couch.

Slowly she ran her fingers under the rim of her eyes trying to dispel any remaining tears. Out of all this mess at least one thing had become clear and a small slither of relief washed over her. Chelsea turned slowly, uncomfortably, like the movement caused her pain.

‘Is Spencer coming down?’ her voice sounded surprisingly calm.

Arthur shook his head wearily, ‘we all deal with trauma in different ways, Spencer just needs some time and I think we should give it to her’.

Chelsea nodded her understanding, she closed her eyes only for a second but the images of Clay’s body lying in a pool of blood quickly forced them to open.

Glen slung a protective arm around his mother’s shoulders and was rewarded with a smile but it was short lived

Sensing her distress Arthur rested his hand on his wife knee and was comforted when she clasped his hand eagerly.

‘Chelsea you said you wanted to talk about something very important’.

Chelsea nodded and took one last glimpse of her phone.

‘I’ve come to a very important decision’, she paused for a moment and willed her heart to slowdown.

‘I want to keep this baby, Clay’s baby’.

The words brought relief after so much pain, Paula made no effort to stop the tears that ran down her checks and for the first time since the tragedy she felt like she could breath. Like the air could fill her lungs once more without the heaviness in her chest.

‘Thank you Chelsea’, Paula’s words were whispered.

Chelsea despite herself returned Glen’s smile, their eyes held knowing that from this day they would forever be connected.

Giving Glen one more quick smile she slowly made her way to lowering herself so she was at their level, placing her hands on both their knees her eyes darted from each of them wanting to relieve their pain.

‘I’m hoping that we can do this together…..as a family……that’s what Clay would have wanted’.

If Arthur had any reservations about being strong for his family they were short lived, the words from Chelsea’s lips were like a beacon, a glimmer of light from all the blackness that threatened to overwhelm them.

Too emotional to stay seated Arthur reached for Chelsea, and in the warmth of her embrace he felt for the first time that they would make it. The hug was intensified as Paula and Glen joined them and with so much emotion it was hard not to surrender to the moment. Instead he wrapped protective arms around his new family and swore to himself he’d do what he could to keep them safe.

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