Hello everyone! I apologize for the length of time between my submissions, but as I said on my bio page, my work hours have increased and have cut into my writing time. I'm writing as fast as I can, but unfortunately; I do have to sleep. Thanks for your patience in waiting for my submissions. Thanks to Donalde for beta reading for me and for his time. Also thanks to all of you for reading my stories and leaving comments. I appreciate it. One last thanks... I promise. Thank you to all who sent emails asking if I was ok... I'm fine, just working.
Kal
*
Gene had a bad feeling about Barb. There were several things that she said that had disturbed him. For one thing, he didn't care for her attitude toward their parents. On one hand he understood, but on the other hand he didn't. All of them at one time or another had wished that their circumstances were different. All of them at one time or another had looked at the catalogues and fliers and daydreamed about being able to buy the clothes and toys that were on the brightly colored pages. The second thing that concerned him is that Kevyn and Louise weren't making contact with her. That didn't make sense to him. They touched base with him two or three times a day and even Nathan had called him a time or two. Patrick he had spoken to when Kevyn called so why were they not talking to Barb who was in the same state and city? The third thing that bothered him was Barb's remarks about the house and her callous attitude toward the intent of rebuilding it.
He couldn't remember her being so hateful and then wondered how much of it was his fault. He looked at the clock and calculated the time difference. It was still early, three in the afternoon Pacific Time. He was going to call Barb, but the number she had called from showed up as private. He thought about calling her other number, but decided to call Kevyn or Louise first. After thinking about it, he decided to call Kevyn. He didn't want to stress Louise out in case there was a problem.
Kevyn picked up on the first ring.
"Hey Gene! Is everything alright?" Kevyn asked.
"It's all good." Gene replied. "I gather everyone made it okay?"
"Yes they did... Are you sure that you don't want to move out here with us? You and Barb are the only one's missing."
"I don't know about moving out there." Gene replied. "My ultimate goal is to move to Florida with Dana."
"I understand." Kevyn replied, "But you can move from here just as easily as you can move from there. Gene, we're just worried about you being out there all by yourself."
Gene's throat tightened. The sister that he was going to kill was worried about him. He looked around Leon's apartment. Somehow it didn't seem the same now that he knew that Leon wasn't coming back. He hadn't minded Pittsburgh until everyone left and now he was wondering if he should consider Kevyn's offer.
"There are a few issues." Gene replied. "One and probably the most important one is a job. Then I would need a place to live."
"If those things weren't an issue, would you come?" Kevyn asked.
"Kev, what's really going on? Why the push for me to come out there?" Gene asked.
"I just think that mom and dad would want us together as much as possible." Kevyn replied. "Last night as we were laughing and talking, I missed you guys. So will you at least think about it?"
"I'll think about it." Gene promised. "I actually called for another reason... what's going on with Barb? She called me last night to ask when Leon and the others were getting in. When I asked her if she talked to you and Louise, she said no and that you guys don't call her."
Kevyn swore under her breath.
"What else did she say?"
"Well, she isn't happy about the house being redone... Kev did you know that she's really pissed at mom and dad?"
"Yeah I know." Kevyn replied. "Gene, did you think that we were abused?"
"In my opinion no." Gene replied. "I mean we struggled, but we survived and I reminded Barb that mom always did without; but she doesn't see it that way. Do you think that we were abused?"
"If you consider not being able to afford the top of the line fashions abuse, then I guess we were." Kevyn replied laughing. "But seriously? No I don't think that we were abused and neither does anyone else. Let me clarify a few things. Barb stopped talking to us. Louise went to the apartment to see her and Barb all but threw her out. She has an unlisted phone number and we haven't spoken since you guys left."
Gene listened stunned as Kevyn gave him a rundown of events leaving out any references to vampires.
"So basically we've been leaving her alone although Leon wants to go see her in a few days."
"Shit Kevyn!" Gene swore. "Does she really think that our lives were that bad?"
"I guess so." Kevyn replied.
"And this man who she went home with... did he hurt her?"
"I don't think so, but I can't answer that with any real certainty. She wouldn't talk about it. Look, I've got to go. Will you think about moving out here?"
"I'll think on it." Gene said and then hung up.
*******
By evening, everyone was congregated at Leon's house. The men were in the basement getting ready and the women were in the kitchen preparing snacks. While she made the sandwiches, Kevyn told them about her conversation with Gene.
"He's worried about Barb." She said. "She's also upset that the house is being rebuilt."
"Please excuse me." Nadine said, "But I'm trying to understand our sister's point of view. Were you beaten?"
"We were disciplined." Louise replied, "but not whipped or anything like that."
"Were you starving?" Nadine asked.
"We may not have always had meat but we always had food." Kevyn replied.
"So your parents loved you and provided for you as best they could." Nadine commented.
"Yes." Kevyn replied. "We had to wear hand-me-downs, but we weren't the only ones. There were other families just as poor as we were and they fared no better at school than we did."
"So how did this abuse take place then?" Nadine asked.
"That's the thing." Louise replied. "We don't know. Barb thinks that our parents didn't try hard enough. Dad was already working two to three jobs because he refused to go on public assistance."
"As you know, I am not very old for a vampire." Nadine said. "But I am old enough that I have seen many types of people. There are those who relish and love each day of their lives and go through their day singing. They may live in a shack, but they are content simply because they live. There are those who hate their lives and as a result they hate everything and everything around them. There are also those who know what they want and they work for it earning it without hurting others. And then there are those who know what they want, but they don't want to work for it. They use anyone who is convenient to reach their goals and when they do, they still aren't satisfied. The last type of person is like our sister. She is always hungry even though she is full. She appreciates nothing and expects everything. When she gets it, she will be satisfied for a while, but it won't last; she will think that there is something more.
I will tell you that if she chooses to, she can change; but that change won't be a total one. At heart she will be who she is, but a softer version. Right now, she doesn't want to change and to beat our heads against the wall over it will only give us a headache. There is nothing that we can do for her except wait for her to either sink or swim. After Leon recovers he wants to see her and he won't take no for an answer."
Louise listened to Nadine and had to agree with her. Whatever happened, Barb would have to deal with it alone unless she asked for help. Louise continued making the sweet tea and felt a momentary feeling of discomfort.
"Sweetheart?" Nathan called to her telepathically, "Did you feel that?"
"Yes... but it was so fast. It was gone almost before I knew it was there." she replied.
"It was the same for me." Nathan replied. "Remember you promised that you wouldn't do anything without me."
"I remember... give Leon our love." She replied telepathically.
A feeling of dread settled in the pit of Louise's stomach. It had nothing to do the baby or Leon. She took a moment and listened to the strong but rapid heartbeat of their baby just to be sure. This feeling was different than the feelings that she and Nathan shared. She knew that he wasn't feeling it or else he would have called to her. Along with the feeling of dread was a feeling of sadness. She looked around the room trying to determine where the feeling was coming from.
"Where are the kids?" Louise asked.
"Ethan and Katrina are watching them." Kevyn replied. "Why?"
"I need to talk to Celeste. Can you call over there for me?" Louise asked.
A few minutes later, she was talking to Celeste.
"Hi pumpkin! Are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm ok... Uncle Ethan is masking hotdogs."
Louise talked to Celeste for a few more minutes and then talked to the other two children who were rather put out by her phone call. She hung up perplexed as to where the feeling was coming from. She was going to push herself, but remembered her promise to Nathan. She strengthened her shields to dull the sensation and went back to making the tea.
"What's going on?" Juliette asked.
"I don't know, but the kids are fine." Louise replied.
"They're starting." Kevyn said taking Nadine's hand in hers.
********
The Emerald 11pm
The loud music seemed to reverberate through Barb's body as she walked into the club. She looked to her left and saw people in a corner obviously having sex. She looked to her right and saw what looked like someone drinking blood from a woman. She could see little rivets of blood trickling down the back of the woman's shoulder. She blinked not believing what she was seeing and then deciding that it wasn't real. She looked around noticing that no one else seemed to be cold except for her. She rubbed her arms wondering where the frigid air was coming from.
"This way please." Billings said and walked away expecting Barb to follow him.
When she saw where he was leading her, her steps slowed. Suddenly the idea of publically exposing Thorne didn't seem like such a good idea. She forced herself to walk to the table and sat down.
"My name is Billings. I will be attending to your needs until Mr. Blackwell is free. May I offer you a drink?"
"How long will he be?" Barb asked ignoring the question about the drink.
