Saved by Silence

Chapter 1

                                                                                            Kaley

    Boom! I wake with a start hearing the rain pelting the roof. Running my fingers through my hair, I shake off the sleep and take a peek at the clock. D**n it, only 4:00 am, still two hours before I need to be up. Knowing I will never get back to sleep now, I turn the bedside lamp on and swing my legs over the side of the bed. Even nine years later, thunder storms and loud noises still bother me

    Getting out of bed I walk down the hall to my daughters room, taking a look in. She is still out cold innocent to the storm outside. Closing the door quietly I head down the hallway toward the front of the house. I reach the kitchen, pulling out a coffee pod and placing it in the Keurig. Grabbing my “World’s Greatest Mom” mug from the cabinet I hit start. 

    I grab my coffee and sit at the counter thinking about my upcoming week. It’s the first week teachers have to go back to work and the last week of summer for Everly. This first week is setting up the classroom and making sure my lesson plans are finalized. Everly will be in 3rd grade this year, the same grade I teach. She is growing up so fast. Stopping my train of thought, I get up and place my empty mug in the dishwasher. Grabbing my k****e from the end table, I decide to sit on the couch and read for a little while before getting ready. 

    Two hours later I close the cover on my k****e and head to my bathroom to shower before waking Everly. I blow dry my long brown hair and head to my closet to grab clothes for the day. I decide on a white loose blouse with light weight black yoga dress pants. Seeing my favorite burnt red blazer, I snag that along with my black flats. 

    I open the door to Everly’s room and see she is up and in her dresser draw. “Morning love” I say as I walk toward my daughter bending down and grabbing her for a hug. 

    “Mommmyyyy, can I wear my green shorts today?”, she asks excitedly in my ear while hugging me. She steps back, looking at me, her long black curly hair all over the place and green eyes pleading with me. 

    “Didn’t you wear those two days ago?” I look at my daughter knowing I will give in and grab them from the dryer. I made sure to do the laundry the night before, because my daughter is predictable and loves her green shorts.

    “Yes, but they are my favorite!” she says jumping up and down with her hands clasped together. “Please, please, please” she begs, making sure to push her bottom lip out. 

    With a little chuckle I tell her to go brush her teeth while I grab her shorts from the dryer. I walk up from the basement, where the washer and dryer are, and Everly is standing at the top of the stairs waiting for the shorts. “Did you really brush your teeth, or just stand here waiting for me?” I look questioningly at my daughter.

    “I promise, I brushed my teeth. Seeeeee”. With a big toothy grin I see my baby girl's beautiful smile, even though she is missing two of her bottom teeth. 

    “Okay, go put these on and grab your black tee shirt from your bottom drawer.” she turns to run down the hall to her room. I walk back to the kitchen and grab the cinnamon frozen waffles from the freezer placing one in the toaster oven for Everly. Grabbing a yogurt and strawberries from the fridge I wait for the timer on the toaster to go off. My daughter is one of a kind in that she likes her waffle plan with nothing on it. I grab a plate for the waffle as Everly walks to the counter and gets up on the stool. I place the waffle and a few strawberries on the plate and sit down at the counter to eat with her. 

    Looking at my daughter, I see her hair is still all over the place from sleep. “Now, what are we going to do with that hair today missy?” She shrugs her shoulders and just keeps munching on her waffle. “French braid today or dutch braid?”

    “Can you do two french braids mamma?” she asks while grabbing a strawberry. 

    “Ofcourse, finish up and we can do it before I have to drop you off at Mema and Papi’s for the day”. My parents will be watching Everly this week while I go into work. 

    My dad, Michael Sansoni, is the Police chief here in Everton and plans to retire shortly. My mom, Stella Sansoni, was a stay at home mom. However, growing up both my parents fostered children for a while and sometimes they still take a kid in for a little while. Right now, their house was empty and Mom loved having Everly for the day. 

    I finish braiding her hair and tell her to grab her bag, with her tablet in it to bring with her. Grabbing my phone I shoot off a quick text to my mom telling her we will be there in 10 minutes. Walking outside, I see the rain has stopped, but the humidity was high and I knew my hair would be a disaster by the end of today. Jumping in her booster seat, I make sure Everly is buckled properly and drive the few miles to my parents house. 

    Pulling in at a little after seven, I see my dad sitting on the porch in his uniform. As soon as the car is in park, Everly jumps out screaming “Papi!”. Moving as fast as her little legs will take her, she runs up the porch and jumps on his lap. She has been a grandpa’s girl since the day she was born. I walk around the car grabbing her backpack from the back seat and walk to the porch. Walking up the steps, I see my dad snuggling my baby and asking her what she and her Mema are going to do today.

     I hear the front door open and see my mom step out onto the porch. “Now where is my hug young lady?” she says to my daughter. Getting off my dad's lap she goes to give her Mema a hug. 

    My dad gets up, his 6’2” frame towering over me and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Morning baby, girl. I am off to work, just wanted to wait and say good morning to two of my favorite girls”.

    “Morning, dad have a good day at work”, I say as he goes to give my daughter one last hug and gives my mom a peck on the lips. 

    I give my mom Everly’s backpack and give them both hugs goodbye. “Be good for Mema today, and I will be back to get you around 2, love ya baby girl”

    “Bye momma, love you” she says and walks inside the house with my mom.