The Outsider Series: The Complete Omnibus Collection

Chapter 26-1

Chapter Twenty-Six

Over the next few days, the tension in the household became untenable. Brad became scarce. At first, Emily thought he was just busy. Then was sure it was to avoid Crystal. But not so. He avoided eye contact with Emily, and slipped out the door every time she entered the room.

Emily ate with the children an hour earlier. She stayed away from Crystal the best she could. But it was hard living in a tension-filled house that seemed like a powder keg about to erupt at any moment. The kids became cranky and anxious. Trevor regressed, avoiding all eye contact, eating envelopes, paper and labels any chance he could. And when Crystal left her gold-plated pen on the kitchen table, Trevor decorated the living room wall with blue lines, circles and squiggles. Emily was in the kitchen making dinner while Katy and Trevor were supposed to be watching Arthur on TV. Crystal’s high pitch shriek had Emily dropping the lid on the floor and darting into the living room.

She slid to a stop just as Crystal snatched the pen from Trevor’s tiny hands. Emily covered both hands over her mouth. An entire wall would need repainted.

“How could you let him do this? You’re supposed to be watching him!” Crystal screamed, which launched Katy off the sofa to hide behind Emily. Trevor let out a high-pitch wail, as he wacked his head with his hand over and over.

Emily picked up Katy when she began to cry. She was scared, of course. Crystal was even scaring Emily, the way she carried on.

“I was making dinner, Trevor was watching TV and I’m sorry, but sometimes these things happen. That’s why it’s important to make sure you don’t leave things like a pen laying around.”

Crystal tossed her hands in the air. “Well, you’re going to have to pay for it. The cost to have this repainted by a professional is coming out of your pocket.”

“That’s not fair. It was your pen you left lying around. Of course, he’s going to pick it up and draw on something. He doesn’t understand—”

“You were hired to look after him. You’re not doing a good enough job, so don’t you dare blame your carelessness on me.” Crystal marched over to the TV and flicked it off.

“This isn’t a play room. From now on the kids need to stay out of the living room.” And then the woman sauntered up the stairs.

“Watch Dora, Momma.” Katy gazed up at Emily.

“No, everyone in the kitchen with me, dinner’s almost ready anyway.”