Every Cloud

Emma Scott abandoned her hometown six years ago and has never once regretted it. I mean, why would you want to be surrounded by cheating exes, backstabbing ex-best friends, and worse? Besides, she has a son to look after, and being a single mom there would have just been too painful. This is all fine and good until some bad news drags her back… But could it be a blessing in disguise? Could she finally find her silver lining after all these years?

Age Rating: 18+ (Content Warning: Kidnapping)

Original Author: AprilDunham

“No-one ever told me that grief felt so like fear” -C.S. Lewis

I’m falling. Darkness shrouds me. I can see a hand and a forearm pulling away into the blackness; I try to reach it to stop them and myself from tumbling further. I miss. The hand disappears, and I continue my fall until I hit the bottom of the pit.

Jolting awake, sweat is dripping off me, I’m struggling to breathe, and it has nothing to do with the tiny human who has taken over my bed, whose foot is half covering my face. I gaze over at the clock on the bedside cabinet- 2:47am, ugh, you have got to be kidding me. Lifting the cover, I check on my favorite person; I coo down at Ollie as he lets out his little snuffly sounds.

I hate having to move him when he’s sleeping so peacefully. I feel bad, but I need some air right now; I need to try to work out what the hell that damn nightmare was about. I shift his little leg to his side of the bed because, ya know, I guess we share now.

As I get out of the bed as smooth as I can, I lean over and turn him right-side-up so that he doesn’t suffocate. After giving him a quick kiss on the forehead, I head downstairs in silence; I don’t want to wake Ollie or Dad, who is just down the hall.

I make my way into the kitchen and jump about fifty feet in the air when I see a dark shadow stood in front of the open fridge. My hand flings to my mouth as I stifle a scream before the figure turns, with a whipped cream can in his hand, and says, “Shh, Baby-girl, it’s just me. Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Holy crap on a cracker, Daddy, you scared the life out of me. What are you doing, creeping about down here? You okay?” I half-whisper at him.

I look at this grown man in front of me, trying to convince me that cream from a spray can is a standard snack at 3am; I sometimes wonder who the parent is between us. “A banana is a snack Daddy, whipped cream from a can is not.” I shake my head at him.

“What was this dream of yours about? If you tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine.” I start gathering what I need to make myself a tea. Throwing a gesture to Dad to see if he wants one too. He nods eagerly, so I go about making the tea as he tells me his dream.

He takes a deep breath, and runs a hand through his smattered salt and pepper hair, then sighs, “I don’t know, if I’m honest, it’s kinda hard to explain Darlin’, I just remember it being real’ dark, and something about a hand that I couldn’t reach, then we both fell. Weird, right?”

I drop my spoon while removing the teabag; it clatters to the counter. “Woah, Pumpkin, it wasn’t all that bad, honest.” He soothes me for a second time.

“Now, now Emma, don’t get all dramatic on me. I’m sure it’s nothing, alright?” He coos into my hair.

He winces for a moment, “Mmhmm, yeah baby, sure, that’s not dramatic at all. Look, I get it Pumpkin, we had the same dream, but you know we’ve always been close. It was most likely, what’s that thing twins get? Just sympathy pains or something, ya know?”

I look into his kind, green eyes and shake my head, “I don’t think that’s quite how that works, Daddy.” After finding out we both had the same dream, I’m kinda creeped out. Daddy must sense this, so he is happy to just sit in comfortable silence with me as we both sip on our tea.

I give a sheepish shrug, “I guess, I don’t know, I just have a weird feeling, ya know.” He nods, seeming to know what I mean, without having to say too much.

I embrace him in a tight hold, “I know Daddy, I know. I just wish I knew what it meant.” I sigh.

“For the love of—just go to bed, Daddy – I’ll be fine. I should get to bed myself, school tomorrow, and ‘Hurricane Ollie’ will be up in a few hours.” I embrace him once more as we part ways in the hallway.

I open my bedroom door in full stealth mode, closing it behind me – I don’t let it fully shut, though. I don’t need Mr. Oliver to wake up right now. If he wakes up, there will be no getting him back to sleep, and I do not need to be cranky and groggy tomorrow while trying to wrangle a herd of kindergarteners.

Working as a Kindergarten teacher, I have to be on the ball every day. Not only do I have their lives and minds in my hands, but those minds can be little evil genius’ when they want to be. So, being awake and on the ball is crucial.

I check the time on my phone, 3.10am; hmm, if I fall asleep straight away, it’ll give me another two hours and fifty minutes of sleep, though knowing the tiny hurricane that’s sleeping like a baby next to me right now; I should lower that timescale by about fifty minutes.

I sigh as I slip under the covers, cursing to myself as I accidentally nudge Ollie. He was more on my side than I had first thought. I stop breathing for a split second. Lucky for me, he stays fast asleep – which is a miracle in itself.

I feel so lucky to have this tiny human in my life. He may not have had the ideal upbringing so far in his short time on Earth. However, he has never gone without and has one-hundred percent of my love.

I hadn’t planned to be a single parent. But what can you do when your childhood sweetheart, the love of your life, cheats on you with your best friend? I might add, this all happens the night you were planning on telling him he was to be a father.

My Mama and Daddy were childhood sweethearts, too. She was the pretty, blue-eyed, blonde cheerleader. He was the hot jock, with the incredible bod, dreamy brown eyes, he even had a full head of thick brown hair (his description, not mine).

My choice of words for him now would be much the same except, incredible bod has now turned into Dad-bod – though, still kept in reasonable shape for his age. His hair is now a tad thinner on top with a speckling of salt and pepper streaks, don’t tell him I said that, of course.

From what I’m told, my parents were just about perfect for each other. The only blip in their relationship was when they were eighteen. After graduation, Daddy proposed; he said he knew that Mama was the only woman for him. (Until I came along, of course, but hold on, we’re getting there.)

Mama, of course, said ‘a thousand times yes.’ They began to plan their big day. It was just as well that they wanted to get married as fast as possible because somehow, in all their excitement of being newly-engaged high school graduates, they found out they were expecting little ol’ me.

This is where the blip happened. It turns out Mama’s Mom and Dad were none too happy about my Daddy ‘corrupting’ their perfect angel. They kicked her out. So, she came to live and Maw-Maws and Pops’.

I was born around seven months into their perfect marriage; sadly, Mama died that very same day. Daddy told me the labor was long, she had many complications, I arrived healthy and happy.

He was angry, broken-hearted, and lost for a long time. Maw-Maw took over looking after me while Daddy got back on his feet. It took him a long time, but soon he started to come back to life.

He couldn’t stand living in our small town, too many reminders of Mama – the love of his life. So, he packed up and moved to the city. It was hard enough for a boy who only had a high school education to get a job, let alone one with a baby in tow.

So, he left me in our hometown with Maw-Maw and Pops. He’d visit as often as he could and always made sure to be there for the important milestones in my life, and of course, he’d drop everything the second I needed him.

When I was growing up, I wanted for nothing. Except, on occasion, my Mama. I didn’t get to know her on a personal level. Yet, the stories about her always left a hole in my heart. Having a ‘step-in mom’ in Maw-Maw worked well enough.

Maw-Maw was young enough when she had Daddy that sometimes she was mistaken for my mother. She could still keep up with running after me and all my shenanigans. I guess young parenthood runs in the family.

My life changed on my first day as a sophomore in high school. I was fifteen and didn’t have my driver’s license yet. Daddy, as always, dropped me off on my first day of school. I leaned over in his truck, he gave my forehead a tender kiss, and said what he always did, “Have a great first day, Pumpkin. And remember, “Don’t be a fool—­” he began.

“—On the first day of school.” I finished for him with a chuckle, “I know, Daddy. Will you be here to pick me up later?” I ask with hope, knowing full well he had to get back to his job as owner of his own Garage. It kept him busy, yet being his own boss had the perks in that he could be there when I needed him.

“I’m sorry, Darlin’, I have to get back to the city, you know you can always come with me. There are schools in the city too.” He tried to persuade me on many occasions to go and live with him.

He nods, then prepares to head off by restarting the truck. I jump out and give him a sorrowful wave as he drives away. I turn around and step towards the school, only to bump headfirst into someone picking their bag up off the pavement. Our heads collide,

“Ouch! Quite the head you’ve got there, you might wanna watch where you’re aiming it,” he chuckles intensely while rubbing his head. My apologies are in abundance. I’ve still not taken all of him in.

At last, I look up and see his face. It’s like no-one else exists, just like Daddy said it would happen. I can’t breathe, I can’t talk, my hands are clammy. Oh, God! Say something, anything, he’s gonna think you’re a doofus!

God, he smells terrific, his cologne is woody with a hint of citrus, and he’s close enough for me to smell the fresh mint on his breath. I look into his hazel eyes – they’re perfect. I move up to his mousey brown hair; I find myself wanting to run my fingers through it.

He’s taller than me; then again, who isn’t? He’s muscular and lean. He must be a jock. But I sure as hell haven’t seen him around these parts before.

“Who are you?” It’s all I manage to respond, which elicits the most amazing deep-bellied laugh I have ever heard. “Well, I guess you are okay. I’m Casey Carson. It’s my first day.” He holds out a hand, I slip mine inside it, and we shake hands. I pull my hand away fast when I remember it was clammy.

“I uh-I’m sorry, I have sweaty hands,” I stutter while wiping my hand on my jeans. My face pulls into a grimace then I give him an apologetic shrug.

As if he can read my thoughts, he lets go of my hand; he doesn’t leave, though.

But before I have the chance to correct him, I don’t have a boyfriend, and the fact that I haven’t even told him my name, the bell rings, alerting us that we have two minutes to get to Home Room.

It’s funny because I’m sure the bell tends to stop after around ten seconds, but it’s still ringing. It’s then that I realize I’m being dragged from my dreams by my alarm clock yelling at me to get my lazy butt out of bed.

Fluttering my eyes open, I see it’s just after six. Ollie is nowhere to found. I assume he has gone downstairs to find his Pops. Meandering my way downstairs to find Ollie already in front of the television watching ‘Power Rangers’ with a bowl of cereal. “Pops let you eat in front of the television, huh?”

He nods his answer in silence. I ruffle my favorite human’s hair and kiss the top of his head, “Mornin’ Baby sleep well?”

“Mornin’ Mama, yup, the bestest. Your bed is so comfy!” He coos at me. I know I shouldn’t let him sleep in my bed, but I mean, he’s so god damn cute. No-one else is sleeping there right now, and let’s face it, he sure as hell ain’t gonna want to sleep there forever, is he? So, why not let him enjoy his sleep, snuggled up to his Mama?

“I’m glad to hear it, Baby, now eat up, we gotta get ready for school, Honey. Where’s Pops? Kitchen?” I ask, and he shrugs – damn rugrat.

“Something terrible can happen to you, and yet, the day after this something terrible, the sun still rises, and life goes on. And, therefore, so must you.” -Martin Short

Daddy hangs up the phone, then drops to his knees. I have never seen my father so broken. The only time I ever got to see him cry was when he was at my side the day Ollie was born. Maybe on the odd occasion when he thought he was alone and thinking of Mama.

I run to his side and sit with him on the cold tiled floor of the kitchen, scooping him into my arms. I don’t even know who was on the other end of that phone call or what was said – but I know it can’t have been good.

I give him a minute before I decide to say something. I’m not even sure what to say to him, “D-Daddy? Who was on the phone?” I manage to say. He’s holding my hand, but with how gentle he’s doing so, if I wasn’t looking at our hands, I may not have been able to tell at all.

Without even looking up at me, he stutters, “U-Uncle Jack, I-I, h-he–” It’s all he manages to get out before he breaks down into another painful sob. Uncle Jack is my Dad’s older brother.

Now it’s my turn to soothe Daddy, just like he did for me last night; I speak to him in calm, soothing tones, like he’s a child. I stroke his hair, “Shh, Daddy, Shh. I’m here. Take your time, okay? You want some water? Tell me what I can do, so you can tell me what happened.”

Daddy shakes his head, silently telling me he doesn’t need water. He takes a breath and turns to me, “Oh Pumpkin, I am so sorry to have to tell you this, but Pops passed away last night.” And with that, we break down in each other’s arms.

“How, Daddy? We only saw him last weekend, when they came up to visit; he was fine. I don’t understand. He was still so young.” I have so many questions, and then it hits me. I have to tell Ollie – oh God, he’s gonna be heartbroken. “Daddy, Ollie’s in there. He doesn’t know,” I whisper.

Daddy rubs my back, “Not yet, Pumpkin. Let him be a little longer.” I nod at him and stand up off the floor, handing him my hand as an offer of help. He chuckles at the gesture because, with my dainty figure, it’s obvious I’m not much help here.

I reach for my phone, making two phone calls, one to Daddy’s garage, filling them in on the situation and that Daddy won’t be available for the foreseeable future. I then call the school for both Ollie and me.

It’s only when I am explaining to my colleague in the office that I am unsure of the funeral details and that we’ll find out more when we drive to my Maw-Maws house; that I realize – I have to go back to the one place I swore I would never go again.

I hang up the phone and go find Dad. I see he has left a coffee for me on the counter. Picking up my morning elixir, I take a welcome sip. I see Daddy stood in the doorway to the garden over the steam from my mug. I head over and find him with his eyes shut.

His coffee is resting under his nose, just breathing it in. Trying to work out how he is supposed to cope now, knowing his own father is no longer with us.

I know I couldn’t handle it; if I were in his position. I place a hand on his back, notifying him of my presence. “Daddy, we need to talk. How am I supposed to go back there, after everything they both did to me?” I say, the last part as a whisper, with the thought that if I don’t mention it, it won’t be the truth.

Only it is true, the reason I can’t go home, the reason Ollie doesn’t have a father, that I’m not married right now. The same reason I no longer have a best friend; sure, I have acquaintances and friends, but in almost seven years, I haven’t dared let a girl that close. For fear of being hurt again.

You see, the reason I found myself in my Pops’ truck, headed for my Daddy’s that rainy night, is because I had just had my heartbroken, not by one of the closest people to me but two of them. I had found out I was pregnant an hour before.

I was in shock and needed my Mama, of course, she wasn’t there, so I called the next best person for me in that situation, my best friend, Savannah Jones, only she wasn’t picking up her phone. I sighed and tapped my phone to my lips; I called the next person I think of.

Come to think of it, he should have been the first person I called. I couldn’t wait to hear his voice. I knew, once I’d heard him, he’d have calmed all my nerves, he’d tell me it’ll all be okay. Because it should have been.

It wasn’t his voice I heard; the phone rang twice then went to voicemail. He’d hung up my phone call. He never did that; I knew something was up straight away. He always answered the call and said he’d call me back. In the three years, we were together, he’d never forwarded a single call.

I jumped in Pops’ truck – he was always cool with me using it whenever I needed it. It may as well have been mine. Since he got his new one, he hasn’t used the one I am driving.

Casey’s house was only five minutes away by car. I pulled into his driveway, putting the car into park. I noticed the only light on was a soft glow coming from his bedroom lamp. Even his sister’s light was out, it wasn’t too late, though, and his parents were out of town.

I give the door a gentle rapping. I heard soft footsteps approaching the door. In an instant, I regretted knocking, thinking I must have woken Casey’s sister, Clara. Those footsteps were far too soft to be Casey’s giant feet, but it wasn’t Clara; it was Savannah.

Savannah, my best friend, my sister, dressed only in a strappy vest top and panties, with an embarrassed, shocked expression on her face. “Emma? What are you doing here? I thought you said you were sick?” She has the cheek to say.

To be fair, I was sick – whoever ‘they’ are seemed to forget to tell women that morning sickness hits you every damn second of the day, and I was suffering from it; it hadn’t been pretty.

“What am I doing here? Anna, it’s my boyfriend’s house. What are youdoing here this time of night? Are you having a sleepover with Clara?” I half yelled at her. I knew she sometimes hung out with Casey’s little sister if I wasn’t around. But this felt different, she hadn’t told me like the other times, and she looks guilty as sin.

She gave a sheepish shake of her head, “No, not quite. I-I’m sorry, we didn’t want you to find out this way.”

Everything blurred and seemed to go in slow motion. Casey was lying in his bed shirtless, with only a sheet covering his lower half; he was asleep with his arms folded behind his head. His underwear was on the floor next to the bed. Everything I’d seen told me all I needed to know, I had been played like a damn fool.

I turned, giving the door an aggressive knock with my shoulder; I hadn’t planned to. I didn’t want to wake Casey because I didn’t want to face the humiliation. He half-woke up, noticing me fleeing the scene, “Baby? Hey, you feelin’ better, I’ve missed you this evening!” Wow! Just wow, this is some bullshit, and he must have the most gigantic balls in the entire U.S.A.

I barrelled down the stairs, almost taking Savannah down them as I went. She stayed silent; thank fuck! I couldn’t handle any more shit tonight. When I got to the front door again, I yanked it open, pushed through the screen door, and couldn’t stop myself before I flung myself over the porch and threw up the contents of my stomach in Casey’s mom’s flowers.

I can only hope to this day that Caroline forgave me for that. I got in my car; I could hear Casey yelling at Savannah, asking her where I was going. I sped the hell outta there and didn’t look back ’til I got to Daddy’s house at two in the morning.

I told him everything, turned off my phone, and got a new one the next day. Pops packed my stuff for me and made the drive to Daddy’s with it. I haven’t been back since.

My mind back in the present, “I’m sorry Darlin’, I know what that place means to you, same as it does to me, but we gotta go back, we’ll do it together. You, me, and Oliver.” He turns and embraces me. I wipe my tears as I pull away from him. Then I hear a little voice from behind me speak up.