The Triangle: Chapter 1-9 *Chapter 9 Update!*
Bookfreak:
Really good, wasnt suspecting her ovary problem came as a total surprise.
Keep up the good work , Cant wait to read me.
simgirl75001:
Chapter 2: The Adjustment
Rhiannon looked around the large foyer and couldn't help but stare. She has never been in such a house before. It was almost like she was still dreaming, but when Jareth gently led her into the dining room, she knew it was real. Rhiannon slid into one of the large chairs, trying to hide her excitement. She still couldn't believe this nice man took her in, and she was hoping he wouldn't change his mind. Jareth smiled at her.
"I'm going into the kitchen now to whip us up some food. You just sit here and relax ok?"
Rhiannon just nodded, smiling back.
Jareth prepared the simple dinner, planning to get Cassie from the bedroom and introduce her to Rhiannon. He was hoping Cassie would be as accepting and excited about the situation as he was, seeing the bad news they recieved earlier. Maybe this was their sign, their new hope in life to actually have a family. Jareth believed Rhiannon's unexpected arrival was a sign, and he was hoping that they would be able to keep her.
As he sat the plate down, he turned around and was startled when he saw Cassie standing by the stairs.
"Oh hey you!" Jareth managed to squeak out as she smiled at him.
" I see you made us a midnight snack," she replied. "That's so sweet of you." Cassie kissed his cheek and sniffed the food.
"Well..yea.." Jareth rubbed the back of his neck. "I actually made this for us and a...little visitor."
Cassie looked confused. "I was just about to ask you...who was at the door?"
"Come see for yourself," Jareth replied as he picked up the food and walked into the dining room.
Cassie looked around the dining room, then focused on a red headed girl sitting in the last chair at the table. She was even more confused.Why on earth is there a child here this time of the night? She thought as she tried to put on a calm face. Rhiannon looked at Cassie and became nervous. She was sure this woman would hate her right away and ask her to leave. Rhiannon never seemed to have good luck with women, especially her mother. She was expecting Cassie to be just the same. Instead, Cassie stiffly held out her hand and smiled.
"I'm Cassie, but you can call me Cass. And you are..?
"Rhiannon," she replied hesitantly. "Nice to m..meet you."
"Same here. You must tell me how you got here."
Jareth interrupted. "Well lets eat some food and talk. I think that would be better since Rhiannon here is a bit hungry."
They all sat down and ate while talking. Cassie glanced at Rhiannon every now and then, observing her bad table manners and the way she inhaled her food. She tried to ignore it the best she could. Jareth seemed oblivious to it all, being happy that Rhiannon was actually in their house. He ate silently while Cassie asked Rhiannon questions about her parents and how she got there. As Rhiannon aswered, Cassie nodded and took mental notes, not pleased with the fact that someone else's child was sitting in their house. She was making it a priority to call the Social Worker first thing in the morning. This child needed help, sure. But not at their expense. To her, private homes were not meant to be orphanages.
"So, Rhiannon, what school do you attend?"
Rhiannon chewed on a fry. "I did go to SimCity Elementary, but mama took me outta there. So I don't go to school now."
Cassie shook her head. What a shame,she thought. "Do you want to go back?"
"Oh yes! I really liked going to school. I'm not so good with readin though. But my math is good."
"Sounds like me when i was a kid," Jareth said, laughing. Rhiannon smiled at him, her face almost glowing. She was getting attached to Jareth already, and Cassie noticed that right away. She didn't like that one bit, because she was sure the Social Worker was going to take her out of here in the morning, and having that attachment there was a bad thing.
After dinner was finished, Cassie stood up and said,"Jareth, can I see you in the study please?"
"Sure." He stood up and wiped his hands on the napkins. "Rhiannon you just stay here. We will be right back."
As soon as the door was closed behind them, Cassie ripped right into Jareth.
"How can you just bring a child into this house like its something people do everyday? God knows where she came from and what..what illnesses are lurking there! Why didn't you just call the police? We are not equipped to take care of a person like her!"
Jareth became upset. He never got upset, especially with his own wife, but her words ripped though him like a sharp dagger. He could not believe what she was saying.
"We are talking about a living human being Cass! Not a piece of garbage! And besides I live here just as much as you do, and there is nothing wrong with taking Rhiannon in. For Pete's sake, she's a hungry child! What would you rather me do, just leave her out there while I call the authorities?" Jareth was near tears. His passion for others ran through him deeply. He could never understand how other people could just not care so much.
Cassie calmed down a little bit, feeling a little bad. "Jareth, don't take me wrong. I don't think its bad that you are helping her out, but there are other people out there that are authorized to take care of people like her. We just aren't the right people for her. That's all I am trying to say."
Jareth walked towards the door, then turned to look at Cassie. "As far as I am concerned, we are responsible for her. I am willing to call the Social worker in the morning to see if they can find her mother, but I refuse to let Rhiannon go into Social Services, and I DEFINATELY refuse to let her go back with her mother."
Before Cassie could reply, Jareth walked back into the living room,trying to gain his composure back. He didn't want Rhiannon to see him so upset.
"Well, it's not much, but you are more than welcome to sleep on this fold out couch for the night. In the morning we will buy you a proper bed to sleep in."
Rhiannon was happy just to have a nice clean place to sleep in. Her mother always kept the apartment dingy and nasty, never throwing out the trash. Rhiannon slept on a thin mattress on the floor, covering her head with a thin blanket to keep the flies from buzzing on her face. She inhaled deeply, glad to smell lavender and roses instead of rotten trash.
"Thanks Jareth," she said gratefully.
"No problem." He gave her a hug. "You just get some rest. Tomorrow we are going to get you some fresh clothes and then go from there."
Jareth pulled out the mattress from the couch and pulled back the blankets. Rhiannon quickly hopped itno the bed, sinking into the thick fragrant mattress. She was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open. She could barely reply to Jareth's good night before she was knocked out. Jareth watched her sleep for a little while, then went upstairs to go to sleep himself.
He was really hoping Cassie would become more accepting. He believed that as time went by she would warm up to Rhiannon and all will go well. Hopefully.
Zorom:
Oh noooooo Cassie's annoyed! :( Not good. I hope they work it out!
simgirl75001:
The next morning, Jareth and Cassie had to go to work, so they called a babysitter to come watch Rhiannon, since she wasn't enrolled in any schools yet. Before he left, he made Rhiannon a big pancake breakfast, and invited his wife to come eat with them, but she refused, still upset about last night. Cassie covered it up by saying she wasn't feeling too well. Jareth knew better but kept quiet.
Evening came, and as soon as Rhiannon heard the two cars pull up in the driveway, she became nervous. She just knew that Cassie was going to talk Jareth into putting her into Social Services. She overheard their argument last night, and she cried while they were yelling in hushed tones. Oh God, pleeease let me stay here, please!She thought as Cassie and Jareth entered the house. Cassie went straight for the phone while Jareth went into the living room to find Rhiannon and the sitter watching movies. She smiled at him and hesitated when he opened his arms for a hug. She came to him and hugged him, but began shaking.
"What's the matter?" Jareth said, looking concerned.
She sighed. "I'm afraid that I won't stay here, 'cause Cassie doesn't...want...me.." Rhiannon tried to hold back the tears but gave in. She buried her face into Jareth's chest and cried for a while. Jareth rubbed her back.
"Rhiannon, we do want you here. This is all just a surprise for Cass that's all. We will all adjust soon enough. We do have to call the Social Worker though. Just to make sure they know you are here."
Rhiannon nodded and sat back down on the couch, waiting to see what will happen.
Jareth walked over to Cassie in the foyer. She felt a little bad for how she treated Jareth last night, but she still meant what she said. She was hoping this situation would end tonight.
"The Social Worker should be here soon," Cassie said as she slipped off her lab coat.
Jareth just nodded. He was preparing what to say to the Worker when she came. He was going to make sure she knew his intentions, even though Cassie may not like it. He was hoping Cassie wouldn't openly protest about it.
Two hours later, the Social Worker knocked on the door and Cassie let her in. After all the introductions, they settled down in the hallway to discuss the issue.
"Where is the child?" The Worker asked.
"Right here," Rhiannon said as she walked out of the living room.
"What is your name?"
"Rhiannon Howard."
The Social Worker smiled. "My name is Mrs. Carpenter. I am here to help you ok?"
Rhiannon just nodded. She was scared out of her mind.
The Social Worker looked at Jareth and Cassie. "So how did you two come to have Rhiannon in your home?"
Jareth explained the whole story to her, from finding Rhiannon on the porch to finding out about her mother and how she woke up in the park. The Social Worker nodded and jotted down things in her notepad, but not saying nothing else unless she had a question. Cassie just stood there listening, since she didn't have much to do with it. Rhiannon was wringing her hands behind her back, getting even more scared and nervous. She was just hoping the Worker would be kind enough to stay with Jareth instead of going into Social Services. She was there before, and it was horrible. Some of the children there were nasty bullies and petty criminals.
When Jareth was done talking, the Social worker wrote a few more things down. After what seemed like forever, the Worker looked up from her pad.
"Mr. and Mrs. Weston, after hearing this shocking story, I would like to advise you on a few things. First of all, I would suggest that Rhiannon stays in this home with you, seeing that Social Services is just too full at the moment. So what you two need to do is go down to the courts and request temporary guardianship of Rhiannon until we can sort this out and find her mother. Next, you need to enroll her into school as quickly as possible. I will be in touch, and we will contact you when her mother is located, and we can go from there."
Jareth and Rhiannon were both relieved, but Cassie was disappointed. How can Social Services be full?! That's so insane!
Jareth thanked the Social Worker and showed her to the door. When she was gone, Rhiannon ran to Jareth and hugged him.
"Thank you thank you thank you!"
She then turned to Cassie, who was trying not to let her disappointment show. "Thank you for allowing me to stay in your home, Cassie."
"Your welcome. If you will excuse me, I have some work to do." She walked off into the stdy without another word.
Jareth sighed, then remembered what he was supposed to do.
"Hey I have a surprise for you. Would you like to see it?"
"Of course! Where is it?"
"Follow me."
He led her up the stairs, and then down the long hallway. Rhiannon didn't realize how big this house really was. She looked around in awe as they approached a door at the end of the hall.
'Open the door Rhiannon."
She smiled as she slowly turned the knob. There was a flash of pink and flowers, and she quickly opened the door. it was so beautiful! She was in shock. "Is this...?"
"This is your room Rhiannon. I had it set up while you were watching movies with the sitter. I hope you like it."
Rhiannon jumped up and down, excited. "I love it! Thank you!"
She thought the room was something you only saw on TV, but it belonged to her. She carefully touched the bed and the walls, hoping that she wouldn't break anything.
"Don't be shy, this is all yours. You also have your own bathroom over there. I hope you don't mind purple."
She shook her head, smiling. She was totally speechless.
She hugged him and he smiled. She wished and hoped she could live here forever. Even though it was mean, she was also wishing her mother never came back. She was sure she would die if she was taken away from this beautiful place. It was just a dream come true.
"Can I stay here forever Jareth?"
"You can stay for as long as you like. Let's just hope the Social Worker will agree."
Just then, Cassie came into the room. Rhiannon got nervous, but then Cassie started to talk to her.
"Do you like your room? I picked out the colors."
"Umm, yes I do thank you."
"You are very welcome. If you need anything else, more toys, clothes, whatever, let us know."
Rhiannon nodded, wondering why all of a sudden Cassie was being mice to her. She thought it was so strange. She tried to shrug it off though.
Cassie started talking to her about private school and dance lessons, things that Rhiannon never thought she could be a part of. They decided to put her in school first thing in the morning, and then go to the courts to get guardianship of Rhiannon.
Shali:
I love this story!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page