Chapter Thirteen
“Julie?”
Looking up from the bottom of the stairs, Julie’s eyes widened when she saw her little sister. She held her finger up to her lip, silencing her. She had no idea that the little girl would be awake!
She had indulged the night before, her need to fit in outweighing the conscience screaming at her to put the alcohol down. She was regretting it now. Her head pounded, her stomach churned. Was this what a hangover felt like?
“Help me up the stairs,” Julie requested, not trusting herself to move. She knew if she attempted to climb the steps and fell, waking her parents, she was in for it. Big time. Abbi hurried down the stairs and reached for her sister’s hand, nearly stumbling under the weight of her.
“Stand up, Julie! You’re gonna knock us both down!” Abbi grunted, straining under her sister’s weight as she leaned against her.
Julie’s eyes were filling with tears. She was SO going to get busted! After what seemed like a lifetime, Abbi finally managed to kick the bedroom door open and help her sister into the bed. Her eyes were wide as she watched her sister struggle to get under the covers, moaning pitifully.
“Maybe I should get daddy. You don’t look so good.”
“No! No, I’m f-fine,” Julie lied, curling up onto her side. With wide eyes, Abbi glanced back and forth between the door and her sister. What was she going to do? What if something was really wrong with Julie?
She walked to the door, closing it quietly behind her. She decided she wouldn’t wake her daddy up yet. It was pretty early, nearing 5:30. She completely forgot what she’d gotten out of bed for anyway. She went back to her room, but instead of climbing into the bed, she grabbed her desk chair and with much difficulty, carried it into the hallway and to her sister’s room. She sat down in it, listening for her sister.
~*~
When the gagging didn’t stop, Abbi got worried. Her sister had been getting sick for almost fifteen minutes. She jumped off her chair and hurried inside. She found her sister leaning over the bed, emptying her stomach into the trashcan. Abbi winced as she gagged once more. When she thought it was safe, Julie rolled back over into the bed, letting out a low moan. Abbi could see the stain on her shirt.
“Julie…” Her eyes filled with tears. She was so worried. What if something was really wrong with her big sister? “Please let me go get daddy.”
“NO! Jus’ lemme sleep,” Julie slurred, rolling onto her side. Going over to her dresser, Abbi pulled out a pajama top and carried it over to the bed.
“’Least change, Julie. Tha’s gross.” It was with much difficulty and her little sister’s help that Julie managed to get changed. She curled up in her bed, willing the sleep to come. Abbi pulled her chair inside. IT would be much more effective if she was just inches away, rather than feet. She slumped over in the chair once her sister’s light snores filled her ears, her eyes drooping. This was waaay too much action for 6:00 in the morning!
~*~
He woke early in the morning, groaning as he stretched his aching muscles. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and smiled over at his still sleeping wife. She was beautiful. He leaned over and kissed her cheek, grinning when she snuggled deeper into the covers.
It took him all of fifteen minutes to shower and dress for the day, checking on Jen once more before heading into the hallway. He headed to his youngest daughter’s room first, concerned when he didn’t see her asleep in her bed. He hurried downstairs to check on the couch. She had a habit of waking up for water and falling asleep downstairs. He frowned when he didn’t see her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the rising sun glinting off of Julie’s car through the window, as it was parked haphazardly in the driveway. What was she doing home?
He headed back up the steps, taking them two at a time and threw the door open. He found both of his children, his eldest daughter curled up in the bed asleep, with Abbi sitting in her desk chair, slumped over uncomfortably. Her poor neck was going to kill her when she woke up!
JC walked to her, sliding his arms underneath her body, lifting her gently. He smiled at the little grunt that he received as she snuggled against his chest, craving his warmth. She was too much like her mother! He carried her back into her room and slid her into bed with a kiss to the forehead before returning to Julie’s room. She was going to have a lot of explaining to do when she woke up!
Number of reviews: 76
Print:
Chapter or Story