The Controlling

Chapter Twelve Part 1

"He won't miss it, and he just left it here anyways. We can say we were just walking by and found it. No harm done." She assured ripping her arm from me, putting the phone in the pocket of her pants.

"Do I hear a birthday girl?" A female yelled from down the hall.

Cassidy popped around the corner carrying a basket of laundry. The corners of her mouth twisted up into a smile. Her brown hair was pulled into a messy bun on the top of her head.

"Happy Birthday," she said putting the basket down to hug me. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, her bun smacking me in the face as she turned her head.

"Thanks." I laughed pushing a few strands of her hair out of my face.

She pulled back looking me up and down.

"You don't look any different." She mumbled cocking her head to the side.

"Am I supposed to?" I questioned.

"Well it's the big one-seven. You're one step closer to being able to buy lottery tickets!" She cheered jumping up and down lightly before stopping and picking the basket up. She pushed the basket toward me, with an innocent smile.

What she wanted suddenly dawned on me.

"But it's my birthday." I whined like a five year old, throwing my arms around.

"Please, Marsh needs me, Kate, and Wolfgang to help her clean around outside and Purdy said she wanted to wash the table cloths."

I sighed snatching the basket from her hands.

"Fine, but you owe me." I grunted. I turned and headed towards the basement where all of the laundry things were.

I descended the stairs, making sure to turn on the lights so I didn't fall going down them.

"Purdy?" I shouted, making sure she was down there.

"Codee, do you have the table covers?" She questioned.

I sighed.

Okay Codee, one step at a time.

Don't fall.

If only I could be more balanced, this would be a lot easier.

As soon as my foot hit the floor of the basement, I breathed a sigh of relief. I walked a few more steps to where Purdy was standing, waiting for me to give her the covers.

"Thank you ma'am." She said taking the basket from my hands.

"You're welcome." I smiled before turning to run back up the stairs.

"Before you go," she started, making me stop dead in my tracks. "I want to talk to you."

I turned, taking large steps to the dryer. I hopped up, settling down comfortably on the top.

"Okay, what about?" I questioned.

"You know you're parents are coming to get you later so you can go spend time together." It wasn't really a question, more of a statement.

"Yeah, they said they'd come get me about three." I assured her.

"I was just making sure you remembered." She sighed, throwing the covers inside of the washer. "When you get home, my son will be over. It's his birthday today too."

"Really? How old is he?" I didn't even know she had a son.

The small wrinkles by her eyes showed more as she smiled.

"He's turning seventeen like you. His name is Caleb." Her smile turned into a small frown as she seemed to think of something. "I love him, but he can be a hand full. He's just like his older brother I supposed."