Memory Remnants

Part 7: Panic

Memory Remnants Part 7

Madeline entered the house and found her “family” in the sitting room again. Jonah was sitting in a white armchair and Alex was siting in a matching one beside it. Someone seemed to have an obsession with white furniture. Madeline hoped it wasn't her because she had always hated white furniture because they stained way too easily. On the couch this time were two older people. The woman was beautiful with long blond hair and blue eyes. She had a fake tan and looked like she could bite of Madeline's head off if she wanted to. She didn't look a day over thirty. The man beside her was taller, buff, and had graying blond hair. He also looked to be about forty years older than her.

“Madeline. Leaving Alex at the cemetery and stealing his automobile was beyond childish,” scolded the woman in a way that seemed like she barely cared and that she was better than everybody else. Quite the feat.

“Charlotte, leave her alone. I told you. It's like she's fifteen now and she's stressed out from all this new information,” reminded Alex.

“That's why I'm scolding her. She's a child now.”

Alex sighed then got up and stood at Madeline's side. He was a few inches shorter than her. “Madeline. The woman is Charlotte and the man is Carlos. They are Jonah's parents.”

Madeline's eyes widened. “But they are like forty years apart,” she said before she could stop herself.

“Actually they are about twenty. Charlotte just turned forty and Carlos is like in his mid-sixties.”

“Really? That's still a lot.”

“Mom was a model and dad was her manager and he got her pregnant at seventeen, so they got married,” clarified a teenage girl.

Madeline turned her attention to her. She was sitting in a chair a bit farther away text messaging on her cell phone. She looked a lot like Charlotte with her long blond hair, pretty face, and fake tan.

“And that's Emma. She's Jonah's seventeen year old sister,” explained Alex.

“Whatever, pipsqueak. I'm outta here. I'm going to go meet my boyfriend. He lives nearby. Don't wait up,” announced Emma as she got up and unsubtly pushed Alex out of the way with her shoulder. She was surprisingly taller than Madeline.

Alex leaned up to Madeline's ear. “I think she likes me. 'Cause, c'mon, who wouldn't?” he whispered as he waggled his eyebrows.

Madeline giggled. When did her brother get so funny? He used to be pretty oblivious to jokes.

“Mom, dad. Thank you for picking Alex up for me, but I think you should leave now. I would like to talk to my wife alone,” declared Jonah.

Charlotte snorted and flipped her hair before getting up. Carlos said nothing as he followed her out of the house. Jonah stood up and glared at them.