Third Person POV:
Sooner than any of them would've liked, the trio of blondes found themselves in the kitchen. Scarlett was quick to continue her attentiveness towards the two girls, purposely ignoring the tension plaguing the air. She didn't want to waste her limited time on a man who she knew would never admit to his wrongdoings. Though, just the thought of wasting it on a man in general was reason enough.
Carter had routinely fallen back into the mannerisms she knew too well. Regardless of the presence of the only two people she seemed to find comfort in, well the only two around her currently, Carter couldn't help but return to a state she was used to. Too used to.
Not that she could do much to change that. It'd been a part of her "routine" since she could remember. A part that her MiMi was tired of trying to break. A part that her Uncle Casey was constantly berating her father for. And a part that her Scarly wasn't aware of. Or maybe it just wasn't confirmed for her yet.
Rose took to recognizing the change in her endearingly named "sissy". The girl was observant for seven years old, practically eight if you asked her. She was mature and always seemed to pick up on the little details when she was actively trying. And with her mother's actions alone she knew something was happening. She might not understand it entirely but it didn't mean she was unaware.
Especially after their short exchange in the bathtub, the young girl had become increasingly protective of her "mini" as she kept referring to her in her head. She wanted nothing more than to understand why a man she adored so much could be so different with his own daughter. It made her question if it was her fault, but the remembered words of her mother were quick to discredit that.
She watched as the younger rested her head on her mother's shoulder, accepting the comfort, though not embracing it. She just laid there, staring into space with a distant look in her eyes. As the woman continued to make their breakfast, Rose followed her movements, hopeful that something would spark any change in her sisters demeanor. And when the change never came, the girl found herself looking around, thinking about what it meant.
The small girl had unknowingly become one of her favorite people. If not her favorite. She was her person. That may seem strange for the short amount of time they'd spent together, but only they could tell that time meant nothing.
Scarlett also took notice of the change in the youngest's behavior. She was more than likely where Rose had gotten her observational abilities from. Though, she unfortunately recognized the connection of the unwanted presence in the room, tying it to the probable cause of the child's distance.
The heartbreaking understanding that Carter's mannerisms wouldn't change for a while was what pushed her to act as if nothing was wrong. She simply hummed, rocking them back and forth as she cooked. The cuddles hopefully providing the last means of comfort before their inevitable parting came.
As she finished cooking, she plated their food moving to sit at the table. When she noticed Carter simply picking at her food, the young girl ended up on her lap for the remainder of the meal, taking bites when fed to her. Her slow chewing and staring into empty space more evidence of the issues at hand.
Breakfast was silent. Not the silence they'd enjoyed over the previous days though. It was tense. The air thick with words unsaid, regrets not had, and emotions unwanted.
The dreaded end of breakfast came faster than the girls were prepared for. They soon found themselves on the couch, soaking up the final fifteen minutes they had together before a week apart. Scarlett was hoping it was only a week. With her distaste for Colin and his unwillingness to understand how wrong he was, she was unsure if he'd be back the coming weekend.
The fifteen minutes felt both like a lifetime and like seconds. The unmentioned thoughts that rid all three girls' minds filled the silence. They'd stayed lost in their own bubbles while they took in the final snuggles. They were all in their own world of thoughts yet every world overlapped.
Why is he like that? Why does he think this is ok? Why me?
What promises did he break? What else do I not know about? What did I do?
How come he's so different with her? How can he be like this? How many times?
Is he always like this? Is he ever gonna change? Is it my fault?
Will he see how sad she is? Will he ever understand? Will I ever be enough?
All questions that needed answers, but not all that wanted them.
'Carter, come on we gotta go!', Colin announced interrupting the calm atmosphere we were absorbed in just moments before.
Scarlett sighed, reluctantly standing with the child on her hip. Her mind was racing. The last words she'd heard from the young girl were from the conversation in the bathtub. The same conversation that resulted in fears being marked realities. In the recognition that a man Scarlett had come to love so much, the man that had promised her the world, was the same man that couldn't provide his own daughter the same.
That time and time again let her down to the point where she was telling others that he never kept his promises. And while she remained unaware of the exact promises, the intuition in her heart told her just how heartbreaking they were.
She sat down on the steps, with Carter in her lap, helping her put her shoes on. The child's lack of emotion and far-off gaze worrying her to no ends.
Rose stood leaning against the arch entrance to the living room. Her cheek resting on the white wood frame as she watched her mother help her sister.
Normally, she'd be hugging Colin goodbye and complaining, begging him to stay just a couple more hours. Work could wait. But right now, she wasn't sure how to feel. She didn't know what to say to the man. Or if she wanted to talk to him at all.
As the pair stood, Colin reached to grab Carter. Scarlett stood, letting him attempt to pull the girl from her arms, and for the first time in almost an hour, the young girl reacted.
Screams and cries flooding out of her mouth instantly. She squirmed and fought her father's hold.
'No no no! Let go! I don't wanna go! I don't wanna..' she cried, trailing off as her voice grew hoarse.
Scarlett was quick to react, but not quicker than Rose. The child having become increasingly protective of her beloved sister. She had run over pushing the man away from her mother with all her power. It wasn't much, but it was enough to allow the woman a better grip on her sister.
'Stop! She told you no! Stop!' Rose screamed at the man, her face showing a mix of emotions.
'Carter we have to go! You're gonna make me late for work!' Colin sighed, exasperated from the current situation.
'Just let me calm her down and I'll carry her out to the car. Go start it.' Scarlett told him calmly. He sighed in annoyance, but ultimately left to start the car.
Scarlett returned her attention to the shaking child in her arms. She whispered sweet nothings in her ear as she swayed the back and forth, calming the child's distressed state. She made a mental note to call Carter's MiMi and let her know if everything that was going on. She wanted to ensure that Carter would be well taken care of and understood after daycare.
After a good ten minutes of calming the child, honks from her aggravated father erupted their silence. The pair made their way to the driveway, Rose just behind them.
Scarlett opened the back door, attempting to place the child in her seat, but was quickly met with resistance and a fresh rounds of cries and pleas to stay. She held back her own tears as she gently forced the child in and buckled her up. She leant down ti place a lingering kiss on the girl's temple, only to be stopped from pulling away as Carter took a firm grip of her shirt.
Her cries finally driving Colin mad as he took it upon himself to end everything then, 'Carter Jost, enough! You've already made me 15 minutes late to work! I'm done with this! Let go and stop crying so we can leave!'
Scarlett was shocked to say the least. She's never heard the man so angry, and to think it was all a reaction to his own daughter who was only reacting the way a five year old knows best. It made her heart pause, as she felt a moment of shock rebound through her.
'Shh, my love. I promise you're ok. It's ok,' she whispered, tearfully as she ran her hand over the side of the child's face.
'I love you so much. I'll tell MiMi that you can call me at any time, whenever you need me, or wanna hear my voice, or just wanna see me. Any time baby.' She told her as she slowly worked her grip off of her shirt. Holding her hands in her own, she placed a final kiss on the girl's head.
'I love you, Carter.'she smiled pulling away. Carter stared at her with the saddest look she's ever seen. Eyes glossed over, enough tears to fill the ocean, her lip trembling like an earthquake shaking the ground, and her cheeks stained like red wine on a white tablecloth.
She closed the door, backing away with Rose leaning into her side as they pulled out of the driveway. They waved them off, standing for a good minute or so after the car faded from view.
A tap on her arm turned the woman's attention to her daughter. It hurt her to see the tears streaming down her face. Rose rarely cries. So to see her so upset just made the pain of such a hard goodbye so much worse. She lifted her into her arms, swaying them back and forth like she had done with Carter only five minutes prior.
'I miss sissy.' The child whispered, laying her head on her mother's shoulder.
'I do too.'
A/N: Hey lovelies, it's been a minute. More precisely over three weeks. To say the last few weeks have been crazy would be an understatement, but I hope you enjoyed this heartbreaking chapter. Sorry if I made you cry on such a long awaited update. I love you all greatly and I'm just going with the storyline.
On another note, I've never really done third person so this was a change. I wouldn't expect too much of it except for filler chapters, but I hope it wasn't too bad. Let me know if it was and I can change this!
Anyways, please remember to comment of message any ideas, feedback, or well anything really. It's great to hear back from the people who motivate me to keep going with my books.
Love,
EJ <3