chapter 58

It was getting late, Nick Foster was rushing to pick his wife from work. They had to sell her car during the relocation, so he owed both his wife and daughter new cars. He looked at his watch and noticed that he was running late. Keeping his wife waiting was not an option for him today or else she would not spare him during the whole ride home.

Nick arrived at the clinic where his wife was now working as a nurse and he was only fifteen minutes late but the look she gave him was enough to render him paralyzed for life. She entered the car very annoyed without even greeting him. Nick asked about her first day at work nervously.

“It was going well until someone came to pick me up late,” Lea replied looking away.

“I'm sorry honey but I will make it up to you, I promise," Nick said while handing her a small gift. Lea opened the gift and it was her favorite chocolate, she was always pleased and greatfull with the small little gifts that Nick gave her Everytime he pissed her off.

“Thank you pinch sweet,” a very delighted Lea said while opening the chocolate.

“Sweetheart, Guess who came to apologise when I went back to get my papers?”

“Who?” Lea asked.

“Lucy, the neighbor's daughter, apparently she came to apologise for her father's behavior, as in how he treated us when we went to introduce ourselves.”

“Ooooh really??? that's nice of her, hope it will be the last time she comes over. You know, there is something dark about that girl, something sad and I can bet my entire savings that she is not to be welcomed. There was silence in the car for a minute, which surprised Lea

“Ain't this the part where you start defending strangers?” Lea mocked.

“I'm going with you this time, the girl is definitely trouble. I hope our daughter stays as far away from her as possible."

Lea was shocked, she definitely did not expect her husband to make such a statement on someone he barely knew. Between the two of them, he was the more welcoming and always giving people chances. “What changed your mind, you were all over the place last night defending her and her father, did she say something or do something,” Lea asked.

Nick was not going to tell her about the window incidence, it was too late to tell her anyway. How would she react? He would definitely look guilty, whichever way he tried looking at it? It looked like the girl was changing her clothes while he watched her like a pervert.

“No, it's just that when she came over, it seemed like she was confused, maybe she is a mental patient and that's why her father home schools her.”

“She must have really spooked you,”

Lea joked.

“Yeah I gave her a ride to the supermarket, our conversation was really spooky,” answered Nick

“What ride?? you did not say anything about giving her a ride????” a surprised Lea asked

“I was getting to that, Nick interjected, she asked for a ride and I was not going to be rude so I agreed.”

“So it was during this ride, that you made this conclusion? what did you talk about exactly?"

“I just asked her random questions about her dad and she was all rude and defensive”  Nick replied.

“Well that taught you to mind your own business then,” Lea added

Nick looked at his wife surprised. But finally they arrived at their new home and Nick parked the car and they both walked to the front door, surprisingly they heard voices and wondered who was in the house with their daughter.

Lea looked at her husband worried and quickly rushed to open the door, a scene of terrified teenage girls holding each other in fear met her.

“What's going on? Nick asked from behind.

Both girls went into laughter when they realized that it was just Nick and Lea.

“Hi dad”

“Hi mum, Lucy was just helping me with dinner and the food really tastes good, how was work? Lea and Nick stood on the doorway surprised, Lucy noticed this and went quickly to introduce herself

“Hello Mr and Mrs Foster, I was only giving your daughter a hand in the kitchen, hope you do not mind.” a shy Lucy stated

“Yeah mum, Nancy interrupted and she was telling me all about Middle high, you won't believe what has been going down in that school, that's what really spooked us when you opened the door.”

“You are friends now? Lea interrupted her with a fake smile."

“Honey let's go freshen up before we taste this perfectly prepared food, nice seeing you again Lucy, Nick said quickly and how is your dad by the way??”

“He is doing fine thanks, Lucy replied, she sensed the unwelcoming mood from Lea, so she decided to leave in order to preserve what she had created with Nancy.

“I must be heading home now, I have to prepare dinner at home too before dad returns. It was really nice meeting you Nancy and if you need any help with the bullies just say the words.” Lucy intentionally stated.

“No please do not leave, have dinner with us? Nancy pleaded

“Dad?”

“mum?”

“Which bullies? what bullies

Lea asked worriedly.

“It's not that serious mum, Lucy was just giving me the school history and who to look out for at the new school.” Nancy said.

“You do not have to worry about anything Mrs Foster, It is just some finished up bully trying to scare the new kid,” Lucy added

“Lea ignored Lucy and turned to her daughter, “I want the names of these bullies Nancy, bullies are bullies, don't let things escalate, Bullying is a serious issue.”

“Honey calm down, if Nancy says it is not serious then it is not serious.”

“Fine!” replied Lea

Lucy insisted on going so Nancy escorted her to the door and they said their goodbyes

When she turned, she was met with a serious face of her mother looking at her. “What happened to “not being friends with the weirdo next door?” Lea asked her daughter.......

“Well dad was right we shouldn't judge people before knowing them," replied Nancy while looking at her dad. Now go and freshen up before I start setting up dinner, You are not going to believe what Lucy told me about this place, mum get ready to scorn dad.”

Nick couldn't feel his legs at this moment, his thoughts went to the window incident, that's the first thing that came to his mind, What else would Lucy have told his daughter?

“Come on guys go now, there is a murdered girl and a missing boy in this story,” Nancy said in a creepy voice.

“What?? Lea shouted, seriously!!

“Pinch sweet let's go freshen up,” Lea said to her husband who was deep in thought. Nick finally let out a sigh of relief when he heard his daughter.

At the dinner table, Nancy told her parents about what Lucy had told her, and they could not believe that the small town they had just moved to was an epicenter of a muder investigation and a missing boy.

Lea looked at her husband in anger and said, “so this is the quiet town you could not wait to move ito? Congratulations, she stood up and added, “Nancy I want you to keep a distance from those bullies and if they continue please promise to tell us” and she went to bed.

Father and daughter were left on the dining table shocked, Nick stood up and helped his daughter clean the dishes. “So you really want to be friends with this Lucy girl? Nick asked his daughter.

“Yes dad, she is really cool, you were right about giving people time, she actually apologized for her rudeness towards us.”

“Just be careful with her okay, if you sense anything wrong with her please do not hesitate to stop being friends with her okay,” Nick said

“Yes dad, I'm not saying we are best friends now, we are just getting to know each other and if she turns out to be a weirdo I'm definitely coming running to you, '' Nancy said laughing.” Nick said his goodnight to her and headed to bed.

He found his wife already in bed, he joined her and kissed her, said goodnight and added, “Honey I believe this is not an overall picture of this town, I'm sure it was just some messed up teenagers playing pranks on each other but things escalated out of control.

“Good night,” Lea replied without saying more.