Channeling a Writer- Day 14 (late)

Our word of the day is:

M I L K

I just wanted to go home. I wanted to feel sorry for myself. I wanted to feel like the victim.  

I knew I couldn't, after all I was still alive. Clearly, my Sister had been the victim.  The questions were now clouding my thoughts. 

'Could Danny have killed Char?'  'Where was Danny?'  'Why is Danny not at the police station, grieving his dead wife?'  'Why has Danny not reached out to my Parents?  They knew him, they knew him well back then.'

Something inside me crashed.  It was as if a bell was sounding, something I had not even thought to address before now. 

"Can you take me to my Parent's house?" I asked Mac.  He did not even look up from the road.  Somehow he knew me.  He knew my crime scene processes and what roads to take next, as if we were completely in sync. 

"Why are you smiling at me like that?" 

I must not have realized it, but having all these pleasant thoughts about Mac, seeing him as a Man, for maybe the first time, made me have butterflies. 

"Oh." I actually blushed. "Sorry about that.  I was just thinking how crazy it is to have a Partner who knows your next steps before you even do."

With that, we pulled up in front of my Parents bright yellow Victorian.  It was built in the early 1800's and they had spent their life and life savings rehabbing it. 

I sat and looked at it from the patrol car.  It was so clean and fresh looking, so happy and spring-like.  To look up at it, as a grown woman, it looked like a perfect house, one that the family would have Sunday tea time and the world would be perfect inside it's very walls. 

Mac opened my door and we headed up the bricked driveway that lead to the big, wrap around, southern style porch. The white wooden rocking chairs that I had played on with my sister as children still sat in their places, tall and proud to be a fixture on such a grand home.  I ran my hand over the nearest ones arm rest as we went to the glass screen door. 

"Mom, Dad, are you here?" I yelled as we entered.  It was always kind of a silly statement because the front door stood wide opened. 

"Yes, Dear, in the front parlor." 

Mac looked at my, raising an eyebrow at that statement. "So, you grew up here?" 

"Sure. You have been here before." I eyed him back questioningly. 

My Mom was still so young looking.  Her blonde hair, now dyed, sat high on her head in a younger, short do. 

"And what do I owe this pleasure?" she said as she took Mac's hands in her own. 

"Mom. I found out something and really want Dad here too." 

"Dad is not dealing so well.  He is out in the shed, but I can call for him." 

I looked at Mac. This was the first I had heard of my Dad not dealing so well.  After all this is the man who lacks emotions. 

"I will go see if I can talk to him." Mac said as he headed out the back screen door. 

"Honey, what is it? You can tell me. Do we really need your father present?"

I looked at her. Why wasn't she upset still? Wasn't she still grieving?  She looked refreshed, young, well rested. She looked as if life had moved on and she was OK. 

"Milk.  I will get some Milk darling." she said as she left the parlor and headed into the big, french country kitchen. I followed like a lost puppy dog.

Mac and my Dad had joined us some time later, as my Mom was reiterating how she gets her garden to grow. 

"Milk and cookies?" Mac said as he walked up to the dark, granite covered island. 

"Mom and Dad, we found something that you are going to want to sit down for."

"OK." was all they both said, as they took a seat next to Mac. I stood up, wanting to see their faces, their reactions. (the cop in me)

It was time to lay it all out on the table...and I was nervous as hell.

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Good Morning everyone- as you can see, I am LATE!  I was supposed to do this yesterday- not doing my challenge as I should be- but due to unforeseen circumstances, (basically I bruised my ribs from coughing and am in a lot of pain and working I ran out of time)  I am here today to make it up. (double the work, I might add!)

How did you use the word MILK in your story today? 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a Great Monday! Back to the grind- Tuesday is a  great day!

Until later today (eek!)

~Kel

Writing Challenge- Day 13

Writing Challenge Word of the Day:

INK

They pulled up to what was left of the house.  A white outdoor dining table stood proud from the rubble that was all around it.  The stove and washing machine had been moved near the table, blacked with soot from the fully engulfed flames that had once threatened its life. 

It was unfamiliar to Kat.  It was not her home, not a place she had visited, or even known about. 

"I have so many questions that I need answers to that I feel like I am not ready to set foot on the grounds.  I need to dive into the computer and search things out, answer questions."

"I get that.  You really did not know about this place?"

I had to just look at Mac.  No words would come out of my lashing tongue.  Did he think I knew about my sister?  What was going on in his mind?  I just looked back out the window, at a place that once breathed my sister's life, and a place that had taken it too!

We drove away, not another word spoken. 

"Should we start downtown at the registers office?"

"It's like you read my mind."

"About time, right!  So, Captain tells me you were married." he hung onto the word married as he said it.

"Yea, a long time ago."

"Yea, that is what he said.  Kind of makes sense now.  And I am not going to lie, I am kind of pissed that you never told me."

"I am sorry. It was an amicable split and I haven't seen or heard from Danny since. Until now, of course."

"You talked to him?" excitement jumping from his words.

"No, no.  I wouldn't even know how to get in touch with him, it's been years, literally.  I just mean, my sister using Greer.  It's so damn odd.  But then I keep asking myself if it really is?  I mean, Char always wanted to be like me, do everything I did. Except for being a cop, she was so far from that, it kind of ended anything we ever had, relationship wise for us, as sisters. I still don't understand that one."

"So, you didn't know they were together?"

"Wait, we don't know if they were together?  Or do we?"

Mac just looked out the front window, not saying a word as he parked the car and we went up to the fifth floor. 

I asked the kind lady behind the Formica counter top for some information on Charlotte Kale.
"Are  you Charlotte?" 

"Well, no.  She is my sister and has died."

There is that look that crosses peoples face when you say this. I am uncertain if it is doubtfulness or sorrow, maybe a little of both. 

"You will need her information."

This is where my badge comes into play. Believe it or not, that little metal baby comes in handy in times like these.  It is amazing how the look changes as I flash her the metal that makes my title official. 

She scurried off to retrieve any and all information to help Mac and I.  I just flashed a crooked smile at Mac, knowing he understood the meaning and the code that was lying underneath. This is why I am a Detective.  I live it. I eat it, sleep it and am proud of it.  Not to mention, I am damn good at it.

A few minutes later we have two marriage certificates in our possession.  One is for Nathan and Charlotte, who had been married in 2008.  The other is for Danny and Charlotte, who were married last year, around this time. 

"Any divorce degrees?"

Again, the frazzled lady disappeared.  I was left with copies, information about a sister who I truly did not know. 

"Why would they have just gotten married?" Mac wanted to know.

"I have no idea.  Why would she not have told my Mom?"

The woman came back to the counter holding a piece of paper.  It was a death decree for Nathan, who had died in 2008, just four months after they had been married.  The cause of death was listed as suspicious. 

I paid the lady for the copies and thanked her for her help. 

"You must sign the log book dear."

"Of course. " I pulled my police issued blue ink roller ball pen from my pocket. 

"Must be black ink, dear." said the lady as she handed me a black ink pen. 

It was official.  My sister was married to my ex and I had no idea how I felt about it.

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Today is Sunday and I have finished my writing challenge...now I am kid free and ready to sit on the couch and relax the day away!

Enjoy your Sunday all and back to the grind tomorrow!!

~KEL