Final Score: Part One (Game On 5)

I knocked on the door and I swear I felt the tension ramp up several notches. Maybe it was the deathly silence and the fact that there was no immediate sound of footsteps coming towards the door. It was way too quiet. It was a full minute before the door opened, but it felt like an hour. It was Mitch who opened the door, his face almost apologetic as I stepped inside. In the hallway were Deanna, Radeigh, Jen, and two little boys. The smaller of the two kids was covered from head to toe in blue paint, and there were blue paint footprints all over the cream carpet.

Several thoughts jumped into my mind at once. No wonder Deanna was angry, but she would never have accused a child of deliberately ruining her carpet. Why would he? He was three years old. The next thought was why were they all there anyway? Deanna and Mitch knew I was coming, so how come they were having some kind of family painting session so late in the day? Especially when they didn’t have any time or patience for Jen.

I felt like I should say something but words failed me. I’d walked into a mad house – what could I say?

My eyes flicked from person to person, taking them in. They all seemed to be breathing a little too heavily, and Jen was still crying, with the paint-covered child clinging to her leg.

“Leah…” Mitch began, and Deanna turned away, biting her lip.

“What…?” I started, and Jessica clung to me, as if sensing whatever this was, it had to do with me. My heart pounded as I waited and then Radleigh took a step to the side to show me exactly what the problem was.

Mitch stepped in quickly to take Jessica from me because I almost dropped her as all strength left my limbs and I sank to the floor to stop myself keeling over. On the stairs, plastered in blue paint, was my beautiful wedding dress.

To be continued…