| Chapter 13: Emily smiled happily to herself as she opened the door to the Quartermaine mansion. Inside, she could hear Edward and her parents bickering. And was that AJ's voice she heard too? Emily almost went back outside into that cold weather, but stopped as she heard her name. Normally, she wouldn't even think twice and would go ahead with her plans for the day, because normally she was always brought up in their arguments. But this time she stopped, and the smile faded from her lips. Emily turned toward the closed wooden doors to the parlor. "What are you talking about, Monica, hmmm? You don't even see that child, never mind raise her." "Edward!" Emily smiled as she went over to sit down on the steps. Good ol' Lila. "How can you say that?" Monica's voice, now. "Well, it's true. She goes out whenever she pleases, wherever she pleases, and you don't even care. That girl has no discipline, and that's what she needs. Good, strong discipline." Emily rolled her eyes and cupped her chin in her hands. "Are you telling us how to raise our daughter?" Emily thought, there's Alan. "Edward, she has her own life to live. You can't control her like you do everyone in this house." And Justus. "I prefer the word 'disciplined', Justus." Edward continued. "Emily has been getting into nothing but trouble." "Grandfather, will you leave her alone?" AJ sounded exhausted, as if he were tired of fighting. "There was that whole Dorman thing, and then with the drugs!" Edward ignored AJ. "Look at all of the trouble she has caused us." Emily stood up, her grandfather's words had stung. The smile on her face immediately disappeared, and the sparkle in her eyes was replaced with hurt. The parlor door opened, but Emily didn't see who came out. She ran by them in a blur and slammed shut the front door behind her. Mark shifted in his bed, very aware of the huge cast on his leg. A nurse walked in. Amy, her name-tag read. "How are you doing Mark, feeling any better?" "It depends." "On what?" Amy smiled as she put a hand on her hip. "If I say 'yes' does it mean I can get out of here sooner?" Amy chuckled and handed him a small paper cup filled with water. "Nice try. Now take your medication." "Ah, pain pills. I was starting to miss you, my friend." he said jokingly to the medication. Amy rolled her eyes. "Such the practical joker." She took the empty cup back from him. "Now get some rest, you have some tests tomorrow." "Again?" he groaned. "What's with all the tests?" Amy shrugged. "I don't know, honestly. But I'm sure Dr. Quartermaine will tell you soon. Now get some rest." The door closed behind the nurse. Mark shifted again to make himself more comfortable. Hopefully the pain medicine would be kicking in soon. Don't think of the pain, he told himself. Concentrate on other things. The face of a young brunette came to his mind. Mark smiled as he thought of her. Emily. Would he ever see her again? |