Chapter Three

Alice's P.O.V CONTINUED.

"Alex, where are we going?" I began to get concerned he never ignored me like this before.

The car drifted to the side of the road and came to a complete stop, then Alex turned to me.

I watched my twin in fear who wasn't saying anything.

"We are going to see mom, but-," he trailed off.

"-But what?" I questioned, as I was becoming even more fearful.

"We aren't the only ones that will be there," Alex finished defeated.

"Who else is going to be there?" I was getting frantic, our mother had no other family to count on and it was mostly just Alex.

An exaggerated sigh escaped his lips, as he put a hand through his short wavy blonde hair.

"Get out with it, Jesus, Alex you're freaking me out," the suspense was killing me, and he knows I hate surprises.

"If I tell you, you can't back out, promise?" He says biting his lower lip nervously.

"Alex," I whined with irritation, leaning my head against the headrest.

"Okay, okay, fine," he took a deep breath, this must be hard for him.

"It's Dad, he's home." Alex finally came out with the one sentence I hoped he would never have to say.

"What?" I questioned breathlessly, my head was beginning to feel vertiginous with turmoil.

"I said, Dad, is-, " I cut him off.

Yeah, yeah I heard you but you are just now telling me this?" I raised my voice angrily.

"If I told you before we left I knew you wouldn't come," he confessed.

"Damn right, now unlock the car," I demanded, as anger fired up inside me.

"No, wait, I just don't want to go alone," he admitted, upset.

"Please," Alex begged, his eyes were like those of a sad puppy.

"You can't be serious," I attempted the door handle. It was still locked.

"When did you find out?" I continued, looking anywhere except at him.

"Halfway through the night," Alex hovered over the unlock button as though he was considering letting me go.

I could feel my face heating up with pent-up anger, but the way he asked I knew he was serious.

"Fine, I'll go, start the car before I change my mind already," I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

He quickly turned on the car again and we were moving forward without another word.

"How did he get out of Jail?" I was in disbelief.

"I don't know, I just got the text from mom," he shook his head with a stressed-out sigh.

"Are you sure she's not having another one of her hallucinations again?" I took a slow breath, our mother was a bit on the crazy side.

Her brain has been deteriorating since we were around seven years old, her hallucinations can be dangerous at times so we are always on guard around her.

"Why don't we put the old bat in an insane asylum, and call it a day," I suggested, as the lights in the building slowly turned off one after another.

My phone vibrated in my pocket telling me I had a text, I took out my phone as Alex replied.

"You know why Alice she's our mother, we can't just put her away and forget about her," Alex went on, and on about what the right thing to do about our mother was.

The text I got was from Jack.

Unknown number: Hey It'sJack.

Me: Hey Jack.

Unknown number: what are you doing?

Me: Visiting my mother.

Unknown number: oh, do you want to go get coffee tomorrow.

Me: Are you asking me out on a date Jack?

Unknown number: no as friends.

Me: where?

Unknown number: Flower Cafe?

Me: Sounds good, how about I meet you at 10?

Unknown number: okay see you tomorrow.

I put my phone away.

"Are you even listening to me?" Alex asked, annoyed.

"Yeah, we can't do that because she's our mom and we can't just give up on her and blah, blah, blah, I get it," I imitated, rolling my eyes.

"So you weren't listening," he responded irritably, as we finally drove into the driveway, all the lights were on, we gave each other a suspicious look.

Twelve years ago, we finally got away from him. I remember that night like it was yesterday and now we are back to where we started.

I held tightly to the handle of the door, I felt sick.

"I don't know if I can do this," I doubted, covering my mouth feeling nauseous.

"You said you would come with me, Alice." He tightened his hands on the steering wheel as the car was placed into park.

Jack's P.O.V

I woke up to the blaring of a car horn outside my window, yawning.

I sat up on the side of the bed placing my bare feet gently on the cold wooden floor, making me shiver.

I scratched my head as I slowly opened my eyes and checked the time.

"Shit," I muttered to myself, now jumping up and heading to my closet. The alarm clock read 9:37.

I quickly got dressed and ran into the living room collecting my phone off the charger and my keys and taking a look at the thermostat that doesn't seem to work.

I ran to the bathroom and brushed my teeth before going to put on my jacket.

I have about half an hour to get to the Flower Cafe. I ran to the door and then realized I forgot to put on my shoes.

I shook the daze out of my head and put my shoes on and left closing and locking the door behind me.

I looked at my car on the side of the road in front of my apartment, taking a moment to decide if I should take the car today or not, It's ten times colder than it was last night.

I walked to my car and unlocked the door and sat in the front seat.

I turned it on as I turned the heat onto full blast, rubbed my hands together and began to drive slowly into the traffic.

All I could think of is getting a nice hot cup of coffee, and convincing Alice to give me that tour around town today.

That way I can plan the best places to strike.

After twenty minutes of nearly standing still in traffic, I finally made it to the cafe, I got out and locked the car and walked towards the entrance.

The smell of freshly hot smooth brewed coffee filled my nostrils, as the smell alone made my body warm up in minutes.

I went and found myself a table as I waited for Alice to show, as the minutes ticked by I began to feel irritable as waiting felt like an eternity, my phone buzzing with a text from Alice.

Alice: Hey, I'll be there in ten minutes. Traffic is awful today.

Me: no problem take your time I'll be here.

I placed my phone back in my pocket as the waiter walked up to my table with a big smile on his face.

"Good morning, are we all ready to order?" The waiter inquired.

"Not yet I'm just waiting for someone, thank you though," I answered politely, as I watched out the window for her arrival.

"Of course sir, just call out when you are ready." He nods and goes and checks in on the other tables.

Every table had a different centrepiece on each chestnut-coloured table, most were pumpkins and yellow pumpkin blossoms on a beautiful spiralled vine.

I stroked the leaves to see if they were real, to my surprise they were.

I heard wind coming from the opening of the cafe door with Alice coming inside as she looked around for me.

I smiled and waved at her to get her attention, when she finally made eye contact her gaze went to worry to a smile.

She walked to the other side of the booth and sat in front of me.

"Hey, how's your morning?" I ask, she looked like she hadn't slept, she covered her face in her hands and smiled through the distress.

"I'm taking it as not so good of a morning?" I half-joked, but in all seriousness, she doesn't look like anything she did last night.

She wore a dusty pink loose-knit turtleneck sweater, with sky blue skinny jeans, her lipstick the same colour as her sweater.

She didn't look bad or anything just opposite from when I had seen her in before.

"No, sorry I just need a strong cup of coffee," She spoke, through a yawn

Her hair was in a bun placed messily on the top of her head.

"Not a problem, I've been waiting so we could order together," I say, smiling.

"Oh I'm sorry for taking so long," Alice apologized, trying to get herself more organized.

"No, you got here just in time I just came in a bit early." I smiled at her and waved over the waiter.

"All ready to order?" He asked, walking over.

"How about you go first Alice, and order what you'd like?" I insisted. "I'm happy to pay." I finished, as she thought about it for a moment.

"Okay, then I'll have a caramel macchiato with whip cream and caramel drizzle and pancakes, please." She orders with a smile.

"I'll take an Americano and bacon and eggs please," I ordered after her.

"We will make that right away, will you guys like some water while you wait?" He questioned as he wrote our orders down.

"I'll take some thanks," I caved in, as I looked over at Alice.

"I'll have some as well thank you," She agreed.

"Right away," he uttered, walking back to the counter to give the barista our order, and he came back with two glasses and a pitcher full of water.

He placed the two glasses in front of us and slowly replenished each one to the rim.

"Thank you," Alice and I both spoke at the same time.

"Awe little pumpkins are out this year," she says, turning the pumpkin around.

"They are quite adorable," I admit watching her coo about the pumpkins.

"Yeah, isn't it cute, this coffee shop changes their flowers all the time but when they change seasons they like to be festive," Alice explains, as I pick up my glass of water and take a sip.

"That's very unique." I nodded with agreement.

"It is, that's why this is my favourite Cafe." She explains smiling, as those words echoed in my head.

Her 'favourite cafe' noted.

"I was surprised when you texted me last night, I didn't think you'd want to see me so soon," she admitted as the waiter placed our hot drinks in front of us.

"Oh, did it bother you?" I ask to pull my coffee a bit closer as I notice an edible vanilla flower floating on the top with the crema.

"No, you didn't bother me, I was just a bit surprised," Alice clarifies as she gently picks up her coffee.

"Do you have a flower in your coffee too?" I questioned, confused.

"Oh that's supposed to just give a bit more flavour, and they did art with the whipped cream but I kinda ruined it," Alice's voice turned into regret.

Alice's P.O.V

I took a slow sip of my coffee, the taste of hot caramel explosion mixed perfectly with coffee, I blew on the cup gently as I took another sip.

"So after breakfast do you want to give me a tour?" He asked, changing the conversation, as he looked over at me across the table.

He had a look that you just can't look away from.

"Hm?" I mumbled I was into my coffee. I stopped paying attention to what he was saying.

"Tour around town, you said you would take me around," he explained again, as our food finally arrived.

"You want to do that today, isn't it a bit cold for that?" I asked, not feeling like walking around the town in zero-degree weather.

"I guess you're right," his voice sounded defeated.

I placed my coffee down and began to eat pancakes, but first I smothered them with syrup and blueberries.

"You want to go?" I asked as I took another sip.

"Not if you're not into it I'm not going to force you," he replies as he eats his food.

"What happened to assert dominance, from last night?" I teased, trying not to laugh.

"We have to pick our battles, or we will never win, miss Alice," I reply as I stick a fork in my now yolk dripping egg, and put it in my mouth.