Chapter 67: A Happy Ending (Part 2)

-Gloria's car-

Haley was sitting alone in the back now that they had dropped Luke off. It allowed the camera to capture that she was wearing her iconic purple dress and had a worried expression.

For once in her life, Haley was so worried that she could not distract herself by using her phone. Although her finger kept fiddling with the phone, she couldn't focus on gossiping with her friends.

"How much longer till we are there, dad?" She asked hurriedly.

Phil - "Around ten more minutes, honey."

Haley - "By the way, dad, should we not call mom and tell her we are on the way?"

Phil instantly replied, "No."

Gloria - "Why not Phil?"

Phil - "You know how Claire can get..."

Haley interrupted, "Yeah, but we will have to meet her there anyways, so what's the point of hiding it?"

Gloria - "Ayy... I think Haley has a point."

"Okay, fine, Haley, call her," Phil said in defeat.

"Already on it," Haley replied. Her phone had been dialing for a few seconds now.

Claire and Nathan's car had just crossed the police junction on the road when Claire suddenly received a call from Haley.

Claire, wearing a vibrant light blue dress, drove a bit further before picking up her ringing phone to prevent the cops from seeing her using a phone while driving.

Claire - "Ah, it's Haley. They are probably calling for an update on what happened."

Claire picked up the phone and put it on speaker.

From the other side of the call, "Pick up, mom, come on."

Claire - "I picked it up, Haley."

Phil - "Put it on speaker Haley."

Haley - "Give me a sec. I will put you on speaker."

Gloria - "Hi, Claire. How is the situation there?"

Claire - "Is that Gloria?"

Gloria - "Yes."

Claire - "What are you doing there?"

Gloria - "I had come to return the plastic box, but then I heard the news and had to come along."

Claire - "Come along? Wait, what is going on, Haley? Where are you guys?"

Haley - "We are on our way to you guys."

Claire - "WHAT!!"

Alone in her car, Claire couldn't help but let loose of the steering upon hearing this, but she quickly got a hold of it again.

Meanwhile, Phil, who was driving, was also left startled by this sudden shout from Claire.

Claire tried to stay calm and asked, "Why are you guys coming here?"

Haley - "Obviously, to check up on Alex. Why else would we be there."

Claire - "There is no need for this everything here is resolved. Alex was just slightly injured while running, that's all."

Haley is confused - "What?"

Gloria took the phone from her - "Phil said there were kidnappers. Is this a joke, Phil? Cause it better not be." She narrowed her eyes at Phil.

Phil gulped and replied, "No, she told me they are in a hostage situation, I swear."

Gloria and Haley started to shout at Phil continuously.

Claire said to the speaker- "STOP!"

Haley and Gloria stopped screaming and listened to Claire.

Claire - "So, like I was saying, they didn't explore the cave. They just happened to come across a hideout and reported. Alex got hurt when they were running back from this hideout."

Phil - "I see, and how is she?"

Claire - "She is fine, just a small wound in her foot is all."

Haley - "What about Ryan and his family? They weren't injured?"

Claire - "No, they are fine."

Gloria shrugged- "That is good. It looks like we don't need my machete."

Claire was flabbergasted - "Your what?"

Phil - "It's a long story we will tell you when we meet there."

Claire - "Yeah, about that, we have already left."

Phil - "You have?"

As Phil said this, a car came from the opposite direction. Surprisingly it was none other than Claire who was talking with them.

Phil and Gloria looked at Claire with astonished expressions, and Claire looked back with the same face.

Then they pointed at each other after locking their eyes and went "You" simultaneously.

Claire then shouted, "Pull over. We can chat over there." and pointed at a spot off-road.

Phil followed Claire's lead and pulled over as instructed by his wife.

Everyone then got out and met up, where Claire explained the whole situation again.

Gloria - "Ah, we were worried for nothing. It is good everything was fine in the end."

Claire - "By the way, Phil and I need to talk in private can you give us some space."

As always, Phil reads the atmosphere completely wrong and says, "Uh oh, looks like someone wants some Phil's hug. Haley, you better close your eyes."

Claire - "PHIL!"

Claire then grabbed Phil by the sleeve and pulled him over to take him to a corner, but Phil got the wrong message again.

Phil - "Honey, come on, not in front of Gloria and Haley I am shy."

Claire didn't say a word until she dragged her husband away from everyone else.

Claire crossed her arms, and her eyes were glassy - "Phil, I am very disappointed with you."

Phil - "Wait, you are?"

Claire - "Do you know why?"

Phil - "Because I misread the previous situation."

Claire - "No, not that."

Phil - "Then."

Claire - "Uh, I am going to have to spell it out, aren't I? It's cause you bought Haley and Gloria here."

Phil - "What do you mean?"

Claire - "Bring them here while there is a hostage situation. What were you even thinking?"

Phil - "I.."

Claire unexpectedly gives Phil a hug when he thinks he is going to be scolded.

Claire then burst into tears and talked about how bad her day had gone and how she almost ruined Ryan and Alex's relationship.

She let out all the guilt that had been eating away at her. As a good husband, Phil embraced her tightly and comforted the broken Claire, who had a cold and gloomy day.

Haley and Gloria, standing outside, couldn't help but pass comments on them from the side.

Haley - "What do you think dad told mom that she just broke down like that?"

Gloria shrugged- "I don't know, maybe us being there for her made her happy, and they are tears of joy."

Haley - "That is my mom you are talking about. There is no way she would cry like that out of joy."

Gloria - "Well then, who knows."

-Ambulance-

Terry is seen lying down, only has a bit of injury, and Jake sits next to him, holding Terry's hand and sobbing.

Jake - "Terry, I promise you, no matter what, I will find those bastards that did this to you."

"Bitch. I am not dead! I jumped out of the car before the missiles hit me. Who do you think I am?!" Terry asked excitedly while gripping Jake's collar.

"The..Ebony Falcon?" Jake said fearfully.

"THAT'S RIGHT! THE EBONY FALCON." Terry ripped out the wires on his body and said. "Turn this goddamn ambulance around! Let's find the sons of a bitch who ruined my car.