Chapter 86-Cruel Intentions

After the meeting with the school I tried to be more diligent in making the triplets spend more time with me and Finley. To help bring out their individuality I enrolled them in different afterschool activities. Edson was in Art club, Elphie was taking Ballet, and Elton was now a scout. Aric and Bynni had both come over to talk with them about the importance of being responsible with what they are. They seemed to understand and apologized to me and the teacher for their behavior. We enjoyed family meals and they started even taking an interest in playing with Finley.

It appeared that things were getting better but they were also still secretive at times. I wanted to ask Aric or Bynni if they could get some sort of read on them, but that would have been too much of an invasion. They were dealing with a lot and I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt hoping this was simply an adjustment period. They were curious about what they were and how they came to be that way although I had explained it, they were fascinated with the story. They were smart children; I gave them some leeway since them being like that was partially my fault. If I hadn’t gone to Mulo that day none of the events that followed would have happened. I had made so many mistakes that had negatively affected my kids, I was determined to do right by them and Finely. Today I had plans to take them to Splish Splash, the new water park that had opened. They had been begging to go and I finally agreed since they had shown an improvement in their behavior.

As I walked back downstairs I noticed it was too quiet.  I left them playing with Finley in the study while I finished cleaning the upstairs, but when I walked into the room the door was open and they weren’t there.  The next few moments happened in what seemed to be slow motion.  

 The triplets all stood at the edge of the pool watching but not moving and as I approached I saw why.  Finley was floating face down in the water and my heart stopped. 

 I jumped in scooping her up into my arms.

“No, please be ok, please be ok.” I begged silently.  Carrying her over to the lounger I began giving her CPR.  “One of you go call 911 now!”  I screamed but they didn’t move.  I continued to try the CPR and was finally rewarded with her coughing up the water before wailing loudly.

“Oh thank God!”  I exclaimed cradling her in my arms.  Turning to them I didn’t even try and keep the anger out of my voice.  “What the hell happened?  Who opened the door?”  I demanded.

“She wanted to go outside.”  Edson calmly responded.  The other two remained quiet.

“I don’t care if she was asking to go outside.  You three know the rules!  You know she isn’t allowed outside without me for this very reason.  How could you do this?”  I ran past them into the house.  Punching in Carter’s number I prayed he would be at home.

“Hello.”

“Oh Carter thank goodness please tell me you’re at home.”

“Well Vicki and I were on the way out but yeah I’m home now.”

“I need you.”  I broke down crying once it hit me I could have lost her.  If anything had happened I would have never forgiven myself. “Finley….in the pool…CPR…” was all I managed to get out between sobs.  Three minutes later Carter and Vicki were at the house.  Carter gently took Finley from my arms to check her over while Vicki headed into the kitchen to get me a drink.

“I called 911 since I wasn’t sure…” Carter started but didn’t need to finish.  I just nodded in agreement understanding.  The paramedics arrived but Carter had already told me she was fine.  They did another quick check since they came but didn’t feel she needed to go to the hospital.  I got us both into dry clothes then started crying again seeing her sitting there playing totally over the ordeal now.  Every time I looked at her I saw Jonas, and I know Carter felt the same way. 

“Amari what happened?”  He asked as Vicki sat and played with her.

“The triplets, they opened the door.  I left them playing with her in the study while I did some cleaning.  They opened the door.  They know the rules.”  I got up from the couch in search of them.  They were outside still up in the tree house as if nothing happened.

“Get down here right now!”  I yelled.  Elphie stuck her head out the window before they all descended down the ladder.

“Oh my…do you have any idea….what in the world were you thinking?  And then you didn’t even try to help her?  All three of you can swim and yet you just stood there.  I don’t even think I can begin to understand.”  I was furious.  This was the final straw in their bag of tricks.  With them trying to compel the teachers into giving them better grades, and then biting kids at school, now this.  I was at the end of my rope.

“For the love of all things under the sun, what is wrong with you three?”

“There isn’t anything wrong with us!”  Elton exclaimed.  “We are just doing what we are meant to do.  We are better than that stupid teacher, and all those whiny kids at school.”

“Better than them?  What?  Where do you get this from?”

“We are mom.  You are trying to hold us back but Ma..”  Edson gave Elphie an elbow to the side to make her stop talking but it was too late.  She didn’t have to finish saying the name for me to know who had been feeding them this nonsense. 

“Marisol?!  You have been talking to Marisol?  You…you almost let your sister die why because she’s not a vampire therefore she’s not important?  Is that what you think?  Is that what Marisol tells you?”  I was yelling now unable to fathom the actions of my children.  How could they be so cold and heartless as to standby and watch as she nearly drowned?  A more frightening thought popped into my head. “How did she get into the pool?”  They each looked at each other but didn’t answer. “How!”

“She fell in mom.  Gosh did you think we pushed her?”

“Well Edson yes, yes I did because at this point I have no idea how…”  Taking a deep frustrated breath I just looked at them.  My babies tainted first by Mulo and now by Marisol.  “Just go to your rooms.  Stay there until I tell you otherwise.”  Without another word they ran into the house.  I turned to see Carter standing in the doorway holding Finley.

“Hey we can take her for the night.  I don’t mind since you have them to deal with.”  I walked over taking her from his arms snuggling her close. 

“She’s ok Carter.  She’s really ok.”  He put his arms around us both giving me a kiss on the temple.

“Yes she is.”  Reluctantly I let them take her for the night.  I wanted to keep her close to me, but I was really concerned about the triplets.  They would no longer be allowed to go to the park or anything on their own since they told me that is when Marisol would usually meet with them.  I was continuing this crazy demand of hers, yet that wasn’t enough.

As much as I hated it I knew I couldn’t handle her on my own. Every time I tried she threw me another curve ball. As much as I hated it, I needed him.

I’ll be there tomorrow.

****I wanna say thanks to Zhip for creating the pool poses that inspired this chapter.*******