I woke up this morning with a head full of notes. This is why I keep a dry erase pen in the bathroom. In case anyone wonders why it is in with my toothbrush. Now I have nots on my bathroom mirror. As I was already going to wipe down the mirror when I cleaned the bathroom it’s fine. I just need to copy my notes first, before I take a shower. After the steam from the shower hits them they start to look like a serial killer message, but for now, it is the words and a few flecks of toothpaste. I’ll get them when I get my coffee. Before then, its prompt time. Set those timers and let’s get going.
Again, I think this needs expanding. I think I would only expand a little here and then a lot as he looks into both his step sister’s fiancé and his own family. I might have to come back to this one. Its more rough notes than an actual story line but I thin it could go places.
Thursday, May 2nd: He made certain the car was washed.
He made certain the car was washed. It was a small thing in the grand scheme, but it was an item on the list. He knew his stepmother wanted everything perfect for her daughter’s wedding. He wasn’t trusted with anything of importance. In fact, he was told specifically his involvement wasn’t required. Still, he wanted to do something since he wasn’t going to be here on the day.
Since his gift was chosen and purchased for him, his stepmother even writing his name on the card, he decided the washing of the car would be his contribution. No one noticed, or if they did, it wasn’t mentioned. He didn’t really mind. He wished his stepsister well in her marriage and hoped her big day went off without a flaw.
He didn’t really know her all that well. He was away at boarding school when their parents married. He came home for the wedding and was introduced. At the end of the weekend, he was sent back to school as they went on their honeymoon. His new stepsister, Madeline, going to stay with her grandmother. After he remained at school during the year and was sent to his mother’s parents for holidays. There were occasional functions where he was brought in with the rest of the family, but it was mostly enough to ensure he could identify Madeline if he had to, not to get to know her.
When her wedding was announced, and he was given the date the fact that it coincided with him being out of town was of little relevance. His attendance was not a consideration. In truth he was fine with that. Weddings, in fact any of the stiff formal family things, had never really been his favorite events. He was looking forward to the fishing trip with his grandfather far more than he was interested in attending the wedding of a woman he barely knew.
Still, he washed the car and wished her well before leaving town. He spent the week with his grandfather in his off the grid fishing cabin. There was no cell service, or indeed any sort of services. The bathroom was an out house and the well supplied the water when they bathed. As for drinking, they lugged in their own bottled water for that, not trusting the well beyond bathing.
It was only when they returned to civilization that they learned what happened in their absence. The look on his grandmother’s face as they pulled into the drive now ranked as one of the most terrifying sights he had ever seen. He was certain it would haunt him. She took a deep breath and gave him the facts. There was an attack on the church. The family was dead.
The police later filled in the details. As little as he knew of Madeline, he knew less of her fiancé and nothing whatsoever of her family. They were the targets. Their company involved in things others opposed. He knew that it would take some time to sort through the details, the end result was the same. The church was filled, and someone thought the gathering of the family a prime time to eliminate them. His family was caught in the crossfire. He and his maternal grandparents were all that remained. There were now things to do.
Ten til Midnight 