puncturing his headache further.
He picks it up after two rings. “Hello?”
“Hello, Mr. Cooper?”
Chris rubs at his temples, trying to ease away the aching pain. “Yes, this is he.”
“Hello, this is William Ross from the Opera House. How are you?”
“Fine, thanks and yourself?” Feeling an overpowering sense of nausea come over him, Chris sits back down on the bed, trying to collect himself for the duration of the phone call.
“We are in a bit of a jam and I’m hoping your little Ling can come to our rescue?”
Chris falls silent on the other line, unable to say another word.
William continues. “One of our performer’s for our Sunday Showcase has fallen ill and will be unable to perform this evening. We were wondering if your daughter would be interested and would have your permission to fill her place?”
“I don’t know if now is the time,” Chris begins, unsure about what his family’s future holds, let alone what is going to happen this evening.
William falls silent on the other line and it is evident that this was his last resort.
Chris picks up on the disappointment and sits on the bed to act as his crutch, continuing to rub his temples in hopes that it will help to distress him. “Well, let me see what we can do.”
“That would be lovely,” William perks up on the other end. “And, if it’s any consolation, she will be compensated very well.”
Chris’s eyebrows rise as he is intrigued by the phone call and the money incentive to bring his family together for both the experience for Ling and the financial help. He hangs up the phone and remains on the bed momentarily, trying to pull it together to face the day ahead of him when a call comes through on his cell phone.
He fetches it from his jean’s pocket, which is nestled on the bathroom floor, and picks it up immediately, not glancing at the caller ID.
“Hello? What do you have for me?”
The voice on the other line speaks and Chris’ expression falls briefly, which then turns to a look of utter malice and sin. The person continues to speak, as Chris couldn’t be more pleased, walking into the bedroom with a newfound sense of assurance.
“Perfect. Just perfect,” he hangs up the phone and laughs a villainous laugh. “Oh Sadie, not so innocent after all, now are we?”
Chapter Eleven
It’s another night spent at the auditorium for Sadie and Chris, only this time, it’s under much different circumstances. While they are both there to support and admire their daughter’s talents again showcased on the big stage, having to sit next to each other and to pretend to be happy is killing both of them.
Sadie clenches her teeth with every motion Chris makes in the seat next to her and can feel herself growing more animosity for him with every breath he takes. It is taking every muscle in her body right now to refrain from losing control, but she does it for her daughter.
“When is she going on?” Chris leans into Sadie. She can swear she can still smell the disgust on his breath.
She ignores him, continuing to keep her eyes fixated on nothing other than the stage. It took everything in her to muster the courage to go tonight and took even more to wear something other than sweatpants.
Chris laughs at her no response. “So we are still playing the silent game? Good to know.”
“I don’t want you to come home tonight,” Sadie finally replies to him, having to spit the words out from the slender spaces between her teeth.
“Right. You said that earlier and look at where we are now.”
Chris’ behavior is baffling and incredibly upsetting. Even though he is completely in the wron g, he acts like nothing is his fault and that it is Sadie who is the villain.
Thankfully, the showcase begins and t he audience applauds the maestro’s entrance, who arrives on the stage. He grabs the microphone and thanks his orchestra before turning to welcome the audience.
“Hello, and thank you all for coming to the Downtown
He picks it up after two rings. “Hello?”
“Hello, Mr. Cooper?”
Chris rubs at his temples, trying to ease away the aching pain. “Yes, this is he.”
“Hello, this is William Ross from the Opera House. How are you?”
“Fine, thanks and yourself?” Feeling an overpowering sense of nausea come over him, Chris sits back down on the bed, trying to collect himself for the duration of the phone call.
“We are in a bit of a jam and I’m hoping your little Ling can come to our rescue?”
Chris falls silent on the other line, unable to say another word.
William continues. “One of our performer’s for our Sunday Showcase has fallen ill and will be unable to perform this evening. We were wondering if your daughter would be interested and would have your permission to fill her place?”
“I don’t know if now is the time,” Chris begins, unsure about what his family’s future holds, let alone what is going to happen this evening.
William falls silent on the other line and it is evident that this was his last resort.
Chris picks up on the disappointment and sits on the bed to act as his crutch, continuing to rub his temples in hopes that it will help to distress him. “Well, let me see what we can do.”
“That would be lovely,” William perks up on the other end. “And, if it’s any consolation, she will be compensated very well.”
Chris’s eyebrows rise as he is intrigued by the phone call and the money incentive to bring his family together for both the experience for Ling and the financial help. He hangs up the phone and remains on the bed momentarily, trying to pull it together to face the day ahead of him when a call comes through on his cell phone.
He fetches it from his jean’s pocket, which is nestled on the bathroom floor, and picks it up immediately, not glancing at the caller ID.
“Hello? What do you have for me?”
The voice on the other line speaks and Chris’ expression falls briefly, which then turns to a look of utter malice and sin. The person continues to speak, as Chris couldn’t be more pleased, walking into the bedroom with a newfound sense of assurance.
“Perfect. Just perfect,” he hangs up the phone and laughs a villainous laugh. “Oh Sadie, not so innocent after all, now are we?”
Chapter Eleven
It’s another night spent at the auditorium for Sadie and Chris, only this time, it’s under much different circumstances. While they are both there to support and admire their daughter’s talents again showcased on the big stage, having to sit next to each other and to pretend to be happy is killing both of them.
Sadie clenches her teeth with every motion Chris makes in the seat next to her and can feel herself growing more animosity for him with every breath he takes. It is taking every muscle in her body right now to refrain from losing control, but she does it for her daughter.
“When is she going on?” Chris leans into Sadie. She can swear she can still smell the disgust on his breath.
She ignores him, continuing to keep her eyes fixated on nothing other than the stage. It took everything in her to muster the courage to go tonight and took even more to wear something other than sweatpants.
Chris laughs at her no response. “So we are still playing the silent game? Good to know.”
“I don’t want you to come home tonight,” Sadie finally replies to him, having to spit the words out from the slender spaces between her teeth.
“Right. You said that earlier and look at where we are now.”
Chris’ behavior is baffling and incredibly upsetting. Even though he is completely in the wron g, he acts like nothing is his fault and that it is Sadie who is the villain.
Thankfully, the showcase begins and t he audience applauds the maestro’s entrance, who arrives on the stage. He grabs the microphone and thanks his orchestra before turning to welcome the audience.
“Hello, and thank you all for coming to the Downtown
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