Generation 1, Chapter 41

The air was turning crisp and the leaves were turning colors. Fall was Jean's favorite time of year. She especially enjoyed raking leaves, the sounds of the leaves crunching under her feet as she walked was soothing. One evening as she enjoyed raking, Corina and Doloris joined her. Then Adam joined them outside, raking close to Jean so that they could talk while they worked.

"Mom, can I ask you something?" Adam inquired.

Pausing for a moment Jean replied "Yes, what's the matter?"

"Well I've been feeling kind of guilty about going on a date with Janelle."

"Oh Janelle is such a sweet girl and such a good babysitter" Jean enthused.

"She is nice but we really don't have much in common."

"Well not everyone you date will be the right one. That's why it's important to be willing to meet and get to know others, so that you have options. After a while you'll know what you want and need in a relationship."

"I know you and Dad think I'm just settling for Windy because I've known her all my life. But we do have a close connection. I don't want to lose that."

"Adam, is she why you feel guilty for going out with Janelle?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I didn't do anything to be guilty for, all we did was talk until we both got bored. But I still feel like I was cheating or something."

"Oh Adam, you have such a soft, kind heart. Your so much like your Father. I've often wondered how your Dad could have fallen for someone like Vallari. But I believe it's his belief that everyone has a good side and he looks for the good in everyone he meets and it's hard for him to see the uglier side of people's natures. You do that too, Adam and I fear that you'll get hurt, like your Father did."

"You think Windy will hurt me, like Vallari hurt Dad, don't you?" Adam asked softly.

"Yes I do" Jean admitted "Your Dad thinks we can help her, that she just needs guidance and less influence from Vallari. But I'm not so sure, it may be too late."

Adam silently continued to rake, meditating on what Jean told him. He wanted to believe that Windy loved him and wouldn't hurt him. But was he just deluding himself? Was Jean right? Was it too late for Windy to change?

Meanwhile Brian had reached a conclusion that he couldn't keep what he knew about Windys' conversation with Vallari to himself. He knew he might be opening himself up to retaliation from both Vallari and Windy But the welfare of his family was more important. Brian found his Dad down in the lab with Elliot.

"Dad, you have a moment?"

"Sure son, what's on our mind?" Peter asked turning off the science station and picking up Elliot as he turned his attention to Brian.

"Well I kind of overheard a disturbing phone call between Windy and Vallari. It has me concerned that they're planning something bad." Brian went on to explain what he heard and the warning that Windy gave him and how afraid he was. As Peter listened, his heart sank, he never wanted his children to live in fear; especially not in fear of their mother. As much as Peter wanted to see the good in people, he was finding it more and more difficult when it came to his ex-wife. Windy was still young and Peter refused to believe she was unredeemable but something hds to be done before she was put into a position where she has done something she would regret for the rest of her life.

"Dad, what do we do? How can we protect ourselves from something we don't have all the information on yet?" Brian's worried tone broke into Peter's thoughts.

Peter smiled confidently at Brian and said "Son we'll live our lives as normally as possible. We'll be cautious. But we will not live in fear."

Brian looked at his Father in admiration. After everything his Dad has been through, he still could stand up and defy fate. Brian smiled and for the first time in days he felt his fear melt away. He didn't know how or why but his Father's words filled him with calm and courage. He knew if there was a way to stop Vallari and Windy his Dad would find it. They would stand up to Vallari together, she wouldn't, couldn't break them.

Peter handed Elliot to Brian to take him up to his room. After Brian left, Peter allowed a look of worry to cross his face. He was concerned about Vallari's next attack. Why couldn't she just leave them alone? Why did she need to enlist the help of a vulnerable young girl? Why did she delight in inflicting so much pain? Peter sighed knowing he would never have satisfying answers to his questions. But he pondered what he should do, what precautions he should make.

First he checked that all smoke and burglar alarms were there and in working order. All the windows and doors were changed when they remodeled the house, so he was reasonably sure that Vallari did not have keys to get in. Although Windy could have supplied her with a copy. All the electronics and plumbing had been updated during the remodel so there shouldn't be any left over booby traps from the time when Vallari had lived here. He doubted that Windy had the know how for any sophisticated traps that would be life threatening. He thought about poison, while it was a valid concern, he doubted Vallari would try it again, she generally never used the same trick twice. So he was relatively sure she wouldn't poison them but he decided that to be more cautious in the future and bring his own lunch to work and make sure no one else had access to it.

His final step was to pull up information on boarding schools on the internet. He wasn't quite ready to throw in the towel yet but he wanted to know what his options were. The one school he thought would work best was Military School. He hoped their curriculum would help instill a sense of self worth and discipline in Windy. Peter requested additional information on the school be sent to his email.

The following morning, while the kids were rushing to get ready for school, Windy was watching TV in Peter and Jean's bedroom.

Doloris approached her saying "What are you doing in my parents room?" she demanded.

"Watching TV with Elliot."

"You can do that in the living room."

"I know but I like this TV better."

"You should be careful. You know Mom and Dad are just looking for an excuse to send you to Military School."

"How would you know that?

"I saw the emails Dad received from the school."

Windy laughed scornfully at Doloris's attempt to intimidate her. "Your Dad could be thinking of sending you there instead."

"No way. I'm his daughter. He'd never send me away." Doloris was pleased with herself for telling Windy about the emails. She wanted her to worry about being sent a way.

Windy almost laughed at the idea of them sending her to Military School. She never thought they'd be serious about sending her away. They were too soft-hearted to do something so mean. The more she thought about it the funnier it became.

Windy had planned on skipping school and going over to Vallari's for the day. Not that she wanted to spend the day with Vallari, she didn't have a choice. Vallari wanted to outline her new plan of attack. Windy really didn't want to be any part of it. It was one thing to pick on the little kids, to lead Adam on and to cause general mayhem in the family but what Vallari wanted to do next was so much worse.

Windy's mind was on this clandestine meeting with Vallari that she wasn't paying attention to what she was doing and before she knew it the kitchen was on fire. Windy panicked as the fire engulfed the kitchen. Fortunately for her, the fire alarm was triggered and the firemen arrived and quickly got the fire under control. The firemen gave her a lecture on fire safety and informed her that her parents had been notified and were on their way.

Windy's first thought was 'great, just great they'll never believe I didn't do this on purpose.' Then she realized this gave her a legitimate excuse not to go over to Vallari's house. With luck she would be grounded and not be allowed to leave the house except for school. She could work this to her advantage. She realized this could be the solution she had been looking for. She was going to cause so much trouble that they would want to send her to military school, then she wouldn't have to worry about being a participant in Vallari's new scheme.