Another Friday morning. It had been a whole week since my house had been broken into and it still didn’t feel real. Even though in the back of your mind you know rationally there’s a chance that it could happen to you, most people assume it won’t. There’s no way someone could break into my house, right?

Still, life goes on, even if fixing all the damage is a pain in the ass (and wallet). In addition to replacing the front door and having to fix half the walls and floors I’d decided to get a security system for the house, just to be safe. At least Grayson turned out to be okay. Apparently all that happened was he ran off when the attacker came in the house and got lost on his way back with a dead phone! I’d been so worried about him.

I was hoping that another day at the homeschool group would mark something of a return to normalcy, but Hayden was still in a coma apparently. It wasn’t directly brought up, but it was clearly on everyone’s’ minds. Maria Douglas sat quietly in a corner, unsurprisingly.

I hadn’t actually talked to her since the hospital last week, so I figured I should check on her. I sat next to her and put my hand on her shoulder. “How are you holding up?”

She nodded her head. “I’m alright, all things considered. The doctors still aren’t sure if Hayden is going to wake up.”

“I’m really sorry.” I say, wrapping my arm around her now and trying to comfort her. “If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”

“Thanks, Catherine.” She said. “How are your kids holding up?”

“They’re alright. I think they were scared more than anything. I’m still worried about Kish. Like if she’s having hallucinations… I don’t know what to think. At least she has big brother to help look after her.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“They’re good kids.” Maria said. “They don’t deserve what’s happened to them.”

“Oh yeah, first their parents, now this?” I said. “I’m going to get a panic attack from worrying about them.”

“It’s natural to worry about them. I know I still worry about mine.” She said. “Are there any leads on whoever did it yet?”

“Nothing.” I said. “You’d think with a crime scene like that there’d be SOMETHING to go on, but no. He’s probably going to get away with it. I tell you what if I could get my hands on him… I probably shouldn’t even say.”

“I won’t judge, I’d like to give him a piece of my mind myself.” She said.

“Well I’m glad I have your support.” I said. She still seemed sad so I decided to lighten the mood a bit. “Did you see Grayson’s new hair… it’s unexpected.

“What made him decide to dye it blue?”

“I don’t know but hey, I did crazier stuff when I was his age. Actually I kind of think it suits him.”

“It does match his eyes.” She said.

“Apparently he has a new friend coming over later too.” I said. “Someone he met online, she’s got one eye, super tall, apparently she’s like… really into all that supernatural stuff too.”

“Aren’t you concerned about that at all?” She said. “Seems like Kish takes that interest a bit too far if she’s started hallucinating about it.”

“It’s a harmless interest just like any other. There has to be something underlying for her to have problems like that, and that’s what worries me. I keep wondering what I missed. Were there signs I should have noticed?”

“You’re doing your best Catherine.” She said. “That’s all any of us can do.”

“Thanks Maria.” I said.

We talked a bit longer, until classes were over. I think I brightened her spirits a bit, even if only temporarily, and that was enough for me. I agreed to have Laura over again. Between the four of them I knew the teens were going to keep each other busy. Which was fine by me, I was happy to take some time to myself for once.

For the first time since the break in, I felt like it was all going to be okay.