Authors Notes & Disclaimer
This is a new series Tomorrow People story. It is part of my the 'Tapestry' Universe, and falls into the mini-serial regarding Adam's pre-Tomorrow People days. This is the second story in that serial. For more information on Tapestry and the stories there so far, visit: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/9012/tapestry/indext.html
As usual, Adam Newman does not belong to me. I didn't think of him, and I didn't create him. He belongs to Roger Damon Price, Thames/Tetra television, et. al. However, the characters of Martin Newman, Sadie Newman, Karyn Newman, Tara Newman, and Monica are completely and totally my creation and belong to me.
Any similarities to actual events, real or imagined, or to person or persons, living, dead, or fictious is purely coincidental.
Michele R Mason Fan Fiction Archive: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/9012/fanfiction/index.html
Adam stared at the empty dinner table, the sound of the tick-tock of the grandfather clock in the front hall echoing through his head and rattling his nerves. He resisted the urge to check his watch or rearrange the silverware. He had been sitting there long enough that it was almost possible for him to count the minutes in his head. And he knew that dinner was now thirty minutes late.
"Martin," his mother's words were only slightly slurred. The empty martini glass sat by her hand. "Enough of this. I'm hungry."
Adam's father did not look up from the business documents he was reading. "We'll eat when your daughter sees fit to show her face, Sadie."
"She's your daughter, too."
Martin Newman kept his attention focused on the papers. "If you had done a better job of raising her, she would be here now."
Adam inhaled slowly and deeply. He didn't know what was worse. His half-drunk mother throwing bitter words at his father, or his mother fully drunk never even making it to the dinner table. He didn't want to be here; he didn't want to sit here any longer. But if he requested to be dismissed it would only make matters worse.
"Monica!" Sadie Newman grabbed her glass and pushed her chair away from the table. "Monica!"
"Sadie, we will not be having dinner until Karyn decides to make an appearance." Adam's father folded the contract and returned it to its envelope as the maid appeared in the doorway.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Mrs. Newman spoke a bit too soon, Monica," Martin announced. "We won't be having dinner yet."
"Then I'll have another drink," Mrs. Newman shoved her glass into the maid's hands. "And try to get it right this time. I like it dry."
"Don't you think you've had enough, Sadie?"
"No, Martin, I don't think I've had enough. If you won't let me eat, then I'll at least have something to drink."
"Try water."
"Can I be excused please?" Adam looked up, deciding to risk his father's wrath rather than sit through this dinner time exercise.
"Yes, go on," his mother motioned him away. The fact that she acknowledged him at all surprised Adam: ever since Tara she had tried to pretend he didn't exist.
"No, Adam. Stay seated," his father responded at the same moment.
The ringing of the telephone rescued him from another ugly situation. The maid returned, a full martini in one hand, the cordless telephone in the other. "It's Karyn, Mr. Newman. She says that she won't be home for dinner. "
**********
Adam listened to the loud screams and shouts for as long as he could. Finally, when he could handle it no more, he put his headphones on and turned them on. Loud. Better to go deaf than to listen to all the hateful, bitter words Karyn exchanged with their parents. He had always thought that things were bad; he hadn't realized how much better things had been when Tara had been alive.
Thinking of Tara brought tears to his eyes. Not a day went by that he didn't miss her. Some mornings he even expected to find her at the breakfast table applying lipstick or munching sedately on a cup of yogurt or some fruit. Sometimes he heard her voice calling to him from her bedroom or from the stables, and foolishly, he would wander there even though in his heart he knew that the dead never came back.
And there were the nightmares. The ones where he stumbled in the bathroom and her dark eyes opened widely. She would stand up, covered in blood and either blame him or attack him. He could never go back to sleep after one of those nightmares.
He shut eyes tightly, holding in the tears that threatened to spill out. He wanted the music to take him away.
The touch on his leg startled him. His eyes popped open and he jerked upright.
Karyn stared back at him, her dark eyes red-rimmed and puffy. With a forced smile, she gently tugged the headphones from his ears. "You're going to make yourself deaf someday."
"I just didn't want to hear--" Adam trailed off, shaking his head. "Why do you it, Kar? Why do you provoke him?"
Karyn sighed heavily, raking her hands through her long blonde tresses. "Because I can. Because it gives me control. I'm sorry that you had to listen to that."
Adam shrugged. "I didn't hear most of it."
Karyn brushed her hand across his hair. "You know, Adam. I'm going back to the University in the fall and it won't be easy for you here."
He heard what she didn't say. Before, he had Tara. Now, he would have no one but himself. "I'll be all right. I can always hang out with Brett."
"I just want you to know that if you need anything or want anything, you can always call me. I'll always be there for you, baby brother."
Once upon time Adam had hated hearing her call him that; he had hated it when she stroked his hair. Now, it was the only thing that let him know his world hadn't fallen completely apart. He nodded, his throat tight. He didn't trust himself to speak.
Karyn nudged him aside and settled comfortably onto his bed beside him. "I was thinking, Adam. When I graduate, you'll be done with school. You could come live with me. I was thinking of Darwin."
"As far from Mum and Dad as possible?"
Karyn nodded. "As long as we have each other, we'll get along just fine, baby brother. I know it's two years away, but you'll get your trust fund when you're eighteen-- "
"I don't want it." Adam cut her off instantly. "I don't care about the stupid trust fund. I don't want his money."
"It's all he has left to give you, Adam. Don't be stupid."
"I don't want it," Adam insisted. "I'd give it all up. All of it, all of our money if it would bring Tara back."
Karyn's face fell and Adam regretted his words. It wasn't Karyn's fault; she meant well. They had never been close until Tara died-- she had always been his older and wiser sister, far too removed from the younger brother who was four years her junior.
"I'm sorry, Kar. I didn't mean it. I'm just-- I just want everything to be like it was."
Karyn hugged him close. "I miss her too, Adam."
"You won't leave me, will you Karyn?"
"No. We'll always have each other, kiddo."
Adam clung to her; he clung to her words. He needed something to believe in.
-- End --