A Series of Unfortunate Events Part 14

[He draws in on the trigger attempting to fire. An explosion goes off right next him. Life returns to full speed as he is blown clear across the street and through a brick wall of a burned out building...
]
2008

It is Friday afternoon, a week after Nic broke the news to his Mother and sister. The house is alive with energy as Nic is bouncing around his room listening to music and getting dressed. He pulls a nice silk tie out of one of his drawers and admires it as he holds it against himself in the mirror.

In the other bedroom Candace is sitting putting on makeup as if her hands were in autopilot. She is not concentrating on what she's doing. She stares into the mirror with a thousand mile-gaze. The cell phone laying just below the mirror begins to vibrate breaking her trance from the mirror. She stares at the phone until it begins to emit a caller identifying melody that prompts her to put down the makeup pad and pick up the phone and answer.

"Hello hon"

Through the static of a shaky connection Nahlia responds,
"Hi mom just letting you know I'll be there in a minute or so. Are you guys ready?"

Closing her makeup kit and glancing over herself in the mirror, Candace replies to Nahlia.
"Yes Dear, well at least I am. I have to check on your brother"

"That's cool mom, I'll be there to rush the sloth in just a second, and I've got an even better reason for him to rush cus I have Kiesha with me."
She lets out a quick giggle as Candace responds

"Oh lord he's gonna wet his pants knowing she's coming with us."
She laughs with Nahlia at the thought of this.
"Ok hon, I'll see you in a bit"

She ends the call and puts the phone in her purse as she heads out her bedroom and down the hall to Nic's room to check on how dressed he is.

"You ready?"
Candace says as she leans into the room.

"Yup, I think so"
Nic replies as he straightens the knot of the tie he's wearing and smoothes the collar of his shirt.

"Are you excite- "
Candace's sentence is cut short by the sound of women's voices entering into the living room.

"Oh good, they're here."

"They?"
Nic is largely puzzled as to who could be with his sister in the living room.

Candace turns and exits the room. Before he could recover from his puzzlement and go see who's there, Kiesha comes into his room and closes the door behind her.

"Hi, Baby."

Completely thrown off, Nic barely utters
"H-hey I-"

Before he could complete his thought Kiesha rushes to him and gives him a deep kiss pressing her body firmly against his and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Their embraces only lasts about ten seconds but displays a depth of love and affection that rivals that of couples married for over 20 years.

"I'm sorry, for surprising you like this, I was scared to go at first because I felt I would get emotional about this being one step closer to us being very far apart. But I realized it would be wrong of me to not be there to support you. I didn't want t-."

Nic places a finger on her lips
"Shhhh. Baby, I love you. All that matters is that you're here. Let's worry about the rest when the time comes ok? We're about to be late. Let's go."

Kiesha gives him one more brief kiss.

"Ok"

Holding his hand they both exit the room to the living room where Candace and Nahlia are waiting...