Heart of the Hill Read Free Page B

both squeezed hard, their faces anxious as they listened to the tinny sound of their mother’s voice leaking from the receiver. Was she upset, or angry, or both?
    â€œIf you hold the line, Celia, I’ll let them take this in the office, so they can have some privacy.” Lynne handed the mobile phone to Adam and motioned them into the small farm office off the kitchen. She pulled out the desk chair for Chantel and passed her the office phone. “I’ll be outside if you need me,” she whispered and closed the door.
    Chantel picked up the receiver. “Hi, Mom.” Her voice trembled.
    â€œAt last. Is Adam there too?”
    â€œI’m here.”
    â€œAre you both okay?”
    â€œWe’re fine, but you’re not, are you?” Adam’s voice was tight and hard. “You and Dad have been fighting again, haven’t you?”
    â€œDon’t, Adam,” whispered Chantel. The knuckles of her hands were white as they clutched the receiver.
    â€œHow did you guess?” There was a muffled sound as though their mother was swallowing a sob. “Adam … Chantel … I’m sorry … there is no easy way about this, so I’m just going to say it. You’re right … your father … he’s left. That is …we both still love you, but we don’t love each other anymore. We’re getting a divorce.”
    â€œOh, nice,” said Adam. “Dad loves us so much he’s taken off, and you’re phoning to say you’re getting a divorce. So, what about me and Chantel?”
    â€œThat’s all you can say? You’re only worried about you?” shrieked his mother.
    â€œWhat do you want us to say— yip-dee-doo? You think we didn’t guess about the divorce?” said Adam. “You think we don’t know why you packed us off to England?”
    â€œWe wanted to make it easier for you,” said his mother. “We wanted to save you from the arguments.”
    â€œYeah, right,” said Adam. “You’re thinking about us so much that not only are you splitting but —”
    Chantel’s soft voice interrupted them. “Where’s Daddy gone?”
    â€œHe didn’t say, honey. He just left.”
    â€œOh.” Tears spilled down Chantel’s cheeks.
    â€œI’m sorry, honey. I’m really sorry, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t love you.” There was a sob and her mother’s voice choked up. “I … I know your father will call you.”
    â€œWho cares?” stormed Adam. “We don’t. You did nothing but yell at us when we were home, then you shipped us off to another country, so why should we care? Neither of you care about us, and we don’t care about you.” He hurled the mobile phone across the room and stormed out of the office, slamming the door.
    â€œAdam, Adam.”
    â€œThere’s only me,” said Chantel. Her voice was almost a whisper.
    â€œI’m so sorry, Chantel. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ll call again, honey.” The line hummed in Chantel’s ear as her mother’s voice broke and she rang off.

    As emotional storms raged through the Maxwell house hold, the Dark Being stormed across the Milky Way and rent her fury on yet another small star. Nothing was hidden there.
    â€œThe Wise Ones have concealed the tools of power well,” she raged, “I WILL find them.”
    She knew she was finally in the right galaxy for she could sense their presence — a tingling and a brightness in the air. She pulled the darkness closer, to shield her and her supporters from the hated light, but suddenly she felt remnants of the Wise Ones’ thoughts winging through the air … a feeling of hope and purpose. It was as though the Wise Ones were near, were aware of her movements and were outwitting her. How could that be?
    The Dark Being sent a roar of anger boiling across the universe. “I hear