Shadows Of the Night
part 1
"Honey! Have you seen my white shoes?!"
Cole Turner pulled his head out of the refrigerator, still clothed in his pj's from top to bottom. Rolling his eyes, he quickly grabbed the carton of eggs and a bottle of orange juice, and slammed the door shut, a half eaten piece of toast between his lips. Carefully setting both items down upon the counter in front of him, he quickly placed the toast onto a paper plate. "No dear, because you have many white shoes!"
Phoebe Halliwell-Turner bounded down the stairwell, her feet bare, as she halted at the foot, her small hand dead set against her hips. "I am looking for the ones with the straps."
"The straps?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows in pure puzzlement. "Don't you have like fifty pairs of those laying around somewhere?"
"Nooo. I only have one. Now where are they?!"
"Okay, you know what? This could all be solved calmly and collectively, if you'd just-"
"Cole, I have an interview in twenty minutes, and it's going to take me exactly that long to get there. If I don't find those shoes, my life is over as I know it."
He placed the frying pan on the stove, gently cracking an egg over the tabletop in front of him. "Wait. Whoa. Rewind. What do you mean over?"
"I mean, that ever since I quit working for Elise, things have just gone straight to hell. I've been to dozens of these things, and no one seems to be hiring."
"Well, that doesn't make sense."
"Sure it does. It...just means that I'm cursed."
"But you only just-"
"Did you even see the last bit of advice I gave?" she softly moped. "It was instant death. So I just figured I'd save myself the trouble of getting the lecture, and bail. I mean, I've really sunk to an all time low."
He smiled. "Not the smartest thing you've ever done."
"Don't I know it."
He shoved the spatula back and forth, as he carefully scrambled the remaining eggs he'd dunked into the pan, setting the flame to low. "You could always be my assistant," he then suggested, shrugging. "I am kind of in need of one nowadays. Work's getting hectic."
"Dammit, Cole. Just be happy you still have a job. And just for the record, my name isn't Julie."
"We second vanquished her a year ago to this day. Must I still-"
"Yes, you must. Because I am not in a good mood today."
"Oh, believe me, I've already taken notice."
"And someone has to get sleeping beauty out of bed. She's got school today."
He frowned, setting down the spatula, to grab hold of the newspaper seated to his right. "Dear Phoebe," he read aloud. "My husband is going with this chick at the local club downtown. I know for a fact that this has turned into a full blown affair, but I am unsure of whether or not to confront him. What should I do? Lost in love from LA."
"Okay, you can stop that voice now, and you can do me a favor and not read that. I've already been humiliated enough."
"Dear Lost, here's an idea. Why don't you just quit your complaining and find that other fish in the sea. He may just be swimming closer than you know."
"Cole, honestly. Do you have to be such-"
"You know what? I think you started going wrong when fish became your primary source of solution here. Besides that, you can't just tell someone to find someone else without really knowing the entire story."
"But that's the whole point of giving advice. You're not supposed to know the whole story."
"Mmm hmm. Like I said, being a lawyer has its benefits."
She stuck her tongue out at him, making her way back up the stairs. "Alex! Honey, get up! Your dad has to drive you in half an hour."
"I do?" Cole asked, clearly confused. "But I thought-"
"You have off today, right? So get out of those pj's, and stop eating all of my food."
He couldn't help but offer a short laugh on her part. "There's enough here for two, you know."
"But there won't be after you're done with it."
"Phoebe, it has been awhile since I've moved back in. If you had a problem-"
"I don't," she insisted, as her voice trailed off. "Besides, I think you look especially sexy in those."
"Really?" he returned, grinning.
"Yes. Now get dressed!"
"Mommy, do I have to go?" a smaller voice called out.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Alex, we've been over this. You have to go in order to learn. All kids have to learn. It's mandatory."
"What's-"
"It means it's required of you, so you can grow up to be successful, famous, prosperous, and never take a job as an advice columnist. Because after awhile you will find yourself losing your touch, and people will look at you like you're completely insane. When underneath it all, you're only trying to do what you feel is best."
"She is only in grade school, Phoebe," Cole's tone followed, as his strong frame appeared lazily in the doorway. "What's next, a budget?"
"You. Go get dressed," she repeated.
"Look. Just cancel the interview, alright? We're doing fine here. There's no reason to panic-"
"Panic? Who's panicing? Do you see me panicing?"
"Good morning, Daddy," Alexandra Turner rang out cheerfully, running into her father's arms. "Guess what, guess what, guess what?"
"What, what, what?" he returned jokingly, as he picked up the five-year-old in his arms.
"My teacher said I could bring you in for show and tell today," she happily replied.
"What?" Phoebe spoke up, laughing, as she gently applied a shade of lip gloss to her lips in front of her daughter's mirror.
"She said I could bring him in," she repeated excitedly. "All of my friends are bringing someone in. We have to say what you do, and then you talk about it."
"Well, that was nice of you to volunteer me, Ally, but-"
"But I'm sure he'd be happy to do it," Phoebe finished, giving her husband a small pat on the back. "Wouldn't you, sweetie?"
"Always, honeybunch."
"So I can?"
"Ally, I'm really not-"
"Oh, c'mon, Cole. I'm sure those pj's would really make quite the legal impression."
"What are you implying?"
"Well, you know what they say about lawyers," she hinted.
"What do they say about lawyers, Mommy?" Alex asked, a huge smile floating across her pretty face.
Cole carefully placed his daughter back on the ground, glancing back at his wife, as he placed his arms across his chest. "Yes, what do they say about lawyers, Phoebe?"
"Nevermind. It's nothing."
"Phoebe..."
"They lie, they cheat-"
"And you know what? That's going to cost you," he offered, nodding, as a grin spread over his handsome features.
"Cole Turner, don't you dare-"
But he had already begun to chase her, as she fled giggling down the strairs. Alex stared after both of her parents in surprise, as a half smile took shape upon her petite face. She quickly padded to the doorway in her bare feet, watching both of them head into the family room, their laughter growing louder by the minute.
Cole cornered his wife, easily taking hold of her small frame in his arms, as he brought her close. A brief shade of crimson spread across Phoebe's cheeks, as her gaze met his. She tilted her head up to look at him, as far as it would go, as she briefly squinted her eyes into his set of blues. "Do you think it's too late to add in my own perspective?"
"Or you could simply plead the fifth on this one."
"I could, but..."
"But what?"
"Some lawyers can also be extremely gorgeous so very early in the morning."
"And which lawyers would those be?"
"Oh....just one," she softly gushed.
"One?"
"Mmm hmm."
Their lips met in a slow gesture, as they gently brought them together in a passionate kiss. Phoebe threw her arms around his neck, securing her fingers together behind him.
"Ooookay. I hate to spoil this little love affair of sorts, or....what...ever it is that you're doing over there? But don't you guys ever check your mailbox anymore?"
Thw two of them reluctantly broke away, Cole resting his face against hers, as they touched noses.
"Don't you knock?"
"Well, when you have a key, there's really no need to knock," Paige Matthews responded brightly, making a face at her brother in law. "Does Alex know you're fooling around down here? That could traumatize a child for life."
"So at what age did it happen to you?" he offered, turned around to look at her, a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Oh, you're just full of funnies today, aren't you? And to think, the day hasn't even begun."
"Please tell me you aren't reading the mail," Phoebe spoke up, as she strolled over to her younger half sister, hands across her chest.
"No, of course not. But it looks like some pretty interesting stuff this morning."
"I hardly think bills constitute for interesting," Cole quipped, pulling the envelopes out of her hand.
She shrugged, plopping herself down on the couch. "So what have you all got planned?"
"Phoebe was just headed to an interview, and....it looks like I'm up for Alex's show and tell," Cole explained, his thumb carefully pulling open the first letter.
"So they have demonic dad day now? Wow. Hmph. I guess things really have changed since I went to school."
He narrowed his eyes at her a moment, frowning. "You know, I knew that little act of yours wouldn't last long. Because here we are, right back at the beginning. But honestly? If you only came here to make fun of Cole, he's not listening."
"And do you always talk about yourself in the third person?"
"Honey, are you sure it's not Alex that you're bringing in for show and tell?" Phoebe offered, giving her husband a quick kiss on the cheek, before she began to head up the stairwell once more.
"And what's that supposed to mean? Paige started it."
"His usual intellectual response," Paige confirmed, nodding.
"Paige, go to work!" her sister yelled back down. "We are all out of breakfast food!"
"She's....got a thing about the food now," Cole whispered.
"Yeah, and I hate my new job," she mumbled softly, tilting her head back.
"You may want to talk to Phoebe about that, actually. She happens to be enduring the same kind of life crisis."
"Really? Well, I hardly think cashing people out at the local grocery store qualifies for what Phoebe is going through right now."
"See, you should have never given up the social services position before," he noted, his eyes landing on an envelope which scored no return address upon its label. The title across it in big red letters simply read 'TURNERS,' in a rather bold choice of font. Cole raised his eyebrows, his fingers hesitating as he continued to glance at the back of it. "Grocery stores are just...."
The letter was printed on a crisp white sheet of paper, its content extremely business-like in presentation. His eyes fell to the typed script, reading it silently to himself. Dear Mr. and Mrs. Turner, We stopped by sooner, but I guess we missed you. We would just like to humbly congratulate you on winning a five day cruise on one of the best ships in California. Due to your hard work in the cummunity, we thought it justly efficient to offer you this once in a lifetime opportunity for all of your hard work. Please accept this invitation upon our behalf, and kindly show up at this location for further information at 8am sharp tomorrow morning. All expenses are paid for by our company well in advance. Please. Enjoy your trip, and enjoy the water. Congratulations again, S.A. Sterling.
"Um....Cole?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
"What?"
"Is something wrong?" Paige tried again, clearly annoyed. "You've only been missing every word I've said for the past few minutes."
"I...."
"What's going on?"
"What the hell have we done for this community?"
"The community?" she repeated. "What are you talking about? Because we were talking about grocery stores. See, this is just like you. Turn it into something about yourself all the time. Figures."
"Paige, I'm serious."
"Okay then...do you mean besides ridding the world of demonic influence?"
"Very funny."
"Look, I came here today, because I think I'm actually going to be needing your help, as much as it pains me to say it. But the fact of it is....due to my unbearably low salary, I may not have a place to live sooner than I think. They're trying to evict me in my apartment complex."
"Paige, now is not the-"
"No, really, I think it is. You're a lawyer, and well, seeing as I thought....you're the only lawyer I know who's actually family...."
"For the last time, has anybody seen my white shoes?!" Phoebe pleaded.
"Look at this," Cole instructed, handing over the paper to his sister in law.
Paige scanned the fine print, her eyes soon widening out of complete shock, as she consumed the material. Her lips slightly parted, she scrunched up her nose, her free hand travelling through her dark hair. "Where did you get this?"
"That's just it. I haven't a clue. It was with that pile of mail you got for us." He considered this a moment, eyeing her up suspiciously suddenly. "You know....actually, if I didn't know better-"
"Oh, hey, I have nothing to do with this at all. Why would I go around giving away free cruises, when I'm twice as poor myself?"
"Then what does this mean?"
"Ugh. What does what mean?" Phoebe added, gently placing a black pair of high heels upon her feet, as she struggled to make her way down the steps.
"No shoes?" he asked.
"Hi, Aunt Paige!" came a joyful voice, as Alex raced down the steps, jumping up onto the sofa, her arms outstretched.
Paige caught her in a tight hug. "How's my favorite niece?"
"I'm your favorite, really?"
She nodded, quickly sneaking the piece of paper back to Cole. "Really," she assured her. "So how have you been?"
"I don't like my school," the little girl mumbled softly. "It's not fun now."
"Well, going into kindergarten never is," she explained. "It's a big change for a girl your age."
Smiling, Cole dragged Phoebe into the kitchen, much to his wife's dismay, as he gently lead her to a chair. "We have a problem."
"Wait. What? Problem? I don't understand. Don't tell me you broke the refrigerator, because I-"
"Yeah, well, you had it right in the first order," he quipped. "Listen, I know for a fact my firm doesn't give out free trips to guys who have been there less than ten years, so-"
"We got a free trip?" she asked, her expression brightening.
"So this says. A cruise, to be exact."
"Sailing?" she mused. "Well, that's new. You know, I'll bet it's the work of those new demons in town. I've heard those guys are not to be messed with."
"Demons? Where?"
"I'm joking, Cole. Look. Maybe this won't be so bad. Maybe it came just at the right time."
"I can't take off five days from work. Besides that, there is no number to call...nothing. We don't even have a return address."
She gently pulled her long brown hair up, securing it with a small hair clip. "Really? Well, maybe they chose people at random in the neighborhood. You know, like a contest?"
"You know, I'm just going to pretend your mind is clouded because of this interview. Because-"
"No one is saying we have to accept," she told him, pulling the letter from his grasp. "Hey, did I get anything else?"
"Mmm...just the phone bill."
"Lovely."
"Well, I got stuck with car insurance, so don't feel bad."
"You know, it does say here that they missed us. Maybe they intended to give us this note."
"Yes, but there's no- look regardless, it isn't even important. I...I guess I kind of just jumped at this, because...well...maybe it would do us good like you said, you know?"
"Do you even like sailing?"
"Well, they do have bands and food, and I think room and board is pretty sufficient. Of course, this is just judging by what I've heard from some friends who've taken them, but-"
"Since when do you have intellectual conversations with the guys at work?"
"The point is-"
She bit her lower lip, her feet crossed in front of her. "You know....I think this may be worth a second thought. But I also know that I really need some work to come back to, Cole- either way. I mean, we have a daughter to support, and-"
He slowly nodded. "Yeah. I think it was awfully stupid of me to even bring it up to begin with. I was just concerned, is all. To be honest, as suspicious as I am, I just assume not take them up on it at all, you know? But I think I'm getting a little too used to the low demonic activity around here lately too."
She laughed. "It's a record."
"Do you need a lift to the interview?"
"Nope. You will be going to show and tell with Alex, and I will be taking my own car."
"So I'm stuck with it?"
"Looks like it," she added, grinning.
"You look beautiful," he told her. "Best of luck."
"Weeelll....if I do have that luck, we'll definitely be celebrating tonight."
"Pizza?"
"Restaurant."
"Oh."
She lifted herself up out of the chair, as she planted a quick kiss on his lips. "Alex! Mommy's going now!" She laughed softly. "A vacation would have been great though, right?"
Sliding his socks across the kitchen tiles, Cole quickly rolled the piece of paper up into a fairly small ball, aiming for the wastebasket. Pulling another envelope off the table, he began to examine its content.