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When I get to the end of the block, I start to turn back, but something catches my eye. A majestic statue of Mother Mary towers over the park. My mother half-heartedly raised me a Catholic, but I could never accept dogma that preaches hate disguised as love. Patriarchy and I have never gotten along. But as I stare at the statue before me, something stirs in my chest and I’m drawn to her. Maybe because she’s a mother too. Maybe it’s the look of sorrow on her face as she watches over the pigeons and squirrels. Standing in front of her, I realize how looming yet benevolent the statue is.
“Hey. Long time, no see.” I wince at my lame joke. “Listen, I never believed that much in your kid.” Fucking A, am I really talking to a statue? “Sorry. I just … want him back. Please.” My hands seek purchase on the base of the shrine as I double over in absolute anguish. “He means everything to us, my daughter. I can’t—” A gasp steals my words. “I’m asking, m-mother to mother. Give him back to us,” I snivel. “He’s the best person I know. So full of love and kindness. Everyone who meets him leaves a better person. The world needs Remington Arison. Please.” Sobs wrack my body, but a calm sedation unfurls inside of me. I tick off my blessings one at a time.
Isabel is healthy.
Remi is still breathing.
Kiara is accepting of our relationship.
And I found love.
Don’t look ahead. Focus on everything positive at this moment. Be grateful for all you have right now.
A strange sense of inner peace fills my hollow insides. I look up at her. “I’m still a skeptic, so forgive me if I’m not magically converted, but whatever you just did… Thanks.”
As I walk back to the hospital, my mind clears and a second wind breezes through me. Remi needs me to be strong because he isn’t right now. I’m not giving up on him because he’d never give up on me. If it were me laying in that bed, I’d fight heaven and hell to get back to him and Isabel. He’d do the same. He’s doing the same.
Hope’s helium fills me with newfound optimism. I almost float up to Remi’s floor, but as soon as I step through the hospital entrance, I’m yanked into an empty office.
Mr. Fairchild has a vise grip on my arm, and the look in his eye is alarmingly cold.
“Let go of me,” I grit and tug my body away to no avail. His hold only tightens, and I know I’m going to have bruises.
I’m going to have bruises. Something clicks in my mind, and I have the wherewithal to see this for what it is—an opportunity. I struggle some more for good measure as I blindly press buttons on my cell in my other hand, hoping it calls the last person I spoke to. I turn down the volume at the same time, so as to not alert the unhinged asshole holding me hostage.
“Get your hands off me, Mr. Fairchild.” I speak loud enough so Jay can hear me if they picked up.
With one last rough shake of my arm, which I verbally react to, Mr. Fairchild lets me go. “Listen to me, you fucking whore.”
A spray of saliva hits my cheek, and I suppress a gag. I want to wipe it off, but I don’t want him to know I’m affected whatsoever.
“I don’t know what you think you mean to my son, but it doesn’t matter. You are not and never will be good enough to even breathe the same air as us. You’re a piece of trash, and your spawn should be the one dying in that bed.” Gone is the conversational yet cold demeanor. The evil Mr. Hyde takes Mr. Fairchild’s place. “If something happens to my son, your bastard will meet the same fate.” The vitriol spitting out of his mouth is astonishing.
Bile surges up my esophagus as he says the most vile things about my baby. A red haze falls over my vision, and I feel claws grow out of my fingers. I’m going to fucking rip his face off.
He’s goading me. He wants me to react, but I’m stronger than that. My head takes over because my heart wants blood, and that won’t help this situation. He might be a rich bastard who uses threats to get what he wants, but I’m a mother who would fight to the death for her child. I’m stronger than he’ll ever be.
Mary’s serene face pops into my mind, and a switch is flipped.
A maniacal laugh escapes me. “You seriously think your balls are bigger than they actually are.” I tsk, feigning indifference and purposely inciting the demon. My heart pounds against my ribcage, and I stiffen my joints. He doesn’t need to see me tremble. “I’m not scared of your empty threats.” I’m well aware I’m trapped by a psychopathic narcissist, but my hunch is that there isn’t much he can do here, as staff could come our way at any moment. I pray my hunch is on point.
“Oh, sweetheart, they’re not empty at all. You have no idea what I’m capable of.” A psychotic grin twists his face. It almost makes me wonder if he’s truly Remi’s father. They’re emphatically different.
“You’re so full of empty hubris,” I provoke. “A bitch past his prime and his worth. Not that you were ever worth much.” I mock the nasty words he said to Gram earlier. “Not to your children, anyway.” Steadying my feet, I shift closer and stand tall like a bird of prey ready to attack. “Or your wife. She self-medicates because she’s trapped by you.” I ball my fists and jut my chin. “You are nothing but a coward, trying to intimidate everyone with your turpitude. Save it for the weak because it’s not going to work on me.” I go to push past him, praying my incitement works. Men’s lips have sunk empires when their ego got a boo boo.
My calculation is correct because delight paints this snake in the grass poised to strike. My arm is once again in his clutches. That’s it. Make that bruise nice and black.
“A woman crossed me once. She went behind my back, contacted a lawyer, and tried to leave me, thinking she’d take my children too.”
Shock rips through my gut. Oh my God, did Remi’s mom try to get away? I can’t take a moment to examine his story because he keeps the information flowing and I’m paying attention to every word.
“She’s regretted it every day since.” He smiles, back to discourteous conversing—a mild demeanor with harsh words. He holds his free scaly hand in the air, flexing his fingers. “I hold her life in my hands. I am her god.” His voice is so deep on the last word, it reverberates around the room and threatens to make my teeth shatter. “Every day, I make it my personal mission to make her suffer. To make her sorry she ever existed. I took her life away from her, and her children followed.”
Things are starting to fall into place and I need to keep him talking, so I roll my eyes and try to pull away again. “You’re so full of shit. Let me go.”
Right on cue, he shakes me by the arm, and it feels like broken glass is digging into my skin where his fingers are locked. I make an “ouch” sound. Please be listening, Jay.
“She thought she was smarter than me, but she’s just another worthless whore. I relish in her pain.” As predicted, he keeps talking. “I see the way your calculated eyes study me. You think you’re clever, don’t you?” He gets in my face. “If you even attempt to undermine me, I’ll ruin you too. I’ll celebrate the day your daughter gets taken from you. I’ll make sure she gets lost in the system, never to be found again. She’ll be a fucking statistic, and you’ll be just another junkie deadbeat parent, begging on the streets. Go away.”
