Page 131 of Axton
“They’re superstitious people. They believed Natalie haunted our old house and that’s why nobody ever stepped foot in it.” Kayla said.
“I’m just surprised the kids left it alone, but shocked a family didn’t take it over.” I said.
“That’s only because nobody wanted to live next door to Natalie’s family. Randy had all the water turned off and theelectricity. I’m also pretty sure Natalie’s family would have run off any squatters.” Michael said.
We were on a flight to New York, to scatter Natalie and Hope’s ashes.
Axton
“What the hell did they mean when they said Hope wasn’t your daughter?” Kayla questioned me while Belle was still asleep. I used a hell of a lot of frequent flyer miles to get us a suite with two bedrooms and a common area. It was a hell of a lot better than the adjoining rooms we had in West Virginia. The option wasn’t available at the only hotel in town. There wasn’t any newlywed sex happening in West Virginia, so I kept the door between our rooms cracked so I could listen for any trouble with the unfortunate relatives.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Mike, if you’re going to put this behind you, then you better talk about it. Did you lie to me all these years?”
I wanted to protect Natalie’s memory, and Kayla always looked up to Natalie. I didn’t want to hurt Kayla with the truth, but I was beginning to think keeping up the lies after she already suspected would be worse.
“I did it to protect her memory, but no, Hope wasn’t mine and I’ve always known it.” I admitted.
“Wait…I’m confused. Did you sleep with Natalie or not?”
I broke down and told her the whole story, including what happened with Will and his dad. She was angry, then she cried, then she was angry again. I knew she was hurting, the girl she loved did some terrible things on top of the most terrible thing. She was so angry when she accused Natalie of raping me. Idenied it, even though I knew the truth. She took advantage of me, but I never saw it as rape. Kayla stormed to her room and slammed the door shut. Belle heard the commotion, and ran out to see what was happening. Thankfully, Belle went into Kayla’s room to talk to her. I walked to the window with the view of Central Park, and thought about everything. Natalie was a victim, that couldn’t be ignored, but she had options to find help. I would have helped her, at least until Will figured his shit out and stepped up. He really fucked up when she told him she was pregnant, but he was coming around. Hell, he killed his own damn father, so of course he cared. He even told Natalie he was there for her if she needed to talk. If she just would have trusted me. She had the resources she needed at that home to at least give Hope a chance. Natalie was seventeen, that was young, but old enough to at least know what she did to me was wrong. She had a mental break, and I understood that, but she ran to Will and not me when things happened. She said it was to protect me, but I was the guy that loved her. I was thankful for my wife, and I wouldn’t change a thing if Natalie somehow reappeared, but I did love that girl. Maybe not as much as Belle, damn that woman had my heart like no other could have had it.
As the city lights twinkled up at me, I thought about Belle. Hell, no matter what I was doing, my mind always traveled back to Belle. She was fitting in seamlessly at Creed’s Lake. Much better than her mother and other mom. That was some weird shit, having two moms that way. The ladies wouldn’t leave each other’s sides. They took all their meals in their apartment, but worked hard to earn money. I needed to have a very hard conversation with Belle where it concerned her mothers. They needed the security of being back in Arizona with their own people. They weren’t thriving at Creed’s Lake, and I had a feeling that cult was going to stick together, despite what advice I gavethem. I didn’t have any say over who they kept as a neighbor, and it wasn’t illegal for wives to share a man. They weren’t married legally, that was the point. What I did want was the young girls to start new lives. There was no good reason for the law to permit those continuing relationships. I needed to do something to convince the ones that were still minors to leave their community. Hell, if I had it my way, they would go into foster care with their children. Children couldn’t be expected to raise children. Just like I wouldn’t have expected Natalie to keep Hope from being placed with a good family.
I heard the bedroom door open, and Kayla came out. She walked into my arms, and I held her. “I’m so sorry, Mike.” She cried.
“Why would you be sorry?” I asked.
“Because you were always there for me. You raised me although you were just a child yourself. You were in pain, and I should have done more to be there for you, like you were me.” She sniffled.
“You were only fourteen when it happened, Kayla, and it was my job to take care of you.” I reminded her.
“No, it was mom’s job to take care of me.” She was still crying.
“Yes, it was, but she wasn’t doing her job. I love you, Kayla and I’d do it all over again.” I kissed the top of her head.
“You’re the best brother that’s ever existed. I love you, too.”
I had about enough of that shit and pulled back from her. “Let’s go put all this to rest once and for all.”
We had the permit to scatter ashes in Central Park. Kayla suggested keeping a small amount in a tiny urn, but I didn’t want any of the ashes. All I wanted was to set Natalie and Hope free. I did talk to Gloria, and she agreed it would be for the best. It was hard for her, being that Hope was her granddaughter. I wantedto know if I should have saved some for Will, but Gloria said he would want them both to be free, so it wasn’t necessary to save any of the ashes.
Belle read scripture as I scattered the ashes around a few elm trees. Then she said a prayer and they were free. We stood there for a little bit and my mind played back the most memorable childhood laughter, the I love you’s, and all the good times. I purposely tried to remember those things instead of the bad. I said a silent prayer and asked God to love both of them.
It was Sunday and we had to go find some vegetarian food for Belle. We enjoyed New York for the rest of the day and returned home to Creed’s Lake, and I felt a bit lighter after putting a few things behind me.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Epilogue
Belle
There was no doubt my husband was lethal. I saw it first when we were in West Virginia, and he caught his cousin by surprise.
I decided to surprise him when school ended for the day, but learned he wasn’t in his office. Instead of working, he was doing some sparring. I found him in the fight room I didn’t know existed, and he was in the ring with Creed. It was quite the view as he was shirtless, and sweat glistened on his tattooed muscular chest and abs.
I was supposedly ovulating, and I came very close to agreeing to use a condom last night. I wanted him so bad, but the timing was wrong. Instead, I satisfied him with my mouth then fell asleep in his arms.
