AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ve missed you all too, so much. How is Kara?” I ask about my baby sister, who isn’t here. Isabella takes a step closer to me.
“Oh she’s great, and so excited to see you tonight,” she says with a gleam in her eye. I lift my brow at her in confusion.
“What’s tonight?”
My father steps in and my grandmother excuses herself.
“We drove here to bring you home for the weekend. Your grandmother has told us you’ve been making exemplary progress in your redemption, so we thought you deserved a reward. We’d like to have some conversations as well. There have been rumors around the church,” he says, looking like he’s about to whip out his belt and beat me again.
I clutch Angel closer and smile, ignoring the rage. My heart is racing, and Levi and the guys are forgotten for the moment. I don’t care if I need to confess again and again.
I’m going home.
Chapter28
Ididn’t have time to pack a bag, but it’s only for the weekend, and I’m sure there are some clothes at home I’ll still fit in. I’m curvier now than before, but my lack of appetite and anxiety have caused me to lose weight.
I climb into the back of the van with Angel and hold her hand the whole two hours to Sharon, Massachusetts. The small town that I was born and raised in. The one I pictured raising a family of my own in some day. My family doesn’t say much. A few pleasantries until Isabella feigns a headache and takes a nap.
I lean against the cool window and watch the trees pass by and smile. I know this weekend is going to be rough, but I have Angel with me. All the blood, sweat, and tears of these past two years have been worth it, because they are finally acknowledging my redemption.
Their timing was a blessing in disguise. I know if I was still at the Academy, Levi would have found me, and I’m not ready to have that talk. I do wish I could have said goodbye to him and the others, at least. I hope they don’t think I just up and left them, or I got expelled like Tempest did. I still feel guilty that she left. I should have never put her in that kind of situation. I hope one day I’ll find her again, and that she's with King now, and is happy.
We pass my father’s church and the road that leads to our home. I don’t speak up yet because they could just be stopping to get food. I don’t want to make any waves this weekend. I will be polite and accommodating. As long as they don’t take Angel from my sight. I’ll even sleep on the nursery floor. I turn to my sleeping baby and press a kiss to her temple. She’s so sweet, and I know I named her correctly when she looks like a cherub. Dark lashes and rosy red lips, with her curly brown waves that are so soft to the touch.
I wish I didn’t miss so much of her life so far, but maybe someday, I can be a mom again. Have a house full of kids with blue eyes and curly blonde hair. Or amber eyes and hair as dark as the night. I smile thinking about our possible future, and miss that my father pulled into a parking lot and stopped the car. He doesn’t say anything and shuts the engine off, then climbs out.
I don’t recognize where we are. It’s a white building with blue shutters and a gray door. Isabella climbs out and opens the side of the van. She leans in to unbuckle Angel, waking her up. Angel whimpers and I reach out to stop Isabella.
“Where are we?” I ask and she gives me her ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ fake smile.
“Just grabbing some dinner. Kara is inside with Jacob, waiting,” she says and I take a breath in. Maybe this is a restaurant. I haven’t been around in a long time. I nod and let her take Angel. She stops fussing for Isabella and my heart aches. One day, I won’t be a stranger to my own child.
I follow them into the strange building, and get shoved as soon as I’m through the door. I yell out and a sweaty palm covers my mouth as someone restrains my arms behind my back and cuffs me. The lighting is dim, but I know for a fact, this is not a place to eat. The air is stale here, and there is no aroma of sauces and spices.
A hot breath brushes my neck, and I’m going to be sick when I feel a tongue trailing down my flesh. “Hello, Hummingbird,” he says and I start to shake.
“No, no,” I mumble under his hand and he chuckles into my ear as he gropes me and squeezes my butt, pulling me back into his erection.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispers, as I’m pulled into a large room. The lights brighten and my eyes fill with tears. Behind my step-mother and father there is a huge plaque.
Annie’s Adoptions.
“You lied to me,” I choke out once my mouth is free. Isabella beams as if this is the best day of her life, and my father scoffs.
“This is really for the best, dear,” my stepmother says sweetly. “You’ll see. We have the perfect family all lined up for her. She’ll never miss you.”
“No, I won’t do it. She is mine!” I roar, finally finding my voice. They may have sent me away, but never again. I will fight for my baby.
Mr. Draven pulls me into an office with no windows and a white table. It appears to be a conference room. Two other men follow him with grins, their hair greasy, hands thick and meaty. My stomach rolls as Mr. Draven shoves me into a metal chair.
On the table is a sheath of official looking papers that says “Termination of Parental Rights”.
My blood chills as the men crowd me. “Please fight, Little Girl,” one of them growls at me, cracking his lips.
My chest heaving, I shake my head. “I will never sign this. You’ll have to kill me. Do you understand? Who does—”
Mr. Draven backhands me and I collapse back, the chair flying onto its hind legs for a long moment before crashing down.
