Page 43 of Twisted Bonds
God, I hope I'm not just putting ideas into her head. My father had better not treat her like the plague. She's part of the wife he always said was the love of his life. You would think he would love her as his own, but then again, I'm not sure what he will do about my mother.What if Ryan and my father want to stay together? Will I be able to deal with that?
I have my sister sit in the back hallway. It's one that people rarely use, so she should be safe. I hate to leave her alone, but I need to get a feel of the room before I bring my little sister into it. I leave the door to the hallway ajar, so she can hear me when I call for her.
We sit for another fifteen minutes before my father comes back down. He's thrown a shirt on this time, but I suspect something more went on upstairs. Unless my father used the restroom and dribbled on himself, I'dsay more than talking went on. I hold onto my anger, though. We have shit to deal with, and it won't happen if I fly off the handle.
"Ryan wanted to freshen up. As I thought, she's upset and crying, so her face is a bit puffy. We will start when she comes down." My father's eyes land on my mother. "Would you like anything to drink? I think we have some Diet Coke in the fridge." He gives her a slight grin.
"You remembered…" Mom says in a low voice, "Unfortunately, I haven't had any s-soda in years."
"Really?" My father hasn't a clue as to what my mother has endured, but he will by the time we are done here. "I'll be right back. Beau, did you want anything?"
"No," I say at first but then think of my sister. "Actually, I will take water."
Nodding, my father walks from the room.
"Please, honey. Will you try and relax? You will only make it worse if you continue to think negatively before we even get started." My mother is more concerned about me with Ryan than she and my father.
I think she's scared to be with him after everything that has happened to her, and accepting Dad and Ryan's relationship is a way out for her. I don't blame her, but I'm not giving Ryan up… She's always been mine.
Ryan sits beside me, gripping my hand as she listens to my mother's story. I didn't miss what came over her features when she heard that I was held against my will. It's not something I want to talk about now. I will tell Ryan my story when it's just the two of us, and I can have her full attention.
"So, you see, I w-wasn't with the brothers long, but it was long enough f-for them to parade me around, s-showing everyone their new toy. The d-day Sergio told me that I was their half-sister, I b-begged for them to put me out of my m-misery. I felt so dirty and disgusting, b-but Sergio would do no such thing. He t-took it the hardest because he started to fall in love w-with me."
I sit here listening to my mother, pride taking hold because she's come such a long way. She is no longer scared of other people, and her stuttering is becoming less pronounced daily.
"So Liam came and got you?" My father asks, "Why didn't they call me?"
"They tried, but you were on your way back f-from Italy, so they got a h-hold of Liam. He lied to them and kept me for himself."
"Why didn't the brothers ever correct me when I blamed them for killing you?" My father asks, but neither of us knows the answer, and we tell him as much.
As he goes to my mom, I figure now is as good a time as any and call out, "Cayley, you can come in now!"
My sister peeps through the crack in the door before stepping in shyly and coming over to sit on the other side of me. My father's jaw drops as he stares at the image of me at that age, except I didn't have long hair or dress as a girl. He takes his time studying Cayley, then turns to my mom.
"Who is this?'
"This is my daughter, Cayley Huntley," Mom states, and you can suddenly hear a pin drop in the room.
"She's Liam's, isn't she?" His voice is low and raspy, as though he may break down at any time.
Mom nods. "Yes."
My father comes over and holds his hand out. "Hello, Cayley. I'm Bain; it's a pleasure to meet you."
My sister looks at his hand and then at me, and I encourage her to shake it with a nod of my head. "It's nice to meet you, Bain."
"It's getting kind of late. Should we go pick out a room for you to sleep in?" my father asks Cayley.
"I get to pick my own?" she asks excitedly.
"Of course! I have a few that you might like…"
"Bain, I think we will get a hotel tonight," my mother tells my father, and I remain quiet because this is precisely what I wanted to see. No matter how pissed I am at my father, deep down, I knew he would do the right thing.
My father looks at my mother. "This is your home, you will stay here."
Mom looks like a deer in headlights as she turns her head and looks at Ryan. I, too, look at her, but she's got a blank look on her face like she's not even listening. I nudge her.
