Page 71 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

I let out a sigh as I cross my arms loosely over my chest and glance up at the clock.

Seven days, four hours, forty-seven minutes, and the seconds hand keeps marching toward the next minute.

Chapter

Two

Two hours later, I’m watching from the front porch of our home as Holden’s driver pulls away with him. He kissed me and told me that he would try to make it back before Tuesday. He shook Eastin’s hand and made him promise not to give me any trouble while he was away.

Both of us responded with stony silence and the familiar feeling of abandonment.

Once the car disappears from view, I push my hair behind my ears then glance at Eastin who’s staring at me with a clenched jaw and shake my head.

“Stay out of trouble while he’s gone,” I tell him quietly as I turn around and head inside.

I hear him scoff as he follows me in then the door slam before he breezes by me and walks into his room.

He’s nineteen years old, six years younger than I am, but we seem to have the same petulant attitude about the other and I know that the next few days are going to be hard.

Holden informed me on the night that Eastin arrived that his mother had died in a car crash. That was the official police report—she had been intoxicated and driving at high speeds and ended up wrapping her car around a light pole. When the police knocked on their door to inform their son of what happened, his reaction led to suspicion and an immediate phone call to his father who agreed to take him in.

He didn’t have to with Eastin being of age to take care of himself, but he said that the boy still needs guidance and he shouldn’t have to stumble through the world alone until he’s equipped to do so.

I agreed without giving it a second thought because the chance to finally try out motherhood seemed appealing at the time. That is until he arrived and we stared at each other with equal malcontent in our eyes. Me for not being his real mother and he for not being my own flesh and blood.

It was too late to tell Holden that I had changed my mind and we’ve spent the past seven days, six hours, three minutes, and accruing seconds barely saying two sentences to each other.

Eastin slams the door to his bedroom to let me know what he thinks of my one request and I shake my head as I go into the living room and lie down on the couch.

I should be getting ready for bed but with Holden gone now, I’ve decided to bend one of his rules of us being in bed together at the same time every night that he’s home.

Since he’s not here, it’s not really going against his wishes and in turn, there will be no consequence.

I reach for the remote control, turn on the television, and flip around mindlessly until I decide to settle on old comedy movie. I haven’t genuinely laughed in seven days, six hours, twenty-two minutes, and accruing seconds so I’m hoping that this might help.

Once I’m curled up and comfortable, I give my full attention to the numerous attempts at slapstick humor as the outrageous situations play out, but I still feel hollow at the second stage of the new life that has been bestowed upon me.

I have to find a way to get rid of Eastin without Holden blaming it on me,I think with a yawn as I close my eyes to rest them for a moment just as a plan starts to formulate inside of my tired mind.

Chapter

Three

When I wake up the next morning, I’m in my bed, startled at having found my way there with no memory of how.

As I glance at the clock on the nightstand, I sit up and stretch my arms over my head deciding that I should start my day.

Holden has a routine he likes followed and I assume it’s due to his age. He has rules, though not many, and he runs a tight ship with a fairly loose hand to give me room to breathe.

After I climb out of bed, I walk to the private bathroom that’s connected and begin my morning routine. I’ve washed my face, scrubbed my teeth and have stared into my own eyes for a solid ten minutes.

While the latter may seem strange to some, it helps me focus on staying sane and not acting outside of Holden’s rules.

He knows who he married, but notwhathe married, and I do my best to keep that part of me hidden away from daylight.

He doesn’t deserve to see that side of me because he hasn’t wronged me yet. I doubt that Holden Baylor could ever be capable of flipping that proverbial switch inside of me, though his son remains to be seen.

I walk out of the bathroom, turning the light off and decide to start breakfast. I know that Eastin will shun anything I make for him, but at least my belly will be full.

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