Broken Home Part 3
Mom ignored me after she told me to go to my room and stay there. I tried to get her to hear me but she just turned her back to me and wouldn't speak. I went to my room, got dressed for bed and laid down. The next morning, mom got a call. She came to my room and told me she had an emergency with some distant relatives and that she had to leave for the day. She wanted me to take care of Bella and Brad. She looked so worried and scared, I could only nod. She hugged me close and whispered an apology in my ear.
When Brad got off work, he was quick to demand to know where mom had gone. I told him what little she told me. Brad told me he was going out for supper and for me to go to bed by 10. I rolled my eyes...as if I would listen to him. I played with Bella, fed her and got her ready for bed. She was out by 8. I sat on the couch watching movies, somewhere around 10, I heard Brad's car pull up. I quickly turned the television off and ran to my room. I closed the door and stood behind it. I could hear a female's voice. My brows furrowed....it was not my mom. I sat in the chair and waited....devising a plan.
When I heard Brad's bedroom door close, I snuck to my own door and inched it open. I tiptoed down the hall and listened. I heard a few giggles from the female and then Brad's gruff laughter. Then it grew quiet. I heard mumbling but I couldn't make out the words. With my camera in hand, I slowly opened the door, quietly so they wouldn't hear. I made sure the flash was off and started snapping pictures. Brad was cheating on my mom in her house!!!
I screamed at the couple making out on the bed. Brad jumped up and I ran around to his side of the bed.
"What are you doing? Why are you doing this to my mom?" I yelled into his shocked face.
"You little brat, always in the way. Go to your room now. We will discuss this later."
"Hell no I won't, we can discuss this now!" I shouted back.
He had me so mad. I could have punched his face in for what he was doing. I turned on his mistress.
"Did you know he is a married man but that he abuses us and won't claim me as his daughter just because I don't have his features or eye color? Is this the kind of man you want? He's worthless. He hits my mom, he cusses and screams at me. Look at him now, does he look like a rational adult to you?"
She stood stunned. She stammered a quick apology and ran from the room. I turned on Brad and got in his face again. Anger got the better of me and I slapped him.
He pushed past me, all anger gone. I followed him out of the room. He went to the front door...paused...then went out. I sank in a chair, shaking with anger and fear. How would I break this to my mom? I remembered my camera. I grabbed it from the floor where it had fallen and ran to my room. I quickly set up my printer and made double copies of each picture I took. I was going to show them to my mother just as soon as she came home....I wasn't sure when that would be. I was still angry and just had to get out of the house. I called the lady that kept Bella sometimes and waitied anxiously on her to arrive. When she did, I took off. I walked in the woods hoping to avoid the police. For hours I walked. When I stopped to rest on a park bench, Trigger was there. He kissed me passionately when we embraced.
Trigger and I cuddled on a bench hidden by some bushes. He listened while I told him what happened. He gave me gentle squeezes as I told my tale and then told him my background. He turned to me and promised I would never have to feel that lonely ever again. A rustle in the bushes broke us apart. An officer stepped out. Trigger took off running, trying to pull me along behind himself. I couldn't do that. I stood firm. I told him to run though as I turned to face the music.
I wasn't worried about the ride home. No one was there to lecture me. I paid the babysitter and thanked her. Bella was still sleeping. I showered and got into bed, my lips still warm and feeling Trigger's.
Mom was home when I got up. I was running late. I had to hurry through my breakfast and get on the bus since I had missed the day before. I knew I would have detention because I didn't get my homework done either. When I finally got home from school, I found mom watching tv in the living room. I sat on the sofa beside her, ready to tell her about last night. I started out gently...
"Mom, I'm sorry to have to tell you this....but Brad brought a woman home last night. I have pictures if you would like to see them. I'm sorry momma."
"He brought a woman here?" She shrieked, then she flipped out.
After a long evening of crying and talking. She decided she would kick Brad out that night. I was so happy but I kept it inside. I didn't want her to know I was thrilled when she was hurting. I'm sorry that it took something like this to get rid of him but it's his fault, not mine. I had to comfort mom again and again.
I wasn't home to witness mom put Brad out. She sent me to MaryKay's house. She put Bella to bed early. I was terrified that Brad would hurt her and I worried that if I left, I couldn't protect her. She wouldn't hear it. She told me she could handle herself and literally pushed me out the door before he got there. I walked slowly down the block to MaryKay's house. I told MaryKay just was was going down at my house. She knew I was restless so she invited my boyfriend over to keep my mind off things. She was the only one in town that I had breathed my deep secret to. I was in love with Trigger. When he arrived, he opened his arms to me. I ran to him. Trigger held me in his arms and I felt safe. Nothing could hurt me with Trigger close.
MaryKay gave us some privacy in her back yard. It was dim but I could see my house from her yard. I kept looking over there. I never heard anything. Trigger tried to keep my mind off of home but he couldn't completely. He held me and tried to comfort me. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Brad stormed out of the house, 2 suitcases in his hands. I jumped from Triggers arms and ran to the house. I had to check on mom. When the door opened, she was standing near the sofa, looking lost and sad.
I ran to her and threw my arms around her. She hugged me hard.
"It's over Hillary. It's over." She sighed.
"I'm sorry mom. I love you. Was it bad?" I asked in a small voice.
"No. I told him I wanted him out and he smiled. He said he was coming home to tell me he was leaving me anyway. He said he would never bother us again."
"Oh mom. I'm sorry it had to happen but now maybe you can find someone who loves you, and maybe even likes me and Bella."
Mom smiled and hugged me close once more.
With Brad out of the house, mom got a job. I got a raise at my job and between the two incomes, we managed to buy a few things for the house but the rest of our money we are saving. Mom has her eye on a house on a hill. I had mentioned a couple of times that there was a nice man that I knew that was going through a divorce and he would be perfect for her. Mom would change the subject when I brought it up. I finally got her to sit with me and talk about him. What she didn't know, at the time was that he was outside waiting on her to agree to see him. I ran the idea by her while she was watching her cooking shows.
"Mom, I invited someone over for supper. I have baked salmon in the oven. Please don't be rude...he's waiting outside."
"Well, let him in."
I served the food as mom talked to him on the sofa. Bella was playing nicely with her toys. When I called them to the table, they were deep in conversation. I put Bella in her high chair and fed her as I ate standing up. I didn't want to intrude on the now happy pair. They seemed to be enjoying each other's company. After Bella was fed, I cleaned her up and took her to our room to play with her dolls. Every now and then, I would hear mom laugh. Something she hadn't done in a long time. When I walked out to get a drink after I put Bella to bed, they were cuddled on the sofa together.
Maybe this will be the change we need in this family. I can only hope.
The End.