Unwrap My Heart

by Heather Dowell

  “He waits until your asleep to sneak in my room, or he takes detours to back alleys when I ride with him. I’m telling you this because I don’t think you know, or you don’t want to know. But you need to because it has to stop. It does stop, today.”

  “Shut up,” Izzy says. “You have to believe me Beth, Percy is good. You can’t send him to jail for her lies. He’s never touched me.”

  “He sits on sissy naked,” Milo says, smiling as he sets his truck on the floor and presses a button. “See, sissy.”

  “Yeah, bubba. It looks fun.”

  Beth’s looking at the picture, tears pouring, hand covering her mouth.

  “I think he may have touched the girl who was here before me.” I tell her this, knowing she had the same suspicion. I only knew what Izzy told me about her, but I’m an abuse expert at this point.

  Beth looks me in the eyes. “He convinced me you were bad. I didn’t want to kick you out.”

  “He’s good at controlling people. He knew you were sensitive about not being able to have kids. That he could twist your emotions to anger and resentment toward me. It’s not your fault, but it will be if you don’t report him.”

  She holds her stomach. “I’ve felt sick since the night you left, like something was off.” Beth stands and bolts to the bathroom.

  Izzy gives me a death stare. “You had to open your mouth.”

  “Izzy, I’ve been where you are. I know what it’s like to make yourself believe what you need to to be okay and not be a victim. But you are a victim. What he’s been doing to you is wrong and sick. Acknowledging that doesn’t make you, though. Your body doesn’t know better than to respond. It doesn’t mean that you like it. Do you understand?”

  She shakes her head. “Just shut up.”

  “No, Izzy. You need to hear this. What he did was wrong. But there is nothing wrong about you. It’s not your fault. You were victimized and used, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a survivor and allow it to make you stronger. He’ll have power over you until you take it back. I’m taking it back, right now. And you can too.”

  Izzy balls her fists and breathes through her nose.

  “What’s wrong?” Milo says.

  I walk to her and hug her. “I love you, Izzy. You’re my sister. You don’t have to do anything to keep me.”

  She resists, pushing away from me, yelling, but I hold her close until her knees give out and her head rests on my chest.

  The illusion has found its first crack.

  Beth returns, handing me a wad of cash. “Get them out of here. Go to a hotel. I need a day or two to get my affairs in order and figure out what to do with—”

  She chokes on his name. The man she thought was her husband isn’t. I don’t know what I’d do in her shoes, but I saw this play out with my dad. She’s right to send us away so she can catch her bearings. I take the cash.

  She goes by the phone and scribbles a number on a notepad. “I’ll be staying at my mom’s. Please, let me know when you’re safe.”

  I return the phone cord. “My friend is waiting for us outside,” I tell her. “Do you need a ride?”

  She shakes her head. “I want to be here when he gets back. We need to talk. Give me a few days, please. I have an old friend who’s a detective. I’m going to call him and ask for advice.”

  She leans on the counter.

  Milo hugs her leg. “Don’t be sad, Momma.”

  Momma makes her breakdown more. She bends and kisses his cheeks. “Go pack a bag of toys and clothes. You’re going to stay with your sister for a while.”

  I hug Beth, taking in the scent of her. She’s a victim too, but she won’t be for long. You can’t be a victim when you start taking action. “Thank you.”

  I leave her so I can pack Izzy’s things. Izzy’s too distraught to help.

  I gather my troops and shut the door behind me before loading everything into the back of Zain’s Jeep Cherokee and buckling Milo in.

  Zain looks at me with wide eyes after catching a glimpse of Izzy. His phone rings with an unknown number. He puts it on speaker phone.

  Percy’s voice comes over the phone. “Where are you? Let’s get this abortion over with.”

  Izzy wails from the backseat like she’s been shot.

  Zain cusses him out, letting go of all his rage, and Percy comes right back at him until Zain hangs up.

  “You said bad words,” Milo says, pointing at Zain.

  Zain and I smile. Milo is so clueless to real evils of the world, and that’s something to rejoice.

  I never saw the point in cussing, but watching the relief on Zain’s face after telling Percy off gives me the urge to say a few of my own. But I’ll save that experience for when my five-year-old brother isn’t in the backseat. Let him save his innocence a while longer.

  Chapter 39

  “I’m hungry,” Milo says, not two seconds after we leave Beth’s.

  I laugh at him. This kid is going to be right at home with Potter.

  “I’ll get you a snack when we get to Zain’s house,” Bray tells him.

  “Zain says bad words.”

  “Yeah, I know. You’ve already said that. We’ll have to wash his mouth with soap when we get to his house. Okay?”

  “No soap. He might get soap poisoning.”

  Bray turns around and tickles his leg. “Have you been watching A Christmas Story?”

  I look back in the rearview mirror, and he nods. Izzy is looking outside with her head against the window. I pick up my phone and dial home.

  Mom answers. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah. What were you planning to do for dinner?”

  “Leftovers.”

  “Call Luigi’s and order pizza instead. I’ll drop everyone off then go pick it up. We have two additional guests.”

  She exhales in the phone. “How’s Bray?”

  “I’ll let you ask her yourself.” I hand Bray the phone.

  “Hey…yes…I’m good…I’m sure…You think Zain will be happy about that?” She starts laughing after my mom’s response. “Alright, we’ll see you in a bit then.”

  “What’s so funny?” I weave my hand with hers.

  “Izzy and I get your bed, and you get the couch.”

  “I’m not sleeping in the same bed as you,” Izzy says.

  “Izzy.”

  “I’m not. This whole thing is stupid.”

  “Good news. You get to keep your bed after all. We’ll take the couches in the playroom.” Bray squeezes my hand, blows out a deep breath, and looks toward the setting sun.

  Milo breaks the silence. “Where am I sleeping?”

  “You’re sleeping in Zain’s brother’s room. His name is Potter.”

  “I know Potter. He’s my friend at school.”

  Bray’s mouth slackens and one eyebrow raises, “How did we not know they were friends?”

  When we walk inside, Potter immediately jumps on top of Milo. “M! I can’t believe you’re staying at my house for a while. Come on. I’ll show you my room.”

  “Mom, did you know they were friends?” I ask.

  “Potter started going crazy when I mentioned a Milo would be staying with him for a few days. I just know him as M. There’s another one they call V. And Mrs. Williams calls them MVP.”

  “Then who is the V?” Bray says.

  Mom shrugs with a smile.

  We don’t hear from either one of them until we drag them down, begrudgingly, to dinner. I guess Milo wasn’t hungry after all.

  Izzy still hasn’t said much. She ate quietly, then sulked as she followed the twins to the playroom when Bray made her go.

  Bray then gave my parents and me all the details from what went down earlier at the Schneiders. After the update, Bray heads upstairs with chocolate cake in hopes of bribing Izzy to
open up.

  Dad pats me on the back. “I’m proud of you, son. Being here for Brayleigh. I would’ve never expected that. You’re more mature than I thought.”

  I don’t know whether to feel honored or offended. The doorbell rings before I have a chance to respond.

  “I’ll get it,” Dad says. “Go on upstairs and check on Potter and Milo. Make sure they’re still friends.”

  I follow him to the foyer. He peeks through the peephole then turns around with an evil smirk. “It’s for you. I’ll be in the family room.”

  The smirk means it could only be one person. I open the door to Farren with a stack of presents wrapped in snowman paper.

  She extends the presents to me. “Merry Christmas.”

  I grab the gifts. “Thanks?”

  She squeezes past me. “Let’s go upstairs.” She takes the first stair before I can even shut the front door.

  “Wait, let’s stay down here.” I walk toward the living room, but she doesn’t follow.

  She takes another step, her tongue slowly dancing over her bottom lip. “I was thinking we could go to your room.”

  “No, I have company. In here.” I step in the living room and place the presents under the almost bare tree. Two gifts remain: one for Farren and one for Coach. In my defense, I had the present before we broke up.

  “Oh. Who’s here?”

  I shake my head. “What are you doing here?”

  Her high heels clomp down the stairs and into the living room. “I came to see you, silly. And to exchange gifts.” She runs her hand down my chest.

  I take a step away from her clingy fingers. “You should’ve called or texted first.”

  “Since when do I need to let you know I’m stopping by?”

  “Since we’re no longer together.”

  She steps toward me and presses her body against mine. I fall back in a chair, causing it to slide against the wood floor. She places her hands on my shoulders, her body almost in my lap, her hot breath in my face, trying to tease me.

  But nothing surfaces.

  Any last bit of attraction she’s digging for is gone. I used to cling to it, desperate almost, when we played these charades in the past.

  Leaning forward with her chest in my face, she whispers, “This is what we do, Zain. We break up, then we make up.”

  All I can think is what if Bray walks downstairs right now and sees Farren on top of me? I slip between her arms and stand in the doorway.

  Clenching my jaw, I fight to keep my voice level. “That is what we did. But we’re not doing it anymore. I’m not going back down that road with you. I’m out of gas. Hell, my fucking car is broke, and I’m not getting it repaired.”

  Little voices carry from the top of the staircase.

  “We have Christmas tree and snowman marshmallows we can dunk in our hot chocolate,” Potter says.

  Milo screams out, “Let’s eat off the snowman heads.”

  “Let’s not decapitate the snowmen, Milo.”

  Hearing Bray’s voice puts a smile on my face.

  It warms me.

  It moves me.

  It fuels me.

  I forget that I’m standing here with Farren. I turn around and watch as Bray ambles down the stairs with Milo and Potter in tow.

  She catches me watching her and smirks. “What’s that goofy look for?”

  Farren wraps her arm around my waist. “Company, huh.”

  Bray cocks her jaw to the side. But she’s not angry. I don’t think she’s even jealous. The look of confidence exudes from every surface.

  “Hey, Farren, Merry Christmas,” she says when she steps into the foyer.

  Milo tugs on his sister’s pajama top which happens to be one of my Knight’s basketball t-shirts. “Sissy, hot chocolate. Now.”

  “Ok, bubba. We’re going.”

  “Make me one.” I make a slash with my hand across my neck and attempt a pirate voice. “And I say off with the snowman heads.”

  Potter and Milo crack up as they head to the kitchen.

  I turn around and face Farren. I want her out of here, but I need to give her closure. She needs to understand that this is different than all the times before.

  With a dropped jaw and watered eyes, she grabs her keys from the entry table.

  I grab her arm before she can open the door. “Farren, stop. Let me explain.”

  She jerks her arm away. “You don’t get a chance to explain. You’ve been lying to me and Sebastian. I can’t believe you.”

  “I didn’t lie. Come here and sit down. At least, open your present. It’s what you wanted.”

  That gets her selfish attention. She stomps to the living room and sits on the sofa with a huff.

  I sit on the edge next to her and take her hands in mine. “Bray’s dealing with family issues right now. Her little brother and foster sister are staying here for a few days until she can figure it all out.”

  “She’s staying here too?”

  “Yes. I’m not going to lie and tell you I don’t like her. I’ve liked her for some time now, but I had you, and she was with Sebastian. It was just a crush. Kind of like how you always felt about Devin, but you acted on those feelings. I never did, not until after we broke up. And it’s not just a crush anymore.”

  The tears start to flow. “I’ve apologized over and over about Devin. Why can’t you forgive me for that?”

  “I did. I got over it. That’s not the reason we broke up.”

  “Then why did we break up?”

  “I’m not going to rehash it with you. I told you weeks ago.”

  “Oh yeah, I’m a drama queen.”

  I wipe the tears running down her cheek. “Yes, you are. And I don’t think you’re ready to grow up. I am.”

  “Why is it different this time? Bray?”

  “I’ve done all I can do for you. I tried to help you get back to the person you used to be. And I want you to. I’m sure you’re going to find someone who brings that side of you out. It’s just not me.” I hate seeing her in pain, but I’m done trying to solve her issues. She’s got to do it herself.

  She takes a deep breath and nods.

  “I have two friends who are single now. I can hook you up.” My attempt to make her laugh is a success. She pushes me off the couch.

  I crawl to the tree and grab her present. “Oh, come on. You and Theo have that unbelievable hostility toward one another. Imagine if you channeled that into something else.”

  She snorts. “That’ll never happen.”

  I hand her a present. “Here. You already know what it is.”

  She opens the gold foil paper to reveal the diamond earrings she begged me to get. “I really am a beast. I can’t take these, Zain. They were too expensive.” She hands me the box back.

  I place the box back in her hands. “My mom got them on sale for like ninety percent off. Keep them.”

  She embraces me. A nice, friendly hug. “I’ll get out of your hair now.”

  I walk her to the door. “Farren, for what it’s worth, I did love you. I hope we can eventually be friends. I do wish you the best.”

  Chapter 40

  Making a final break from Sebastian and seeing Zain do the same with Farren lifts a weight from my shoulders I didn’t know I had. But one relationship is unresolved.

  Izzy hasn’t spoken since dinner, and that was only to yell at me for telling the Abners about her and Percy, which I hadn’t. Now, she blames me for them knowing her secret even though she’s the one who told them.

  I just can’t win.

  Everyone is in their own rooms now, and we’ve been sitting on the couches in the playroom watching Hallmark Christmas movies since she’s not a fan of the traditional sort unless they’re animated. I’m tired of her sulking.

  “Izzy, I know it’s
hard, but this was the best possible outcome.”

  She tugs a blanket over her shoulders and is zoned in to the commercial on TV.

  “He was never going to marry you. You weren’t in a relationship.”

  She turns up the volume.

  “Izzy, listen to me. They were your only foster parents. I get it. You want to think the world of them because otherwise you realize the world sucks, but you need to wake up so you can start to heal.”

  The movie starts back, but I keep trying to explain to her that I’ve been through this more than once. If I hadn’t said something, she could’ve wound up on the streets pregnant, too.

  “You should’ve got an abortion,” she yells at me. “It’s just a fetus. You ruined everything.”

  Zain storms into the playroom and yanks the remote away from her, turning off the TV. “I don’t care what you’ve been through. You don’t get to talk to her like that. You have no idea. Everything she did was for you.”

  “Zain!” I yell.

  “Bray, I know you want to be sweet, but this one’s delusional. He was a grown man, Izzy, not your boyfriend. And Bray choosing not to abort took a hell of a lot of courage. You should thank her for fighting for you. Not be an ungrateful little bitch.”

  “Zain!” I pull him away from her and upstairs to the attic. “You can’t yell at her.”

  “She’s being a bitch.”

  “I don’t care.”

  I put my hands on his cheeks and force him to look at me. “That was me a few years ago.”

  His face is red, but he calms instantly at my touch. “I can’t believe this happened to you. I’m sorry for losing it. I know this isn’t about me, but I—”

  He collapses on my shoulder, and I allow myself to really cry for the first time. I haven’t made my decision about the baby, but his reaction makes it clear he’d prefer I don’t get an abortion. Truth is, all the kissing has been a distraction. A way to put off making a decision.

  My boobs are getting too big for my bra, but the morning sickness has decreased, so it’s been easier to forget I’m pregnant.

  If I chose abortion, it might ruin us.