Family Ties (Hidden Secrets)

by Belden, P. J.

  Jackson cracked a small smile. “I knew our plan would work.”

  I laughed despite myself. “Yeah she said y’all would get a big head so we were keeping it a secret for a little bit.”

  They all smiled. “So, you’ve been back together since the wedding?”

  “Well technically it wasn’t until almost the next day when she showed up, but yeah. I’d been staying at her house. Last night was going to be the first night we were going to try at my house. Then that phone call came in. I don’t know what happened.” Shaking my head sadly. “I promised her that I’d never let anything happen to her again.”

  “Oh honey there was nothing you could do. She’s a stubborn woman. You got her here that is what’s important right now.” Mrs. Williams said.

  I nodded my head not believing anything they were saying. Again, I had let her down. He attacked her right under my nose. I let her walk out of my house last night. Let her walk right into a set up.

  Seconds turned to minutes and minutes to hours before someone finally came in to inform us that Mary was stable and resting. We could see her soon. My breath left my lungs and I sagged into my seat.

  Mr. and Mrs. Williams left to go see her. I wasn’t immediate family so I had to wait until she was moved to a room. Closing my eyes, I thanked God for saving her.

  “Tobey?”

  Opening my eyes, I was shocked to find Mrs. Williams standing in the doorway. “She’s asking for you.”

  Saying nothing, I just stood and walked silently behind Mrs. Williams to Mary’s room. Walking into the room, she was facing away from the door listening to her dad. When Mr. Williams saw me he stood.

  “We’ll give you guys a minute.” Before leaving the room, he stopped next to me extending his hand. “Thank you for saving my daughter and not just tonight.”

  “I didn’t save her.” Turning and meeting her eyes, “She saved me.”

  Mr. Williams patted my shoulder then left with Mrs. Williams. I walked around and took the seat that Mr. Williams just vacated. Taking her hand in mine, I just looked at her.

  She had another bandage on her head, one arm was in a cast. Even through her hospital gown, I could see the bruising and the outline of another bandage. My chest tightened painfully.

  “Hey,” I looked up at her. “I’m okay,” but I could see sadness in her eyes.

  “I never should have let you leave last night.” I whispered.

  “Hey, neither of us knew. I realized too late that no one really knew where I lived. By the time I remembered it was too late. Tobey?” I heard her voice break.

  Standing I sat on the edge of her bed holding her hand in mine. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  She started crying then. Tenderly and carefully, I reached down and gathered her in my arms and held her while she cried. Her body shook and shuddered in my arms, I didn’t know what to do to help her.

  Pulling back I looked at her, “Mary can I ask you something?”

  “Wait before,” she swallowed hard. “before you ask me. I need to tell you something.” Tears fell down her cheeks. “There was a lot of trauma from the attack,” she started.

  “I know baby. I saw you there. It’s an image I will never get out of my head.”

  “No, Tobey listen to me!” She yelled, tears falling faster.

  “Okay I’m sorry.” I said softly.

  “We lost the baby,” she sobbed and I pulled her into my arms.

  Sorrow like I’ve never felt before filled me to the core. A cold settled deep and loss overwhelmed me. We lost our baby. It killed me that we lost our newest joy. I let them both down.

  “I’m so sorry.” It was all I could say and I repeated it over and over again.

  She pulled back looking at me confused and almost angry. “This was your child too you know?”

  Taken aback by her anger. “I know. I wasn’t apologizing for that. I was apologizing for not protecting you like I should and costing us our child.” I hung my head in shame.

  She cupped my face in her hand. “Tobey, this was no one’s fault. It doesn’t mean we aren’t going to blame ourselves. Believe me, I’m blaming myself for this,” when I started to protest she stopped me. “Dad and mom already gave me that lecture. It won’t make me stop blaming myself any more than you will stop blaming yourself.”

  I laughed sadly. “Okay,” I choked out. Looking her in the eyes, “Does this change us?”

  Her face contorted in confusion before what I was asking dawned on her. “No, Tobey. I told you I didn’t come back because I was pregnant. I came back because I couldn’t be without you anymore.”

  I just nodded my head and pulled her back into my arms. She’s right though. I will never stop blaming myself for not only losing our baby, but for what happened to her. If I’d only stood my ground more firmly she’d have been in my bed rather than getting the shit beat out of her.

  “What was your question?” She asked after a moment.

  “Huh? Oh. Right. I know you just bought your property and you really love your house and independence, but um,” I looked down nervous then back to meet her eyes. “Will you consider moving in with me? I mean I know we talked about it before we broke up but now you have your own property and house-”

  She put her hand over my mouth. “Yes Tobey. I’ll move in with you.” She smiled sadly. “I really wanted the baby. I had pictured what it would have looked like. Your hair, my eyes,” she sighed sadly.

  “I pictured her with your talent and brains. Her hair was curly and she had your smile.” I finished sadly.

  “She? You thought about our baby too,” she asked shocked.

  “Baby I was picturing our children before you were even pregnant.”

  “Children?”

  “Oh yes. We’re going to have a lot of them.”

  She smiled sadly. “I love you, Tobey.”

  “I love you more.”

  ** *** *** ** *** *** **

  Time passed quickly and before we knew it three weeks had passed. Mary has since moved in with me for about two weeks now. When we first walked into her home, it was hard. I know she kept reliving her experience that night. Lord knows I will never forget that phone call or the image as I drove up to her house.

  Mary was a complete pain in the ass and I loved it. She refused to take it easy. Always up doing something. There were times I just wanted to strap her to the bed and tell her to sleep. Both of us are still coming to terms with the fact that we’ve lost our baby. Though, we both did agree that we weren’t going to even think about trying for another until after Kyle was dealt with. Neither of us wanted to risk another child, not that I planned on letting her get hurt again.

  “Tobey?”

  Turning I see Mary standing on the front porch. She may still have her arm in a cast, but she was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Throwing down the rag I was wiping my face off with, I made my way over to her.

  “Hey beautiful,” I said with a huge smile on my face.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Mary

  “Hey beautiful,” he said smiling.

  God, I was the luckiest girl in the world to have this man as mine. Leaning in, he kissed me gently.

  “I have a huge favor to ask.”

  “Mmm you don’t need to ask,” he spoke softly wiggling his eyebrows.

  “Ha! You’re funny. You won’t do anything until I’m better, remember?” I snapped irritated.

  His face drops. “You’ve been hurt enough. I won’t hurt you anymore. Believe me, I’d much rather be making love to you then jerking off in the shower.”

  Shaking my head angrily, “Off topic here. Can we host a family supper here on Wednesday next week? Please,” I begged, batting my eyelashes at him and sticking out my lip.

  He laughed. “You look cute when you do that. Are you sure you’re going to be up for it?”

  I huff angrily, turned and stormed into the house, slamming the door behind me. He pisses me off when he coddles me like this. I’ll show him wea
k. A mischievous grin formed on my face. Slowly a plan formed in my head. Tonight couldn’t come fast enough.

  The day dragged on as I cleaned the house top to bottom for the millionth time this week. Soon we’re all sitting around the table enjoying supper together. The laughter when all the guys were together cracked me up.

  “No that is not how it happened,” Scott yelled defensively. “All I intended to do was pinch her ass, I tripped and accidently pulled her pants down. That’s how it happened.”

  Joel laughs harder. “Either way it’s still hilarious, especially when you stood up with your hands in the air and she yanked your pants down.” He laughs harder. “And you chose to free ball that day.” He’s hitting the table hard as he laughs harder.

  “It was fucking cold! I don’t want to play ‘do you remember’ anymore!” He growled.

  “Oh no! You started you have to play it.” John goaded.

  Scott glared at John for a moment before smiling, turning to Tobey. Even I got a bit nervous. Tobey didn’t seem worried, just sat there with me on his lap laughing at the stories going around.

  “Tobey,” he grined a more sinister grin. “Do you remember when we were in town a few years back and we went to that bar on fifth and main?”

  Tobey tensed and stared back at Scott. Now I had a full blown butterfly epidemic going on in my stomach. If he was that nervous, something wasn’t right about what was about to be told.

  “Scott,” Tobey warned.

  Scott slammed down the rest of his fourth beer. I’m pretty sure he was drunk or at least well on the way to being drunk. “Now remember we have to play the game. Come on, play Tobey.”

  “Scott, you’re drunk. Go home.” Tobey said in a very low, calm, too calm of a voice.

  “We were having a guys night out,” he starts looking at me. “He was taking a break. On the way to the back room to play pool we start hearing this noise. We were both curious, so we followed the noise.”

  “Scott!” Tobey said louder and more threatening.

  “We opened this cracked door and find his fiancée fucking two dudes. The two dudes happened to be his cousin and uncle.”

  “Scott!” Tobey yelled now standing knocking me off his lap.

  Scott continued like no one had said anything. “So he beats the shit out of his cousin and uncle then starts to storm out of the room when she starts mouthing off about something. Tobey turned around and,”

  “Get the fuck out of my house!” Tobey yelled so loud that I actually jumped and moved away from him.

  Tobey stalks over to Scott, getting in his face. Scott didn’t back down though he glared right back at Tobey. It was like a standoff for a moment. Almost too softly Tobey begins talking again.

  “This game is meant for funny things not bringing up shit that should stay in the past.” He hissed.

  “Oh, can’t handle it when the tables are turned?”

  “I didn’t say anything about you and this isn’t even in the least bit funny.” Tobey growled.

  In a blink of an eye the fun and games turned sour. Tobey and Scott started shoving each other. Each of them yelling something back and forth. Scott swung first. Before long a chair broke on the wall next to me. I screamed and ran from the room.

  Sitting on the floor next to the bed, curling around my knees, I sat there trying to push the visions of the last attack out of my mind. The chair hitting the wall set it off. The sounds still echoing in my ears when the bedroom door opened. He kneeled down in front of me.

  “Mare?” He reached out to touch me.

  I moved out of his reach. “Don’t touch me.”

  Continuing out of the room, I walked toward the door when Scott walked up to me.

  “Mary, I’m-”

  “Don’t come near me.” I said quietly holding my hand up as he tried to hug me.

  Tobey was walking up behind me, so I continued to move. Jumping in my truck, I started it and sat there a minute before climbing out again. Just for tonight I needed to put some space between me and the whole ordeal. When I walked inside, I could hear Tobey and Scott going at it in the kitchen. So I quietly snuck back to our room, grabbed my phone and a change of clothes.

  Once I made it to the end of the hall, I peeked into the kitchen to make sure they were still occupied. When I felt the coast was clear, I took off out the door, jumped back in my truck and drove away. Without a doubt in my head, I know walking away tonight was necessary to keep me from doing something stupid.

  Two hours later, I pull up in front of my brother’s house. Slowly climbing out of my car, I leaned in and grabbed my bag. It was late and I was nervous that I might be interrupting my brother. Deciding I’d just listen for noises before knocking, I made my way to the door. Pressing my ear to the door, I listen for any sign that he might be busy. The only sound I heard was the television, but it was soon followed by a yell of ‘Oh come on’. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.

  The door swung open. “Mare? What are you doing here?”

  “I, I need a place to stay just for tonight. Please.”

  “Of course. Come on in.”

  We walked in his front door and after a short entry way he led me around the corner to his television room. Setting my bag down, he looked at me.

  “What’s going on Mare?”

  “I just wanted to spend time with you.” I lied.

  “Right and driving two hours in the middle of the night is the normal thing to do?”

  I started to agree, but he cut me off.

  “Come on, Mare! You have to give me something dammit. We used to be so close. Why keep pushing me away. Didn’t you learn anything at all from Kayla? Anything?” He yelled.

  “Nick, I-” I started to say, but he cut me off.

  “She went through hell and back! Shit! You don’t need to do it too. We can be here for you just like we were for Kayla. Mary,” he walked over to me, “you don’t have to fight alone. Let me help. Let someone help. Please. I’m begging you. I’m not sure I can handle another sister getting hurt because she refuses to let us in.” He said sadly.

  Sighing heavily, I walked over to the couch and sat down. Wringing my hands in my lap, I contemplated what to do. Looking up at him, tears sprung to my eyes.

  “Watching Kayla,” I look down at my hands. “I knew why she kept it to herself. Yes, it may get lonely and lies may weigh heavy on my heart, but at least I know that you’re lives aren’t being brought down with mine.”

  Nick sits next to me gently taking my hands in his. “Like we told Kay, whether you tell us what is going on or not we are involved and do carry it with us. The difference is we don’t know what we are carrying and it stresses us more. The thing you and Kayla don’t realize is that we want to be there when you’re in trouble. Not because we want to get all macho or controlling but because we can’t help protect you without knowing what is going on.”

  After a long moment of silence a sob escapes. “Kyle beats me. A lot and often. It’s escalating though. He is trying to kill me now it feels like.” Looking up at him again, tears falling down my cheeks. “I want him to kill me.”

  Nick pulls me into his arms. “Shh no you can’t talk like that. We’ll get him just like we got Alex. It will all be over with.”

  After a little while my tears dried and I was exhausted. Nick led me to his spare room. He hugged me and left the room. I know he’s trying to process everything we talked about right now, but I worry that it might have been too much information for him. Reaching in my bag, I pulled out my phone to see what time it was. Eleven o’clock. God it felt so much later than eleven.

  It was just as I was about to turn the phone off that I saw the alerts at the top of my screen. Missed calls and text messages. Pulling down the drop window, there were twenty missed calls and twelve texts. It was the last three that caused my chest to tighten.

  Tobey: Please answer me. Where are you?

  Tobey: Please baby. I’m sorry for whatever I did. Please talk to me.
/>   Tobey: At least let me know you’re okay. Give me that at least. Tonight got way out of hand. I don’t know what got into Scott, he’s not normally like that. If it’s because of what Scott was talking about, I will tell you the whole story. Just please come home. No place is home without you. I love you. Let me know that you’re safe if nothing else. I’m going out of my mind here.

  I stare at the phone reading that last message over and over again. It wasn’t about whatever Scott was going to say, maybe partly hurt because he didn’t tell me the full truth about this woman, but it was about me and my fears. Knowing what I needed to do, I texted Tobey.

  Me: I’m safe and okay.

  Tobey: Oh thank God! What happened tonight? Where are you?

  Me: I’m fine, but I will talk later. Going to try to get some sleep. Just give me some time.

  Tobey: When will you be home.

  I paused for a moment, unsure of my answer. So I went with the honest answer

  Me: I don’t know.

  Dialing the next person that would give me strength, I waited for them to answer. With each ring that passed, my heart began to sink until finally the ringing stopped and relief flooded me.

  “Mare? You okay?”

  “No. Can you come to Nick’s?”

  “Of course. I’m about thirty minutes out, but I’ll bring some food. Sounds like we have a long night ahead of us.”

  “Thanks Ky. See you soon.”

  “Yup.” Then she hung up.

  Kylee and I were close. She often hid from Mylee because she just wanted a break from being a twin. So despite our age difference we stuck together. Kylee also had a knack for helping me to see things as they are and not as I perceive them to be. Changing into some pajamas, I walked back downstairs. Nearly jumping out of my skin when I turned the corner to find Nick standing at the counter in the kitchen with his head hung and running his hand under water.

  “What the hell happened?” I shrieked moving toward him.

  “I’m fine,” he growled. “Thought you were going to bed?”

  “Kylee’s coming over. What did you do?” Taking his hand in mine, I gasped at the gash that ran across his four fingers between the knuckles. “Nick! If this is because-”