Burned

by Vaughn, Eve

  “Some of them weren’t the same around me as they were when you were there. And I was scared, Daddy. Scared that you’d have kids of your own. Real children.”

  “You are my real child. I was there from the moment you were born. I changed your diapers. I was the one who stayed up with you when you were sick. I was at every school play, every tee ball game, and every parent-teacher conference. If that doesn’t make you my real child and me your real father, nothing will. Sharing a bloodline doesn’t mean a damn thing. There are thousands of children who are neglected and abused by their so-called real parents. What matters is in here.” He placed his hand over his heart. “I love you, Carys. No matter what happens, nothing will change that okay? And as soon as you’re out of here, you and I are going to go to a therapist and work things out, okay?”

  She nodded. “But Daddy, what about…..what about Sadie. Will you try to get back together with her?”

  Rhys didn’t think now was the time to tell her about the baby. “What I want right now doesn’t matter. My priority is making sure you get better.”

  “But Sadie…”

  “We’ll talk about it later.”

  “I want to tell her I’m sorry.”

  “Maybe you’ll get the chance eventually.”

  “But I want you to be happy, I—”

  “Carys we’ll talk about it later. Okay, sweetheart?”

  She looked as if she wanted to say more, but didn’t.

  Rhys wanted nothing more than to see Sadie and make things right, but he needed to get things sorted out with his daughter first. He hoped to God when he finally saw Sadie again, it wouldn’t be too late.

  * * *

  Sadie and Lily pulled up the driveway of her mother’s house and a shiver ran up her spine.

  “Lily turned to her sister. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Sadie nodded. “Yes. I need to do this.” She’d been putting this confrontation off for some time and she needed to finally have it out with her mother.

  “Looks like she has company. You did tell her we were coming didn’t you?”

  “Yes, she knows, but you know our mom, she’ll do what she wants to. I have a key, so it doesn’t matter.”

  “I’m surprised she never demanded you give it back when you moved out.”

  Sadie shrugged. “Maybe she hoped I’d move back in with her. Let’s get out of here. The baby may still be the size of a ping-pong ball right now, but it’s sure making me go to the bathroom a lot.”

  “I can’t wait until you can tell the sex and then we can go shopping for clothes. That would be so much fun.”

  “You know I don’t want to find out the sex of the baby until it’s born.”

  “Where’s the fun in that?”

  “The fun is the anticipation. Anyway, you, Rose and Daisy are already going overboard with this baby thing. Did you know Daisy has already started a college fund for it and Rose keeps sending couture baby items from Paris? I think you guys are more excited about the baby than I am.”

  “You’re not excited?”

  “Of course I am, it just with the Rhys situation….”

  Lily patted her on the arm. “We won’t mention the R word for the rest of the weekend. We’ll deal with him after you see Cruella. Speaking of the old battle ax, I suppose we should go in.”

  After ringing the doorbell a couple times with no response, Sadie produced her key. She went in ahead of her sister.

  Lily shivered. “This place gives me goosebumps. I promised myself I’d never set foot in this place again.”

  Sadie turned to her sister with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay with coming in here? We could go back to the hotel and I’ll drive back here myself.”

  Lily shook her head. “No. We’ve come this far. There’s no backing down now.”

  As they walked into the house, Sadie saw her mom come down the stairs in a robe, her hair disheveled. She wore a smug grin on her face. “Well if it isn’t Chrysanthemum and the prodigal daughter. What brings you two here?”

  Sadie barely managed not to roll her eyes. “You knew we were coming. What were you doing upstairs?”

  Just then, more movement from the stairs caught Sadie’s eye. Coming down the stairs was Terrell. His shirt was askew and he was adjusting his pants.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sadie didn’t know whether to laugh, get angry or throw up. There was no doubt in her mind her mother had set this up. And she didn’t know what caused her the most pain, that her mother had done this deliberately to hurt her or that she’d stooped this low to do it.

  “Oh, I was just getting some help moving the bed,” Jackie smirked and shot a secretive look in Terrell’s direction. Terrell had the good grace to at least look embarrassed.

  He looked like a deer caught in headlights. “Sadie, this isn’t what it looks like.”

  Sadie raised a brow? “No? I don’t know what happened but it certainly looks like you just got finished screwing my mother.”

  Jackie threw her head back and laughed not bothering to deny Sadie’s accusation. “I hope you won’t hold this little indiscretion against us, dear. A man has needs.”

  Terrell strode over to Sadie and took her by the hand. “I swear nothing happened. We were just talking.”

  “While your dick was moving in and out of that old hag. And take your goddamn hands off my sister, you creep. I knew you were no damn good when I first met you” Lily glared at Terrell with such fierceness that if looks could kill, Terrell would be on the ground.

  Sadie wrenched her hand out of Terrell’s grip. “Don’t touch me. You’ve lost the right to even speak to me again.”

  “Sadie, I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I only came over here in the first place because I knew you were coming. Your mother called me over. I wanted to see you.”

  Sadie raised a brow. “Didn’t you get the hint when I didn’t return any of your calls? I loved you and you made a fool out of me. Do you think I’m that much of a masochist to put myself through that again? You must think I’m an idiot if you believe I’d give a damn about anything you said.”

  “I’ve left Keisha. I realized I made a mistake. She’s not you, Sadie.”

  Sadie snorted. “So what? Go find someone else to bother. I neither have the energy or desire to deal with you right now.”

  “Malia misses you. She asks about you all the time.”

  Sadie placed her good hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you dare use your child to play on my sympathies. Just forget you ever knew me and move on with your life.”

  “How can I when I love you? You’re my everything. I just wish I would have realized before it was too late.”

  “Save it. I’m not interested. And even if I was crazy enough to care, why would I want you back after you just fucked my mother?”

  Jackie chuckled. “Such unladylike language. You surprise me Chrysanthemum.”

  Terrell clutched her hands again, but this time he wouldn’t let go. “Please hear me out. I swear I only came over to talk to you. I didn’t know your mother would come on to me. Yes, I went upstairs with her, but I swear we didn’t sleep together.”

  “That’s why you were fixing your pants when you were coming downstairs?” Lily shook her head.

  Sadie shook her head. “Stay out of this, Lily.” She turned her attention back to Terrell. “I think you need to leave.” She attempted to pull her hands out of his grasp but he held on tight.

  A gleam of desperation entered his eyes. “Please listen to me.”

  “Oh, let her go, lover. Obviously, if she could handle a man like you, the two of you would still be together.” Jackie laughed.

  “Bitch, if you don’t shut up your mouth I will shut it for you!” Lily yelled at Jackie, her body trembling.

  “What’s the matter,” Jackie taunted, “don’t care for drama when it doesn’t revolve around you.”

  “Watch your mouth, bitch.” Lily looked as if she’d charge at any second and
Sadie knew if she didn’t defuse the situation her mother would get a full-fledged beat down.

  Using the last reserve of her strength she managed to yank herself from Terrell’s grasp and took her sister by the arm, holding her firm.

  “Terrell, please go.”

  “Sadie, I won’t believe that you and I don’t have a chance. We once meant a lot to each other.”

  “That’s BS and you know it. You meant something to me. But I never meant anything to you because all the while we were together, you never stopped seeing your daughter’s mother, even though you’d lie and tell me how much you hated her. It kind of makes me wonder what you told her about me. Look, it’s been almost two years, Terrell and I’ve come to realize that I deserve better than you. I’m sorry you and Keisha broke up, but that’s no longer my problem. Goodbye Terrell.”

  Maybe it was something in her voice, but it must have finally registered. He recoiled. “I can’t believe it. Jackie said you wanted to get back together with me.”

  “She lied, just like you lied about sleeping with her.”

  “I didn’t fucking sleep with your mother. I may have done a lot wrong, but that wasn’t one of them. She asked me to her move some furniture and the next thing I know she’s trying to undress me. She put her hands down my pants. I swear to God.”

  Sadie didn’t know whether to believe him or not. She wouldn’t put it past her mother in light of some of the other things she’d done. But Terrell had already proven to be untrustworthy. Regardless of what happened, it no longer mattered. “Terrell, please leave. I hope you find happiness in your life and can be a good father to your daughter.”

  Terrell flared his nostrils and turned his angry gaze toward a smirking Jackie. “You lying bitch. You were using me weren’t you?”

  Jackie shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about Terrell and I wouldn’t go telling tales if I were you. I mean we all know what a big liar you are. I was trying to facilitate a reunion with you and Sadie because I thought that’s what you two wanted. Guess I was wrong.”

  Terrell clenched and unclenched his fists at his side. “You lying bitch! You told me Sadie wanted to get back together with me. You told me she was shy. You told me to go slow. You also told me she would be moving back up here. Or was that a lie too?”

  Jackie shrugged, seeming unbothered. “I can’t control my grown daughter’s movements.”

  Terrell sucked his teeth. “I see your game. You were using me all along. But I bet you won’t tell her why.”

  Sadie was fascinated by this diatribe between Terrell and Jackie.

  “What’s he talking about, Jackie?” Sadie wanted to know.

  Jackie waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t listen to that loser.”

  “I’m not the loser trying to con my own daughter out of her rightful inheritance.”

  Jackie crossed her arms over her chest with a heavy sigh. “Now you’re telling tales, again, Terrell, this is getting boring.”

  “What the hell is she talking about?” Lily demanded.

  “Tell her about the money she’ll get when she turns thirty.”

  “Leave now.” Jackie no held her bored look and Sadie realized Terrell really did know something.

  Sadie’s heart pounded in her chest. “Money? What’s he talking about?”

  “She knows you’re going into come into money soon and wants you back here with her so she can milk as much out of you as possible.”

  Jackie rolled her eyes. “Like you’d know my business.”

  “Oh, I know, all right,” Terrell nodded. “You’re friends with my aunt. You know she can’t keep a secret. If you don’t want people finding out your business you should keep it to yourself. By the way, my aunt can’t stand you. She only hangs around you because she likes to laugh at you behind your back with her real friends. They talk about how pathetic you are. Sadie, if I were you, I’d get a lawyer.”

  “Shut up!” Jackie charged at Terrell and racked her nails down the side of his face.

  “Bitch!” He pushed Jackie away from him, sending her flying. She landed on her butt.

  Sadie’s mouth fell open as she tried to process what Terrell had said.

  “Terrell, I think you should leave.” Lily was the first one of them to find their voice.

  “Sadie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen like this. But it’s true. She’s been hiding correspondence from your Aunt’s lawyer for years. Your Aunt has been trying to contact you for a long time now. Please go see her if you don’t believe me.”

  “Get out of my mother fucking house!” Jackie screamed still on the floor.

  “Won’t be your house for long. Word on the street is you’re behind on your mortgage.” He strode toward the door and halted. Turning to Sadie, his eyes softened. “I’m sorry. I wish things could have been different.”

  He’d hurt and humiliated her, but Sadie didn’t wish him ill will. Now all she could see was a man who had to live with his choices. She felt nothing for him.

  “Goodbye, Terrell.”

  “I’ll be here for you if you need me.” He was out the door before she could respond.

  Sadie didn’t bother to reply, turning her attention to her mother who was now getting to her feet “He was telling the truth wasn’t he?”

  “This house belongs to me. It should have been mine. That son of a bitch. After all he put me through, he left you my house,” Jackie mumbled.

  “I’m supposed to come into some money?” Sadie was still trying to wrap her head around the concept.

  “Your father was an idiot. He made a lot of stupid decisions.” Jackie spat.

  “Yeah, the dumbest was marrying you,” Lily shot back.

  “What does my father have to do with this? Terrell said my Aunt is leaving me something? Why not my sisters?”

  “Why indeed?” Jackie rubbed her chin as a sadistic grin spread across her face. “Guess she had a soft spot for idiots. Your sisters…they can fend for themselves but you’re so pathetic and helpless. You always had your sister taking up for you. Your aunt also left something for your brother too. The retard and the idiot. Too bad the money didn’t revert to me when he passed. Shame. I’ll miss those nice disability checks though.”

  “How…how can you say that? Thorn loved you with all his heart. He was one of the kindest gentlest spirits….” Sadie couldn’t finish, stunned by her mother’s insensitivity. She’d always been a bit impatient with Thorn but she’d never been this vicious about it.

  “I never asked to give birth to a mongaloid!”

  “How could you be so cold? Why?” The word came out as a whisper. Sadie didn’t understand how someone could be this evil, so into taking pleasure from other people’s pain?

  Lily placed her hand on Sadie’s shoulder. “I already told you the reason she is the way she is: she’s an evil bitch. A bitter old bitch. She’s miserable and wants everyone to be as miserable as she is. She knows she’ll die alone which is why she’s so mean. No one loves her. Not even Daddy loved her. He only stayed with her because of us.”

  Jackie’s lips curled. “That’s rich, considering you’ll be just as lonely and bitter as me. Never could keep a boyfriend, could you? You like them older don’t you?”

  “Fuck you! You know that’s not true. I never asked for what happened.”

  “You were too fast for your britches. I should have sent you away to one of those reform schools.”

  “I was thirteen years old! A baby and you let…you let them... You have no idea how I felt, how scared I was.” Lily’s eyes glistened with tears.

  “What are you talking about, Lily?”

  “Why don’t you ask your mother? You remember the men who used to come to the house all hours of the night drunk or high. Some of her so-called men friend were perverts.”

  It didn’t take long for Sadie to figure out what her sister was trying to say. “Please tell me that none of them….”

  Jackie laughed. “Of course nothing happen
ed….nothing happened that she didn’t want.”

  “Lily?”

  A tear slid down the side of Lily’s face. “I was a child. You were my mother. You were supposed to protect me.”

  Sadie wanted to be sick. She’d come here searching for answers but realized she’d never get any. Her heart hurt as she realized she’d never have her mother’s love, something she’d always craved. Sadie also knew she could no longer let the things her mother had said and did to her over the years continue to shape the person she was.

  She wrapped her arm around Lily who continued to tremble at her side. “Let’s go, Lily. There’s nothing left for us here. I came here looking for answers that I’m never going to get and I’ll have to deal with it.” Sadie led her shaking sister to the door, knowing she’d never step foot in this house again.

  As she guided Lily out the door, she halted and turned back to the snake she’d once called mother. “I will never be back. And as far as I’m concerned you can go to hell. I’d wish you good luck with your cancer treatment, but frankly, I no longer give a shit. Congratulations, you’ve just lost another daughter. Goodbye, Jackie.”

  Just when she would have closed the door behind them, Jackie’s cackle followed her. “I guess that would mean something if you were actually my daughter.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Sadie stiffened as she halted in her steps. She’d obviously misheard. Slowly she turned on her heel to take a look at the woman she vowed to no longer acknowledge as her mother. “What did you say?”

  Jackie smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. “What’s it to you? I’m not your mother right? What I said shouldn’t matter.”

  “Don’t play with me. What did you mean by that comment?”

  “Why should I tell you anything? You disowned me, remember?”

  It took every bit of willpower within Sadie to not charge back into the house and forget her no violence policy, but she remembered her baby. If there was no baby she’d slam her cast in Jackie’s face. Jackie simply wasn’t worth it. “I’ll find out with or without your help.”