by Terri Marie
“I thought she had a boyfriend or husband.” Sean could have sworn she wasn’t single.
“I don’t think she actually married the guy, but regardless, he doesn’t pay her any child support. I’ve checked around, and he can’t be located. We’ll deal with that later. But anyways, that’s how she ended up at her parents’ house with the boys. It’s a bad situation, Sean. We have to get her out of there, ASAP.” The way Vincent stared at him, let him know that there’d be no further discussion on the subject.
“We’re doing this today?” Sean looked at his watch. “The banks will be closing soon, it’s Saturday. We can pick out a house and car, but we’re not going to be able to move her in today.”
“I’ll figure that out, but she can’t stay where she’s at.” Vincent headed back inside of the restaurant, took the check from the waitress, and paid the bill.
“Thank you for breakfast, Vinnie. Tell Uncle Vinnie, thank you, boys.” Elissa took one last swipe at their faces with a napkin.
Vincent grabbed a newspaper from the lobby, and then escorted Carrie, Elissa, and the kids to the car.
“You want me to just follow you?” asked Sean.
Sean could tell something wasn’t right. Elissa looked at the paper in his brother’s hand, and nervously buckled the boys into their car seats. He could easily picture her being taken advantage of. She’d always been soft spoken, and he’d never heard her complain. Elissa would definitely be an easy target for someone.
Vincent nodded and then climbed behind the wheel.
Sean started his engine, knowing full well that he’d do whatever he could, to help her out.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Elissa’s voice began to fill with anxiety. “Wait, Vinnie. Where are we going? I can’t be gone long.”
“We’re going house and car shopping. Look at this one.” Vincent pointed to an ad. “They’re having an open house today. Three bedrooms, two baths…let’s go look at it.” He smiled as they pulled out of the parking lot.
Elissa lowered her voice. “If my parents find out I’m moving, they’ll take it out on us. You really don’t understand, Vinnie.”
“You aren’t going back there except to get your things. When you do go, we’ll all be with you. You and the boys will be coming back to my house. You’re not spending another night under that roof, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Carrie quickly chimed in. “We’ll have a lot of fun, Elissa, and I can watch the boys while you work. I love children.”
The worried expression on Elissa’s face was eating at Vincent. Luckily he found the address easily enough, so she’d be distracted from the topic of her parents. It was in a nice subdivision, and each house had a decent sized yard. There were colorful balloons tied to the mailbox of a light gray house with white trim. The yard needed a little work, but other than that, the outside looked good. He couldn’t help but notice Elissa’s face lighting up.
The appliances would need to be updated, but the wooden floors were in good shape. The bedrooms weren’t huge, but they were a good size for a starter home. All three of the bedrooms and a bathroom were upstairs, while the second bathroom was on the lower floor. There was a nice basement that needed finishing, along with a laundry room. He found Elissa wandering around, looking out the windows at the yard. There were some young children playing on a swing set next door, and she seemed to be in a dream-like state.
Vincent came up behind her and whispered in her ear. “I think this is a perfect little house for you, Elissa. My brothers and I can take care of the maintenance and bring in new appliances. You and the boys are family to us, you know? We take care of family.”
“I love this house, Vinnie. I really do, but there’s no way I can afford it. Heck, I can’t even afford a motel room, let alone a house and a car.” Elissa turned to walk towards the front door. “We should get going.”
Vincent gently held her arm, as he pulled her towards the agent. “Hi, I’m Vincent Montclair, and this is Elissa Chiles. We’d like to make an offer on this house if the school system is good.”
“I also have a few other homes listed, if you’d like to see them before you decide. There’s definitely a great school district here.” The elderly realtor was nice to offer, but after Vincent saw Elissa’s reaction to this place, he was going to get it for her. “This is my brother, Sean Montclair. We’ll be the purchasers, but the house will be in her name.”
“What a nice thing to do. I’m sure the little ones will love it here. All I need is a deposit and your official offer.” She smiled and gave Vincent her business card.
Sean stepped up beside Vincent. “Let the owners know that we’re prepared to pay cash.”
The realtor took a paper out of her brief case, and Vincent pulled out his checkbook. “I just need to speak to my brother for a moment. Have you received any other bids on this house yet?”
“You’re the first! The owners have been trying to sell it for six months. I’m sure they’ll come down on the price some, but all I can do is come to them with your offer.”
After the paperwork was filled out, they got back into their cars and drove to a Chevy dealership. When Elissa climbed out of the car and lifted her face, Vincent saw her tear-stained face.
“You deserve to have a new life, Elissa. If we can help make that happen, we’re going to.” He kissed her forehead and then led her inside the dealership. “Now, what kind of car would you like? It has to be something safe, especially in the winter months.”
A salesman approached Sean. “Can I show you any vehicles today? Are you looking for new or used?”
Sean wanted to smack the guy. “It’s the lady you should be speaking with.”
Elissa felt her cheeks get warm. “I’m not sure. I don’t think I can afford a car, Vincent. Besides, I already have one.”
“Have you ever driven an SUV?” asked Sean.
“I think they’d be too big for me.” Elissa looked around at all the shiny new cars in the showroom.
“Take her out to test drive some SUV’s, cars, and minivans. Let us know what she decides. Keep in mind that she has to transport young children,” directed Vincent. He turned to Elissa. “We’ll watch Miles and Noah while you go.” He smiled at her as she shyly looked at the salesman and followed him out onto the lot.
“Bro,” began Sean. “You’re doing a great thing. Thanks for letting me be part of something like this. Besides, I don’t have anything better to spend my money on.” He reached over and patted Vincent’s back.
“Yeah, well, no one’s more deserving than Elissa. We’re going to rent a truck and go to her parents’ house this afternoon. We have to get all of her belongings, and then bring her and the boys back to my place. Fair warning though, her parents are real pieces of work.”
“We’ve dealt with that before,” Sean winked.
“Drop me and the boys off at your house, Vinnie, before you head to her parents. That way they won’t get trampled on, and they won’t have to witness any fighting. Call Tyler and Jacob to come help you guys,” Carrie suggested.
“That sounds like a plan. Sean, I’ll take care of this if you can call the other two and have them pick up some moving supplies and grab a truck. Tell them to meet us at my place as soon as they can.” Sean nodded and walked away, while digging his cell phone out of his pocket.
Forty-five minutes later, Elissa walked back through the door with the salesman. There were mixed emotions of joy and sadness on her face.
“Did you pick one out?” asked Vincent with a big smile on his face.
“These are all too expensive, Vinnie. I can’t let you do this.” Elissa picked up her two-year-old.
“Which one did she like the best?” Vincent asked the salesman.
“She drove the 2014 Equinox and was immediately in love. Seriously, she didn’t have that kind of reaction to any of the others.”
“Is that true, Elissa?” Vincent hoped she wouldn’t put up too much of a fuss.
Her e
yebrows rose as she slightly nodded her head. Soon, her excitement was evident. “It’s white, and the interior is black. That would hide the dirt and spills from the boys. It doesn’t make any bad sounds and it stops easily. It didn’t stall and—I’m sorry. I guess you didn’t need to hear all of that.”
“We’ll take the white Equinox, then.” Vincent put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her.
When Sean returned, it was easy to see that he was just as excited as Vincent was about buying the new vehicle for Elissa. He sat in the chair next to his brother and signed on the dotted lines. After an exhausting amount of time, they were told that the Equinox would be ready to be picked up on Wednesday.
They walked back to their cars, and Elissa suddenly threw her arms around each of the brothers. She tried to thank them, but her voice came out in broken sobs. Vincent wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a few minutes, until her tears subsided. When Elissa backed away and said she was okay, they climbed into the car.
The second Vincent turned the corner to his house, he spotted a U-Haul with Tyler behind the wheel, as well as Renee and Brian waiting in her red Cadillac. Parked behind them were Jacob and Emma in the Jeep. Vincent let Carrie and the boys out of the car and waited until they were safely in the house before pulling away. By the looks of approval on his brothers’ faces, Vincent knew that Sean had told them the whole story. Her parents had no idea what was coming...
Chapter 11
Tyler was more than happy to help with Elissa’s move. It was a welcome distraction from the thick atmosphere at home. He and Renee weren’t seeing eye to eye on the topic of Robert, at all. She was adamant about going to see him by herself, and he was more than convinced that doing so wouldn’t be healthy for her or the baby. Brian was on his side, but he was having just as much luck as Tyler was, trying to convince her not to go. Hopefully Renee would change her mind after being around family for a bit today.
Elissa was a sweet young woman, very soft-spoken and polite ever since Tyler had met her. She didn’t have the bite to her personality that Emma had, but still, she was family. Vincent got along with her marvelously, and his brother had shared some of her past difficulties with him. There was no way Tyler was going to allow Elissa and her children to stay another night in that hell-house with her parents. He watched as Vincent drove out in front of them and then waved for everyone to follow.
When they pulled up in front of a modest home, Tyler saw an angry looking man peering through the blinds. Soon the front door was flung open and the man, and what looked to be his wife, stepped out onto the porch. Tyler climbed out from behind the wheel of the truck. He walked over to Renee’s car and opened the driver’s side door.
“I want you to stay put for a few. Honey, I’ve already told you what these people are like. Just in case they get violent, sit tight until I come and get you. Brian, come with me. Remember, do not react to these idiots.”
Brian got out of the car and followed closely behind Tyler. As they walked up the street, they saw everyone else by the U-Haul. Vincent was holding Elissa’s hand and trying to calm her. The poor girl looked petrified.
“Elissa, you’re going to go inside the house first, but we’ll be right on your heels. First we’ll go to the boys’ room and pack up their things, and then your room will be next. Once we have cleared out the bedrooms we’ll get anything else of yours from the rest of the house. All traces of you, Miles, and Noah will be removed from this house soon.”
Elissa lowered her head. “The three of us stay in one room. They wouldn’t let me bring all of my things to their house, so my parents threw them all out. I sleep in the bed with Noah, and Miles is in a crib. He’s outgrowing it, but there’s not a lot I can do about that. I really don’t have much.”
Tyler could see how embarrassed Elissa was. Fire was spreading through his veins. “Let’s do this,” he directed, and walked over to the U-Haul, pulled out the empty boxes, and divided them between everyone.
Elissa walked hesitantly up to her parents. “Mom, Dad, these are my friends. The boys and I are moving out.” She didn’t look them in the eyes when she spoke.
“Like hell you are. How do you think you’re going to afford to live? You expect us to pay your way for the rest of your life? Wait a minute. You’re planning on freeloading off of these people aren’t you?” Elissa’s mother looked at her daughter with a face full of disgust. Suddenly her parents broke out into laugher.
“Let’s go, Elissa,” said Vincent, with a clenched jaw. Tyler watched him nudge her forward, around her parents. “Where’s your room?”
Elissa pointed upstairs and led them to a small room. Tyler looked around and could see very few personal belongings. Their clothes were already inside of three boxes. The children had two toys each in the room. The crib was old, a spindle was missing, and the other bed was a twin. It wasn’t in much better shape. Tyler grabbed the boxes off of the floor. He handed one to Jacob and one to Sean. “Emma, gather the toys. Elissa, come with me and let’s get your things from the bathroom.” He motioned for Brian to follow him and Elissa. They were met in the hallway by her father.
“Get your asses out of my house!”
“Ignore him Elissa. Get your things out of the bathroom.” Tyler wanted to plow the guy over.
As Elissa went past him, he grabbed her hair and jerked her head backwards. “You ungrateful bitch!”
Brian whipped around Tyler and had the man pinned up against the wall in seconds. “Don’t treat your kids like shit, man! Touch her again and I’ll—”
Tyler quickly pulled Brian off him. “Go on through, Elissa.” He blocked the man with his body, while she quickly threw her and the children’s bath things into an empty box. As they walked downstairs, Tyler looked around the house at all of the expensive items. He wanted to smash them against the wall. “Is there anything else in the house that belongs to you?”
“The kitchen table and chairs were given to me by my grandparents, but my parents kept them. These three figurines were passed down to me. I don’t own anything else in here.” Elissa turned her head away from her mother’s deadly gaze.
“Get out!” yelled her mother as she sat down in one of the kitchen chairs.
Tyler watched in amazement as Emma strolled up to the woman. She sat the half empty box of toys on the floor. “Hi, my name is Emma. I just thought I’d introduce myself before throwing you out of that chair. Now, you can get up willingly and move out of our way, or I can make you look like a rag doll, when I throw your ass across the room. You have three seconds to make up your mind.”
Elissa’s mother quickly stood up. Emma took the centerpiece off the table and shoved it at the woman. “Brian and Jacob can carry the table out and the rest of you, help carry the chairs. Elissa, take your things out of that curio cabinet.”
“There’s a swing set I bought for my boys in the back yard.” Elissa pointed towards the back door.
“I’ll buy them a new one,” said Emma.
As they left the house and loaded the table and chairs into the back of the U-Haul, everyone looked at all the room left over in the back of the truck. Sadness and anger was evident on each of their faces.
When they reached Vincent’s house, Carrie came outside to get Elissa and brought her inside. Once the door was closed, Tyler fought to set a good example for Brian by not punching anything.
Emma had that look on her face again. “We’re going to make everything better. Sean said you guys found a house for Elissa and the boys?”
“Yeah,” answered Vincent, “Three bedrooms with a nice backyard.”
“Jacob, she obviously doesn’t have anything to put in it, so tomorrow we’re going to take her shopping. As soon as you get the key, Vinnie, give it to me. We’ll get that house furnished for her, and Sean, you’re going to build a swing set for the boys. Everyone has to pitch in and help make that house a home. Her parents can go to hell.”
Tyler watched Emma stalk off towards Renee’s car. S
he could be seen talking animatedly, while Renee nodded in agreement.
“I need to go inside and see how Elissa’s doing and work on improving her mood. I really can’t believe she’s been living like that. Thanks for all your help, guys,” said Vincent as he turned to head in the house.
The group agreed to meet at Tyler’s house the next morning. With the plans set, they said their goodnights and drove home. He was grateful that the women were taking Elissa under their wings, making her feel less alone. Tyler knew one thing for sure; just because two people helped you come into this world, it didn’t necessarily make you a family.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Carrie helped Elissa pull the mattress from its frame and onto the floor, so Miles wouldn’t fall too far if he tumbled off the bed. The carpet was thick and plush, so he shouldn’t get hurt. Once the bedroom was ready, she showed her and the kids the spacious bathroom, and helped with their baths. Carrie was bothered by how sad Elissa looked.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, but I want you to know that we’re all here for you. I can’t wait to play with the boys more. They’re such good kids.” Carrie began to shampoo Noah’s hair.
“They were meant to be unseen and unheard at my parents’. I stayed in the bedroom because the boys weren’t allowed out of it. They ate their meals in the kitchen, but then they had to go back upstairs.” Elissa sighed heavily.
“That’s just so wrong. I can only imagine how overwhelmed you’re feeling with everything that’s happened today. You’re going to have a great future now, Elissa. I hope you’ll let me help you decorate that new house of yours. I’m not half bad at it!” She watched some of the tension begin to leave Elissa’s face.
Carrie remained quiet while her new friend recalled all of the joy in her day, and not once did she bring up her parents. As she shared her excitement over her new house and the Equinox, her mood appeared to lift, but it was obvious how exhausted the young mother had become. When Elissa began to yawn, Carrie hugged her and kissed the boys goodnight. She went downstairs and found Vincent sitting in the recliner; the light in the room was off.
