Tormented Love: A Christian Romance (The True Love Series Book 3)

by Juliette Duncan

  The rain didn’t let up all day. When the school bell rang that afternoon and Jayden joined the mob of students peering out at the driving rain, he decided to call Mum. Throughout the day he’d wondered if she’d made it home okay, but now his heart raced as her phone sent him to voice mail for the third time. What if something had happened to her? He should have gone looking. Dread settled in his stomach like a lead balloon. Where was she? He punched her number again.

  "Hello?" Mum’s voice was croaky and slurred.

  Jayden breathed a sigh of relief.

  "Mum, it's me. Where’ve you been?”

  “Just asleep. Why?”

  “The bus drivers are on strike and it’s pouring with rain. Can you pick me up?"

  "Sure, I'll come.” She yawned. “Give me twenty minutes."

  "Thanks." At least she wasn't still angry with him. He hadn't meant to upset her, just wake her up to what she was doing. Her drinking was turning into a major problem.

  Jayden leaned against a wall and waited. Every few minutes he checked the time. Twenty minutes turned into an hour, and Mum still wasn’t there. His heart sank. All the other students had already gone, picked up by responsible parents who’d come on time. The school parking lot was empty except for one lone car.

  One of the side doors to the school building opened and the janitor walked out. An aged man with a balding head, he walked slowly with a slight limp. Jayden had seen him around, cleaning the classrooms and hallways.

  "Excuse me, son." The janitor stopped beside Jayden and spoke in a slow Texan drawl. "Someone picking you up?"

  Jayden nodded a little too quickly. "Yeah, my mum’s coming."

  "You sure?" The janitor raised his eyebrows. "It's getting awfully late. Can you call her?”

  Jayden shuffled his feet and shrugged. “I can try again.”

  “You do that, son. There's a tornado watch out so you need to get home. I don't mind taking you if she’s not coming."

  Jayden dialed Kathryn’s number again but she didn’t answer. He couldn’t stand out in the rain any longer waiting for his mother who more than likely wasn't going to show up. He’d never experienced a tornado before, but he’d read about funnel clouds and knew how dangerous they could be, and certainly didn't want to get caught in one. "I'll ride with you. Thank you, Mr. … ” Jayden quickly looked at the janitor’s nametag. “Mr. Cummings.” Jayden shoved his phone back into his pocket and followed Mr. Cummings to his car. "I really appreciate it. Thanks."

  "We're all put here to help somebody in some way at some time." Mr. Cummings smiled at him warmly as he turned the key in the ignition. "That's what my mama always told me."

  "Your mama sounds like a good woman."

  "She was. The best a boy could ask for."

  Not like my mother. She couldn't even stay sober long enough to pick me up from school. Jayden’s eyes blurred with tears.

  He turned his head and wiped his eyes before giving directions to the apartment. Upon arriving, he thanked the kindly old man for the ride and then trudged up the stairs.

  Everything was just as he’d left it that morning. “Mum…” Jayden tiptoed through the empty apartment. He swallowed the lump in his throat.

  He went back out into the hallway and knocked on Roger’s door.

  Roger's six-year-old sister, Reye Beth, opened the door. She looked up at him with her dark brown eyes. "Roger can't talk. The dentist hurt him real bad." Her voice was sing-songy and kind of cute.

  "Reye, who are you blabbing to?" Roger's mother called from the kitchen. She stuck her head around the corner and smiled at Jayden. With her brown hair and warm personality, she reminded him a little of Tessa. "Oh, Jay, I've been looking for you. I'm sorry about your mother."

  "What about my mum?"

  “Come in here and sit down.”

  Jayden followed Reye Beth as she skipped ahead of him into the brightly lit kitchen that smelled of garlic and spices. A pot bubbled away on the stove. Roger sat at the table with his head resting on his arms. He lifted his head and gave Jayden a wave before flopping it back down.

  "See," Reye Beth said, pointing at Roger. "The dentist pulled out all his teeth and now he can't talk."

  "Reye, will you stop it?" Roger's mother playfully swatted her with her free hand. "Roger only had one tooth pulled, and he can still talk just fine. He'll be back to normal in no time."

  Jayden took a seat and tried to quell the concern growing inside him. What happened to Mum?

  Roger’s mother gave the pot a final stir, wiped her hands on her apron, then sat beside him. She lowered her voice. "Jay, a police officer came by about an hour or so ago.”

  Jayden’s eyes widened.

  “Your mom’s been arrested for drunk driving. They found her not far from the school, slumped over the steering wheel of her car." Roger's mother squeezed his hand. "I'm really sorry, honey. You're welcome to stay here until she's released.”

  Jayden blinked back tears. He didn't know if he was angry with his mother or just disappointed and sad. Maybe he was all three.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins, but I should be okay.”

  “Well, stay for dinner at least.”

  Jayden ate the spaghetti set before him, but didn't really taste it. He went back to the apartment and crawled into bed. Curled up in a ball, he tried to sleep, but visions of Mum in a jail cell kept flashing through his mind. If only it was all a nightmare he’d wake up from.

  Sometime through the night he fell asleep. When he awoke the next morning, Mum was curled up on the couch snoring. Black make-up stained her face, and her hair was matted and untidy. He sighed. He couldn’t leave her, not the way she was. Who knew what would happen to her if he did? At least Dad had Tessa, but if he left Mum, she'd have nobody. He wanted to be angry with her, but instead, a wave of pity flowed through him. He pulled a spare blanket out of the laundry room and placed it over her. Sighing heavily, he dragged himself into the kitchen to make breakfast. He wouldn’t be going to school today.

  Kathryn rushed in one evening a couple of weeks later as Jayden was watching television and announced they had to pack.

  Jayden’s eyes narrowed. Since the drunk driving episode, Kathryn hadn’t been drinking as much and Jayden was beginning to hope that everything was settling down. But now? What had she done this time? His shoulders slumped. "Why do we need to pack? Did you lose your job?"

  "No, we just can't stay here anymore."

  He let out an annoyed sigh. "Why not?"

  "I don't need an interrogation from you.” Kathryn snapped open her gold cigarette case, pulling a cigarette out. "Just pack your bags and be ready to go in the morning."

  “Where are we going this time?”

  “Not sure.” Mum flicked her cigarette lighter and lit up, took a deep drag and then blew a cloud of smoke out the side of her mouth.

  “What do you mean you don’t know?” Jayden jolted upright. “How can you expect me to pack up and leave, and not know where we’re going? I’d rather go back home to Dad.”

  Kathryn moved quickly, slapping him on the face, making it smart. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that, Jay.”

  Jayden’s eyes widened. He felt his face. How dare she hit him! He glared at her.

  “I’m not going.”

  “You are, and you’ll go and pack. Now.” She pointed in the direction of his room.

  Jayden shook his head, fixing his eyes on her as he strode past. He went to his room and pulled all his belongings out of his closet and chucked them into a bag before collapsing on his bed, his chest heaving.

  His mind swirled. Another move. But if he were honest, he didn’t really like it here. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to move again. Get away from his so called friends and not feel pressured to party. He let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes.

  Early the following morning, a truck came and took away all their furniture; it wasn’t going with them. Jayden grimaced as they stepped outside with their bags. Instead of the sleek bl
ack convertible, an old Toyota Camry sat in their parking spot.

  Jayden paused, bag in hand. “What happened to the car, Mum?”

  “Sold it.” Kathryn unlocked the Camry and opened the trunk.

  “Have we got any money left?” Jayden stood to her side, his eyes fixed on her.

  “Not your problem, Jay.”

  Jayden humphed as he threw his bags into the trunk and slammed it shut. Yes it is.

  “We’ll be okay, Jay. Trust me.” Kathryn gave him a reassuring smile as she slid into the driver’s seat.

  Jayden let out a resigned sigh. He didn’t have much choice. “So which way are we headed?”

  Kathryn shrugged. “North, I guess.”

  “It’s winter. We’ll freeze.”

  “It’ll be an adventure, Jay.” Kathryn shot him a playful grin.

  “So where will we spend Christmas?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe we can find some snow and have a white Christmas.” She turned the key and the car spluttered to life.

  Catching sight of Roger coming down the stairs, Jayden slumped in his seat and pulled his cap over his face. At least Roger’s focus was on his phone, and not on the crapped out car driving out of the parking lot.

  Chapter 15

  Kathryn and Jayden drove for two weeks. Jayden treated it like a holiday—he really had no choice. They stopped somewhere just north of Dallas and bought warmer clothing. And snow chains. At the first sight of snow, Jayden couldn’t help but remember the day he’d left Dad and Tessa on the ski trip in New Zealand and disappeared with Mum. She’d promised so much, and now here they were, all their worldly belongings stuffed into this run down old car, heading to who knew where. He should never have left Australia, but it was too late now. Mum needed him, and besides, it was kind of an adventure.

  Sitting in the car for hours on end gave Jayden plenty of time to think, and the question as to why Mum had left in the first place grew in his mind. Dad had never given him a definite reason, and Mum had never talked about it. He remembered the day she left. The disbelief when Dad said she’d gone and wasn’t coming back. How could she have done that? Why did she do it? The emptiness he’d felt in the following days and weeks. And months. Okay, she’d never been a really fun type of mum. In fact, she often preferred reading magazines instead of playing with him when he was younger, and she’d never seemed that interested in what he was doing as he got older, but she was still his mum. And mums were supposed to love their kids, weren’t they? Not abandon them. He needed to know why she left him.

  Somewhere along the road, after several days of steeling himself, he glanced at her and gulped.

  “Mum, can I ask you something?”

  “Of course, Jay. What is it?”

  Jayden gulped again, and looked away from the never-ending road. “Why did you leave?”

  His gaze remained steady on her while he waited for an answer.

  Kathryn’s hands froze on the wheel, and her lower lip twitched.

  “Wha…what makes you ask that, Jay?” Her voice, thin and shaky, was barely audible.

  “I’d just like to know. That’s all.”

  Kathryn’s shoulders slumped, her grip on the wheel easing. She drew in a slow breath. “I was bored, Jay. Bored with life.” Her voice was quiet.

  “But you had me, Mum. Did I bore you?” Jayden’s eyes narrowed as his heart began a free-fall.

  Kathryn turned her head and reached out her hand. “Oh Jay, I didn’t mean it like that.” She gave him puppy dog eyes before turning her attention back to the road. “I wasn’t cut out to be a housewife. I probably should never have married your father.” She paused, a wistful expression on her face, as if she were remembering. “He wanted me to be something I wasn’t, and when I met Luke, I knew that was the chance I’d been waiting for, and I took it.” She glanced at Jayden. “And I thought you’d be better off with your dad than with me.” Her eyes glistened. “But I was wrong, Jay. I missed you. I missed you like anything. The day I saw you at the Pro-Am just about killed me.”

  Yeah right. You ignored me. Pretended you hadn’t seen me.

  “I wanted to talk with you, Jay, but I couldn’t.” Kathryn gulped. “Luke … ” She let out a sad sigh.

  “What, Mum? What about Luke?”

  She exhaled slowly, her arms sagging. “He didn’t like children.”

  Jayden shook his head in disbelief. “You never told him, did you?”

  Tears rolled down her cheeks. “No … ” Her chest shuddered as she reached out her hand again. “I’m so sorry, Jay.”

  Jayden pushed her hand away. He should never have let her back into his life. She was right. He was better off with Dad.

  They sat in silence as the miles drifted by. Dad had still been sending emails, but they all said the same thing. ‘Come home, we miss you.’ Jayden never read any further than that. Maybe he should. But if he did, he’d want to go back. Could he do that? Admit he’d been wrong? His stomach churned. He really owed Mum nothing. He should leave her, just like she’d left him. It’d serve her right. Dad would pay his fare. All Jayden had to do was call him. He gulped. If he did that, it would all be over. Just like that. Jayden stared ahead. Could he really do it?

  On Christmas Eve, Kathryn and Jayden approached a small town in Montana not far from the Canadian border.

  Kathryn pulled over in a vista point overlooking the town that was set in a valley between two mountains. Snow covered the ground and hung off the trees in icicles. Smoke rose from chimneys of the houses far below, drifting into the air, and beckoning them to come down and get warm. “Let’s take a look, Jay.”

  “It’s freezing.” Jayden’s teeth chattered as he pulled his jacket tighter and rubbed his gloved hands together. When he exhaled, his breath looked like smoke spiraling into the crisp air.

  Kathryn wrapped her arms around him. “This will do, Jay. We’ll find a nice warm place with a fire. It’s the perfect place to spend Christmas.”

  “Hope so.” Jayden couldn’t stop his teeth from chattering and jumped back into the car, turning the heater up high.

  The road into the town of Hunters Hollow snaked down the side of the mountain. A snowplow had been through recently and snow was piled up on either side. Jayden held his breath as Kathryn inched her way forward over the slippery sections and around the ‘U’ bends. When they reached the straight road at the bottom, Jayden let out his breath.

  Small cottages began to appear and grew closer together as they approached the town. A sign welcomed them. The main street was decorated for Christmas with colorful bunting crisscrossing the road, and a huge Christmas tree covered with brightly painted pine cones and baubles took pride of place in the town square. Although it was only mid-afternoon, lights began to flicker on, and the whole town looked like a winter wonderland.

  “It’s pretty, isn’t it?” Mum’s voice was the softest Jayden had heard it in a long time. She really was trying.

  “Yeah, I guess. But where are we going to stay?” Mary and Joseph’s story flashed through his mind. He didn’t want to sleep in a barn.

  “We’ll find somewhere. Don’t worry, Jay.”

  Jayden raised his eyebrow. He hadn’t seen any place with a vacancy sign.

  Kathryn continued driving slowly through the town. People wearing thick jackets and gloves scurried along the pavements, ducking in and out of the small shops lining the main street, buying last minute gifts for their families, Jayden assumed. If he was back home… but no, he couldn’t allow his thoughts to wander. But he couldn’t help but wonder what Dad and Tessa were doing. It was already Christmas morning in Brisbane.

  Kathryn hit the brakes and the car skidded to a sudden stop in front of a run down hotel that had a ‘Vacancy’ sign out front. “There, I told you we’d find something.” She smiled at him and chuckled. “Come on Jay, let’s get warm.”

  Inside, an open fire roared, and Kathryn and Jayden headed straight for it, rubbing their hands together and standing a
s close as they could.

  “Can I help you, Ma’am?” A large man with shoulders rounded like a bull called out from behind the desk at the entrance they’d raced past in their hurry to get to the fire.

  Jayden glanced at Kathryn. Does she have enough money? Dread settled in his stomach. She’d been very cagey about how much she actually had left.

  “Ah yes.” Mum walked to the desk and stood in front of the man. Jayden didn’t like the way she’d swung her hips. What was she trying to do? “We…” she reached for Jayden and placed her hand on his shoulder, “we’d like a room for two nights please.”

  The man looked her up and down. “On yer way somewhere?”

  Jayden was about to tell him to mind his own business when she spoke. “We might hang around awhile. Depends.” She batted her eyelashes.

  Jayden groaned. Why would Mum flirt with someone as ugly as him?

  “I have a room on the top floor. In fact, two rooms, interconnecting.” He lifted his gaze from the desk. “I can let you have them both for the price of one.” The man gave Mum a look that sent shivers down Jayden’s spine.

  “That would be perfect. Thank you, Mr.?”

  “Call me Buck. And you are?” He cocked his head.

  “Katy.”

  Jayden’s brow lifted.

  “And this is my son, Jay.” She placed both her hands on his shoulders.

  Buck nodded once and gave him a frosty look. Jayden’s pulse raced. There was something about this man he didn’t like.

  “And how much will that be?” Mum reached for her purse.

  “Fix me up later. I’ll show you to your rooms.”

  “Thank you. That’s very kind of you, Buck.” Mum put on her sickly sweet voice. Jayden hated it.

  He followed Mum and Buck up the three flights of threadbare stairs and gagged when he entered his room. The cigarette fumes at the apartment in Austin were nothing compared to the suffocating haze hanging in the air of this tiny room. He held his hand to his mouth and coughed.

  “Sorry about that. Ventilation’s died.” Buck chuckled, but it wasn’t a kind chuckle. It was a chuckle that conveyed malice. What have I done to make him hate me? Jayden’s jaw tightened as he glared at Buck.