Conner stood up and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight. She laid her head on his chest as Callie and Rylee wrapped their arms around her too. She felt as if nothing could hurt her as long as she was wrapped inside this cocoon of love and support.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
When the four of them went back downstairs a few minutes later Leslie and Andrew were in the family room sitting on the couch. Leslie looked up at them and smiled softly. “You okay honey?”
“Not really okay, but I’m starting to come to terms with everything. Diane wasn’t a good mother to me. She always blamed me for everything, but now I understand why. She didn’t want to grow up and take responsibility for her actions.” Karla took a deep breath before she continued. “I was just something that would stop her from doing what she wanted, I was a mistake she couldn’t fix. That’s why she took off and left me with Grams and Pops. I don’t think she was lying when she said she loved me, because in her own way she did. I still can’t find it in myself to forgive her, but I do understand her a little better.”
Leslie stood up and wrapped her arms around Karla. “You are an amazing young lady. You’re intelligent and understanding and you have a very kind, loving heart even after the Hell you’ve lived through. I am so proud to be a part of your life.”
“We all are.” Andrew added from behind Leslie. “Karla, what do you want to do now?”
“Right now all I want to do is pop some popcorn, get some Cokes, go upstairs to the entertainment room and watch a movie that’ll make me laugh. How does that sound?”
“Sounds wonderful. Later, if you all get hungry, I’ll order pizza. Same toppings as last time.” Leslie told them with a smile.
“That’d be awesome Mrs. Peterson.” Rylee said, “Now let’s get that popcorn and those Cokes. I’m ready to laugh.”
Fifteen minutes later they were seated in the theater style chairs in the entertainment room. There were four rows of four chairs and they had chosen the last row. They’d chosen to watch Jumanji and were just starting it when Karla’s phone rang. She looked at her phone and sighed. “Excuse me for a minute. It’s my sister.”
She started to get up, but Conner grabbed her hand and paused the movie. “Please stay. We’ll wait.”
She nodded and sat back down, bringing her phone to her ear. “Hey Kiara.”
“Hey Karla. We just got home. Sorry we didn’t respond to your text sooner, but we weren’t home. We took a trip to San Juan today to visit our aunt, padre’s sister so she’s your aunt too. Anyway, her oldest daughter is getting married next month so we went to the wedding shower today. I’m going to put you on speaker so Manuel can hear and talk too. Hang on a second.” Karla heard a soft click then Kiara was back. “Okay we are both here now. What’s going on? Your text sounded urgent.”
“It is kind of urgent. I was going to wait and tell you both face to face through Skype tomorrow, but I can tell you now. My mother killed herself yesterday.”
“Oh my gosh. Karla are you okay? I know she was horrible to you, but she was your mother and I know this has got to be difficult to deal with.”
“I’m actually doing alright. I have Leslie and Andrew and my friends here with me. I told them everything.”
“How did they react?” Manuel asked as he checked to see how much money he’d managed to save. He was hoping it was enough to go to Karla, but it wasn’t enough for one round trip plane ticket, much less two.
“They were fine. They’re all going to be there when we bury her tomorrow. There was another reason I sent that message though. Diane left two letters for me in her cell at the jail and one of them concerns the two of you.”
“How in the world can anything that woman said have anything to do with me and Kiara? She didn’t even know us.” Manuel asked with an aggravated tone.
“It has to do with our father. I’ll scan and email you a copy of the letter tomorrow so you can read it for yourselves, but I’ll tell you what it says. Diane was working as a waitress in the restaurant at the hotel our father stayed in during a business convention in Dallas Texas. She thought he was attractive and came on to him, but he rejected her. He made it clear that he had a wife and two children at home whom he loved very much. Not used to being rejected, she decided to take the decision out of his hands. On the last night of the convention she was his waitress again and she drugged his drink at dinner then bribed one of the maids to let her into his room. When he got to his room she took what she’d been wanting from him, but got caught the next morning because she’d fallen asleep. She was fired on the spot and escorted from the hotel.”
Karla took a deep breath before continuing, “My mother drugged and raped our father. He never did anything wrong. He was faithful to your mother after all.”
“Wow. That’s pretty sick.” Manuel said with disgust. “To go to those levels to get something you want is horrible. Karla, I know what you’re thinking and I want you to stop. This is in no way whatsoever your fault. You are completely innocent in all of this. The one to blame is Diane.”
“I’m a child of rape, just not the kind of rape everyone thinks about.”
“That may be true, but I bet every penny I have that if padre had known about you he would have fought to get you here with us.” Kiara said with determination. “Madre would have stood by him and you would have grown up in a loving home with us. I will always believe that.”
Karla was struck speechless by Kiara’s words. Could she believe that Alexander and Maria would have accepted her considering the way she was conceived? She wanted to believe that.
“Karla, we have to go. Abuela is calling us for dinner, but we will definitely finish this conversation tomorrow. Thank you for telling us about the letter. I know it was difficult for you to share that with us. I really wish we could be there with you tomorrow. If you need to talk before we Skype tomorrow night please call me. Manuel and I will both be home right after Mass and will talk if you need to. I love you Karla.”
“I love you too Kiara. The grave side service is at three tomorrow afternoon so it’ll probably be about six my time that I can be on. Is that okay?”
“That’s perfect.” Manuel responded. “Talk to you tomorrow little sister, I love you,”
Before Karla could respond Manuel disconnected the call.
When she slipped her phone in her pocket Rylee looked at her and asked “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Are you all ready to watch the movie?”
“Yes” they all said together and burst out laughing, breaking the tension that had entered the room.
They watched the movie, drank Coke, ate popcorn and laughed a lot over the next two hours. When the movie was over Leslie ordered pizza and they ate in the kitchen with Leslie and Andrew. Karla recapped her conversation with Kiara and Manuel to them all, but none of them commented.
The rest of the night passed quickly and when it was time for bed Leslie and Andrew laid sleeping bags in the floor of the entertainment room and they selected another movie to watch. They were all asleep within half an hour.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The next morning Karla woke before the others. When she went to get out of her sleeping bag she noticed that Conner had moved closer to her while she’d slept and she wondered if she’d been talking in her sleep. She’d had a horrible dream and was surprised she didn’t wake the entire house. When they’d went to sleep Conner had been on the other side of Callie, who was on the other side of Rylee, who was beside Karla. Now he was beside her. She sat there for a minute and watched him sleep. His dark hair was sticking up on his head and his jaw was relaxed so much his mouth was slightly open and he was snoring softly.
After a few minutes she got up and headed down stairs. It was barely seven, but Leslie was already in the kitchen on her laptop. “Morning Leslie.”
“Morning Karla. Everyone still asleep?”
“They were when I came down. Thank you for letting them all stay.”
“You’re
very welcome. They’re great kids. I do have a question though.”
“Sure, anything.”
“Is there something more than friendship brewing between you and Conner? I know he has a crush on you, but what are your feelings about him?”
Karla sat down beside Leslie before she answered. “I like Conner. I like him a lot. I’m just so scared. I don’t want to do anything to upset our friendship and I’m afraid that if we take it out of the friend-zone it’ll mess up our whole group. It just isn’t worth it.”
“Can I give you some advice?”
“Please. I know I need it.”
“Sometimes best friends make the best boyfriends. Just keep in mind that maybe he has the same fears.”
“He does.” Rylee said as she entered the room. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I can tell you that Conner really likes you Karla. He’s just as scared as you are though. I think you’re both crazy, but I understand your points. Give it time and it’ll all work out.”
“What do you suggest I do in the meantime?”
“Just be yourself and maybe pay attention to some of the other guys that are vying for your attention.”
“Other guys? Like who? I haven’t noticed any other guys.”
“Of course you haven’t. You’ve been too busy noticing Conner. There’s James, he’s the guy with dark hair and glasses that sits beside you in Algebra. Then there’s Austin, he’s the tall blond who keeps accidently bumping into you during P.E.”
“Maybe I will talk to them. I just hope it doesn’t upset Conner.”
“Hey, if he isn’t going to act on his feelings, and if you aren’t going to act on yours, then you both need to move on.”
Karla was quiet after that. She thought about everything Rylee had said, but she knew she’d never be able to do what she suggested. She just wasn’t brave enough.
Leslie broke the silence a few minutes later. “You girls hungry? I was thinking about making waffles.”
“Oh…YUM!! I love waffles.” Rylee’s eyes sparkled as a smile crossed her face. “I’m going to go drag Callie and Conner out of bed, wanna come help Karla?”
“Oh yeah. That sounds like fun.”
They ran up the stairs and into the entertainment room. Callie and Conner were both still sleeping soundly in their sleeping bags. Rylee held up three fingers and silently mouthed “On three. One…Two….Three.” When she held up the third finger Karla grabbed Conner’s sleeping bag and she grabbed Callie’s. They both pulled hard and flipped them out of their sleeping bags. Conner was instantly awake. “Hey! What was that about?”
Karla was laughing so hard she could barely talk. “Leslie…waffles…downstairs.” Was all she managed to get out between laughs.
Conner started laughing with her and soon Rylee and Callie were laughing too. When Andrew came in a few minutes later to tell them breakfast was ready they were all still laughing. “Hey guys. Leslie has waffles and bacon ready if you’re hungry.”
Conner immediately stopped laughing. “Food. I’m starving. Let’s go.”
The girls erupted in laughter again and followed Andrew and Conner downstairs.
“What in the world has gotten into you three this morning?” Andrew asked them as they walked into the kitchen still laughing.
“I have no idea.” Karla managed to get out, causing more laughter from Rylee and Callie.
“Waffles and bacon everyone. Let’s eat. It’s going to be a long day.” Leslie said with a smile at the girls. “Girls, after breakfast I’m taking you all shopping. I need shoes to wear today. The ground’s a little muddy and I’m not wearing my heels.”
“Conner you and I are going to hang out here if that’s okay with you.” Andrew added, hoping that Conner would agree.
“Sounds like fun sir.”
“Please call me Andrew. That goes for all of you.”
“And please call me Leslie. Dr. and Mrs. Peterson sounds so formal.” Leslie added. “Now let’s eat.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
At two o’clock they all loaded into Leslie’s SUV, all the playfulness from that morning was gone. They rode in silence to the funeral home, Andrew needed to look over everything before Diane was transported to the cemetery. When he pulled into the cemetery parking lot he turned around and looked at Karla in the middle seat. “Do you want to come with me? Just to make sure everything’s the way you want it?”
“Yeah.” She whispered softly and unbuckled her seat belt.
“We’ll be back in a few minutes. This shouldn’t take long.”
When Andrew met Karla at the back of the car he took her hand and walked with her into the funeral home. “You okay honey?”
“I don’t know. I was okay this morning when I wasn’t thinking about it, but now I just don’t know. She terrorized me for six years and I know I should hate her, but right now I can’t find that hatred.”
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with that Karla. You’re feelings are yours and no one has the right to judge them.”
“Thanks Andrew. This is all just so confusing. One minute I think I hate her and I’m glad she can never hurt me again, then the next I know that I don’t hate her and, even though she hurt me like she did, I love her and I really hate that she’s never going to get the chance to realize that.”
They walked through the doors and while they waited for the funeral director Andrew looked at Karla and smiled a little. “Sometimes I almost forget that you’re only fourteen. You’re always so grown up. Listen to me for a minute. Your feelings are completely normal and being confused is a normal part of dealing with anything, especially something like this.”
Before Karla could respond the funeral director walked out of his office. “Good afternoon Dr. Peterson. Are you here to look over everything?”
“Yes Mr. Yates. This is Karla, she’s Miss Hall’s daughter.”
“I’m sorry for your loss Karla. If y’all will follow me I’ll show you everything, then we can transport her to the cemetery for burial.”
As they followed Mr. Yates Karla reached over and took Andrew’s hand again. He looked down at her, squeezed her hand gently and smiled. Inside he was bursting with joy that she’d confided in him and leaned on him.
“Here we are. This is the casket you ordered online Dr. Peterson. I hope it’s what you were wanting.”
Karla looked at it for several seconds before she walked over and ran her hands along the top. “It’s perfect,” she said in a soft voice. She turned to Andrew with tear filled eyes, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome Karla. Would it be okay if I hugged you?” When she nodded he walked to her and gathered her in his arms. “I will always be there for you for anything you need. Never forget that.”
Karla nodded into his chest, unable to speak past the emotion that had built inside her.
“It’s perfect Mr. Yates. We’ll meet you at the cemetery at three. I have a car full of teenagers to get back too. You ready Karla?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
When they got back to the car everyone was quietly waiting for them. “Everything okay?” Leslie asked. “You were gone longer than I thought you would be.”
“Yeah,” Andrew answered and looked at Karla in the rearview mirror. “Everything’s fine. Mr. Yates will meet us there.”
Once everyone arrived and they had Diane unloaded and placed over the grave, Mr. Yates started talking. “Friends and family. We are here today to say goodbye to Diane Virginia Hall. She was entered this life on November 20, 1983 and departed this Earth on August 15, 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Barbara Hall, and is survived by her daughter, Karla. Is there anything anyone wants to say before we lay her in her final resting place?”
Karla took a hesitant step forward. “I would please.”
“Go ahead.”
“All of you, with the exception of Mr. Yates, know my past. You all know that Diane wasn’t a good mother and what she did, or allowed others to do
, to me. Despite that I don’t hate her. I still can’t find it in myself to forgive her, but in a way I do love her.” Karla paused and wiped her tears with her hands. Conner walked over and handed her a tissue. She smiled a little and mouthed “thank you” before she continued. “In her own way she loved me too. She loved me enough to leave me with Grams and Pops because she didn’t want the responsibility, but most of all she loved me enough to have me. For that I will always love her. I hope that someday I can forgive her, but for now just knowing I don’t hate her will have to be enough.”
When she was finished she walked over to where Leslie and Andrew stood with her friends and nodded to Mr. Yates to continue. She stood there, surrounded by the loving support of the family she’d found, and watched as her mother was lowered in the ground and covered with dirt.
When she turned to leave a movement in the tree line caught her attention. She focused on it and grabbed Andrew’s hand hard as fear radiated through her body when she realized who it was. “Andrew, can you get Detective Greeves’ attention please?”
Picking up on the fear in Karla’s voice Andrew immediately signaled for Trent. “Are you alright Karla?”
She just shook her head and squeezed his hand harder, unable to speak past the fear that clogged her throat. It was him, she knew it was him.
When Trent was in front of her she focused on where she’d seen the movement. “Garrett’s here.” She said in a whisper as fear ripped through her again. “He was in the tree line watching the service. I don’t know where he is now, but I know that was him. I’d be able to spot him anywhere.”
Chapter Forty
Karla was sitting in Leslie’s car with the doors locked when Trent and John returned a few minutes later. Trent knocked on the car window and Karla jumped and screamed before she realized who it was. She opened the door and got out as John approached. “We didn’t find him, but I have uniformed officers looking everywhere for him. If he’s still around they’ll find him.”
A New Beginning (The Second Chance Series Book 1) Page 11
