Stripped

by Harms, C. A.

  I slowly pushed the door open and found myself looking at Brad as he rested in the bed. He sensed someone was watching him and turned to face me. His eyes went wide, well as wide as two battered and bruised eyes could open anyway. The situation unfolded in front of me quickly when I realized Brad was much worse off than when he left my apartment earlier. His left and right eyes were barely able to open and he had stitches across his cheek and down the bridge of his nose. Brad’s knuckles were bandaged and blood seeped through. I knew the answer already, but I had to ask. “The bar fight, it was with you wasn’t it?”

  He nodded his head, “Rich fucker doesn’t look so pretty anymore does he, Ky?” I shook my head in disgust before turning and walking out of the room.

  I approached Evan’s room and the door was cracked open. When I got closer I heard a man talking. Assuming it was the doctor and wanting to know the extent of his injuries I entered quietly. I stopped quickly when I realized it was an officer in the room. “Mr. Pearson we have statements from a number of witnesses saying that three men attacked you from behind. We were actually able to arrest two of them and the third one is in the room across the hall. Mr. Sanders will also be arrested once he is released by the doctor.”

  Evan’s mother looked over toward the door finding me watching them. She huffed, “Don’t you see what kind of life he’ll have with you. This isn’t the kind of life I want for my son. He deserves better than the garbage you carry.”

  The roar that escaped Evan felt as if it shook me as well. “Don’t you dare talk to her that way! This isn’t her fault!” I felt the tears pool in my eyes and I turned to the door and left quickly. I practically ran to my car before collapsing behind the wheel to sob uncontrollably. My phone rang in my purse and I knew by the ringtone it was Evan. I couldn’t talk to him right now. The disgust that his mother oozed towards me still haunted me.

  I drove home and once Sarah saw my face she rushed to me; taking me into her open arms she led me to the couch sitting next to me. I cried for the next fifteen minutes without pausing once. I finally drug myself from the couch to go check on Emma while Sarah made me a drink to calm my nerves.

  My phone once again began ringing from my purse, but it wasn’t Evan’s ring. This time it was the song set for my mother…a ringtone I never heard. A feeling of panic rang through me. I knew she would only call if something terrible had happened. “Hello.”

  I could sense her tears in her unsteady voice. “Kylie, it’s your father…he had a heart attack today. They found him in the field next to his tractor. Kylie, they tried everything to save him. They tried…but he’s gone.”

  I couldn’t take any more pain. My heart ached so much from everything I was trying to deal with in my life. I felt the tightness in my chest and my throat burned. “I’m coming home momma.”

  I hit end and dropped my phone to the floor. I turned toward my room without speaking a word. Sarah followed behind me and once we reached my room she turned me around to face her. “Kylie, talk to me…please you’re scaring me.”

  I looked at her blankly “My daddy died today…heart attack. I have to go home.”

  She watched me pack things into my bag. I heard her talking on her phone and only registered a small amount of what she was saying. “We won’t be in…either of us. Kylie’s dad passed away and I’m taking her home.”

  When I walked out from my room I found her in Emma’s room placing her things into a bag. She turned and whispered in my direction. “I figure that she’ll stay asleep for most of the ride if we leave now. She hasn’t been asleep long and she was exhausted when I put her to bed. We can drive my car. I already called Rex and we can call the diner early in the morning.”

  I watched her and I slumped to the floor in the hall just outside of Emma’s room. Sarah came to me and quickly lifted my face to meet hers. I broke at that moment. “Oh my god, my daddy is gone. I never talked to him. I never told him that I loved him. I never told him I was sorry for all the things I did and said. I ran off and never looked back. Evan’s mom is right. I’m a terrible person. He shouldn’t love me.” Sarah rocked me in the hallway of my apartment as I sobbed uncontrollably until I made myself sick.

  ~Thirty Two~

  (Evan)

  I was so pissed off when I left the hospital. I had never in my life yelled at my mother until tonight. The way she spoke to Kylie was unacceptable. Kylie rushed off so quickly and now I can’t get her to answer her phone. I’m standing at her door and I know she’s here; her car is here. She won’t answer the damn door and it makes me regret not asking her for a copy of her key. A single light is on above her stove but no movement. I walked back to my car dialing her number once again. It went straight to voicemail and this time I left a message.

  “Kylie…baby I’m outside. I’m not leaving until you talk to me. My mother can be a venomous bitch sometimes. Nothing she says matters, do you hear me…nothing. Baby you got to let me in. I have to make this right. Please Kylie…please.”

  My heart was aching…I needed her to open the door. I fell asleep in my car in her driveway. I woke as the sun was coming up. I quickly climbed stiffly from my car and made my way to the door again. Emma is always getting up with the sunrise. When I looked in through the door window I still found there were no movements inside.

  I heard a noise from the back of the house. I turned to see June placing her garbage into a large can by her garage. I made my way to her. Before I could speak she answered my silent question. “She’s not home, Evan. She left late last night to go home.”

  That statement made little sense to me. For a moment I questioned June’s mental state. “What do you mean she left to go home? June, this is her home.”

  My heart sank with her reply. “Not this home, her childhood home. She left a note on my door and I found it this morning. It said that some bad things have happened and that she needed to go back to Georgia. She said she’d call me later and explain everything.” Georgia…she left.

  “Do you know who she left with? Her car is here so someone else must have driven her.”

  June laughed lightly, “Well of course someone else took her. That damn pile of junk she calls a car barely makes it across town on a good day. There’s no way she could’ve made it to Georgia in that thing.”

  June was right, her car needed to be fed to the junkyard. She left me in the driveway as she made her way back to her house. I climbed into my car and drove to my condo. When I walked in, it was just as I’d thought, empty and cold without them. I flipped on the light to my bedroom pulling my bloody shirt over my head. Something caught my eye under the bed. I lifted the edge of the cover to find Emma’s favorite book. I clenched it to my chest and let myself fall back onto the bed. Closing my eyes I began thinking of a way to find Kylie.

  The longer I lay across my bed, the more pissed I became. I thought I meant more to her then this. I thought she fucking loved me. Instead of staying by my side she jumped ship and ran back home. She wasn’t even close to her parents but she ran to them anyway. Stilling holding Emma’s book in my hand I rose up from the bed and found my phone and called her again. As I had already planned for, it went straight to voicemail so I left another message.

  “So Georgia, huh? You took off in the middle of the night with god knows who and you drove to your parents’ house. Kylie you had me fooled…I actually believed you when you said you were in love with me. I guess the joke was on me. By the way, I found Em’s favorite book under my bed. I’ll leave it in your mailbox because I know she loves it.”

  I got dressed after I took a shower. As promised I dropped the book into her mailbox in her door. I made my way into my office closing and locking my door behind me. I ignored all phone calls and knocks on my door. After being there for three hours, I found myself wondering why I even came here. I grabbed my jacket and went to leave.

  “You look like you could use a drink. Almost as bad I need one…what do you say?” Alexis stood next to my door with her hand suspended a
s if she was about to knock. I saw the smile pull at the corner of her mouth when I nodded in agreement. I walked toward the elevator without saying another word. I heard her heels clicking against the marble floor as she followed behind me. I held the elevator door open as she stepped in and the doors closed. Alex and I descended in silence to the parking garage. “Your car or mine?” she asked as I stepped out of the elevator.

  “My car…your lack of driving skills terrifies me.” I heard her laugh at my comment but I chose to let the conversation die.

  ~Thirty Three~

  (Kylie)

  Coming back home was difficult. It helped ease the discomfort I felt having Sarah with me. My mother was surprisingly kind and took me into her arms once I stepped from the car. One look at Emma and she caved. The tears fell hard as she apologized for not being more supportive. She cried over the time they’d already missed together.

  I went with my mother to the funeral home to begin making arrangements and Sarah stayed at the house with Emma. We picked up dinner on the way home from town. After we all finished and cleaned up my mother took Emma upstairs for a bath. I collapsed onto the couch next to Sarah. I was exhausted from the drive and the emotional rollercoaster of the last twenty four hours. I hadn’t slept in over thirty six hours. I let my head fall back onto the couch. “How are you holding up, sweets?” Sarah squeezed my knee.

  I rolled my head towards her and opened my eyes. “I’m making it. Tomorrow will be harder, and then Wednesday…that will be the hardest. I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

  I excused myself to take a shower and when I walked into my room to grab my clothes I saw my phone on the bed. I knew I needed to call Evan and explain everything. Maybe I would after my shower; I needed to wash off my funk first. When I reentered my room I found Sarah already lying in the twin bed next to mine. We were sleeping in my childhood bedroom. It still looked the same, two matching white twin beds with floral bedspreads and stuffed animals on shelves still filled the room. Emma and I were sharing one bed and Sarah would be sleeping in the other one.

  My eyes traced Emma’s tiny body sleeping under the covers. “Your mom brought her in ten minutes ago. She fell asleep while she was rocking her.” The vision of my mother rocking Emma flashed in my mind and it made tears spring to my eyes. “Your phone has been vibrating every five minutes. You need to call that man and ease his mind.”

  I knew she was right. I reached for my phone…three voicemails. I quickly dialed and entered my password. The first message was from Evan; he was frantic after he got out of the hospital and went to my apartment. The second one was Brad apologizing for the fight with Evan. The third message sank me. Evan sounded so cold and angry. It was painful to listen to and I couldn’t hold the tears back. Sarah asked me if I was okay but I ignored her as I dialed his number. He never answered, after one long beep I responded to his message.

  “My father died yesterday Evan. I was hurt by what your mother said and then I got the call from my mother when I got back from the hospital. Thank you so much for having confidence in me. Of course you would think the worst…you’re definitely your mother’s son. Good Bye Evan.”

  I dropped my phone and curled around my sleeping daughter. I found solace in her as I let the tears run down my cheeks.

  The next morning when I saw the light blinking on my phone indicating a new message, I reached for it and shut it off. I was about to attend my father’s visitation service and the last thing I needed was to fight with a man that had no faith in our “so called love”.

  After getting Emma ready we loaded into the car and drove to the funeral home. I felt as if I was floating through the day. I tried to smile when people told me Emma looked like me. I said thank you when people expressed their condolences. I picked at the food served to me once we arrived back to my childhood home. I forced myself to push forward. I refused to turn my phone back on. I left it on the bedroom floor next to my bag through the night and into the next morning. I was so hurt by Evan’s words. I had enough to deal with right now. I couldn’t handle him being a self-centered ass.

  I walked into the church the next day holding Emma close. It was time to say a final goodbye to my daddy. I found my place in the front of the church and placed Emma onto my lap. I listened to the pastor talk about the kindness in daddy’s heart for others. He was a man of his community, always lending a hand to other’s without hesitation. The tears ran heavily from my eyes. I didn’t hear the pastor when he asked if I had a few words to share.

  When I felt Sarah squeeze my elbow I looked over. “It’s time to say goodbye Kylie.” She pointed toward the front and I looked up. Pastor Ron smiled down at me. I stood slowly and placed Emma on Sarah’s lap before making my way to the front of the church. I took a few moments to collect myself as I looked over to the picture of my father displayed next to his casket.

  I smiled as a thought crept into my mind. I turned to face everyone and began.

  “Pickle, that’s what my daddy called me while I was growing up. It stuck well into my teenage years until I became embarrassed by it. I earned that name because I could eat a jar of dill pickles in a day if my parents would’ve let me. I remember giggling when I heard him yell across the yard that it was time to come in. ‘Pickle…dinner time’.” I quickly swept away the tear that ran down my cheek.

  “I started to cringe the older I got when he would call me that in front of anyone. I remember telling him to stop calling me that stupid nickname…other kids would laugh. God, what I’d give to hear him call me that just once more,” I took in a shuddering breath.

  I looked up into my mother’s tear-filled eyes. “Mama, do you remember when he tried to teach me to drive?” She smiled at the memory and lightly nodded her head. “That poor squirrel never had a chance with me behind the wheel.” A few people laughed softly. “’Pickle, you’re never gonna pass your exam if you can’t stay on the road.’ I can still hear him yelling that from the passenger side. The white knuckled grip he had on that handle was the best part.” I looked over again to his casket before my chest tightened at my next thoughts.

  Thus time I spoke directly to my father’s photo, “I’m so sorry that I disappointed you, daddy. I never meant to hurt you. I would’ve given anything to have you walk me down the aisle on my wedding day. I remember silently wishing that you would’ve shown up. I know that would’ve been a miracle, considering you had no way of knowing where I was. I wish I could go back and things could’ve been different. Emma would’ve loved her grandpa. She likes pickles too, daddy.” My throat was burning at this point and I could no longer see through my tears; I tried to blink passed them.

  “I guess we all find ourselves wishing we could change the things we’ve done, wishing we could’ve done things differently.” I looked through my blurring eyes and connected with my mother. “I’m sorry mama…I’m so sorry that I hurt both of you. There’ll never be a day that goes by that I won’t regret hurting you.” She joined me in front taking me into her arms and squeezing me close. She led me slowly back to the steps toward our seats. I could hear people clearing their throats and blowing their noses. As I went to sit down I caught movement in the doorway causing me to look up.

  When I saw Evan standing in the back of the church near the door a whimper escaped me. My mother pulled me in tighter. He wore a suit and looked just as battered as the day I last saw him in the hospital. After I found my seat and I turned to look behind me once more, Evan was no longer there. I stared at the empty doorway and turned back around in a confused state. Had I imagined it?

  ~Thirty Four~

  (Evan)

  I got a hold of a friend from the State Police and after he made a few phone calls he was able to find where Kylie’s childhood home in Georgia was located. I drove straight there the minute he called me with the information. After I checked into my hotel room I changed quickly and found the church holding the service for her father. As I entered I was surprised to find Kylie walking to the podium. Her w
ords cut through me just as they did everyone else. Seeing a man’s daughter standing next to his casket telling stories of her childhood squeezed tightly on any beating heart. I wanted to go to her. I wanted to take her into my arms and soothe her. When she broke down I took a step in her direction but paused when a woman approached her; I realized it had to be her mother. They shared a lot of the same features. When she looked up and our eyes connected I felt my throat burn with emotion. My beautiful girl, whom my mother had hurt, who I had doubted and who had just lost her father stood staring at me. I hurt for her so deeply.

  I quit my job last night. I walked out of my parents’ home without looking back. I told them that after the way they’ve chosen to treat the woman I love, I could no longer respect them. I called Arthur ten minutes later and set up a meeting next week. He was my father’s rival; they were always trying to one up each other. I guessed taking me from my own father gave Arthur the upper hand. Mr. Prescott was ruthless and would stop at nothing to outdo Walter Pearson, even if that meant paying me an insane amount of money to share my ideas and manage his Corporation.

  I stood outside the church waiting for Kylie to exit. I was beginning to get nervous with the thought of her rejection. I wasn’t sure if I could handle her refusing me again. I knew I was going to have to beg forgiveness and I’d do it gladly. I immediately stood when the church doors opened. I watched as strangers walked past me toward their cars.