Colin helps me up and takes my bags as we leave the mall for the day. Naomi and my dad walk ahead of us whispering back and forth. I wonder if she’s telling him about our little talk. “You okay, baby?” Colin asks once we get to the car and he puts my bags in the trunk.
“I’m fine. I’ll be even better after Monday and, hopefully, this will all be over.” I swing my arms around to hug him. I’m leaning in for a kiss when he lifts me in his arms and places me on the trunk.
“Monday is only the beginning, you know?” He grabs my chin and kisses me lightly on the lips. When he goes in to do it again, my dad grabs his collar and pulls him back. My arms slide from his shoulder and hit the car.
“Dad?”
“I don’t have all day, and I’m sure not going to watch you two do that, engaged or not. And especially not on my car,” my dad barks, and Colin puts his hands up defensively, laughing.
“Sorry, pops.” He winks, and Naomi gives him a playful whack in the head. Colin rubs his head, with a mock pout. “Geez Mom, have you been working out again with Tyson or something?”
“Are you done now?” My dad shakes his head at Colin’s antics, though I can see he’s amused by it all.
“Yes, sir.” Colin salutes, but my dad doesn’t see it as he looks at me, taking out his phone.
“I’m going to put it on speaker again. If it gets too much you tell me.”
“I’ll be fine.” I wave him off. I’m not sure if I will be though. It just depends on the way the conversation goes.
“Alright.” My dad finds my mom’s contact and hits send. Colin is back at my side with his arm wrapped around my waist. The jokester is nowhere to be found now.
The phone rings three times on my mom’s end when she finally picks up. “John. There you are. Have you heard from Abigail?” she stutters, sounding frantic.
“I have. She’s here with me now,” he answers.
“Oh, thank god!” Mom releases a heavy sigh and I’m shocked she’s not yelling at him for having me all this time. “Is she alright? Can I talk to her?”
“Not right now. We need to talk. Abby told me some very concerning things about your husband. I think it would be better if she stays here with me for a bit. She’s afraid to go back.”
“Afraid,” she whispers. There’s some movement and shuffling before she answers again, “What did she—” Her voice shakes with a quiet sob. “What did she say?”
“Aubrey, I don’t think it’s something we should talk about over the phone. But I'm worried about her safety, especially when it comes to Victor and her living under the same roof. We will need to get together and talk in person if that works for you.”
Mom is quiet for a while and I hear her choking back her sobs.
“Aubrey?” my dad asks this time concerned.
“I understand. Can I please talk to her?”
I’m not ready yet. I shake my head vigorously, and my dad nods his understanding. “She’s not ready. Maybe in a couple of days.”
“Just tell her—”
“What the fuck are you doing?” Victor’s vengeful voice penetrates loudly through the phone. My mom says my name, but then there’s a deafening bang that vibrates through the speaker, making me jump. There are some muffled angered voices, but I can’t make out what’s being said. My dad calls out to her, but it’s followed by an ear-piercing whack.
My dad yells her name again, but then it’s answered by the devil himself, chuckling. “John?”
“Victor,” my dad says curtly. “Where’s Aubrey?”
“She’s right here. Now, how’s my sweet little Abigail? She’s been causing us—worry. You should let her know her other daddy misses her. Or is my son there keeping her pussy filled for me.”
My stomach twists and I place my shaky hand over my mouth to keep the queasiness down. I touch my cheek and the sting of his hit suddenly hurts again when I had forgotten all about it. My skin feels like it’s crawling, and I can feel his slimy hands on me. Closing my eyes, I sing a song loudly in my head, trying to tune it out, but it’s no use. The vile sound of his voice sticks to my brain like glue.
Colin scoops me up and moves me off the trunk. My arms wrap around his neck, and I curl into him, making myself small in his arms.
“Now you listen here—” my father roars, but the rest of his words are hard to hear as his voice becomes quieter. I’m not sure where Colin is carrying me too, but soon he sits and I stay wrapped around him.
I should’ve known I couldn’t handle this. It’s all too fresh and knowing my mom is in trouble, no matter what happened between us, I can’t deal with her being hurt at his hand now too. Refusing to open my eyes and face the world yet, I let myself be comforted by Colin’s scent. I’m safe. I’m here. I’m safe.
“Abbs. Baby…” Colin whispers as he rocks me back and forth. “Your dad walked off to handle it. Can you open your eyes, baby? Look at me?”
There’s another hand on my back and from the flowery smell, I know it’s Naomi. My eyes flutter open and meet Colin’s. “He—what if?”
“Abbs, don’t worry, your dad will take care of it. You’re safe and there’s no way he’s going to come bother us. You just need to breathe.”
“What about my mom? It sounded…” I grip around Colin harder and find calming breaths are impossible right now. “Should we do something?”
“Let’s just wait till your dad is done, sweetie,” Naomi says softly, still rubbing my back. “But right now, you need to take some deep breaths and relax. I understand you’re worried and scared, but this isn’t good for you or the baby. Nothing, I promise, nothing is going to happen to you.”
Her words are hard to trust at the moment, but I manage to listen and take those damn deep breaths. My heart starts to beat at its normal rate and my skin has finally stopped crawling, at least for the moment.
“Mom, could you give us just a second?” Colin asks, and Naomi stands up from the bench.
“Sure, I’ll be by the car.” She brushes a consoling hand down my hair and then walks away. That’s when I realize Colin had carried me away from the car to some benches by the mall.
Colin takes my hand and presses it to his lips, “My mom is right, Abbs. Nothing will happen to you.”
I lay my head back on his shoulder and play with the lettering on his shirt. “I’m scared. I hate this. I hate he made me this way.”
“I know. But you’ve been incredibly brave, baby. And I will stop at nothing to make sure you are safe, with everything I have.” I nod, and I have no question that he will. “I love you, you know that, right?”
“I do. I love you too. But if you’re busy keeping me safe, who is keeping you safe? He’s just as likely to hurt you too, Colin. He’s got a record of that.”
“I have my mommy here. She'll protect me,” he jokes, nudging me, and it causes me to release little giggles from my belly.
“You are so full of yourself, do you know that?”
“I know, but it made you laugh. But seriously, I wish I could tell you more to make you feel better, but I lived all my life keeping my mouth shut about his abuse, and I promise now I won't do that anymore. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he's out of our lives.”
“But what about my mom? Yeah, I was about to just to write her off, but now…even if I still do, she can't, she shouldn't…” I ramble, my heart starting to hammer out of my chest again.
“Hey,” Colin coaxes and runs his hand down my face, “breathe. You just have to breathe. And honestly, right now, you need to just worry about yourself and our baby. Not even me or your mom. Let your dad handle it. It might not be his job to take care of her anymore, but you know he still cares, just like you do. Hell, even part of me feels something for my shithead father and there's not enough therapy to explain that one. But right now, all you need to focus on is that you’re safe and trying to breathe.”
“Has anyone ever told you, you can be so wise beyond your years?” I tease, resting my forehead to the side of h
is.
“Can't say they have.” He leans in to kiss me. His lips are electrifying and send a spark through my body, making my heart beat erratically, but at the same time put it at ease, making me better.
“Your dad is coming back,” Colin whispers, backing away from my lips. My head turns to see my dad walking back with Naomi from down the parking lot.
He still has the phone to his ear and I can practically see the gray sprouting from his hair from the stress. I clutch Colin’s hand, worried Victor could still be on the other line.
“Okay, just give me a second,” my dad says into the phone as he makes it in front of us. He lowers the phone and covers the speaker with his hand. “Do you want to talk to her?”
“What happened with Victor?” I need to know what happened before I can even contemplate talking to my mom.
My dad closes his eyes and his forehead wrinkles as he lets out a deep breath. “We had some words, but he got pissed off after I threatened to call the cops to come for him. He left the house after that.” Knowing my dad, it was more than just the cops he threatened. “But your mom is claiming she’s okay. I just…I don’t believe her, but it’s up to you if you want to talk to her.”
“Can you just put her back on speaker?” I ask meekly, not sure If I can handle talking to her alone, just in case Victor makes a reappearance.
“Sure can.” Dad lifts the phone and hits the button for the speaker.
“Mom? Are you okay?” I call out loudly, making sure she can hear me.
“Abigail,” she breathes in relief. “It’s good to hear your voice. I’m okay. It’ll be okay, my eyes are wide open now, sweetie. I’m so sorry. I just want you to know that. I should’ve—I let you down,” she cries through her babbling. “Just know I’m sorry, baby girl. Just tell me if you’re okay, please?”
“I’m good, Mom. I am,” I tell her, and Colin squeezes me tighter.
“That’s all I want. Sweetie, I’ll make this right somehow. For now, I agree with your dad. You should stay there with him. And please don't worry about Victor. I won't let him near you again.”
“You can’t promise that,” I argue. That isn't a promise that can be made no matter how much she wants too.
“Baby girl, I can…try. I now see the things he’s done, and the things I let him get away with. For that, I can never forgive myself. I love you and I'm so sorry, sweetie. There aren’t enough apologies I can say that would make this right, but I want to try. Anyways, make sure Colin is good to you. I know he's there even if your dad said he's not. I have to go, baby girl, but know I love you, so much, please.” There's a click and I'm pretty sure she hung up on me.
What was the hurry?
“Mom?” I call out into the silent air hoping she might answer. I slump back in Colin's arm and push my hands through my hair, not sure what the fuck just happened.
Her eyes are wide open?
She can never forgive herself?
She’s sorry.
Her words run on repeat and I wonder what the hell went on in the last twelve hours or so. What exactly did she see to open her eyes? Was it Victor's vile words or Victor's iron fist?
“Dad? What happened?” I choke on the words, my mind desperate to understand, even just an iota of what made her change.
“After Victor left, she called me back. She mentioned calling the cops to have him arrested and kept saying she was sorry for how she treated you and wanted to talk to you. I couldn't get much out of her through her crying.”
“You think she is…sorry? Like really sorry?” It all seems believable, but my trust in my mother has waned.
“I think so.” My dad sits next to me on the bench. “Right now, all we can do is wait. I can get in touch with William who patrols down there to keep a look out for him and your mom.”
“I'm so confused,” I groan and yank on my hair, feeling the need to pull it out.
“I am too, pumpkin, but you don't need to worry about anything right now. Let dear old dad handle it. Okay?” he pats my leg. “And didn't you two have something planned for this evening?”
“Oh, yeah.” I look at Colin, who gives me a weak smile.
“We can just go back to the room if you want, Abbs?” he offers, but it's not what I want.
“No,” I yelp, much louder than intended. “I mean, Dad is right. I can't worry too much and if Mom says she's fine, then I can't do anything but hope and believe she’ll keep Victor away. And I won’t let Victor ruin any more of the day. I’m sick of him always coming between us somehow,” I say with determination, or at least that's what it sounds like to my ears.
“Alright, if you’re sure.” He sounds hesitant, but I can also tell he doesn't want to change the plans he made.
And knowing that there might be something shiny coming to me tonight definitely makes me want to see what he's got up his sleeve.
“No, I want to go. It’ll be good for me to try to push this out of my mind for a while. Do something to remember what I have now and nothing else matters.”
The sun has set for the early evening and the crisp, early March air blows off the harbor sending a chill through my bones. Colin wraps his jacket around me and rubs his hands up and down my arms in an attempt to warm me up.
“But you'll freeze now,” I tell him, closing his oversized jacket around me.
“I'll be alright. It's not even that bad out.” He shrugs, keeping his arms around me.
My dad dropped us off at the Inner Harbor, so we can do what Colin had planned for us, and then we’ll end our night at the hotel. Wherever that might be. We had dinner at the Capital Grille and now have been walking around aimlessly, enjoying the sights. It’s so pretty out here at night with the lights from all the buildings and the boats twinkling out on the water along with the stars in the sky. There’s a small makeshift band playing music to earn some cash and tons of people walking around enjoying their Friday night. The events of this afternoon vanish to the corner of my mind as I soak up the freedom and normalcy with my favorite person.
I only hope there’s not too much more walking though because this baby still sucks all the energy out of me.
“Where are we going anyways?”
“You’ll see.” He smiles as bright as the incoming ship lights, and there’s no doubt I’m going to like whatever this is. “We’re almost there, I promise.”
We end up walking a couple more blocks and end up in front of the Marriott Waterfront hotel. He takes my hand and leads me into the tall building. “Is this where we’re staying?” I gawk as we enter the lavish lobby with the dazzling gold chandeliers and expensive artwork lining the walls. This is something you don’t see in New Castle. It's got to cost an arm and a leg to stay here. “We can't afford this.”
“Don't worry about it, now come with me.” He drags me to the elevator and hits the button for the fourth floor. We get off and enter what seems like another lobby. There’s music coming from somewhere, but I can’t tell as I get pulled down the hall.
We stop outside a glass door that goes out to a patio overlooking the harbor. “We’re here.” He opens the door, and we step out onto a terrace. There’s music playing faintly and large heat lamps to keep us warm. In the center is a table with a small centerpiece of flowers.
“Colin? What is all this?”
He grins shyly but doesn’t get to answer when someone opens the door. For a minute, I think maybe we’re trespassing, but then I see a gentleman pushing in a silver cart and putting it next to the table.
“Sit, baby.” Colin pulls out my chair and tucks me in before taking his.
“Babe, I might be pregnant, but I don’t think I could eat again.” I hold my stomach, still full from the crab cakes and fries I ate.
“We’re not. It’s just dessert.” The waiter greets us both and pulls off the silver lid to reveal two bowls of crème brûlée.
It’s placed in front of us and my mouth waters at the perfect bronzed topping and the heavenly smell. “Enjoy,” the waiter says
and makes his exit, leaving Colin and me all alone.
“How did you do all this?” I ask as my spoon breaks open the top layer of the brûlée.
“When I mentioned I wanted to do something special for you, your dad wanted to help. It's what you walked in on us talking about this morning. He has functions in this hotel all the time and since they weren’t using this balcony tonight, they let him have it. That’s partly why I left you to go shopping with my mom, so we could set this all up. He also was able to get a good deal on a room for us. I guess he spends a lot of money here.” He shrugs and digs into his dessert.
“Well, the company he works for.” My dad works as a Senior Project Manager at SOLU Engineering. The whole reason he moved out here was because the pay is double, and he is able to lead and not be led. His words.
“You should talk to my dad about getting into engineering. I bet he would mentor you, show you what you need to do. I mean, that’s if you’re still interested in doing that.” I trail off and take another scoop of the yummy goodness into my mouth.
“Believe it or not, I have. He asked me today about how I was going to support you because my trust won’t last forever. I told him what I could do and what I wanted to do and he offered to help as much as he could. It seems where he works offers scholarships and I could apply to pay for college. So, we will see. I guess it depends on if we end up in Paris or not.”
“Paris—right.” I choke back on my last bite and twist the napkin on my lap.
As wonderful as Paris sounds, I still don't know if it's what I want. I'm sure it would be an adventure, but it's also terrifying going to a country I don't know or speak the language. Plus, now I'm worried about my mom and I'd miss my dad and my friends.
But it's Paris, a singsong voice chirps in my head. I roll my eyes at my perky subconscious and tell it to shut up. But, hell, do I want to argue about moving to Paris? The city of love and lights. I thought Colin was nuts for passing on France to stay in Delaware.
He stayed for you.
So Wrong So Right Page 25
