Finding Home

Chapter Forty-One

"Hey sleepyhead" Derek said looking at me, "hey, sorry I fell asleep on you" I said sitting up, "no need to be sorry, was nice having a beautiful woman fall asleep on me" he said and gave me a wink.

I looked around and saw Tom in the kitchen finishing and putting dinner on the table, Mark was sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper, everything seems so normal when they are all around.

I got up and went over to the table, "it smells amazing" I said looking into the big bowl, looking up "did you make my favorite?" I asked, "Of course," Tom said with a smile.

"What kind of soup are we going to be eating?" Darryle asked from the couch, "vegetable" Mark said dishing me up my bowl and buttering some bread and setting it down next to my bowl.

"Thank you" I said grabbing some bread, dipping it into the liquid, and taking a bite, "oh Tom this is simply amazing" I said as I kept on eating. "I'm glad you like it sweetheart" he said as he sat down next to me and fixed his bowl.

No one said a word as I pigged out on the soup and the bread, I do not think they knew that Eric would have me go a few days here and there without eating much.

But if they did, they did not comment, they were letting me do what I needed to do now. I was grateful for the silence so I could just concentrate on eating and getting stronger again.

I looked up after I finished three bowls and eight slices of bread with butter, "when do I get to see my daughter?" I asked looking around the table.

"I will be going back home tomorrow to pick her up and bring her back home to you Ath" he said as he reached out to touch my hand, I instinctively pulled it back.

Mark saw what I did but did not make a comment, I saw the sadness in his eyes, I knew he was not going to hurt me, it was a reflex now to being or going to be touched.

I hated it but I know I must reprogram my brain into realizing that these guys were my family and that they would not ever hurt me.

I stood up, "Mark, I'm sorry for reacting the way I did, I know how messed up at the moment I am, I hate it and I don't want to be this way, but I know it will take me some time to find my way again, I just everyone is patient with me on this" I said and went to get my stuff on.

The guys sat there watching me, they did not want to spook me anymore then I already made myself, "I'm going to the barn to spend time with my animals, that was my normal and I just need that right now" I said and hurried outside.

I ran to the barn and once inside with the door closed, I went to sit on the bench in the arena and I cried, letting out all my emotions at once, here I knew I was safe, the animals always made sure of that.

Two hours later I left the barn and made my way back to the house. Taking my time and looking up at the sky seeing how beautiful everything was now.

Once inside Tom walked over to me, "Ath I want to show you something" he said, and he held out his hand watching me. I took a breath and slipped my hand into his.

I felt his warmth flow through me, and I held on tightly making sure he was real, and this was not a dream. We went into my bedroom where I stopped and saw the bed was completely different.

"We got rid of the old bed and for now I brought over my old bed from the other house, I wanted you to have a place that didn't have any memories attached that were bad, only fond loving memories attached to it" he said looking at me.

I threw my arms around his neck, and he picked me up and held onto me as I did him. "Tom that was the best idea" I said muffled into his neck, I inhaled his scent deep into my lungs.