The Parker Boys

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

I stood there in shock and terror. Hoping that I just imagined those words coming out of John's mouth, hoping that this was all just a terrible nightmare. But no, this was my reality, just when I start to get used to living with my new family after weeks of pushing them away, I finally start to let them in and this happens.

Looks like Karma is trying to tell me something, and that something is that I can never have a normal life that I can never love or be loved ever again. Why? Because that accident was my fault, I killed my mother. As reality sets in I slowly back away from the family whose eyes are either filled with concern or sympathy.

I do the only thing I'm best at, I run. I run out the door and leave my car knowing they will track me down. I faintly hear the screams and shouts of all the Parkers telling me to stop, wait, or come back. But I don't listen, I push myself harder and run faster than ever. Adrenaline is pumping through my veins, I don't know how long or far I run for but I find myself falling to my knees on a cliff looking over the ocean. It's about a 50 foot drop down to the water with the spiked rocks.

I find myself staring over the edge as the sun finally shines it's last ray of the day. I curl up in a ball and let the fear consume me. Ryan has escaped? How? Does he know where I am? Of course he does, he always finds me. What will he do? He'll kill me, that I am sure of. He was caught because of me and now he wants me dead.

My body succumbs to the cold night and terrors, as I fall asleep to nightmares. Nightmares of the very man who almost killed me that night, the once loving father I knew.

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I woke up really early in the morning, by this I mean before the sin even came over the horizon. I didn't remember the exact direction I came from but I had to find my way back. So while still tired I get up and start walking. My mind doesn't seem to want to stop thinking about the night before.

Now the boys know, Why couldn't I be the one to tell them? I finally made my decision and it gets taken from me. I sigh in defeat, guess that's the way my life is, Completely and utterly unfair. Whoever said life was fair?

I finally find my way to the road and glance each direction, a brief recognition of the road flashes in my mind and I head right. I make my way towards the beach, when I find myself there I sit at one of the food shacks and order something simple to snack on. After about half an hour of lounging around I make my way back towards the house.

When I walked in the door I heard alot of arguing from the living room. I know I'm gonna be a sight to see with my clothes all dirtied up and my hair a birds nest with twigs, but all I cared about at the moment was nothing, honestly. So I walked into the living room where all the Parkers looked like they didn't sleep a wink and had worried filled expressions on their face.

They finally noticed me and Lisa's tear streamed face came running over to me and wrapped her arms around me, "Oh honey! We were so worried! Where did you go?" she sobbed into my shoulder.

I was taken by surprised at her outburst but I gently hugged her back. "I'm fine, really. You didn't need to worry."

Lisa pulls back looking horrified, "DIdn't need to worry? What are you talking about? We are your family, of course we worried about you!" she states matter-of-factly.

I stare at them with shock and wonder. They considered me family? Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought. "I-I'm s-sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I th-thought you didn't care about me. I thought I was just a nuisance that you had to take care of." and that's when the tears flowed freely.

John stood up and releases his wife from being attached to me and smiled softly at me, "Don't ever think that Kat. We all love you. Your like our own daughter. And believe it or not our sons love you more than anything."

I look over at the boys who simply look at me with agreement to what their father said to me. I lightly smiled and sat down. "So you guys know now" They all gave me confused looks, which in turn made me look at them confused.

Lisa has calmed down from crying, "No honey, they don't. I made a promise to you I wouldn't say a thing. All they know is that what happened is bad and you can't see your father." I stare in shock for a minute then smile appreciatively at her and mouth 'Thank you' to her.

I look at the boys now more relaxed that I still have my right to tell them. I calmly look at each and every one of them. Chance and Cameron are too young to understand so I simply tell them that they should go play in their room. They agree and run  up the stairs. I sigh and look at the other four boys.

They are all giving me the calmest most attentive looks, ready for me to start talking. So I did, I took a deep breath and started to relay the story. "When I was 6 years old I had gone to a friends house to stay the night, Little did I know these girls weren't so friendly. I called my mom crying telling her how they played a prank on me and I was hurt and scared, she told me everything will be alright and that she will be right there. She never showed up and I was picked up by the police and brought to the hospital. That's where I found out my mother was killed in a car accident, a drunk driver was on that road that night and he ran into her car driving her off the road. After that I was taken home by my father, he just dropped me off and left never saying where he was going. For three days I sat in my room snacking on animal crackers and chips and drinking water. When he finally came home he was very angry and very drunk. That's when the abuse started."

I notice the boys tense in front of me and the sympathy was replaced with anger. I look back at the ground and continue with the story, "It all started with me being smacked or shoved against a wall, but then the punches and kicks started. Every night he would go out and drink for hours before coming home to use me as his punching bag. He always told me it was my fault that my mother was dead, and I believed him. When I was eight I cried in school and my teacher asked me what was wrong so I said the accident was my fault and she said it wasn't. Once again I believed someone so I ran home actually relieved and told my dad. He then got so cold and rage filled he then stabbed me with the fire poker." I lifted my shirt showing my old scar.

 I notice the boys flinch. Cole doesn't take his eyes off me and I find it intimidating but I continue anyway. "After that I never brought it up again. I kept the beating quiet, I learned to cook for myself, I learned how to cover up the evidence, and I never had to lie because I was picked on in school anyway. Well about two months ago, two weeks before I came here he was really pissed off and I didn't know why or what someone did but he beat me unconscious, when he returned he continued and it slipped, I said it wasn't my fault and he stabbed me with the fire poker again. He beat me so bad the last few days I was with him until he almost killed me. Lisa and I waited two weeks for me to heal before we came back, so I wouldn't have much to hide." I shudder at the last few memories I had. "Now you know"

I find myself feeling vulnerable under each and every one of their stares, especially Coles. His face is the hardest to read, I can tell he's angry and upset but there's something else there I can't tell. Each of the boys get up and embrace me in a huge group hug and give me words of encouragement. Cody looks down at me, "You're a strong girl Kat." with that he walks upstairs.

Conner gives me a half smile before he follows Cody. Caden hugs me tightly, "I guess I didn't have to wait that long." he mumbles to me which causes me to laugh lightly. He gently kisses my forehead and follows Conner.

Cole was the final one to step up and he just looks me right in the eyes. What is he thinking?