Ruthless Revenge

Chapter 18

"Where are we going, mommy?" Kieran asked, looking up at me with his sugar-covered face.

I smiled at him and brushed the sugar from the donut off his face. "We're going on a trip baby?"

His eyes brightened. "A trip? Like the zoo?"

I shook my head. "No baby, not like the zoo. Way better than the zoo. We're going to the airport. You're going to see a lot of big airplanes."

He jumped happily. "Really?" he looked at Christina and Ms. Johnson. "Are you coming too?" he asked.

Ms. Johnson shook her head and answered sadly, "No baby, I won't be coming with you."

He pouted. "Why not?"

Ms. Johnson cupped his chin. "Who would take care of Mr. Whiskers?" she said with a sad smile.

Kieran frowned. "Oh okay." He looked at Christiana. "Will you come?"

Christina smiled at him and shook her head. "No, honey. But I'll be driving you and your mommy to the airport."

He smiled. "Okay."

I glanced at the two women who were staring at me and sighed. I looked back down at Kieran and the half-eaten donut. "Come on baby. You have to hurry or we're gonna be late. Eat the rest of your donut and go wash your hands."

Kieran lifted the donut to his face and pushed the entire thing into his mouth.

Ms. Johnson chuckled, "Take your time, baby. Don't want you choking before you get to the airport."

I chuckled and shook my head. "Let's get those hands clean. And then we can leave."

Clutching Christina's skirt, Kieran shook his head and said, "You do it, Chrissy. Not Mommy."

Christina smiled down at Kieran. "Okay, Troublemaker" she said, intertwining his sugar fingers with hers. "Let's go to the sink."

The two of them trudged to the sink leaving Ms.Johnson and I alone.

"Are you sure this is the best route to take?" Ms. Johnson asked, looking at me with worried eyes. I knew she didn't want us to leave. She loved Kieran like a grandson and the thought of not seeing him again was weighing heavily on her.

I took a deep breath and glanced in Kieran's direction. "I'm afraid that he'll take him away from me. I can't lose him, Ms. Johnson. I can't." I wiped my wet eyes before the tears could fall.

She nodded. "I understand. Losing a child isn't easy. You're trying to avoid that pain." she paused. "Just know that if you need anything, anything at all. Don't be afraid to call me."

"Mr. Reid...." I started but she cut me off.

"I'll handle Mr. Reid for you. I've been dealing with that man for years. He knows not to mess with me." she said sternly.

I smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

She smiled. "I'm gonna miss you guys... Especially that little sugar monster."

"Maybe you can visit us for the holidays?" I suggested knowing full well she wouldn't. She told me herself that she never left Illinois and wasn't ever planning to.

She shrugged. "We'll see about that."

I nodded. "It's only one and half hours away on a plane."

"Baby girl, I've been on this earth more than twice as long as you, and I've never set my foot on a plane. I'm sorry but It's not gonna happen now. I wish this isn't how we say goodbye, but it is my love. You deserve to have a life outside of Chicago. Go spread your wings. That job in Kansas will be good for you. Kieran will love living on a farm." Ms. Johnson was also able to pull some strings with an old boss of hers and he was able to get me a job with a friend of his that owned a farm in Kansas. I got in contact with Mr. Hayes; the farm owner, and he conducted a ten minutes long interview over the phone. He needed help on the farm to prepare three meals a day for the farm hands. He also needed help with odd jobs here and there. There was even a room above the barn that would be available for me to live in, rent-free. The pay was great and he didn't have a problem with me being a single mother. It was perfect.