Willow in the Woods: Guarding the Willow

Chapter 16

Willow

*Warning*
Some things in this chapter may be triggering to some readers as it depicts some domestic violence and abuse.

Willow didn't cry. She hadn't cried over little things like this growing up, and she wouldn't cry now. Willow simply wiped the blood from her lip, and stared back at her step father.

"I really wish you hadn't done that." Willow said, tasteing the metallic sweetness on her tongue. It actually wasn't all that bad. Her mother had a harder backhand then he did. And she had more rings.

Willow remembered some of the ways Andrew had taught her to avoid thinking about pain, to get through certain situations. It worked for many scenarios, but especially for times like now. God, she wished Andrew was with her in this moment. But even with him gone, Willow could still use the tools he had provided her.

Willow began to think about the Ranch, and the morning she saw snow for the first time. She focused on the feeling it gave her. The last thing she wanted was for Marcus to sense her pain.

Willow took in and let out long slow breaths, but she did so in a way that wouldn't be obvious. If she started breathing as though she were going into labor, her parents would assume she was bulking up, and wanted to throw down. Willow was actually doing her best not to let anything get to her. The second she felt any emotion or pain she began to transport her mind to her happy place.

Willow's mom and step father had been drilling her for at least 30 minutes. They discussed how, even with the five hundred dollars Willow had spent out of the envelope, that she had willingly handed them. They were still missing $30,000. And until that showed up, charges would not be dropped. Even after Willow told them it was her account and she had asked Max to bring her the money, they still insisted on the rest being there. She lied about any knowledge of the other thirty thousand, but they didn't need to know that. And she didn't know where they were coming up with the extra $30,000. Had Max actually taken an extra amount out? Why? What had he been planning?

They had insisted it didn't matter as they were the ones that filed the charges. They were on the account as well, so they had a legal interest in the matter. And those charges could only be dropped by them. Even if it was money they were allotting her each month to spend how she wanted, they did not approve of her spending it 'whoring around with redneck's' thusly, that somehow made it illegal. Willow really needed to talk to an officer about that. Something didn't seem right.

Even when they brought up her father being 'crazy and a horrible influence on those around him'. Willow still remained calm. That one took a lot but she remained as close to peace and tranquility as she could get.

Then they brought up selling the ranch.

Willow said "No." The screaming match that ensued from that one word was intense, but Willow remained collected through and through.

Then they brought up Nate. And how her husband would never approve of her owning a secondary piece of property without him being at least on the title.

Willow calmly told them that Nate was not now nor would he ever be her husband. That was what got her the smack in the mouth. "Do you have any idea what you are doing to this family? To your mother?!?"

Willow's mother took over as she feigned tears. "Willow, sweety, we all have to make sacrifices in this family. That is what being in a family is about!  You will understand better when you have children of your own, one day. You are getting older, and this union between you and Nate will benefit us all. We will sponsor your husband's ventures and his connections will open up a whole new circle of connections for your step father's company."