My Fiery Escape

Chapter 1

*Beatrice*

I barely remember what happened... one minute I'm happy, living with my boyfriend Zane and our two kids Raelyn and Torin in the house we bought together and the next, he's gone. He left me for a 'better' woman, a 'better' life tossing me and our kids to the side like trash.

I don't remember leaving and selling my house and moving in with my mom. My sweet mother has been living alone since my father died and my brother moved away for school. The days since Zane left, I feel like a robot, half the day I'm crying in my room or I'm taking care of my babies. It's hard being a single mother, I struggle everyday even with mom's help.

My six year old daughter Raelyn, always asks me where her Dad is, I tell her the same thing everytime. Today she came up to me as I was helping Mom cook breakfast, I sat Torin in his highchair cutting up bananas for him to eat. Mom was busy making the pot of oat meal and cleaning and cutting up fruit.

"Mama," Raelyn said, walking into the kitchen holding a stuff animal unicorn "where is Daddy?"

"Rae honey, Daddy left us and he's not coming back." I said

"You always say that, Mama." Raelyn said

"Raelyn, your Daddy doesn't love you, Torin and your Mama anymore. He doesn't want to ever see you again." Mom said

"But why, Grammy? Why doesn't Daddy love us?"

"Sometimes in life, people fall out of love."

"But Mama loves Daddy."

"Yes, she does Rae but if your Dada won't love her in return then there is no such thing as love."

"Is that what Grampy did?"

Mom chuckled "No dear, Grampy always  loved me but at some point we all have to die and go to heaven."

"Oh." Raelyn shrugged and walked away

"Why did-" I began

"It all went over her head." Mom said, dismissing the question

Mom was probably right but I wasn't convinced, I wanted my kids to grow up with a father not without one. Christmas was fast approaching and so was my baby boy's 1st birthday. Christmas was two weeks away and  I was not ready. I don't know why I'm not ready, is it because Zane isn't here? The man was obsessed with Christmas, he would spoil Raelyn and I every year or maybe it was because it'll be the first Christmas without my Dad.

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My brother Sam, is coming home today from college today, he texted me  saying he's thirty minutes away. Raelyn sat in the living room on the couch, looking out the window for her favorite uncle. I sat on the floor playing with Torin while Mom was doing the laundry

"He has arrived!" Sam said, throwing open the front door

"Uncle Sammy!" Raelyn said, jumping off the couch to hug him

Sam welcomed Raelyn with open arms "How are you Rae?"

"I'm good. I missed you, Uncle Sammy."

"I missed  you too." He said setting her down

Mom gave him a long hug, telling him how much she missed having him home

"Where are your things, Sam." Mom asked

"Still in my car." Sam said "Mom, I'll get my things later."

"Nonsense, let me be help you."

"If you insist." Sam said with a shrug

Mom took his keys and went outside. Sam looked at me, with a look that I knew to well

"You have some explaining to do."

"About what?" I asked

"About Zane and why he wasn't at Thanksgiving and why he's not here now."

"Not now, Sam."

"No. Now, Bea."