Moonlit Awakening

Chapter 15

Liam

"Hey, Liam?" Ember asks, "How did you find Margaret so fast?"

"I asked around town until someone told me where her family lived."

"...and you got her to come here so quickly?"

"Yeah, I told her that your father and mother had died."

"I suppose that would get her to come. She...she really does care about Alice. Our father was a terrible person."

"I'm glad Alice had someone like her."

"Me too, I don't know what Alice would've done if she hadn't met Margaret."

Margaret comes into the room. "She's asleep in her room now," she states, "Do you mind if I clean up?"

"Go ahead," Ember answers, "Let me know if you need anything." Margaret nods, heading back upstairs again to clean herself off.

"Um..." Liam mumbles, "do you happen to know how Alice is feeling about her pregnancy?"

"She's confused," Ember responds.

"Confused?"

"She doesn't know how to feel. She's confused and scared, that much I do know."

"I would've been there for her from the beginning if I'd known."

"I know that, so does she."

"I wish she could just tell me what she's feeling."

"So do I, and I imagine so does she."

"Then why doesn't she?"

"Our father was an abusive piece of shit. He...he'd hurt her if she showed too much emotion, negative or positive."

"Was he abusive towards you?"

She closes her eyes and sighs. "Yes, but Alice...she had it so much worse than I did. I was his biological child after all."

"...and your mother?"

"Mother wasn't abusive towards her. She sort of just pretended that she didn't exist. I'm not sure if that's better or worse."

"They didn't even give her a chance."

"I know, and I followed in their footsteps. I should've given her a chance when mother and father first took her in. I would've realized how sweet she is as a person if I had."

"At least you know now, better late than never. She's called out for you in her sleep, you know."

Her eyes widen. "She has?"

"Yes, it happened a lot when we first met."

"D...do you know why?"

"Not the exact reason, although I suspect it's because she's always wanted to have a normal relationship with you."

"That makes sense. She must've had a lonely childhood."

"You know she doesn't blame you for what your parents put her through. You were just a child when it came out that your father was a cheating asshole. Your reaction was normal."

"It wasn't her fault though. I made her life harder, even when I knew that our father beat her, and that our mother ignored her."

Liam shakes his head. "She only cares that you're here now. She seems happier now that you're here."

"Really?"

"Yes, she...she always seemed to be carrying some sort of sadness whenever I came over when you weren't here."