Roses

Chapter 35

Zoey

Adam leads me to the passenger side of his car and holds the door open for me. I get in and let him buckle my seatbelt. He rounds the car quickly and joins me.

Once we are out of the parking lot, I begin, "How's Sam?"

"He's okay. Francesca shot him but thankfully the bullet only grazed his skin. He should be perfectly fine in a couple of weeks."

"Where is he?"

"Once the medics cleared him and his interrogation was over, his father came to get him."

"Hmm." I nod absentmindedly. Sam had looked fine back in my house, but I needed to know for sure. Now that I do, my mind has inevitably moved to more.... inconvenient topics.

"Did you have something to do with my parents' house coming into my possession?" I ask in a voice so low it may seem like I'm afraid. I am, to be honest. But more of the answer than of him.

His fingers tighten around the steering wheel so much, the poor thing looks ready to break. "Yes."

"Does Mr. Harvey work for you?" I speak with a calm I don't feel.

"Yes."

When Michael told me these things, I acted out of shock. But deep down, I didn't believe it. How could I? I'm in love with Adam. No one has ever made me feel the way he makes me feel. No one has ever taken care of me the way he takes care of me.

To hear him tell me all that shit is in fact true, and it can only mean that he's hiding a lot more from me makes my insides quiver.

"Why?" I mouth more, than ask.

"Do you remember me, Zoey?" He deflects my question. I turn to stare at him and find a serene expression on his face.

"What the fuck do you mean?" I snap, irritated.

"From your childhood?" He coaxes.

"You glared at me every chance you got." That makes him chuckle and for a tiny moment, my heart solely focuses on his handsome face. Like it knows it's about to break so it's taking in all that it can before the inevitable happens.

"I did," he agrees. "You never wondered why?" He looks at me so I quickly shake my head. "I'll tell you everything."

                                                         ***

Adam (Age 15)

Shiny black hair and a blood red smile. My mother looks the healthiest she ever did in my dreams.

I'm having a lucid dream and I don't mind it at all. For once I don't feel so fucking lonely and I get to see my mother smile. Two things that never happen when I'm awake. So what's the point in opening my eyes and staring around my dark room?

But then I hear a noise. Footsteps. They're not muffled or distorted enough to be a part of my dream so I grudgingly open my eyes. Someone's in my home.

Ever since my mother passed away two weeks ago, I've spent every night alone in this house that's too big for just me. Hell, it was big even when my mom was around. I think all this empty space also played a role in driving her mad.

Albeit, a small role.

I get out of bed and slowly walk out of my room. My phone's in my hands, my fingers typing 911 as I walk down the hall. It's funny I have a living, breathing father and yet when I hear someone else in the house, my first thought is that of an intruder.

I stop a few steps down the stairs when I hear a feminine voice. Her voice.

Aurora Kirby.

Another two steps down and I have a clear view of where she stands in our living room. My father stands two feet away from her, his eyes trained on her with so much devotion it makes me sick.

And jealous. No amount of academic or athletic accolades on my part could get him to look at me with half as much emotion.

"Tell me again why you can't marry me now," my father snaps, his lovesick expression gone, replaced by anger.

"I have a hu-"

"Abuser!" He whisper yells. At least he's taking into account I'm supposed to be sleeping upstairs, even if it's not true.

"You'll wake her," Aurora scolds him and walks out of my view. I have to crane my neck to see her hunched over something on the couch.

It's only when she moves that I see it's not something. It's someone. Her daughter. She is wrapped in a fluffy blanket, fast asleep. And here I thought my father actually cared about my sleep...

If he has his way, she'll be my fucking sister by tomorrow. And honestly, I'm done fighting this.

I found out my father loved Aurora two years ago. I kept it a secret for six months, before one night breaking down in tears in front of Frankie. She and Uncle Michael are the only two people I feel like I can trust.

I don't know if Mom's deterioration started because of my father's neglect or because she found out about his affair too. All I know is I blamed my father and Aurora for how my mother suffered for two years.

But Mom's gone now. She chose to end her life. To abandon me, even after she knew my father did not care about me.

I'm so fucking tired of hating Dad. He's all I have left. If it takes making Aurora and her daughter a part of our family to see him happy and be present in my life, I'll do it.

"But that's really all he is," my father goes on, his voice barely containing his rage. "You think I don't know what he does to you?"

She looks away from him, a clear tell she's about to lie. "We made a mistake."

"Don't you fucking-"

"Mom?" A tiny voice echoes in the room. A little girl shuffles out of the blanket and slides her feet over the edge of the couch. "Where are we?" She asks in a squeakier tone.

I've only seen her once or twice, always with her mother. She has her hair and eyes and skin tone and probably a lot more if I looked closely. She'll definitely grow up to be her mother's replica.

"Shh, Zoey. You can't be loud," her mother chides her.

"Where's Daddy?" Zoey asks, her tone softer, less squeaky. She looks around the unknown space and her eyes only look a tad less worried when they find her mother again.

"You know you'll both be safe and happy here," Dad says when Aurora remains silent. "We finally have the chance-"

"I want him, Mama. Let's go home," Zoey interrupts, her voice urgent now. That somehow shakes her mother into action and she quickly walks over to the girl, picking her up.

"Let's go home, baby." Aurora kisses the top of her head and then gathers her things.

"Aurora, you're making a mistake," Dad growls. When she starts moving away, he grabs her elbow. "Please, honey, don't do this. Stay," he begs.

And I can't help feeling helpless for him. He really does love this woman and I just know if she leaves, it will be the end of him. How can it not be the end of her too?

"Goodbye, Abe," she whispers, her voice breaking near the end. She stays where she is for a long moment, then she shakes off Dad's hand and walks towards the door.

It's only when she's about to step out that her eyes meet mine suddenly. A wistful smile spreads on her lips, the only smile I've known her to give people other than her daughter. She nods slightly, like she's bidding farewell to me as well.

Then she turns and walks away without another look back. I stare at the space she disappeared around till I hear the noise of glass breaking. I walk down the rest of the steps and find my father near the living room bar.

A decanter in one hand. Smashed glass around his feet. Rage and sorrow custom blended in his eyes. A couple words out of that little girl's mouth were enough to turn my father into a monster.