Stranger At My Door

14.Tangled Lies

I was going to throw up I felt it burning its way up my throat

I swallowed hard, trying to hold it down, but the nausea refused to subside. How could this be real? How could my mother, the woman who raised me, be tied to something so dark, so terrible?

I know she wasn't much of a mother but this, it was un-thinkable.

I turned just in time as i vomited on the ground, Ridge was quick as he smoothly grabbed my hair scooping it in and around is hand, holding it out of my face, his other hand rubbing my back just between my shoulder blades.

I leaned over, gasping for air, my whole body trembling as the reality of everything hit me like a tidal wave. Ridge's hand stayed steady on my back, the warmth of his touch oddly comforting despite the storm swirling inside me. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, still feeling nauseous but empty now—both inside and out.

"Wait here" He said as he quickly got up off of the bench and jogged down the street, returning a few moments later with a bottle of still water, bottle of Lucozade and a sparkling water.

He sat back down and held them up to me

"Thank you" I murmured taking the Lucozade and gulping from the bottle. I wiped my mouth again with the back of my hand, feeling the coolness of the Lucozade soothe my throat, but my mind was still racing, Ridge sat beside me silently watching as I gathered myself.

I squeezed my eyes shut trying to piece it altogether, but nothing made sense to me right now.

This was sickening, what happened to the other babies.

"Are you okay?" Ridge asked quietly, his voice careful but still holding its usual rough tone.

I felt the beginning taps of rain on my scalp before bigger droplets started hitting my face the cooling droplets seemed to bring me back to life, I tilted my face up towards the sky.

"I don't know" I finally murmured. "I just don't understand," I whispered, keeping my face tilted towards the grey clouds. "If this is all true... if she really did take me... why? Why would she do that?"

The rain soaked through my clothes, chilling me to the bone, but it felt like a relief—a distraction from the storm inside my head. Ridge shifted beside me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder as if he wasn't sure whether to offer comfort or give me space.

"Let's get out of the rain," he said, his voice gentler than I expected.

I nodded but didn't turn my face away from the rain I was still enjoying it. The weight of Ridge's words sinking in. He was right, but I couldn't face Frank yet. Not after everything I'd just learned. It felt like too much, too soon.

"I cant go back there yet" I finally said turning to Ridge wiping my wet hair out of my face.

Ridge didn't push. He just nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Okay. We don't have to. Let's get out of the rain, and you can decide what comes next."

I was so surprised how soft and gentle he was being with me. it was such a stark contrast to the person I thought he was

Ridge led me away from the bench, his hand resting gently on my back as we walked in silence. The rain was still coming down steadily, soaking through my clothes, but I barely noticed it now. My mind was too heavy, too full to focus on anything other than the confusion and fear swirling inside me.

I wasn't ready to face Frank Malone. Not yet. I wasn't ready to be Casey—his lost daughter. I wasn't sure I ever would be. But the questions were eating away at me. Why had my mother taken me? What had happened to those other babies?