Can a person find happiness when all they've known in life is pain?
Can a single father and his daughter show her that there is more to life than torment?
Will she be able to leave her past behind?
The following days, went by so fast due to all the work at the spas.
Evan called me every single day to apologize profusely about his attitude the other night. So far he's also sent two dozens of roses, which I brought to the spas because I felt bad to throw them away.
I've told Evan that I don't want to see him at the moment. I still need to fully process everything that happened and he needs to understand my closeness with Leilani means interacting with Harry.
He says he understands and that he won't react like that again. I said that I'll forgive him but I really need to see the change in him, and to give me the rest of the week to work through my thoughts.
Harry called the day after my... misunderstanding with Evan to ask if I was okay because I sounded "a little bit stressed". I told him Evan and I had a minor argument but everything is fine now.
His concern for my well-being warmed my heart to the point where I thought it would melt. He also told me they would be back in two or three days, and happiness spread all over me. I've missed Leilani so much. Her giddiness is contagious and there is never a dull moment with her. And to be honest, I've missed Harry, too. I don't know what it is about him, but his presence brings a blanket of calm to me. And weirdly, no matter how bad my day goes, seeing him always makes me feel better. Maybe he's just that type of person.
Maybe you like him as more than just a neighbor.
That annoying little voice in my head says and I ignore her. She's become a frequent presence in my days and it's getting annoying. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Focus, I tell myself as I get back to the payroll.
Once I'm done, I turn off the remaining lights in the spa, lock up, and head home. Today was such a long day and I'm dead tired.
I barely eat some leftovers, before heading upstairs, quickly getting ready for bed, and falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
***
I stare at the plate of food in front of me. Lentil soup with way too much water andsome chunks of onion floating around.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see my mom set Clyde's plate in front of him, along with a bottle of beer. A thick-cut steak lays next to a big scoop of boxed mashed potatoes. The steak doesn't look that appetizing, but it sure looks better than the lentils.
Why does fucking Clyde get to eat steak while Mom and I have to eat watered-down lentil soup?
Mom sits on her chair, eating a spoonful of the soup.
"Is there more steak?" I ask, quietly.
"No. Eat your lentils." Her tone is clipped.
I bring the spoon to my mouth and taste it. I know better than to spit it out or make a face.
The soup is pure water with a pound of salt. My mom has never been the best cook but this is the worst thing she's ever made.
"Couldn't get the kid a steak, not even for her birthday?" Clyde asks, eyeing my mom. He places his hand on top of mine and my breathing stops.
Please stop touching me.
Please. Please. Please.
I want to pull my hand away and run out of the house, but I sit frozen and staring at my food.
"W-well, y-you didn't give me more money... it's all I could afford," she whispers.
"Then get a fucking job, Jenna! Why do I have to bust my ass to feed you two!?" He slams a hand on the table, making the plates rattle.
"I-I'm sorry, I've been looking but no one is hiring."
Clyde starts angrily cutting his steak muttering a bunch of curse words. He takes a big bite and chews a couple of times before spitting it out with a face of disgust.
He grabs the plate and throws it at the wall behind my mom. I jump in my seat at the sound of it shattering. I see him grab the knife and walk to my mom. He fists the hair at the back of her head and pulls it back, exposing her neck.
"WHY. CAN'T. YOU. DO. ANYTHING. RIGHT!?" He screams, pressing the knife to her throat.
"MOM!" I scream, standing from my chair.
"You can't do shit! You're fucking useless! You can't even cook a fucking piece of meat! How fucking hard is it?"
I stood there, crying, watching in horror as he pressed the knife harder to her skin.
"Leave her alone!" I screamed, my mind racing as I tried to think of a way to help her.
"Shut the fuck up, you little shit!" Clyde screams. Drops of spit flew out of his mouth.
"Go to your room, Ava!" My mom orders. Her eyes are watery and cold as they meet mine. "Now, goddammit!"
"But- but mom!" I sob. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Tears escape and her exhale is shaky.
She's sitting so still, not wanting to move a single millimeter.
"Listen to your useless mother, kid. Be a good girl and I won't get to you, too." He licks his lips, and I shiver, running to my room and locking myself in.
I grab my little lamb, holding it close to my chest as I cry.
All I can hear are my sobs, my mom pleading Clyde to stop, saying she's sorry and that she'll do better, and Clyde's insults.
I hear the shattering of plates and glasses, along with my mom's screams. "No, please, Clyde, stop! It hurts, please don't!"
As quietly as I can, I exit my room and tiptoe to the kitchen. I regret my decision immediately. Mom is bent over the table and Clyde is behind her, his pants down to his knees.
I close my eyes and carefully go back to my room.
I hope and pray he didn't notice me, because I don't want him to come in here tonight. He came in two nights ago and I'm still in pain. I hate him so much.
When is this hell going to end?
~~~
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