A Father's Love

A Father's Love-Chapter 2

Here's the second chappie.

So I’ll start at the beginning. Firstly, my name is Allison Haylson. I’m one of six children and the only girl. I’ve lived with five other boys: two cousins, and three second cousins, and this is the reason why. My two cousins were adopted by my parents when my aunt and uncle died shortly after Drake’s birth. They were killed in a car wreck that almost took Zach’s life. My three second cousins are not all related. Liam was born a few months after my twin younger brothers and his mom died in childbirth. His did was in the military and lost his life. He earned a badge of honor and some service medal. This was when Liam was about eight. I don’t think he ever met his father. Craig and Kurt aren’t actually related to us. They ran away from abusive parents and took on the title of second cousins. Eventually my parents took them to court and gained possession of the two boys as wards until the age of eighteen, and they’ve been content with us ever since.

So there are eleven of us under my parent’s direct care. Being the only girl in a group of eleven has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. For starters, Zach and Drake joined our group when I was five. Liam joined when I was three, and we adopted Craig and Kurt when I was seven. I’ve grown up with these boys since I was very young and I’ve grown quite comfortable with them as a group.

Our real problems began when I was twelve. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. This put a real hole in between my parents, and us kids. That’s when Dylan and Maggie joined our family with their mom Helen. She became our cook. Mom had cancer treatments for almost two years. My grandmother died a while later, so my grandfather and great-grandmother moved in with us. This was one of those times we were glad our house was two stories and huge. There was also a basement where us kids could do what we wanted. We played video games, watched television and just hung out. One of my dad’s high school friends, James, came to stay with us as a butler. He also taught us French.

When I was fifteen though, the worst blow came. Our house was broken into. My dad sent everyone else downstairs, but my mom insisted on helping him. He told us later that there were at least thirty men. We heard gunshots all through the night and my dad’s roar of pain. Mom screamed more than once and we heard my dad yelling. Then all was silent. I had curled up in Alex’s lap and leaned my head on his chest. He had fallen asleep with his head leaned against the wall, but I didn’t sleep.

Dad didn’t come for us until the next morning. We all got up, stiff and sore and Drake asked the question all of us would dread. “Where’s mom?”

At that, Dad’s face grew red and he let out a possessive growl. Drake jumped back. Dad pulled away from the door and slammed his fist into the wall. Parker stood up and led dad around the corner out of the room. “Dad?” He asked.

“She’s gone.” Dad growled.

Parker continued in his soft soothing voice. “Where is she?”

“They took her.” Dad’s voice was pinched, but the tone was rising quickly. “They’re going to kill her.”

“Shh dad.”

“Don’t shush me!”

“We’ll find her.” Parker continued.

“You can bet we will. If it’s the last thing I do!”

Parker dashed around the corner. “Dad’s lost it!” He whispered. Maggie took his hand and embraced him.

“It’ll be okay.”

“No it won’t.” Parker whispered.

I don’t believe Parker has ever been more right. The next day we were decked in packs filled with rocks, guns, ammunition, and knives. We were sent to walk laps around the property. Drake was exhausted before the first lap was over, and we weren’t sure if we could break the ‘no talking’ rule yet. Liam, Jason, and Seth were panting from thirst and I could hardly see straight. Alex sprained his ankle so I supported him, and Craig carried Drake. Kurt and Chris complained while staggering onward. Parker, Maggie and Zach walked ahead in a slumped over trio. When we finally finished the second lap, we stumbled into the house, Alex nursing his ankle.