Samantha

Chapter Eight: Forgiveness

Samantha sat there with her face blank for a few moments before stuttering out " So Emmett is my nephew and my brother?" Her father nodded. "I'm not proud of it but that's the way it is. Nor am I proud of the way in which this family carries itself. Your mother has forced this family into subdued depression. The whole county thinks the family is bright and happy but we are not. Your friends use you Samantha, to find out the secrets of this household. But it is everyone, including you, and now including Emmett, to keep the business of this house, inside this house. Do you understand Samantha?" Samantha nodded. 

"I know this must be a lot to take in, but you must understand that if this family is to survive, we must keep the secrets secrets and let them be the last ones we have to hide. okay?" Samantha nodded again. "I think I'm going to go to bed" She replied rubbing her eyes. She got up sorely, walked around the table and sat on her fathers lap, there she hugged him. "I don't judge you Daddy, everybody makes mistakes, but only the best of us can own up to them" She kissed her fathers cheek and he kissed her forehead. "I love you Samantha, one day, your mother will stop hurting you. I wish I was here more to stop it" Samantha smiled. "It's okay Daddy, Jonathan can protect me when your not here"

Her Father frowned. "Doesn't your mother like to beat up your brother too?" Samantha remembered all to well her mother going to hurt Jonathan and her jumping in, only to be brutally attacked the next day. She shivered. "Yes she does, but she hurts me more" She sniffed and then yawned she was getting tired. It had after all been a long day. Her father kissed her cheek. "Go to bed darling, your tired. We can always talk tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that" He smiled, so she smiled too. The she got up and began to walk out the study. "Night Daddy" She said turning back to smile at him. "Night Sammy darling". He said in reply, as she closed the door.

She yawned as she went up the stairs, but she decided that she wouldn't be bothered to shower in the morning so she decided to shower then. After she got out the shower she put on her pajamas and went to go and say goodnight to everyone else. She walked past her mother and fathers room and ran into Jonathan's. He was lying in his bed on the brink of sleep. She tiptoed over, bent down and kissed him softly on the lips. "Sweet dreams" She smiled as she turned out the lamp and quietly closed his bedroom door. Then she went to the room beside it that now belonged to Emmett. He was sitting on his bed doing homework. "Night Emmett" She said. He looked up and smiled. "Night sis/ aunt" She giggled and closed his door. 

After she ran into her room she closed the door, switched off her lamp, and fell into a disturbing sleep where the pictures from the day swirled around her head endlessly, tormenting her .