Don't Save My Life

Chapter 20

Willa

I could remember when I’d come back from the hospital a week after the incident. It was noon as my mother and I pulled onto our street, feeling grateful to finally have each other’s company in the familiar place that was our old beaten Wagon. Approaching our home, I caught sight of a fancy Lincoln gleaming at me from our driveway. Its buffed black paint job was like smooth silk, gleaming in a way that was like it was winking at me. A mockingly cocky gesture warning me of the impending trouble that was to come.

That was the day I came home to find the first set of lawyers who intended on punishing what was rest of our family for my father’s deeds. The next day  when I awoke, there were no strange cars parked in the driveway, but the curb was littered with News Van’s and our lawn with camera’s and picket signs. Our mornings carried on that way for months, only ending when the national lottery winner was discovered in our little old beach town.

Now, taking rushed paces up the gradually steeping walkway I could feel the same panic tap on my heart, whispering in my ears that something was wrong. I’d never seen this lightening beam colored Ferrari in my life, yet the familiarity as it glistened proudly against our shabby backdrop of a homemade all those old feelings of anxiety begin to creep back.

I rushed to the door, not hesitating to step into my own home. The old me listened when my mother had quietly told me to go to my room while she talked to these people. As I opened the front door I told myself that I was different girl now. If this was really happening again, I wouldn’t back down this time. I’d stand up for us, and wouldn’t force my mother to handle it on her own as that poor widowed single mother. After tonight, I realized just how strong I really was and tonight of all nights was the worse to bring back our past.

I barged in quickly, closing the door back behind me. My anxiety was replaced with cautious vigilance as I scanned the living room. I expected to see two formally dressed stiffs sitting with straight backs on our couch. They seemed to like matching their cars.  I could still picture the last few, wearing grey and black suits. The woman with the red hair pulled back with her ginger colored hair so tight, I could see the veins in her temple bulging vibrantly blue. Her pencil skirt that matched her partners straight black tie.

Yellow was an odd color for a lwayer, but still I readied myself for a yellow suit, or maybe just a tie.

The lights were off in the main entrance and living room. Our floral wallpaper was highlighted by the blue of the television light where SpongeBob Squarepants was singing the fun song.

Theo was seated on the tan carpet, focusing on putting some pointed pegs in a round hole of his toy box. When he saw me, he steadied himself and tumbled over full speed. He clung to my leg to stop himself and I swung him up easily, letting his tiny legs wrap around my stomach.

“Trangle!” he exclaimed, waving the toy in my face.

I smiled, but my eyes shifted around. I could see down the hall where my bedroom door was cracked. I could have sworn I’d left it open when I left home that morning. There was no reason anyone would be back there though. From the small bar across from the living room, I could see no one was in the kitchen or dining room. I settled that I’d check the patio. Mom had to be somewhere with whoever it was who’d come to ruin our lives even more.

I kissed Theo on the head and shifted him over to my hip.

“Where’s mommy buddy?” I asked, trying to not alert him of my concern.

I noted the baby monitor on the coffee table, she couldn’t have been too far.

He pointed a pudgy finger to my closed bedroom door, causing him to drop his block. I placed him down so that he could reunite with it before he started crying.