Take Me Home {Completed}

Chapter Twenty-Six

Unedited

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Chapter Twenty-Six:

"My parents are on their w-way back home?" Nola glanced down at the floor. For them to cut their trip short she knew that something serious had happened. She silently prayed that it had nothing to do with her. "They aren't supposed to c-come back for another month, or two."

Suzanna looked over at her niece with an emotion dancing in her eye that Nola had seen all too much. Pity.

Nola's breath got caught in her throat. They knew.

Nodding in the direction of Parker, Nola spoke up, "He knows too and has been helping me. Please, let him stay." Nola looked at her aunt with all the hopes in the world that she would allow Parker to stay.

Suzanna glanced between Parker and Nola, a few times, before setting her sights on Parker. "You can stay, but I can guarantee you when her parents come they're gonna want you gone."

Parker threw his hands up in the air, "I understand and if Nola wants me gone then, I will leave." He placed his arms back to his sides and gave Nola a smile and wink.

Nola couldn't help but allow the corners of her mouth to twitch up, into a small grin, at his antics.

"It won't be up to her. It'll be up to her parents." Suzanna exclaimed right before she stepped aside and allowed Parker to come into the house.

All of them went into the living room and Nola was quick to claim the recliner. She knew that if she sat there, no one would be beside her. Nola liked the distance, it gave her the slightest hope that if things changed and she got the courage to run - she'd have an advantage, even if it was only a few inches ... she'd make them count. At least that's what she told herself over the years with Mitch. 

Something inside her, like many things she picked up in their relationship, stuck with her. Even now she had to have distance, or she wouldn't feel safe.  

Parker and Suzanna did argue as they sat down on the couch.

Suzanna gulped and then looked at Nola. "A man named Douglas Harper called your parents today. He said that he'd been trying to reach your parents for several days. But, as you know, your parents are in a dead zone for phone signals until Thursdays - when they go inland.

"Mr. Harper got ahold of your parents," her aunt stated as her eyes began to pool with tears, "about an hour ago. He informed them of all that had been happening ... Nola, why didn't you tell us? Why?! We could have helped you!"

Parker jumped up as soon as Suzanna raised her voice. "Don't shout at her."

Suzanna looked up at Parker with confusion. Yet, when she saw Nola cowering into the couch she realized what she had done. "I'm sorry, Nola, I didn't mean to shout." Suzanna mentally cursed herself out. She couldn't believe that she, of all people, shouted at Nola.

Suzanna was a nurse at a local children's hospital and she had been involved in caring for countless abuse victims. She was trained and taught the right way to handle and speak with people that have experienced abuse.

Yet, Suzanna found herself losing her cool. Her anger had nothing to do with Nola, but the simple fact that she never bothered to check up on Nola while her sister (Nola's mom) was away. While her sister had never told her to check up on Nola, Suzanna still felt the guilt. "I'm sorry," Suzanna stated once more, but this time, she wasn't talking about the fact that she yelled at Nola.

Nola looked at her aunt, understanding the true meaning behind her apology. "It's fine."

"No, it's not. I should've come by and checked up on you. Things," Suzanna glanced down at her lap, "might have been different." Suzanna looked back up and when she did both Nola and Parker saw tears rolling down her cheeks. "It was him, wasn't it?"

Nola and Parker were both confused. However, Nola soon realized what her aunt was talking about. "Aunt Suzanna, you-you didn't know ... I didn't even know th-that he was like that, until ... later on."

Parker realized then who they were talking about - Mitch.

Suzanna cried even harder, "I should've seen it! I should've come by!"

"He charmed you," Nola stated as she recalled the day her aunt met Mitch. As soon as the memories flooded her mind she quickly started to think about something else, in fear of having a panic attack.

"That was nearly two years ago, Nola. You were with that boy for two years and I didn't notice - I was too caught up in work." Aunt Suzanna shook her head, "Even that's not an excuse, I have days off ... I could've come over and ... Maybe, then..." Suzanna just couldn't wrap her brain around how she could be so self-absorbed that coming over to check up on Nola never crossed her mind.

Nola gathered the courage up and reached out to touch her aunt's hand. "Don't blame yourself. I was the one that stayed with him." As soon as she finished her sentence she placed her hand back in her lap. After a long minute Nola noticed that her hands were trembling and as much as she wanted to calm her nerves, she couldn't. So, Nola discreetly placed her hands under her thighs.

Suzanna wanted to shout at Nola because she was taking the blame.

"You've met Mitch before?" Parker questioned, taking the spotlight on him.

"Once, yes. Nola's parents call every Thursday and about two years ago she didn't answer. So, her parents contacted me to come over here. She and Mitch showed here, right when I was one number away from calling the police." Suzanna tried thinking back to that day to see if she had any signs of the guy Mitch really ways. However, in her state of mind, Suzanna couldn't conjure up anything. "... Oh, Nola, I should've seen it."

"We'd been dating for a couple months, the-then. He hadn't laid a-a finger on me before then. Neither you-u nor I knew what he was capable of. D-Don't blame yourself, Suzanna." 

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the front door.

"Expecting anyone?" Suzanna questioned. 

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A/N:

What does Parker's friends, Claudine and Remus, do for a living?

A. Claudine is an English teacher and Remus is a CEO of a Computer company.

B. Claudine is a reporter and Remus works for a marking agency. 

C. Claudine owns several hotels and Remus edits for a newspaper.

OR 

D. Claudine works for a marking agency and Remus owns a realtor company. 

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True fact:  Claudine's last name is Martian and Remus' last name is Walker.

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