Learning to Live, Again

Chapter Thirty-two

Niamh

I stood with my sons, staring down into the open grave as they lowered the coffin. Dean and Heath stood beside me, their hands in mine as we listened to the preacher preach. I didn't know why I was here.. 

Corbin had done such horrible things to me. He took my virginity and shoved me away like I was nothing. He stole my son, my everything, from me.. He and I..

I took a deep breath, the tears clouding my vision as I fought to control them. I looked around me. There weren't very many people here today. Just my mother and I. It broke my heart to know that no one cared enough to show up. Addeline hadn't even shown up, though I'm not sure why I had expected her to. 

I can't blame anyone for not showing up. I didn't even want to be here. No.. even though I still loved him after everything he did to me, I wasn't here for him. I was here because his mother would want me to be. 

Growing up, she was like a second mother to me. I knew she drank, and I knew she wasn't the mother to Corbin that she should have been, but she helped me. She picked me up when I was down; she gave me the best advice I could have asked for. She was there when her son broke my heart. 

I sighed, wiping a stray tear as I fought to keep it together. Heath looked up at me, and hugged me leg.

"Don't worry mommy.. they're in heaven now."

I smiled gently down at my little boy. He was so sweet and perfect.. they both were. Dean looked up at me, squeezing my hand as he squeezed his bear. My mother set a hand on my shoulder for comfort. This was my family.. my wonderful.. perfect little family, and I loved them with everything I had.

Once the coffin was lain in the ground, I turned to leave, but stopped. My heart raced and my eyes welled up when I saw him standing there. He looked so broken and beat down. I knew he felt guilty for being in jail when his mother passed. 

His eyes lifted from the grave and met my own. Corbin's gentle eyes were grief stricken, and, without thinking, I let go of my sons' hands and walked swiftly to him. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him against me and holding him as tight as my arms would let me. 

He hugged me back, his face resting in the crook of my shoulder as his body was racked with sobs. I knew what it was like to lose a parent.. though not blood, Jeff had been my father, and I knew how much it hurt to have them taken from you so soon.

"Shh," I whispered, rubbing his back. "I'm so sorry Corbin.. I'm so sorry..."

~~~~~

Addaline 

I don't know what had possessed me, but I couldn't do it, she thought as she reached out and took the bottle from him.

"Hey, what the hell Addaline," he snarled, the poisoned water sloshing onto the floor. He glared at her, but his angry face soon dissipated as he saw the look on her face. "What is it Addie? What's wrong?"

Addaline had tears in her eyes.. real tears for the first time in her life. "I- I couldn't do it.. Oh god, I couldn't do it.. The boss.." Fear gripped her in its clutches and she began to shake. She could feel herself on the verge of what felt like a panic attack.

"Addie? Are you okay? Guards!" 

She could vaguely hear the sound of feet rushing to her side. "Ma'am? Are you okay? Here.. we're here to help you. What do you need?"

Shaking her head, she sobbed outwardly. "He's going to kill me.."

"Who?"

"The boss.. he's going to kill me. I couldn't kill him like I was told. I couldn't do it, and now I'M  going to die." She shook, rocking forward and backward. "I'm going to die."

"'The boss'? Who's 'the boss'? Where is he?" Caleb's friend cop, Kobe, rubbed her back gently.

Addaline shook her head. "Jeremy knows where he is. I don't . Please.. you've got to protect me. I'll tell you anything you want! Just protect me."

"We don't need any information from you. What are you talking about?"

Finally, Corbin's voice lifted up out of the others. "She means about what happened to Niamh." Addaline could see Corbin's disgust and anger, but also his relief.

Addaline nodded. "I'll tell you anything you want to know.. just please.. protect me.."

Addaline knew she would be spending the rest of her life in jail, but at least then she'd be safe...