Basorexia

Chapter Twelve

In the passing of two days, too much happened to recount each speculative detail. Following the discovery on the news, Rae drove me to the hospital so I could see Grant, but as expected, only family was allowed in the room. We waited all night as Rae and I discussed the possibilities of the fire. My mind had instantly gone to my guilty conscience as I thought my father had something to do with it-he did threaten to ruin Grant's family if he discovered him and I were together. But how would he know? Rae was the only one who knew and she would never say anything. She knew how cruel my father was, so many times she would be the one to comfort me when he got out of hand. And now that torch was on Grant. He was the one who held me when I could no longer take the abuse of my father. But now, he laid nearly burnt to a crisp on a hospital bed with bandages covering his chest and arm. The tattoos that were once so haunting had now been smeared for eternity. Even without the visual proof of this, I knew it to be true. I stayed by his side when I was finally allowed in and he told me what had happened; that him and his foster father were working on one of the cars when smoke came from the living section of the garage. They both ran upstairs but then everything else is a blur. He recalled seeing a figure with a lighter, but it was nobody he could point out. He also explained how he said the same exact story to the cops, but they had not believed him. They believed the family had burned it for the insurance money. I learned then that the garage was in deep financial trouble. But I also saw in his eyes that he had a deep fear, and not only that a deep loss.

"Do they know anything about Hal?"

"They say he is having difficulties regaining consciousness and keeps having these seizures-they think it is a reaction to the meds they are giving him. Lorna is sitting in with him now. She hasn't left his side-like you haven't to me." He said with an arched brow.

"Even half roasted, you still have the energy to flirt...."

"For you my darling, always." He teased in a dapper accent before extending his hand towards me. We shared a gentle kiss just as the door came open and Rae stood with a worried expression.

"We should get you home."

"Rae, I'm kinda-"

"Now." She said with a determined expression. Sensing she knew something I didn't, I kissed Grant one last time before following her to her car. I had sat in the passenger's side with a great relief that Grant was alright, but also a heavy heart that Hal wasn't. I turned to find her staring deep at her gas gauge on the dash.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah...sorry." She then started the ignition as a station that played oldies music came on.

"Oh gosh, did you go back in time or something!" I snapped as she just laughed it off. Although...this wasn't the first time things were bizarre with Rae. In fact, things had been far stranger. About two months ago, she was wearing this really expensive jewelry and claimed it was simply from a flea market. I teased her as it appeared to be real diamonds, but she swore up and down that it wasn't. Her tastes had also changed exponentially from teen things to more adult things, such as food or even the restaurants themselves that she enjoyed to eat at. We used to go to McDonald's after school, and now we ate at places with titles in French. I chalked it up to Bucky-I just never pictured him being someone so old school.

When we arrived at my house, I was surprised to find Rae follow me inside.

"You wanna deal with him with me?"

"I'm here for support." She said with a forced smile as I led the way into my house. As the door came open, I froze to find my father standing with a wine stain on his shirt. Not an uncommon thing as I summed this up to Adaline going off on something he said. I suppose if he treats his own daughter with such viciousness, I can only imagine what he does to his once-mistress.

"Come here..." My father spoke with such kindness as I made my way towards him but found Rae to accept his outreached hand. Instantly, everything sunk in too deep to fully understand. I felt as though the words being spoken to me were too muffled to comprehend-as if I was underwater. I stared at their feet as tears swelled in my eyes. Within seconds, I had allowed them to fall down my cheeks.

"What about Bucky?"

"Him and I broke up weeks ago."

"And the baby?"

Rae looked to my father then to me. "We actually called off the affair but this baby has brought us together."

"But I went with you when you talked to Bucky!"

"The truth is, I didn't know who the father was. And then I went to the hospital and discovered when the child was conceived and realized who it was. I explained it to your dad and we realized we can't stay away from each other."

I fell back against the front door as I glared at her.

"You know what he's done."

"I love you, Jane, but sometimes you can be a handful."

"And that's okay for him to almost beat me to a pulp?"

"Janie-"

"Don't! I was disappointed in you when you slept with a college guy-and not only is this guy an older one, but my father! You and I are done!"

"Jane!" She called out as I ran from the house, my father following me out.

"Get back in the house."

"Don't touch me!"

"Don't make a scene..."

"You have NO right to tell me what and what not to do anymore! I am not only disgusted but mortified to share your blood. I can't blame mom for the affair she had. I just wish she wouldn't have hidden it from you."

"Get your ass in that house-"

"Or what? You'll drag me inside by my hair? You can't. Because then a neighbor could see and then your precious career would be down the drain. Maybe they will desire to know that you knocked up a seventeen year old! Or hit your own daughter around." He stood there stunned as painful tears stung my eyes. "Don't worry, father...I won't say anything, for the sake of my future. But if you come after Grant and I again, I swear to God to publish a tell-all book about what you've done for the last handful of years to me. Might even spice it up a bit-everyone loves drama." I began to walk away before feeling my insides turn upon themselves. "Oh, and if I find out you had ANYTHING to do with Grant and Hal's condition, keeping secrets will the last of your worries."