Redemption.

Chapter 10: Silent Mystery

Anthony

Diamond stared at the closet for a few seconds then turned back towards Christian. "What's wrong, mijo?" She asked.

"Nothing mommy." He replied. It's like he knew I didn't want her to know I was here but yet he kept glancing back over to where I was. Unintentionally telling her to check the closet. Diamond turned back to the closet and stood up. I backed up farther into the side of the closet, trying to avoid the center, the obvious spot where everyone checks. I took a coat off of a hook and placed it over my body, squatting down in the process.

I can hear Diamond approach the closet and open the door. She pushed around clothes hanging on hangers as if Christian convinced her that someone was really there, even in fact there was. "Why do you keep looking at the closet?" She asked Christian as she closed the door back. I sighed a breath relief.

"Because...nothing mommy." Christian said. I know he wanted to tell her that I came back, but he knew I didn't want her to know.

"Tell me baby." Diamond asked.

Christian peered at the closet once more. "Because of daddy."

When those words escaped his mouth my heart raced. Christian didn't quite understand yet how to keep quiet about something. I can tell by the sound in Diamond's voice that he freaked her out. "What do you mean Christian? There's no one there." She said, looking back at the closet.

"Nothing mommy."

"Okay, go back to sleep baby. It was just a dream you had." Diamond said. I heard as she laid him back down and pulled the blanket over his body. "Good night."

Diamond exited the room and closed the door behind her. I threw the coat from my body and rose to my feet. I left the closet and closed the door behind me. Christian stared at me as I did. "Daddy has to go papi, I love you so much." I told, squatting down to kiss his forehead.

"But why daddy?" I can hear the sadness in his voice, he's getting ready to cry. "Why can't you stay? I want you to stay." He began to shed some tears and weep. The sight of it hurt me badly. I sniffed back my tears and rubbed his back.

"I know papi, but daddy can't come back yet. I promise I'll be back to be with you and your brother. I miss you guys more than ever." I told, trying not to get anymore upset than what I already was. "Okay?"

"Okay. I love you daddy." Christian cried. He sat up again and hugged my neck. I wrapped my arms around him tightly, I didn't want to let go but I couldn't be here. Once our warm embrace terminated, I gave Antonio a kiss and left the room. When I made it downstairs, there was light coming from the kitchen. I peered from around the corner of the living room into the kitchen. Diamond was there, drinking a cup of water.

"Shit." I slouched down and crept across the room where the light didn't touch. The kitchen light turned off and Diamond sauntered her way through the living room and up the stairs. I watched her with malevolent eyes. Oh how bad I wanted to pounce on her and see the terror in her eyes. But, I held it back as hard as I could. I craved to deliver pain upon her. I wanted so bad to taste the fear she has hiding in her head. My thoughts laughed evilly. She brought out the real sinister side of me.

Once I knew Diamond was completely out of sight, I got up and left to the back door. I unlocked it and exited the house.

Patrick

9:24 AM

The kids and I were sitting at the table eating the breakfast. They were playing with small plastic dinosaurs as they ate. "Hey Patrick, did you happen to leave the back door unlocked last night?" Diamond asked me as she came to sit down to eat.

"No, I haven't been back there, why?"

"I locked it before I went to bed last night and now it's all of a sudden unlocked." She told confused.

"I don't know, maybe your mom left it like that by mistake." I stuffed a slice of pancake in my mouth, and cut another one.

"Daddy had came to see us last night." Christian said excitedly when he turned to Antonio. Those words kept racing through my ears repeatedly like he kept saying it over and over. Diamond and I glanced at each other.

"How? I didn't see him." Antonio replied. They continued on with their conversation as if they weren't aware of us being there listening.

"You were sleep Toni. When mommy came he went inside the closet."

By the look on Diamond's face, I can tell a wave of fear breezed over her body. "Okay okay, that's enough Christian, eat your food." Diamond said. I can tell her body tensed up. Mine did too. Was he being serious, or was he speaking of a dream that felt real? I needed to know, someone could have gotten hurt if he did come through. Diamond stood up and placed her plate in the sink. I finished the last slice of pancake I had and followed her to the living room. She sat on the love seat and placed her face in her hands.

"You okay?" I asked.

"No Patrick, I feel like I can throw up right now." She shook her head, sounding nauseated. "Patrick I don't think he's talking about a dream," she looked up at me. "Last night I got out of bed because I heard Christian talking, I don't know what he was saying but it sounded like he was talking to someone. When I got to their room, the door was open when I know I closed it last night after tucking them in. Christian was sitting up in bed wide awake. When I asked him why he was up and stuff, he kept looking behind me at the closet. Yes, I checked it but I didn't find anyone. He told me he was looking over there "because of daddy". And now we find that the back door was unlocked."

I rubbed my hand over my mouth. "How could he have gotten in here? I don't understand, and especially without no one hearing anything."

"I don't know Patrick, I'm going to call the police." Diamond said.

"No. We don't really have any proof he was here. You looked where Christian said he was and you didn't see anything. Anyone could have left the back door unlocked. I can't explain why the kids' door was open, but what are the police gonna do about it? No one was harmed and it looks like nothing was damaged or taken." I told. I wanted her to calm down.

"You're right. I'm just so scared."

"Look Diamond," I sat beside her. "He's not gonna do anything to anyone. The police already knows the situation and when we give them a call they'll be here quick. Anthony will go down, he's not gonna hurt you." I just wanted her to ease her mind, she's getting too paranoid and I don't want the kids to notice something being wrong.

"I'm done mommy!" Owen shouted from the kitchen. Diamond got up and went to aid him. I wanted to get revenge on Anthony so bad, but I'm thinking about the kids. I don't want them to question anything.

Anthony

I didn't get too much sleep in. I just couldn't do it. My mind couldn't shake the thought of what I did last night. I swear I don't know what I would have done if Diamond had caught me in that closet. I couldn't have been able to hurt her in attempt to escape in front of the kids.

Our flight in scheduled to leave in two days. I know her guard will be down, it would have to be. My mind started forming a plan. That afternoon, I will definitely make a pop up. I don't know what I'll do when I get there, but something will happen and I promise not one lick of anger will be kept inside of me.