finding thea

Chapter 3

A week past. Pam and I have been talking but she never brought up her boys or the elephant in the room. My wounds healed but there were still some scars on my back from when mom pushed me against the mirror and the broken glass stabbed me from the back. Yeah, that scar won't fade for a while.

"So, I am leaving in a couple days," Pam said when I helped her clear up the groceries. I was strong enough to help her carry things around the room. She broke her shoulder a couple days ago so I helped her do the chores around the house. I didn't mind.

But now she was thinking. It was a bad sign.

"I'll make sure dad has dinner every night," I assure her.

"No," she giggled. "I'm going to LA to see my boys and I want you to come with me."

"What? Why?" I asked.

"Your father said you love music and you are really good at it. We-" she paused. She took my hand and sat me down at the coach. "We got all your stuff from your mother. We make sure she won't come near you and if she does, she will have to answer to the authorities."

"Why wasn't I notified of anything? No questioning from the police?"

"Your scars and wounds were enough evidence. Plus, the cops knew her. She mingled around bad people," she said. "We found tapes of you playing piano and singing," she smiled. There was a glow in her eyes.

Oh no.

"I was young," I said.

"You still are," she said. "you're 18."

"I don't feel 18," I said.

"True, you might be more responsible than two of my boys," she said. "but that's not the point. I think you can be a star one day. You have good potential. So, I thought LA would be a good start for you."

"Did you tell them?" I asked. Them as in her boys that hate the life out of me.

"No," she said truthfully and frowned. "I didn't know if you wanted to come but I got your ticket anyway. I thought you won't want to waste it and come with me." Before I could start she continued. "it isn't a permanent move. Come with me, if you don't like it, we can come back. See it as a vacation. When was the last time you traveled out of this town?"

Never.

"Come and we can have fun. I'll have the boys show you around LA."

"Your boys don't like me much," I said.

"They haven't met you yet," she smiled. "So, what you say?"

"I don't know," I said truthfully. A part of me wanted to go but another part was clinging onto something. Maybe it was the sense of home or belonging that I was searching for. Maybe it was my ego that refused me to get help from the Paul brothers. Maybe it was my mom that still haunts me every night.

"Go," dad walked in. "I want you to be happy. This town has nothing for you, Thea. You are beautiful and talented. I want you to do want you love and I will do anything I can to make you happy," he said. "Like Pam said," he placed a hand over her shoulder. "If you don't like it there, home is always ready for you," he said. Pam kissed his cheeks and I could tell how much they loved each other.

Silent fell between us.

"Fine," I finally said.

Pam literally jumped with joy.