Piece Me Back Together

Chapter 2

Dinner was eventful, to say the least. My father, a tall, white complected Hispanic man with green eyes, decided to invite my siblings over for my welcoming home.

My siblings we're just as excited about seeing me as I was about them coming over. They weren't.

"Well, well, the baby decides to come back. Did things get hard, is that why you came back?" my eldest sister Monica asks with a teasing smile as I opened the front door. Standing at 5'8", she towered over me. Her black pixie hair went along with her brown eyes and white completion. In her arms was a small child that I would guess is a newborn. The sight brought a slight grin to my face as I remembered how small Annabelle was in the first months of her life.

Before I had time to respond, she had already shoved past me. I felt myself swallow and close the door slowly after a fairly handsome man entered after her and gave me a small smile.

"Mom!" she called out.

"I'm in the kitchen!"

C'mon Belinda, she's your sister. Stop being a wuss and stand up to her. She needs to understand. With that thought in mind, I took a deep breath and entered the small kitchen.

All eyes turned to me instantly. My heart sped up at the attention and I took another deep breath before greeting my sister who now seemed so cold to me.

"Hello, Monica. It's nice to see you again," I said with a smile. She blankly stared back at me.

A hand suddenly came down on the side of Monica's head and our eyes snapped to my mother who stood there with her eyes blazing.

"You will not treat her that way, do you understand me? I am still your mother and you will listen to me." Her hard glare at Monica had my sister turning away.

"Now," my mother continued with a small smile and a softer expression, "let me see that baby of yours." She took the child from her arms and cooed.

I cleared my throat, "What's her name?"

Monica continued to stare at me as the man answered me. "Alexis. I'm Monica's husband, it's nice to meet you." He offered me another small smile.

Well at least someone is decent with me.

"Belinda, nice to meet you also."

An awkward silence followed and I refused to look at anyone in the eye. What would they think of me once they knew the truth? I just hope they at least give me the chance to explain.

"Mooooommmm." Anabelle dragged out.

Oh thank God. I quickly removed myself from the tense atmosphere and headed up the stairs.

"You called, your highness?" I teased.

"Who is this man?" she handed over a small picture. I felt like my heart skipped a beat.

"He's.. a friend from high school, sweetheart. Where did you find this?"

She looked at me innocently, "In one of the drawers. I was looking for colors."

My hands slightly shook as I held the small picture and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. The frame of him and I, smiling and leaning against a tree in a nearby park. He had a thickly muscled arm wrapped around my waist and my hands on his chest. His smile warmed my body. I fought back a sniffle as I remembered the man he used to be.

"H-hey sweetie, why don't you go ask your grandpa for some colors? I need to use the restroom," I tightly smiled.

"Okay mommy," and with that, she bounded down the stairs.

It felt like my feet never touched the ground as I approached the bathroom, locking it behind me. My hands tightly held onto the sink as I gasped for air. The tears felt forced and wouldn't come out. I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest as I mourned the loss of my daughters father.

"C'mon, stop being a chicken!" he whisper-yelled at me.

"Shut up! I am not jumping!" I replied in the same voice. There was no way I was jumping from the second story because he wanted me to sneak out. Why can't he just wait until the goddamn morning?!

"Go away, Leo! Come back in the morning," I said with finality.

"Baby... come on. I'll catch you." Stupid smirking boy and his stupid good looking looks in those jeans.

"Fuck you! I don't wanna die!"

"Live a little! I'll even set my jacket down so if I drop you, you won't land directly on the ground," he said with teasing eyes.

I kept a straight face as I looked down at him. "Fine, but if I die, I will haunt you forever and ever."

"I wouldn't ask for anything else, baby." Oh, that smile. It made my heart soar.

"Fuck..." I mumbled. The tears were surprisingly kept at bay but the ache in my chest was ever present.

I shouldn't be like this. It's his fault. I shouldn't be like this. Control yourself.