Something Unexpected

Chapter Twenty-Six

~Kaiden's POV~

I sat watching her sleep for longer than I'd like to admit. Laura had given me another chance when really, I didn't deserve one. She chose to keep our small family together instead of walking away. I wouldn't have blamed her if she'd walked, I would have. I guess that just goes to show how loving and forgiving she was in comparison to myself.
Pushing up from the bed, I tiptoed out of the room, chucking another quick glance in her direction before closing the door.
It wasn't late enough for everyone to be asleep but I still crept down the stairs before silently walking out into the crisp night air. I jogged over to my car, slipping the key in the lock before sliding into the driver's seat.

It didn't take long to get to my Moms house. Everything looked the same despite the amount of time between visits. I hadn't been back here since I moved into Laura's and told Mom to leave the day she dropped by. Julien's beat up old truck was parked in the drive, which wasn't surprising. He'd told me after work one day that he'd moved in with Liz after I left, to help keep her as calm as possible. Shame it hadn't really worked.

As if sensing I was home, Mom stepped out onto the porch, hands on her hips. She hadn't changed much in the time since I last saw her, the familiar scowl still firmly cemented to her face. Cutting the engine, I opened the door before stepping out of the car and walking over to the front steps.

"Didn't think I'd see your face around here again." She slurred.
Great. She was either drunk or under the influence of some kind of narcotic, possibly even both. Who knew with Liz, she was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.

"I have to grab something," I grumbled, standing up to my full height. Even though she was two steps up from where I stood on the front path, I still towered over her. "I'll be quick."

"I don't think so, Son." Her eyes hardened as they scanned my face. "You can't just walk out of your mother's life then waltz back in whenever you like."

Growing impatient, I took the steps two at a time, pushing past her to get into the house. "I don't care about that bullshit, Liz. I came to get a couple things before leaving again."

"I am your Mother!" She screeched, the sound of her feet hitting the wooden floor echoing from behind me.

"And?" I replied over my shoulder.
A small hand wrapped around my arm with a vice like grip, halting my steps. "I demand respect if you're going to come into my house."

"Oh," Spinning, I glared down at the woman who had raised me. "you didn't treat Laura with that respect when you came into her house. Why would I respect you, if you can't respect the mother of my child?"

"That won't last." She spat.
Reefing my arm back, I snorted. "Right. You can keep thinking that while you live here alone and bitter."

Storming further into the house, I didn't even look at Julien as I walked through the lounge room. Taking the familiar hallway to the last door on the left, I pushed against the cool wood, the hinges squealing in protest. Everything was where I left it. The bedspread was the same, the drawers were still messily packed with clothes and there was cups and plates sitting beside the outdated computer. My heart sank slightly as I looked at my old room. Whenever Liz was at her worse, this was my sanctuary. That was, until I was old enough to get into high school parties.

Flicking the light switch up, I scanned the room for what I'd come looking for. I found the first of the two things I was here to retrieve relatively quickly. The blue teddy that I'd carried everywhere as I kid now sat tucked in my back pocket. For the second thing, I needed to go into the safe in the cupboard. After entering the combination, I waited for it to click before pulling on the handle. It screeched loudly as the rusted hinges finally gave way.

I didn't have many things I held precious in my life, but as I pulled out the blue box that held the ring my grandmother had given me before she passed, I swallowed down the heavy stone of emotion that pressed against my chest.

I quickly checked that the glittering diamond ring was still inside before shoving it in my pocket and locking the safe again. I was halfway down the hall when shouting erupted from the living room.

"How dare you, you're a guest in my house!" Liz hollered, her voice getting louder with each word. "He isn't welcome in this house and if you take his side, neither are you."

"Aunty Liz," Julien started but was stopped suddenly as a hand smacked across his face.
Storming down the rest of the hallway, I rushed out, quickly grabbing Liz's hand before she could deliver a second hit. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Don't get involved, just get out." She snapped, pulling her arm in attempt to break my hold. "You don't live here so this isn't your business."

Looking over at Julien, I gave a small nod toward the door. "Julien, let's go."

"Don't you even think about it or you will never set foot in here again. Do you hear me?" Liz screamed, her face red with anger.
Julien didn't wait a second longer before he was out the front door with me not far behind. "Fuck," He swore.
Patting his shoulder, I went to move past him. "I don't even want to know what that was about, let's just get out of here."

"I agree," Julien breathed a sigh of relief.
We'd just stepped off the front porch when I heard the front door bang open. Not game to turn around, I quickened my pace slightly. I'd almost reached the passenger side of my car when a piercing pain sliced through my shoulder.

"Fuck," I hissed. "What the hell?"

"Jesus, you threw a knife at him!" Julien barked, moving around my back to face my mother. "You've gone too far this time, Liz."

She threw a knife at my back? Pain surged from my shoulder as I stepped around the car. There was no way I was going to be able to drive with a knife in my back. Chucking my cousin, the keys, I slowly lifted myself into the back seat, hissing as the handle caught on the seatbelt. No seatbelt it was then.

"Mate, I'm taking you to the hospital." Julien grumbled as he slid the key into the ignition. "Call Laura and tell her to meet us there."

"No," I groaned. "She's finally getting some sleep. It'll be fine, don't bother her."
Pulling out of the drive, he chucked me a quick look in the rear-view mirror. "She'd going to be pissed if you don't tell her."

"Julien," Snapping, I motioned to the road. "Just fucking drive."

He didn't argue further. The drive to the hospital seemed to be taking forever. This wasn't the first time I'd been stabbed. Growing up in a neighbourhood like this, stuff like stabbings aren't a rare occurrence. My mind drifted back to what had just happened, the knife in my shoulder throbbing with every bump of the car. My good hand drifted to the pocket I'd shoved the ring into, relief surging through my body when my fingers slid over the ring box.

There was no way I would be waking Laura up to tell her what happened. I'd never seen my mother that angry and if I was being honest, I was concerned for not only Laura's, but our son's safety.