In the Name of Revenge

Chapter Three

THREE

Over the next year, Rita Grace started to develop and grow up right in front of her eyes. Felice couldn’t get over how beautiful her daughter was. She had the same olive tan complexion Felice herself had from being of Italian descent and was also born with the same dark hair. Additionally, her gorgeous blue eyes definitely came from Pavel. Whenever she saw them it was like looking at him.

She still visited Darryl as often as she could. He needed her as much as she needed him. She came to rely on the sense of stability and the warm feeling of family she felt by being around them.

In the beginning, she wasn’t sure if Darryl would ever come out of the depression that completely enveloped him. He got up and went to work each day and came home to his children. He felt completely and utterly alone, even with his children under foot. His despair knew no end. He stopped visiting friends and didn’t invite anyone over anymore. For months, Felice was the only one who was allowed in his home in order to take care of his children when he wasn’t there. Darryl also put her name on the school’s roster, allowing her to pick up the children and as another contact to call should anything happen and the school couldn’t reach him.

One afternoon, on her way back from grocery shopping, her cellular phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Bellicini?”

“Yes?”

“This is Sue Ann at the school. I have Glenn and Gabriella here. They said Mr. Thornton was to pick them up this afternoon, but he’s over an hour late.”

“What? That’s not like him. Sue Ann, thank you for calling. I’ll be right there to get the children.”

“Thank you, Ms. Bellicini.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you soon.”

Hanging up the phone, Felice started to worry. Oh, please, God. Don’t let anything happen to Darryl. I don’t think the children can take that.

She picked up the children from the school and assured Sue Ann that everything was fine.

“Darryl probably got busy at work and forgot I wasn’t getting the children.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Tell Darryl I said hi.”

“I will,” she waved and drove off.

Felice didn’t want the children to be in hearing distance or to see anything they shouldn’t, since she didn’t know where Darryl was or what she would have to deal with once she found him. Instead, she dropped the twins and her daughter off at the babysitter’s with a promise she would could come and get them as soon as she could.

She raced over to Darryl’s house, figuring it was the first place to start looking for him. She pulled into the driveway, shut her car off and practically ran up the walkway to the front door.

She could hear the television blaring in the living room. She rang the bell four times and after getting no response, started banging on the door, calling his name.  She felt herself start to panic when he didn’t open the door.

She remembered the key she was given for times when she brought the children home from school. She unlocked the door and tried pushing it open, but it wouldn’t budge very far. She was barely able to peek in the little crack of an opening.

“Darryl! Darryl!”

She pushed as hard as she could on the door and was finally able to get it open far enough to squeeze in. Once inside, she could see at least a dozen boxes and over-filled trash bags blocking the door. She opened the top of one of the boxes and found a pair of Rita’s shoes.