Foster Me: Emerson's Secret (ON GOING)

Chapter 27

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>>Levi's dad Trenton

Levi's dad must have taken his wifes last name when they married. He wasn't Trenton Jacobs Becker when I knew him.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and cleared my throat. If he doesn't recognize me, I'm not going to even say a thing.

"It's so nice to finally meet you." Mrs. Jacob said as she held out the bowl of sugar. "Sugar, dear?"

"Yes please." Shayla Jacobs passed the bowl to me and I took a small amount of sugar. I put the sugar in my cup and used a spoon to mix it.

The cigar bobbed between Trenton's lips as he spoke. "Levi can help himself."

Levi and his dad stared at eachother intensely. Power struggle?

"Levi doesn't drink tea, sweetheart." Shayla reminded her husband quietly.

"A man eats and drinks whatever is infront of him."

My fingers clenched the spoon handle as I continued to stir my tea. Opp, there is the arrogance I remember.

"Well dad, someone shouldn't have to eat or drink anything they don't want to, "Levi sneered.

"My house, my rules, Levington."

Levington?

"That's not my name." Levi crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. "So much for a nice evening, mom"

Shayla face flushed with embarrassment then glared at her husband.

I was confused. I knew Trenton. I remember him as arrogant, condecending and a woman beater. I knew him and from how Levi talked about his family he said they were good people. I got the impression he was happy and now it just seems like there is obviously problems here. In every family there will be problems but I just get a sense Levi and his dad aren't as close as I thought they would be.

"Is she the prostitute?" Trenton took a drag of smoke.

"Trenton!" Shayla shrieked.

My eyes widened. Prostitute? Well that took it a little too far.

"No, I think you have her mistaken for the house cleaner."

"Awkward," The whisper left my lips before I could stop it.

Trenton exhaled a chuckle and took the bud out from his lips. He dabbed the bud into an ash tray. "Giovanna is a very nice lady."

I wanted to call Trenton out for being a hypocrite. He's scolding Levi for not being respectful yet not even a minute ago he was calling me the prostitute. How does that even work?

"Show Emerson some respect then."

Mrs. Jacobs slurped her tea loudly. She either was a loud drinker by habit or she was trying to change the subject. The poor lady must be super embarrased.

I was 10 when I was placed in then, Trenton Bakers care. I remember him being married to a lengthy blonde girl who had to have been 15 years his junior. Her name started with a K and to be honest I cant remember her name. I'm pretty sure she had one of those hard to pronounce names from some far off country. I never got use to it.

I was living with them for close to a month and you know----it was definately one of the better homes I'm been in. Trenton kept his distance from me which was different from the homes I was in previously and the only anger he had was directed to the blonde girl.

She was beaten alot. Sometimes I remember seeing her so swollen in the face that I couldn't even recognize her. It was like a stranger came to rob us.

I wonder what happened to her. I wonder how many girls Trenton's been married to since....

I couldn't help but stare at Shayla as Trenton and Levi continued to argue. I was looking at her for some kind of sign she was suffering the same fate as all his ex's. Not that----I would beable to help her in anyway.

I'm just a guest.

I sighed and tapped my finger on the table top. I wonder how long their arguments normally last.

Shayla offered me a sympathatic smile. I hope she doesn't think this is her fault. If anything, it's her stupid husbands fault. "So Emerson, do you hope to stay in Vancouver for awhile?" she asked.

Generally that's the idea. "It would be nice if I could but--- things happen, you know."

"You seem like a nice girl, I don't see why Carol and Jake wouldn't like to have you as a daughter."

I'm trying to be someone they want. It's the only chance I got to get out of this foster system.

"You're pathetic," Trenton barked at Levi. "Dinner is over."

Shayla poured herself more tea. "She's welcome to stay as long as she wants, Trenton."

I waited for Trenton to explode. Being disobeyed was something he didn't like before and I'm sure he doesn't appreciate being told what to do either by women, now.

His eye twitched and I heard his teeth clench together. He didn't say a word. He roughly pushed his chair back and jumped up, leaving a trail of cold air as he exited the room.

I got chills.

"Well," Shayla said with a nervous smile. "Excuse my husband, Emerson. He sometimes needs time to himself to cool off."

At least he's found some stragedy that works for him instead of blowing up and throwing things. He shouldn't lay his hands on anyone.

Suddenly, Levi jerked his chair backwards and bolted out of his seat, stomping out of the room.

**

I stepped out of the front door frame and saw Levi sitting on the bottom step, leading to the walk way. I let out a breath, "There you are."

Sitting with his back faced to me, her turned his head enough to see me out of the corner of his eyes. "Last place I want to be is in there." He turned back around and lifted a lit cigarette to his lips.

"Mmm, stress smoking. The best kind." I walked down the stairs and sat next to him on the last step. I nudged his arm with my elbow, "It wasn't as bad as you're probably thinking it was."

"That was bad."

"So what if you're dad can be a dick. I've had my own share of dick dads."

"This is bullshit, Emme." He took a long drag. "My mom is amazing and then there is him and----I fuckin' hate him."

From what I've seen today, he's alot better then he was. So really---he's an improvement. Course, I don't really know what is happening behind closed doors when guests are around. Shayla could be subjected to beatings. She could be covered in black and blue bruises.

I wouldn't know what's going on...

Levi dropped the cigarette on the ground and smothered it with his right shoe. He let out a long sigh, running his fingers through his hair.

I gave him an awkward pat on the knee. "You know, why dont I give Mack a call and see if she knows of any parties happenin' tonight. Maybe we can go."

"There are none but I got the house to myself later. I can pull somethin' together."

Great. I knew I was going to regret suggesting this later.