The Family: Ties That Bind (VOL. 2)

Chapter 16

The later the night grew, the more fearful I became. I was antsy to get it over with and yet I knew that came with a high price. If I could've stalled them I would've. But at that moment, my main concern was Thomas. Get my baby to safety then worry about the hostages.

To make matters worse, the first thing I saw when I stormed back into the dining room was Bubba parading Thomas around, showing him off to the increasingly confused hostages with an almost tangible sense of pride. Thomas kicked his chubby bare feet and rubbed his eyes with his tiny fists, groaning in dissatisfaction of being kept from his after-supper slumber. 

"Put that d@mn runt away, boy. Our guests don't care nuthin bout seein yer kid." Drayton swatted Bubba away from the table with a wave of his hand as if he were nothing more than a pesky fly.

The hostages' eyes flickered my way as I sat the pitcher on the table. I knew what they were thinking. I was the only female of child bearing age in the house and Drayton just called Thomas Bubba's kid. What they were thinking was only logical. It was what anyone would be thinking if they saw someone in my situation. But it wasn't true. Bubba was a lot of things, but he's not a rapist. He would never hurt me that way. Doesn't have it in him. I mean, he still covers his eyes if I try to change my clothes in front of him. 

Loretta brushed past me, reaching out for Thomas, but the turn of Bubba's back shot her down. For some reason, tonight he was reluctant to release the baby into his mother's care. Odd considering he was always more than happy to pass the baby off to Loretta or me when he gets fussy. 

"Oh, don't call 'im a runt, Drayton," Loretta retorted, taking Thomas from Bubba's arms despite his reluctance to give him away. She laid him over her shoulder and patted his back to soothe the brewing tantrum. "Lil Tommy here's the start of a brand new generation of Sawyers. Ain't that right, Tommy?" 

Not if I have anything to say about it. I might be stuck here, but I refuse to let them taint his innocent mind with their deranged morals. He has a family out there. I don't know who they are, but he's got a family and I'm positive they're looking for him. If anything, the Sawyers are only a temporary foster home until I get away from this nightmare and return him to his parents...or parent. I have a feeling his mother isn't around anymore.

Bubba raised his fingers to the bush of frizzy black hair adorning the scalp of his mask and plucked at the curls, watching intently as Loretta carried Thomas off. Something about his behavior struck me as odd. He's protective over Thomas and has never been one for public displays of affection, and yet tonight of all nights he's in the mood to show the both of us off. The only explanation I could think of is that this is one of those proud papa moments.

Nubbins drummed his silverware on the table. "When's tha p-party startin?" The clanking of the cultilarly made the woman at his side wince "See 'at!" he said, pointing at Penny with the same fork he used to jab her earlier. "Even miss city slicker supermodel here's ready to get this show on the road."

"We ain't startin without Grandpa," Drayton responded. "Why dontcha make yourself useful an' go bring 'im down here. Take Bubba witcha."

"Mm-make myself useful? Funny hear 'at come from you! Me an'-an' Leatherface the ones doin' all tha hard work 'round here while you-you're off servin soup. Good fer nuthin COOK!" He shot up from his seat and blew a slobbery wet raspberry in his brother's face before scampering off and narrowly dodging a balled-up napkin Drayton threw at his head. "Attack of tha lunch lady! Watch out for the flyin' hair nets!"

Nubbins sped into the hall and made a sharp right turn, his shoes squeaking on the floor as he pivoted and booked it upstairs but not before taking a flying spoon to the back of the head. Drayton growled and muttered obscenities under his breath. The shade of cherry red on his cheeks and the way he trembled told me Nubbins had pushed him to his boiling point. "Swear these boys'll be the death of me! Stole my youth. Gave me gray hairs when I was only eighteen."