Broken macys story, p.16
Broken: Macy's Story, page 16
She clung to my neck for a few seconds more, then reluctantly went to the dining room.
“Did his wife—?” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
“Yes,” Gramps whispered. “Derek’s wife passed away this afternoon.”
Chapter 16~
No Rest for the Weary
I finished making the bed, only to seriously consider lying down on it. The last two days had been highly-charged and emotional. Mostly because Derek had left and hadn’t come back.
Gramps said yesterday evening that it was okay, that he knew where Derek was. And Derek had called last night to talk to Lillian and to tell her that he had to take care of some things for her mommy. But my heart broke for Lillian who kept wondering if her father left because she drank from his grown-up soda bottle.
None of us told her the truth, but it hung in the air like a thick fog, making it hard to move around.
Last night, after Lillian had fallen asleep, I pressed Gramps. “Where is he?”
“He’s supposed to be back soon.”
“Gramps…” I said.
“Macy, do not push me for information. Part of being clergy is keeping things confidential.”
“Yes, that’s true. But right now, and I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, I’m a part of the ministry. Right?”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
“Who’s watching Lillian? I am. Who was up most of last night because that little girl kept having nightmares? I was. Who had to change the sheets because Lillian had an accident? I did. If I am an extension of your ministry, which I’d like to think I am, then I should know. At least the basics.”
Gramps stared at me for a moment before sighing, “Fine. You’re right. You should know some of it. He had to go back to his father. To see if he could help with funeral expenses. Then he had to go to her family.” He stopped and paused, clearly emotional.
“They don’t know yet?”
“None of it.”
I covered my mouth as the realization hit me. Her family had no idea that their daughter had been sick? “How could he not tell them?”
“Derek and his wife haven’t talked to their families since they ran away together. The families don’t even know about Lillian. That’s why she’s here for right now.”
The news hit me like a sledgehammer. “What happened? Do they not even know their daughter has been on a ventilator? And why wouldn’t their families want to know about Lillian? She’s such a beautiful little girl.”
“From what Derek shared with me, his father is a gambler and a drinker. He had a heavy hand with Derek, so Derek saved up enough money to try to go to college to get out of the dump they lived in. He had to work three jobs to stay in school. His wife, on the other hand, came from a highly influential and rich family. You get where this is going? He was the bad boy from the other side of the tracks. Her family forbid it, so the two ran away together and never looked back.”
I remembered Derek telling me about how they moved up north where they had first met. Had they been running away?
That question had been going through mind all morning. Now as I yawned, I pushed the cart to the next room in a sleepy daze. I took another drink of my coffee. “Wake up,” I ordered myself. “These rooms aren’t going to clean themselves.” My cell phone buzzed. I saw that it was Dad, but I didn’t take the call. I was too tired to talk. I shut the phone off and entered the next room.
I turned the T.V. on full volume to keep me focused and awake. While vacuuming, I noticed Pedro peeking his head through the doorway. I turned off the machine, lowered the T.V.’s volume, and asked, “What are you doing, goofball?”
“You scare so easily,” he said, grinning. “And I make you jump all the time. So I’m trying to let you know I’m here before, you know, you have a heart attack.”
“Thank you for the consideration,” I said, yawning again.
“Lillian didn’t sleep better last night?”
“She refuses to sleep in any room other than where I’m at. I think she’s gotten used to always having an adult sleeping in the room with her. I’ve tried sneaking off to crash on the couch, which sort of works, but she wakes up crying. Not to mention she’s been having accidents.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ll be fine. I’m more concerned about her and Derek.”
Pedro approached me, his normally hard face softened. He reached up and gently tucked some stray hair behind my ear. “You are such a good person, Macy Elmsworth,” he said. “Definitely not a villain.”
His words impacted me, and I found myself blinking back emotion. “You think so?”
“I told you that I see you. Really see you. And you would do anything for anyone. I mean, I treated you like garbage, and yet, when I needed help, you said yes. You didn’t even have to think about it.”
Our gaze lingered, and even though we were standing in an old motel room, everything faded as if there was only the two of us. Pedro hesitated briefly before leaning in and kissing me.
I didn’t push him away or step back. In that moment, I realized I wasn’t afraid of Pedro or his past. That he might have seen the good in me, but I also saw the good in him. So, when he went to release me, I tugged on his shirt and pulled him back to me again.
Afterward, he rested his forehead on mine and smiled shyly. “I’ve wanted to do that for a while.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“I don’t really remember what I came in here for,” he said, stepping away.
I grinned. “Checking up on me? Making sure I hadn’t fallen asleep?”
“I think I just wanted to see you…”
My heart thudded loudly. He probably heard it.
After we stood there, grinning at each other like a couple of school kids, he went to leave the room. “I’m going to go check on my mother. She actually showed for work again today.”
I nodded and waved good-bye, then brought my hand to my lips and smiled. Even though I didn’t say it out loud, I had been wanting to do that for a while too. I had no idea what it meant, other than admitting to myself that I was attracted to him and it looked like he was attracted to me too.
But it was more than that. Much more. My heart hurt, but in a really good way. Maybe because I didn’t have to hide this. I didn’t have to be deceitful. Maybe it was because it felt completely natural unlike the other situation I had been in. With Pedro, it just felt…right.
The rest of the afternoon went by fast as I replayed the kiss over and over again in my mind. The bus dropped Lillian off, and she tagged along while I finished. I tried to leave her with Gram yesterday afternoon, but she refused to be anywhere but with me. And she only went to school the last two days because I pinky-promised to be here when she came home.
“What do you think’s for dinner?” I asked her, as I pushed the cart back in its spot in the laundry room. I noticed Pedro’s had already been dropped off. I felt the sting of disappointment that I wouldn’t see him this evening.
“Hamburgers and French fries,” Lillian said. “Gram told me. Will Daddy be there?”
“I’m not sure if he’ll be back yet, but if not, I’m sure he’ll call you like he did last night.”
We crossed the street and walked up the driveway. Lillian ran over to Gram who was planting some annuals. I turned my phone back on, knowing Adrianne would be calling soon. My phone started buzzing with missed calls. And they were all from Dad.
As soon as we stepped inside, Gram said, “Your father’s been trying to get a hold of you. Says it’s urgent.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” I said. “He’s called five times.” I hit the dial button and waited for Dad to pick up.
“It’s about time,” he said exasperated.
“Sorry. I was busy working. What’s up?”
“It’s about Hannah.”
“Okay, what’s so important that you blow up my phone?”
“Jake’s gone.”
I had just entered the dining room and had nearly taken my seat. Now I turned and headed toward the downstairs bathroom. Once I shut the door and locked it, I said, “What are you talking about? Where did he go?”
“We don’t know. Hannah’s beside herself. Said that last night he told her he wanted to take a break for a while, but that she talked him out of it. Apparently, she didn’t because when she went over to his apartment, all his personal stuff was gone.”
I sank to the floor, repeating to myself that it had nothing to do me. I’m not the villain. I told Jake no. I was no longer the bad guy in this story.
“Macy?” Dad asked. “Hannah told us that Jake mentioned you. Your mother said it’s time you tell me. Do you know what that’s about?”
I closed my eyes and took in a shaky breath. I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
“Does this have to do with the sketchbook incident?”
Someone knocked on the door behind me. “Macy?” Lillian asked. “Are you done washing your hands?”
“I can’t talk about this right now,” I said. “I’ve got to go.”
“Please talk to me. I want to help both my daughters, but I need to know what’s going on.”
I ended the call and turned off my phone. I couldn’t talk to my Dad. I couldn’t tell him the truth. I wasn’t ready to be the villain again.
Chapter 17~
Time Will Tell
Dinner remained subdued. Gram and Gramps must have talked to Dad because they didn’t push conversation but would glance at me every now and then and act like they wanted to say something. Lillian even stayed quiet, picking at her food and acting melancholy.
I busied myself with dinner clean-up, then helped Lillian take a bath and get ready for bed, but once she was in my bed and the lights were off, I found my grandparents sitting beside each other on the couch waiting for me.
“Sit,” Gramps said.
I sat across from them but couldn’t look them in the eye.
“Macy,” Gramps started. “Your father told us what happened with Hannah.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, still keeping my eyes focused on the carpet.
“We want you to know that you don’t have to tell us anything.”
Now I levelled my gaze with theirs. “I don’t?”
“No,” Gramps said. “But we need to know if Jake would have any reason to come up here?”
I felt the air deplete from my lungs. I could barely gather a breath. Oh my God, would Jake come up here?
“Macy, breathe,” Gram said concerned.
“This can’t be happening,” I said more to myself. I rubbed my thighs and my arms, feeling as if my skin was crawling with horror. “He can’t come up here. I’m safe up here.”
“I don’t want to push you,” Gramps said, no longer masking his concern. “But your father and mother and Hannah have reason to believe that Jake is headed up this way. If there is anything we should know, we would appreciate the information.”
“We won’t judge, hon,” Gram added. “You know that about us. But is there a reason why he would want to come up here? Is it you?”
I pushed myself up and started to pace the floor. Why would he come up here? I wanted nothing to do with him! Suddenly, I had to leave. I needed to go to the one person I had confided in. “May I borrow the car?”
Both Gramps and Gram blinked as if not expecting the question.
“I promise I’ll be back in a little bit. I just…I want to go talk to a friend…Please, I promise, I will be back soon.”
“What friend?” Gram asked.
“Pedro.” I paused. “He…He gets me.”
“Do you know where he lives?” Gramps asked.
“Yes, I think I can find it.”
“It’s back a ways off the road.”
“Right. If I can’t find it I’ll come right back.”
Gramps and Gram exchanged a look. “We’re worried about you,” Gramps admitted. “And we’re not done with this conversation. If you promise to be back within an hour or so, we’ll trust you with the car.”
“I promise.” I crossed my heart, then went over to them and kissed them both.
I practically ran out of the house, shaking so hard it took a couple tries to start the car. I kept looking over my shoulder and kept pressing the lock button to the car to prevent Jake from slipping inside. I reversed the vehicle, nearly hitting a tree, but fixed the turn just in time. Once in drive, I pressed the gas and sped down the road.
Tears blinded me, and I nearly missed the two-track that led through the woods. I wiped at my eyes and focused on staying on the small trail, but feeling completely terrified of the dusky woods. Goose bumps erupted on my arms as my eyes darted from right to left. Somehow I managed to find the turn-off that led to Pedro’s trailer.
Once there, I stumbled out of the car, and ran up to the door, pounding on it and watching behind me at the same time.
Pedro opened it, and I flew into his arms, bursting into tears. “He’s coming for me,” I cried. “I don’t know what to do! He’s coming for me!”
“Whoa,” Pedro said before finally putting his arms around me. “I don’t know what’s going on, but take a deep breath.”
“He’s coming up here,” I whispered, still shaking. “I thought I was safe up here, but I’m not.”
“Give me a sec,” Pedro said, releasing me.
I nodded but wrapped my arms around myself. Filipe and Pablo sat on couch that looked like it came right out of the 1970s. Their mother sat with them. And all three were watching me with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. “Hi,” I murmured, forcing myself to push past my emotions. “I didn’t mean to barge in like this.”
“Who’s coming to get you?” Filipe asked.
“Never mind,” Pedro said to his brother. Then he said, “Come on, sit at the table. Dinner’s ready.”
It was then I noticed the small table right beside the kitchen with three mismatched chairs around it. Pedro had placed two hotdogs on pieces of bread and a serving of corn at each spot. I watched him as he poured milk into plastic cups. The boys turned off the boxed television and came over to the table. “Is there any for me?” their mother asked.
“Of course,” Pedro said, although his tone was less than inviting. “Take my spot here. Go ahead and get started. Save me some,” he warned his brothers.
“Go ahead and eat,” I said, feeling guilty that I was pulling him away from his only real meal of the day.
“They’ll save some for me,” he said. His family had already began to eat. But I didn’t see any more food left for Pedro. “I’ll be fine,” he said and took my hand. “There are two more hot dogs in the pan and plenty of bread.” He led me down the narrow hall to a small bedroom on the right. It had a futon laid out as a bed, a thin dresser cluttered with a variety of paraphernalia, and a laundry basket of clothes sitting on an old chair.
“Is this—“
“My room? Yes. I’d have picked up a little more, but I wasn’t expecting company.” He reached out and touched my face. “I know it’s not much. That’s why I didn’t want you to see it.”
“No, your home is warm and cozy. I…I’m feeling kind of silly to barge in like I did.”
“I’m glad to see you. So, what’s up? Who’s coming?”
“Jake.”
Pedro’s expression darkened. “The man who came into your room uninvited and took something that didn’t belong to him?”
“I thought I told you that I left my door un—“ One look at Pedro, and I said, “Yes, that’s the same guy.”
“Why is he coming up here?”
“He broke it off with Hannah.”
“He’s not over you.”
“I think it has something to do with that letter he gave me.”
“Seeing you reminded him of what he wanted.”
“But I don’t want him. I told him that.”
“Men like that don’t care what you want, Macy. He came into your room without an invitation and preyed upon you for months. He’s a taker, not a giver. He might come in a shiny preacher-package, but I’ve known men like him.”
“What do I do?” I asked, feeling shaken again.
“Did you tell your grandparents?”
“No, they know something’s up because they’re the ones who told me, but I can’t tell them.”
“Why not? They need to know.”
“Because…” I paused, then said what had been bothering me all evening. “Because they’ve been the only family who has loved me and helped me and believed in me unconditionally. It’ll be over when they find out who I am.” I wiped at my eyes, embarrassed over the tears.
“Two things, Macy. First of all, their love isn’t going to stop once you tell them. If anything, they’re going to be just as upset as I was about Jake…not about you. Second thing is this: they already know who you are. One mistake doesn’t change that.”
“It was a BIG mistake.”
“Tell them,” he said gently. “They need to know. Then you won’t have it hanging over your head. You’ll be free from it.”
“What am I going to do if he comes up here?”
“You tell him to leave. You call the cops. You put a restraining order on the guy. There’s a lot you can do.” Pedro added, “I better not see him, that’s all I have to say. I can’t risk getting in trouble again, but if I laid eyes on him…”
“No,” I pleaded. “I don’t want you in trouble, especially over him.” I wrapped my arms around Pedro and rested my head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
With Pedro’s arms around me, I felt safe. We held each other for several minutes. Then I heard his stomach growl. “You’re hungry,” I said, stepping back. “I’ll get going so that you can eat.”
“I’m all right,” he said, but his stomach rumbled again. He laughed, “Okay, okay, I’m a little hungry.”
“Eat,” I said, opening the bedroom door. “If your brothers haven’t eaten it all.”
“They better not.”
As we made our way to the living room and kitchen area, Pedro’s mother was slipping into a pair of high-heeled boots.
“What’re you doing?” he asked.
