Family Ties (9 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Monday morning, I lie still while blocking out the poking and prodding between my legs, focusing instead on Jason’s concern last Friday. Hugging me close and asking what the doctor said, an edge of panic in his voice and his eyes. Smiling and hugging me again when I said it was just an intestinal virus and that I have a follow up early Monday. I let him press me against his chest and wished for a life in which being with him is a possibility.

Mother drops me off at school in time for lunch when all is said and done. I find Jason in the cafeteria with some teammates, but Arissa is nowhere in sight.

“I thought you’d be home today,” he says, meeting me halfway and drawing me into him.

“My mother didn’t want me missing school if I didn’t have to. Where’s Riss?”

“Off with Bobby somewhere.” He studies my face with intensity. “Are you sure you should be here?”

“I’d rather be here right now.”

His lips draw into a bright smile. “Let’s blow this joint and find some sunshine.” He grabs his backpack, telling the guys he’ll see them later. He leads me across campus to where we sat alone last week, but away from the trees to catch the warming rays of the sun. We lie side by side gazing at the clear blue sky.

“Have you eaten?” he asks. 

Soon, the sky will give way to May Gray and June Gloom. Appropriate for how I feel, but I concentrate on the light blue above me and Jason beside me.

“I’m not hungry,” I answer. 

His fingers weave into mine. “I’m worried about you. You look like you haven’t eaten in weeks.”

“I’m fine, J. At least I will be.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Junior year

My parents finally agree to let Jason take me on a date after Andrew and Rose talk to them. He got his license over the summer and drives me to the football game in a used, dark gray Hyundai Elantra.

We sit in the back corner of Joe’s after the game, constantly interrupted by other students coming to talk to Jason. His popularity increased after becoming the starting point guard for the basketball team at the end of last season. He makes sure to introduce me to the people I don’t know, but they all eventually ignore me in favor of Jason. It’s like being at home with Victoria, only I don’t care about Jason getting the attention.

Arissa arrives with her current boyfriend, Damian Riven. He’s a running back for the football team, with broad shoulders and muscles everywhere. His short, light brown hair is brushed back from his face and his light blue eyes are like ice. Jason moves next to me to make room for them at the table.

“Great game, man,” Jason tells Damian as they clasp their hands around their thumbs.

“Thanks, man.”

Arissa leans over and whispers, “So how’s the date?”

“We keep getting interrupted,” I whisper back.

“Hey. No whispering at the table, you two,” Jason teases.

“Have you ordered anything yet?” Damian asks.

“No, I got side-tracked,” Jason answers, sheepish.

Damian glances at me and grins.

“Don’t look at me.” I gesture around the restaurant. “Blame them.”

Damian laughs. “How about I order some food and drinks? Pepperoni okay?”

“And a pitcher of whatever,” Jason answers.

“So, Waters,” Arissa says, ”are you making sure my best friend is having a good time?”

“I’m trying to.” He flashes her a toothy grin.

“You better be. It took you guys long enough to get here.”

“You know who to blame that one on,” I say dryly.

Arissa snickers. “So did good ol’ Simon and Tibby put you through the wringer?” she asks Jason.

Wringer is mild. They asked dozens of pointless questions, then demanded to examine his car and that he give them his cell phone and home number. They eyed him up and down, weighing him and finding him wanting no doubt.

“Something like that.” He chuckles and then looks at me. “I’m sorry, Parker. But they give me the creeps.” 

“They give everyone the creeps,” I state. “That’s why I go to Arissa’s instead of her coming to my house. They’re Ozzie and Harriet around other people, but psychotic Al and Peg on crack the rest of the time.”

Damian returns with the pitcher and glasses. “So what did I miss?” he asks, pouring the drinks and passing them around.

“Just talk about Simon and Tibby,” Arissa says matter-of-factly.

Damian wrenches his face in response. “I’m sorry,” he says, catching himself. “I haven’t even met them.”

“You don’t want to,” Jason, Arissa, and I respond in unison.

“Enough of my parents. Let’s talk about something else.”

“I’m throwing a party after the game next week and I want you two to come,” Damian announces.

“Cool. We’ll be there,” Jason says, sliding his arm over my shoulders. I neither shy away, nor lean into his display of affection.

“Could you give me a ride to the game next week if you’re taking Sara?” Arissa asks Jason.

“Sure.” He turns to me and adds, “If it’s okay with you that we have a third wheel.”

I laugh and Arissa throws the paper wrapper from her straw at Jason. “Thanks a lot. At least I know where I stand in your world,” she states.

“I don’t mind having a third wheel. I like tricycles,” I chime in.

Arissa extends her middle finger to me. I return the gesture with a grin causing her to double over in laughter.

“You can either be at Parker’s at six-thirty or we’ll come over after I pick her up,” Jason tells her.

“I’ll brave her house for a bit. It’s only fair, I guess,”  

Joe brings our pizza when it is ready. He wears his long, blond hair in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.

“Hey, Joe!” we greet him together.

“So what’s new with you guys?” he asks, placing the pizza in the middle of the table.

“It’s Jason and Sara’s first date,” Arissa announces, passing the plates around.

“I think this calls for something special. I’ll be back with a surprise.” He heads back to the kitchen and returns with dessert as the last of the pizza disappears off our plates.

“It’s not a real date unless you share a banana split,” he says, setting it between us. “I didn’t forget you guys either,” he tells Arissa and Damian, placing another banana split in front of them.

Damian and Arissa inhale their dessert, then say their goodbyes.

I’m finally alone with Jason.

“I wish we could’ve done this sooner,” he says, a wistful glint in his eye.

“Me too.” I smile.

“Parker?” He takes my hand into his.

“Yeah?”

“What really goes on at home?”

I choke down the lump forming in my throat, swallowing hard.

“Whatever it is, it won’t change my feelings for you.”

My eyes water. Jason squeezes my hand, stroking my cheek and wiping my tears with his free hand.

He says that, but it will change everything if he knew. The beatings. The rape. The pregnancy. The abortion. He would run for Arizona and never look back.

“I adore you, Parker.” He brushes his lips across mine. “You don’t have to tell me until you’re ready. I promised you before I wouldn’t keep asking you. But, I know something is going on and it’s hurting you. I can see it in your eyes.”

He pulls me into his embrace. Into the warm tenderness I need.

“I’m always going to be here for you,” he assures me.

He walks me to the door after the short drive home.

“Thank you,” I pause with my hand in his at the door, “for everything.”

“Anything for you, Parker.” He presses his soft lips against my cheek.

I smile shyly at him while closing the door and then walk on air all the way to my room.

Father sits on my bed, glass of amber liquid attached to his hand as usual. I smell the caramel notes of the bourbon from across the room. He’s been drinking all night.

I don’t like this. He probably started after we left for the football game. 

“Close the door,” he orders.

I pull my shoulders back. “No.”

“Close the door,” he says with more force.

“No. I won’t let you do it anymore.” I just stepped off a precipice into the abyss. The freefall sets off every nerve ending in my body and I want to scream.

“Close the door,” he says, gritting his teeth.

“I’ll fight you and scream so loud Mother and Victoria wake up.”

“You slut,” he says, staggering to his feet.

I freeze, wondering what is coming next. My defiance will come at a steep price; one he will make me pay now or later. He takes two long strides and stops an inch from my face. My head spins from the alcohol fumes.

“You slept with him,” he accuses in a venomous tone.

“No, I didn’t. He respects me. Unlike you,” I refute with a boldness born from the desire for tranquility.

He slaps my face. “Don’t you
ever
talk to me like that again.”

My brazenness suppresses the sting of his slap. “I’m not a little girl you can scare anymore. Hit me all you want. But if you try to rape me again, I’m calling the police.” My hands ball into fists and I know this is it. There is no turning back after making that threat. I have to follow through.

“You don’t have the balls.”

I root myself where I stand and set my jaw. “Try me.”

“Fucking whore!” he barks, slamming me up against the wall with his free hand and then leaves my room.

My muscles loosen as I let out a hard breath.

Now I wait for him to collect.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“So?” Arissa asks after I cut off the lawn mower.

“So, what?” I ask in return.

“Unh!” she grunts. “C’mon, don’t play coy. What happened after we left last night?

I can’t contain the wide grin spreading across my face. “He told me he adores me.”

She screams like a teenage girl at a One Direction concert. “Details! I want details!”

“Okay,” I chuckle. “Let me finish mowing the yard so my parents don’t act like the world is ending.”

“Okay!” She runs to the porch steps and sits.

When I finish, I sit with her and give details about the rest of the date up until the kiss on the cheek. The confrontation with my father will remain my secret. 

“I wish Damian was more chivalrous,” she says dreamily.

“He’s not?” I ask, surprised.

“He’ll do little things that are thoughtful. But he doesn’t always walk me to the door when he brings me home.” She pauses, giving it a second thought. “Maybe chivalrous wasn’t the right word.”

“Selfless,” I state.

“Yeah. It always depends on what’s going on.”

“Do you think he’s someone you want to marry?”

“Nah. He’s just a boy toy.”

“Ha! You’re using him! I knew it,” I tease. “Just like Bobby and the others.”

“Of course.” She snickers. “Why else would I be with him? It’s not like he’s Boy Genius.”

“Do you think we all have that one perfect person we’re supposed to find?” I never bought into the notion of a soul mate. It always seems like a silly plot device.

“If there is, I sure haven’t found him. You have yours, though,” she says confidently.

“How do you know he’s the one for me?” I’m surprised she can be so sure about my love life when I’m still clueless about relationships in general.

“Oh, come on, Sara. He’s been after you since we met him.”

“But he’s dated other girls,” I remind her.

“So? I’ve dated other guys. He always came back to you. Always.”

“Does that mean I should do the same?” Who would I date? I know Jason and Damian. That’s it.

“Don’t be crazy! Could you imagine anyone better than Jason?”

“I don’t know. I never thought about it.”

“We’ve known each other for two years and
I
can’t think of anyone better than him.”

There she is again with that certainty. “Are you excited about Damian’s party?” I ask.

“As excited as I can be. It’ll be the football players and their girlfriends.” 

“You don’t like them?”

“Did I ever hang out with them before Damian?”

“No, but that’s because we never ran with that crowd.”

“It’s a good thing we didn’t. The guys are all pseudo-macho-wannabes and the girls are wrapped up with being seen and acting like they have a personal stake in their boyfriend’s athletic prowess.”

I giggle. “Tell me how you really feel about them, Riss.”

“I think we should double date from now on. I’d have more fun with you and Jason than those other guys.”

“Have you thought of just breaking up with him?”

“No way!”

“Why?”

“He’s hot. And the other stuff, well…you know.” She winks at me.

I roll my eyes at her in jest. Arissa lost her virginity in May. She was more curious about sex than investing in a relationship with Bobby.

“Let’s go to a movie or something,” she says.

“The mall?”

“Yeah!” She jumps up, ready to go.

“Let me put the mower away and check with my parents.”

“I’ll go get my mom,” she says, already in motion.

I step inside the house after closing the garage door.

“Get off your fucking ass and fix lunch!” Father yells from his seat in the family room.

“Fix it your damn self!” she shouts back from their bedroom.

“Good for nothing lazy ass bitch!”

Mother marches into the family room and looms over him, hands planted on her hips.

“There you are,” he says, “finally off that fat ass of yours.”

She snatches his drink, throws the fiery liquid in his face, slams the glass on the coffee table, and storms back to their room. Father screams and claws at his eyes.

“Father, I’m going to the mall with Arissa,” I tell him instead of asking, afraid to be anywhere near them after that, then rush back to the front door.

“No, you’re not!” he yells, jumping out of his chair wiping his face with the collar of his shirt.

I quicken my stride, but it’s not enough. He seizes my arm and hauls me backwards. “Get back in here and clean up this mess!” he orders.

I grab hold of the doorjamb with my other hand and fight to stay outside. He can’t hurt me outside.

“I said, get back in here!”

“No!” I scream, straining against his pull.

He releases my arm and I fall onto the porch, catching myself with my hands. He moves fast, kicking me in the ribs. The contact knocks the wind out of me and I curl up, protecting myself with my arms covering my head and face.

“Good for nothing bitch! You’re just like your mother! Worthless!” he yells, kicking me again and again.

The sound of a car engine purring, the screeching of brakes, and the slamming of metal on metal comes in over his shouting.

He stops without a word. The familiar smacking of fist hitting flesh comes next, but it’s not his fist hitting my flesh. I remain balled up with my eyes pinched shut. Mother’s shriek sounds next over the fight.

Someone picks me up and carries me, running. A woodsy aroma fills my nose.

Jason!

I hold on to him and a frayed end of hope as if my life depends on it, because it does.

He sits on something soft, cradling me in his arms. “Parker, you’re safe,” he says, kissing my head and stroking my hair.

I want to believe it. I want to be safe. I want it all to end. But it won’t. It never will. This is just a pause in the game. An intermission between acts. Halftime.

Tremors overtake my body and Jason squeezes me close. “It’s okay,” he murmurs.

“No, it’s not.” I choke on sputtered sobs. “I’ll never be safe.”

He draws back with my head in his hands. “You. Are. Safe.”

I open my eyes warily. His golden irises focus on me, full of concern. We’re on one of the Jerichos’ living room sofas with Rose, Andrew, and Arissa watching over us.

They saw. They all saw.

The sobbing comes in full force and I cinch my arms around Jason, burying my face in his neck. My world is shattered, laid before me in chaos like a 3-D puzzle with no picture to use as a guide.

Jason doesn’t let go. He holds on to me as tight as I cling to him.

Soon, I tire from the crying. The tears dissipate, leaving salty streaks on my face. Sleep pulls me under.