Save Me From the Dark (24 page)

Bella

It’s Christmas Day!

For the first time in my life, I’m not fully depressed on it. The only reason I’m a bit depressed is because I’m sure my small insignificant gift is nothing for the man that can buy anything under the sun. I’m hoping that whole rule,
it’s the thought that counts
, will play on this gift.

Giving in, I stretch and turn my head. My face drops. I expected to see Ace lying next to me, but the bed is empty. Slowly scooting out of bed, I grab my robe and slide it on as I head downstairs.

“Ace,” I call as I reach the bottom of the stairs.

“In the sitting room, baby,” he answers.

Walking into the sitting room, I freeze. My mouth opens several times, but there’s no coherent thought that will form to come out of my open mouth.

The sitting room looks like a Christmas wonderland. Painstakingly, I peek around at all the items.

“Ace…” I half sob.

“See, I know how much you miss your mom. So, while you were gone, I went about with a Christmas surprise, I would hope would make up for all that you were neglected. With Gary’s help, I found your grandmother.”

Turning my head when I see movement out of the corner of my eye, I watch in shocked silence as my Nana walks into the room. Ace continues talking as if I’m not having an outer body experience.

“See, when your mom died, your father cut all communication off with your Nana. She didn’t like your father and was trying hard to get custody of you. When you were nine, the courts denied her request for custody. Said that there was no reason to prove your father unfit, and that was the last day that she knew anything about you.”

Tears course down my cheeks as I turn my head back to my Nana.

“All my letters, gifts, cards, calls were all returned or ignored. Then I tried to stop by and see you several times and your father put a restraining order on me saying that I beat you. After talking to your boyfriend here, I now know that he was beating you,” she says through her own tears.

Ace wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulder.

“Everything you see here, were the decorations of your mother’s. They are yours now. I’ve seen some of the photos of you and your mom… You look so much alike,” he kisses my cheek.

“Ace… I don’t know what to say…”

“Well,” he steps out from behind me. “Hold that thanking because I’m not done yet.”

My mouth drops open. “What?”

“See, while I was having a nice chat with your Nana, I found out that your mom had a brother. Your father didn’t like him because he beat the shit out of him a time or two because of the way he treated your mom. His name is,” he nods toward the doorway that Nana had just walked through. “Darrell. You have an uncle, beautiful,” he smiles at me lovingly.

“He moved my sister away from me and when you were eight blamed me for hurting you too. I’ve kept tabs on you the best I could though. Sadly, I couldn’t come within five hundred feet of you or have any contact with you.”

Turning back to face my incredible boyfriend, I run into his arms and hug him tightly. Sobbing uncontrollably, I kiss him over and over again.

Pulling away, I look over my shoulder. Clearing my throat, I face them.

“Um, I know that you’ve said that it wasn’t your fault that you haven’t been in contact, but, um, I’m not sure I can look past the ten years of beatings I’ve gotten. Don’t think I’m a bad person please. I want to believe that he truly is that big of a dick – and I do – but the pain is a hard wall to push through.”

“We understand, which is why we didn’t intend to stay. Ace thought that it was something that you’d enjoy. I wasn’t sure after all these years,” my Nana says through her tears.

Nana and Darrell hand me envelopes, kiss my cheek, and excuse themselves. Turning to face Ace, he has a worried expression there.

“I was just trying to give you something that would mean more to you than anything I could buy,” he stammers.

Smiling, “I love you so much. This was the best gift I could ever ask for. I’m just not sure if I’m ready for that yet. Small steps for me.”

“That’s understandable baby. Come here and open your gifts though,” he smiles then kisses me on the lips.

“Gifts? As in more than one? As in more than what you’ve already done for me?”

“Yes,” he says uneasy.

Groaning, I flop on the nearby chair and cover my face.

“What’s wrong beautiful?”

“All I got you was one gift. I’m sorry.”

“Baby, one gift from you is like an infinite amount of money,” he winks and digs around in the gifts. “Can I open it now?”

Nodding my head, I bite my lip nervously. It is pure torture watching him slowly unwrap my itty bitty present. His hand freezes as he looks at the gift in his hands. Slowly, he lifts his head to meet my eyes.

“See, you love music and you express so much through it. I couldn’t figure out what to give you for Christmas since you have everything. So, over the week I was gone, I worked on this for you.”

My cheeks heat with embarrassment at the stupid CD that sat in his hands right now. How could I have possibly thought something like this would be good enough to give him?

Next thing I know, the music from the first song fills the room. He stands there with his head down, bobbing it slightly with the beat, seemingly listening intently.

After a few songs, he looks up at me with tears in his eyes. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten. And by the way, I didn’t have everything until the day you entered my life. Wow, this is fantastic. You’ve got some serious talent.”

He walks over to me, wraps me in his arms, kissing me passionately.

“I love you beautiful. Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas and I love you too.”

It’s back to business as usual. We’ve been in Saldotna for a few days now. Today, Ace has been gone for a lot longer than planned. I’m bored. Gary had to go with him because of the amount of people that were going to be there. So I’m under strict instructions to stay inside and away from the doors and the balcony.

Two days after Christmas, I called my Nana and Uncle Darrell up and we talked for a long time. After opening their envelopes and finding all the proof I needed to know what they were telling me was true, I decided to not let ten more years go by with that same pain.

We’ve agreed to take it one step at a time. We are sticking to phone calls for now to give me time to adjust to the fact that I have family again, flesh and blood family. Nana reminds me so much of my mom that sometimes it hurts too bad to look at her.

Aside from that things have been going really well with Ace and I. He listens to that CD I made him all the time. Right now, he’s trying to convince me to record a song with him, but I just can’t do it.

Today, however, here I am stuck in another hotel room, for another day. I’m so tired of just sitting inside.

Looking at my homework one last time, I shrug. It’s about time for a break. Grabbing the spare key from the table, I grab my coat and gloves and head out the door.

Leaving a note for Ace, I decide it’s time to spread my wings a little further. We are states away from my father. I have no fear. No one knows that I’m Ace Jergens’ girlfriend either, other than the kids at school, but shockingly no one has released that information.

Greeting each person that passes by me, I’m in a great mood. Just as I step outside, my phone rings. Glancing at the caller ID, I smile.

“Hey girl, how have you been?”

“Bella, I need your help,” Dawn whispers.

Stopping in mid-step, my heart starts to race. “What’s wrong?”

“Meet me at the Angel Rock Park on Fifth and Elliot. Please hurry,” she pleads.

“I’m on my way. I’ll call Gary and get…”

She cuts me off. “No, please don’t call Gary. Jarrett would kill me if he finds out. Please just keep it between us.”

“Okay,” I say nervously. “I’m on my way. Are you okay?”

“No,” she sobs. “Please hurry.”

The phone goes dead. My heart hammers rapidly in my chest. Dawn has been going through some stuff that the guys have not been told about and I worry that it’s finally coming to a head. Quickly, I hail a cab and give them the address. The whole ride there, I’m panicking. My heart is telling me I need to let Ace know. Or at least Gary.

To: Garebear

From: Bella

Hey, hope everything is going well. I just wanted to let you know that I’m going out. I’ll be back before y’all get home. I couldn’t stay in that damn hotel another second.

Hugs

To: Bella

From: Gary

No, do not go out without us. I know it sucks staying in the hotel, but we’d lose our minds if something was to happen to you. Please stay in. Ace is done with meetings after today.

To: Garebear

From: Bella

I’ll be okay. I’ve been stuck in a room my whole life. I can’t handle it anymore. Please understand. Hugs!

Placing my phone back in my bag, I ignore the text message chime that comes in almost immediately. They don’t understand what it’s like to be cooped up your whole life, never seeing the outside world other than for school. I need this time out. Once I have Dawn squared away, I’m going to take her to lunch and we’re going to have a girls day.

The cab pulls up to the park and I hand him the fare then walk into the park. This park is incredible. The statues they have that dot all over the park are breathtaking. Many of them are Angels. Ace and I walked this park when we first got here. It was so romantic.

Today, it is really cold. I reach into my pockets, pulling out my gloves and slipping them on. The skies look like there will be snow. A shiver runs through my body at the thought of snow. Winter is always so depressing. No life in anything. Well, there never used to be anyway. Now there is.

I’ve been walking for a few minutes before I realize that I have no idea where in this park Dawn is. Not wanting to pull my phone out, I look around for Dawn sitting on the benches. Thankfully, there is only one path through the park and one that rounds the outskirts. There are a few dead end paths here and there, but only one that allowed you to pass through.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I continue my way through the park. Looking from side to side trying to not miss Dawn, it is freezing. I didn’t want her to get sick. Dawn and I have become really close since I left Ace almost two weeks ago now. She’s like the sister I’ve always wanted, but never had.

Just then, I’m yanked to the side and a cloth of some sort is placed over my mouth and nose. Struggling against whoever holds me, I fight to free myself. My traitorous eyes grow heavy. My arms grow weak and soon all the fight leaves me.