Unbreakable (2 page)

He helped his dad when he was younger and I
couldn’t wait to be near him. Only being 14, I liked it when he was
there because he was so attentive to me, like he felt protective in
a way. He let me help them with what they were doing. Luke would
keep a watchful eye to make sure I didn’t get hurt. I was so in
love with him. I knew he cared for me, but I think I was more like
a little sister to him.

One day I had one of my run-ins with Jane.
She had slapped me across the face. I wasn’t even sure what I did
to piss her off. I think she was just in a bad mood, and belittling
me always makes her feel better. I was used to her mean words. Miss
Finnegan is always telling me to ignore her, they were just that,
“only words”, and they weren't true.

I glaze over when she goes on a rampage. That
day, when she slapped me, she must have seen the indifference in my
eyes. After her hand made it across my face, I felt the sting and
the swelling instantly. It must've appeased her, because she
stomped off with Mckayla on her heels to leave and go shopping.

It was fine with me because I knew Luke was
there and I so desperately wanted to see him. As soon as Jane was
gone, I ran from the house in search for him knowing that he would
make me forget all about Jane. I was so excited to see him I didn’t
even feel the pain on my cheek and lip. When I turned the corner of
the house I saw him leaning over the shrubbery lining one of the
paths that curved around the property and came to a stop.

My mouth had gone dry just like so many other
times when I'd see him. He noticed me and his face lit up giving me
one of his warm smiles that always melted my heart. Once I got
closer to him though, his face shifted to a frown. I saw darkness
in his eyes like he was angry. I halted in my steps not sure what
I'd done when he reached me.

“Lilly, your face, what happened?” I put my
hand up and the moment my hand touched my cheek I felt the sting of
the sensitive bruised flesh. I knew then what he was mad about.
This wasn’t the first bruise I'd sported from the hands of Jane,
but this was the worst one he'd seen. He knew that Jane was
verbally abusive having heard her yelling at me before, which
thoroughly pissed him off. Jeffrey had told Luke that I was fine
and it was something that I had learned to deal with, and I had.
Jeffrey, just like Miss Finnegan, never said anything because he
would be fired. I'd die if they weren’t here, so I know their
silence was actually for me.

I know that Jane has a lot of influence in
the town. Emma told me that her dad had tried to report the abuse
at one time. Jane was so honored and cherished in the town that not
only did no one check up on the accusation, but Elliott was
actually chastised for making such an awful allegation. It hadn’t
taken long for word to get back to Jane. If it wasn’t for my father
protecting his friend, she would've ruined Elliot and his business.
I know why no one is able to do anything about Jane’s abuse. I
wanted it that way in order to keep Miss Finnegan, Jeffrey, and
Luke with me. I don’t know if I could survive Jane if wasn’t for
them, and because I knew deep down that if I was ever in real true
danger, that they'd be here.

“Lilly, what happened?” Luke repeated after I
hadn’t responded right away. He made it no secret that he wanted to
make Jane pay for her abuse. Jeffrey’s warnings to him were keeping
him at bay, but I feared the same as Jeffrey. Once Luke blew the
results wouldn't be good for any of us.

“I fell and hit my cheek on the step,” I lied
not wanting Luke to know that Jane had done it. “You know me, so
clumsy.” I tried to make light of the situation.

“You’re lying, Lilly Flower.” Luke’s term of
endearment for me always made my insides go warm. “Did Jane do
this?” He pressed. He could read me so well.

“No, it's fine. It doesn’t even hurt. What
are you doing?” I was trying to change the subject. I glance down
at his project, which was trimming the bushes back.

His hand came to my face and I licked my lips
tasting my blood. I realized that my lip was split and I could feel
the swelling. He gently ran his thumb along the bruised skin
sending chills through me. “I want you to go inside and put some
ice on it. OK?” His words were gentle. I knew he didn't believe me.
“Don’t want it swelling up anymore. I need to go speak with my dad
so run along and do as I say.” He didn’t give me any option as he
turned me around and started to guide me to the house. I didn’t
want to go in. I wanted to stay with Luke, but I went inside anyway
and did as I was told.

Jane had come home while I was sitting at the
table with the ice pack to my face. Dread entered my mind because I
knew that I wouldn’t be able to go out and see Luke anymore today.
She had gone straight to her room. Mckayla went to the liquor
cabinet in the dining room and busily made Jane a drink before she
disappeared up the steps to caudle her.

The next day when Jane had left to go god
knows where, I rushed outside to look for Luke. I couldn’t find
him, but ran into Jeffrey in my search.

“Lilly, sweetheart, Luke wasn’t lying. You do
have a nasty bruise. You really need to be more careful,” Jeffrey
stated, and I knew that he knew it wasn’t a fall either.

“Where’s Luke?” I asked ignoring him about
the bruise, which was the last thing I wanted to think about
now.

“He’s not coming back for a while dear,”
Jeffrey said. His words hit me like a hammer. “He's just too busy
with sports and school. He needs to concentrate on his education,”
he explained as I stood paralyzed at his words.

I couldn’t relate to that since Miss Finnegan
home schooled me. I'd already had a 12
^th
grade education
and was working on college level material, but Jane didn’t know.
She would never allow me to learn more than a high school
education. The only reason she even allowed that was because it was
the law.

“Oh,” was all I could muster. I felt like I
could burst into tears. Seeing Luke every day is what got me
through. Now what was I going to do?

Weeks passed and there was still no Luke.
After a few months I finally stopped running to the window every
morning in the hopes that I would see his truck in the driveway. It
was evident that he was not coming back. I always thought that he
would take me away from here one day. I was hoping that he had
feelings for me even though I'd just turned fifteen and he was now
a senior in high school, but I always dreamed that when I was older
he would act on those feelings. I was just a foolish girl. He
didn’t like me like that. He only cared because I was a helpless,
abused little girl and he felt sorry for me. It never stopped my
day dreaming though. One thing constant in those dreams was always
Luke.

Chapter 2

I’m caught staring out the window at Luke
when his eyes meet mine. I am hypnotized by his magnificent brown
eyes as I watch him from the window. Wanting to look away but I
can’t, he gives me a sideways smile and a wink before he turns back
to his dad. His smile is very warm and it gives me the chills. I
step away from the window feeling weak in the knees so I sit on the
bed. His affect is much more powerful now. I would feel excited to
see him before, but this is a whole new level.

I wish that I could talk to Emma, but can’t
risk using the cell phone that Miss Finnegan got me during the day
with Jane home. It’s hidden safely. If I got caught Miss Finnegan
could get fired. I plop back on my bed with my feet dangling off
the side and stare at the ceiling thinking of what I wouldn’t give
to go out and talk to him. Of course, I can’t with Jane being
home.

My day dreaming is interrupted when I hear a
knock on my bedroom door before it opens and Miss Finnegan enters.
She has a large smile on her face. I know that means that she’s
overheard something good.

“She’s leaving for the weekend to treat the
ladies to a spa weekend,” Miss Finnegan informs me. I jump up in
excitement. She hasn’t left for a while and I need some
freedom.

“When is she leaving?” I ask her overjoyed by
the news.

“Tomorrow morning,” she tells me. Her voice
is low so the conversation cannot be overheard. “How are your arms
dear?” She says as she lifts the sleeves of my shirt to reveal the
hand shaped bruises that Jane had left. She shakes her head and
leans down to kiss my forehead letting me know she loves me, even
though there was nothing she could do for me.

“I have to get back to the kitchen. She’s
requested supper by six so she can get to bed early,” she states
wringing her hands nervously. “I will bring you some food when she
goes to bed.” I can tell she is trying to keep me away from her so
I don’t do anything else to get in trouble today. Miss Finnegan is
right. I nod to her in agreement so that she knows I will stay put,
not wanting to risk it myself.

I return to the window, but don’t see Luke
anymore. My heart sinks wanting to at least watch him since I can’t
talk to him. I pray he will be back tomorrow so I can see him after
Jane leaves.

I must have fallen asleep waiting for the
night to pass, because I wake up and it is dark out. The small
alarm clock at my bedside table reads twelve thirty. I feel like I
was woken up by a noise, but I’m not sure what it is that I heard.
As my eyes adjust to the dark, I lay my head back down on the
pillow and hear it again. It’s a slight ping on my window, like a
bug or something is hitting it gently. I walk over to the window
not turning the lights on and see Luke standing on the walk just
below my window.

For a second I think that I’m dreaming as I
stare at the exquisite site below me, but I realize that I’m not
when he waves at me motioning for me to come outside. I feel
excited and scared at the same time. What does he want? Can I risk
getting caught sneaking out of the house? I open my window just
enough to hang out of it a little.

“Come outside,” he whispers so softly that I
can barely make out his words.

Come outside? What is he thinking? If we get
caught it would be bad. I stand there thinking for a moment,
pondering if it is worth the risk. Jane takes sleeping pills so she
is surely out cold.

I stare down for a minute not saying a word
contemplating what I should do. I see that Luke is about to speak
again and place my index finger over my lips motioning him to be
silent. Holding up two fingers to let him know that it might take
me a couple minutes, I turn from the window and shut it very
quietly. I am wearing an oversized t-shirt that I put on before
bed. Quickly pulling on some cut off jean shorts, I grab a pair of
sandals that I will put on outside. I open my bedroom door very
slowly so it won’t make a sound. My heart races as I walk towards
the stairs. The house is dead silent and dark. I stop at the top of
the stairs turning my head towards Jane’s room, but I don’t hear
anything.

Tiptoeing down the stairs, I stop every time
there is a sound to make sure there is no movement coming from her
room. I’m not even sure if she ever leaves her room at night
because I’ve never dared to do it when she is home. I make it to
the bottom deciding the back door off the kitchen is the farthest
from Jane’s room and would make the least amount of noise. The only
bad thing is that it is closer to Miss Finnegan’s. Her room is off
the kitchen on the other side of the utility room where the
washing, drying, and ironing take place.

Although I don’t want to be caught by her
either, I take my chances because I would rather it be her than
Jane. I open the back door and push open the screen. As it starts
to squeak I stop to listen for any sound of Miss Finnegan stirring.
After a minute there is nothing, and I squeeze through the door
shutting it gently behind me.

Feeling relieved and excited that I made it
out, I breathe in the warm fresh air as I step out on the back
patio. I feel so invigorated that I just did that. It’s almost like
a whole new world opened up to me. I can’t imagine why I have never
done this before. Walking toward the end of the patio, I slip on my
sandals and let my eyes try to adjust to the darkness.

I wonder where he is. Is he waiting out front
for me thinking I would’ve tried the front door? As I reach the
corner of the mansion I see him walking my way. Neither of us says
a word, and before I know it we are standing face to face.

Luke gives me that warm sideways smile and
then a small shhh escapes his lips. I feel my belly doing a
flip-flop from being this close to him. He takes my hand and I feel
an electrical current run up my arm. He leads me away from the
house to the back of the property. We walk through the trees till
we reach Georgia’s stone. It’s a large pile of rocks and one large
boulder that sits at the back of the property. It was named after
Ted’s great grandmother Georgia Sumnor. Luke motions for me to have
a seat on one of the smaller boulders that face away from the
house. I have spent a lot of time sitting on Georgia’s stone when
Jane is gone just sitting and watching nature. It is very close to
the timber that surrounds the plantation. If I sit there silent and
still, I can see a lot of wildlife and birds. It has always been
very peaceful.

Luke is sitting beside me. Since we are a
safe distant from the house it’s okay to talk now.

“Hi,” Luke says softly, staring off into the
timber not looking in my direction.

“It’s so good to see you again, Luke. I’ve
missed you,” I tell him staring at the side of his face. He smells
so good, clean with just a touch of some cologne mixed with
something else. Not sure what it is, but I like it. It makes me
want to lean closer so I can breathe him in deep.

“I saw you watching me today,” he says
turning my way, placing his chin on the side of his arm. “I just
felt like I needed to see you and I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.”
I feel like I am about to turn to Jell-O, feeling so weak from the
words he whispers.