“Of course, you didn’t. That pretty head of yours has never been too bright.” He stepped back, releasing me and my body screamed in relief. “What’s all this?” He motioned to the dirty pots on the stove. When I’d placed the food in serving dishes, I’d left the pots I’d cooked with out. I knew I’d be cleaning them later, and didn’t really think anything of it. “Why do you always make such a mess?” he roared as he used his arm to swipe it across the stove, bringing all the pots to a clatter on the floor. “Clean this place up! I’m going to my study.”
“I’m sorry. I will.” I bent down and began picking up the pots off the floor and placing them in the sink. My body was tight as fear held me in place. I watched his back as he marched toward the door of his study off the living room. Basically, he was going in there to drink more.
When I heard the door click shut, I relaxed and grabbed a dish towel. There was gravy from the roasting pan all over the floor and the front of the stove. I shuttered as tears began to stream down my face. With each swipe of the towel more came. I had to get away from this. I couldn’t raise a baby here. I couldn’t let Warren turn this child into him. This baby had to be protected, but how?
Chapter 2
Present Day
Brooke
“Mama, look!” my daughter, Ava, shouted as she thundered in through the door.
“What?” I smiled. I tried to smile as much as I could around her. I spent so much of my life afraid that smiling reminded me that not all things were bad.
“It’s a hoppy toad.” She thrust the brownish object toward my face.
“Oh, honey. He belongs outside. Let’s put him back there.” I grimaced as I held open the door.
“Ooook.” She sighed as she hung her head and walked in front of me. I watched as she carried it over to the tire swing in the large tree in our backyard.
I’ve been living here about two years now. I move constantly, and I always wonder how long it will be before Ava starts asking questions. She’s been pretty good lately, and just accepts that what I tell her is the truth, but I know school will be starting soon, and she’ll be more adventurous.
“I’ll have dinner ready soon. Why don’t you play with your hoppy toad out here ‘til I’m ready?” I shouted from the porch steps.
“K.” She grinned at me as she squatted down on her knees by the tree. My daughter looked just like her father. Brown hair, and the most beautiful blue eyes. Hers had a twinkle in them though, whereas Warren’s never did. Where his held malice, hers are filled with innocence.
I stood there watching for a few moments before I went back to the stove. It may seem crazy that I’m letting my five-year-old play outside alone, but this place is secluded. I’m renting a house on what used to be a cattle farm. My closest neighbor is a quarter mile away. I could stand in my yard in my underwear, and no one would blink. I keep my car in a closed garage and only use it when I go to town for errands. I have a job working at the local market, and Ava comes with me during my shifts. My boss, Julie, has a daughter too. They play together in one of the back rooms. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. Wonder if he’s still looking for me? If he’ll find me? I’ve moved twelve times since I left, this being the place I’ve stayed in the longest. I don’t really have any friends. I mean, I talk to people in town, but no one’s ever been out here, least of all a man. I worry about the fact that Ava doesn’t have a father in her life, but I know that the life we’re living right now is far better than anything that could have been provided if I’d stayed.
“Hey, Mama?” Ava’s been wiggling around like something’s bothering her all night.
“Yes, baby.” I finished washing the dishes and dried my hands on a towel.
“Do you think I’m smart?” She chewed on her lip.
“Of course, I do.” I was shocked. Where did this come from?
“So then, why do I hafta go to school?” She began swinging her feet faster as she refused to look at me.
“Everybody goes to school, sweetie. It doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It’s just something you do when you’re big.” I understood her not wanting to go. Ava has always been on the shy side, and has never really made any friends from us moving so much.
“But do I hafta?” She started to whine.
“Yes, but I can go in with you when we go.” I tried to reason with her. “We’ve got time to work it out.” School didn’t start for another 6 weeks, but Ava was a lot like me in the fact that her nerves got the best of her most of the time.
“Ok.” She sighed loudly.
“It’s almost time for bed. Why don’t you pick out a book to read while I finish cleaning up dinner, then I’ll come snuggle with you?”
“Can we read Cinderella?” She grinned as she pushed back from the table.
“Sure.” I laughed. I’ve read that book so many times I don’t even need to look at the pages. I have it memorized, but it’s a favorite of Ava’s. A good friend, Donna, gave me the book when I found out I was having a girl. I’ve carried it with me ever since. Donna told me that she wanted my daughter to have something that was hers, and with my situation, it was going to be hard. Donna was my angel, and helped me believe that I could do this. There’s nothing that could match what she and the other counselors at the shelter gave me. Hope is immeasurable.
“Mama?” Ava snuggled under the covers as I sat down on her bed. “You think the kids at school will like me?”
“What’s got you so worried about school all of a sudden?” I brushed her hair back as her worried eyes turned up toward mine.
“Abbie says that you can’t talk in school. She says you have to sit still and listen. It’s hard to do that.” Her brow furrowed as if she was really thinking about what she was saying.
“Abbie’s also older than you. You do have to do that stuff, but it’s a little at a time. You’re going to school to learn. Your teacher understands that. She’s going to teach you how to act in class. First grade is fun. I promise.” I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“Mama?” She sighed and scooted closer to me.
“Yes, baby.” I cherished these moments.
“Can we read the book now?” She glanced up at me with a serious look in her eyes. “It’s getting late.”
“It sure is.” I laughed as I opened the book to the first page. As I read the words about a young girl who was forced into servitude by her evil stepmother, I thought about my own life. I wasn’t married to a prince, and I sure didn’t live in a palace, but like Cinderella, I escaped the life I’d had. Warren had been my evil stepmother in that story. He’d turned me into someone who catered to his every whim. It took Ava to get me to leave; she was my prince. “And they lived happily ever after.” I whispered the words as I closed the book. Ava had fallen asleep quite a bit early, but I always finished just in case she woke up in the middle.
As I attempted to slip out of her bed without waking her, I laid the book on the shelf in her room. “Sweet dreams,” I murmured as I pulled her door to a crack, and tiptoed down the hallway.