Deliverance for Amelia (17 page)

Chapter Forty-Three: Able

“
D
O YOU THINK HE MEANT IT?” Amelia asks softly as we stand and watch the still moving parts of the stream rushing past the ice as it attempts to claim it.

I sigh, “I don’t know, Amelia.”

She wraps her arms around herself and hugs her shoulders, “I can’t ever love him, even if he loved me. I couldn’t.”

I press my lips together and look down at her, still so small with her rounded belly. Her hair blows gently in the breeze as it collects flakes of snow as it falls gracefully. Her skin is milky and smooth, the dark strands of hair that manage to blow into her face are a sharp contrast, and those eyes, the most beautiful, saddest eyes that I’ve ever seen in my life.

“I think that in order to love someone, you have to be willing to do anything for them. Even if it means letting them go.” I pause and my eyes return to the stream, “I think he loves the idea of you, Amelia. The idea of a family.”

“Love is overrated.” She says bitterly.

I turn her to face me, “That’s not true. Don’t let him make you believe it.”

Her eyebrows squeeze together, “You seem to know a lot about love.”

“I know the risks that are involved with love, but I’m still willing to take them.”

She diverts her eyes, “Able, please don’t.”

I tilt her head, forcing her gaze to meet mine, “I just meant that I lost a lot for it. However it wasn’t for the love that you find, it was for the love that I was born to.”

“I don’t understand.” She whispers.

I clear my throat as I find the words that I’ve kept buried for so long, “My mother. My father used to beat the living hell out of her, to the point where he almost killed her a handful of times. He… he used to molest me as well. Since I was old enough to remember.”

Amelia’s eyes grow wide as her hands fly up to her mouth, “Oh my God, Able. I’m so sorry!”

I smile weakly as I continue, “Things began to get really bad when my mother caught him and tried to make him stop. It would only make him beat her more. One day, I just felt in my heart that he was finally going to do it. I was twelve and I went into the kitchen.” I pause as I blink aware the tears from telling a story that I’d not visited in years, “I stood behind him as he kept pummeling her face. I remember just hearing this terrible sound of skin against skin. It was relentless. I blacked out. I remember screaming and hurdling towards him… when I came down from the rage, I looked down and saw my shaking hands covered in blood. He was unrecognizable.”

Tears are steadily flowing from her eyes, “What happened after?”

“They sent me to a mental institution. I stayed there until I was eighteen. I guess they eventually determined that I wasn’t crazy.”

“Why did they send you there? You were defending your mother!” She asks shakily.

I exhale sharply, “I guess that’s the thing. He was a police officer and it was made out that we conspired against him. All of his police buddies rallied against us. My mother hasn’t said a word since that day and remains in the institution. The last thing that she’s ever said to me was that I was evil, that I was the devil. She tried to strangle me after that, before the police got there.”

Amelia sighs, “That’s terrible. I’m so sorry, Able. Have you seen her since?”

“No. I haven’t been able to face her after that. We were each in different wings in the institution. I’ve never understood why she turned on me like she did. I was trying to protect her.”

Amelia takes a step towards me and places her hands on my cheeks, “You’re the best man that I’ve ever known. I mean that.”

I grasp her neck gently and run circles against her soft skin with my thumbs, “I’ve never told anyone, other than the shrinks obviously. So you see, you do anything for love. That’s what it means. Just like you would do anything for your mother and grandmother…”

Amelia nods, “Just like I would for you.”

I tilt my head to the side, and before I’m able to ask what she meant, her lips find mine.

Chapter Forty-Four: Gabe

I
GRUNT AS I LIFT THE MAN and throw him into the trunk. Stopping abruptly, I slam the hood shut and look around. I heard something and I feel eyes.

The parking garage in Dallas is empty, vacant of any cars. The guy was meeting up with a business affiliate. Once the other man left, I got him. When will people learn that discretion is dangerous?

I walk a few feet from the rental car as my eyes travel around the vast pavement.

“I know you’re there.” I say.

Then I see a flash of blonde and black. I’m right on her.

Quicker.

Stronger.

I wrap my arms around her flailing form. She’s a fighter. Kneeing, kicking, punching and clawing. When I sense that she’s about to scream, I slap my hand over her mouth.

“Now, now. You need to calm down.” I whisper into her ear. My cool demeanor causes her to shake, “If you scream, I’ll kill you right here, with my bare hands. I’m capable of doing so.”

I slowly remove my hand and all I can hear are her hurried exhales from her flared nostrils.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Kat.” She says. Her name makes me smile.

“Haven’t you ever heard that curiosity killed the cat?”

“Please, I didn’t see anything.” She pleads.

I shake my head, knowing I can’t let her go.

“I’m afraid you’re lying Kat. You wouldn’t have run, had you not seen anything.”

I turn her around to face me. She’s got shoulder length, blonde hair and big, curious sapphire eyes.

She’s wearing a worn, leather jacket with some of those tight hipster pants and converse. She’s got a large bag flung over her shoulder with pins of different bands.

“Nobody would care what I said anyway, I-I live on the street.” She stammers as her eyes search my face.

My lips curl up, that wasn’t smart Kat, not at all.

I run my fingers over her cheeks, “How old are you?”

“Twenty. I’ve been out here since I was sixteen. Please, I see stuff every day. This isn’t anything new.”

I shake my head, “You’ve seen me. I’m afraid that you’ll have to come with me.”

I grab her upper arm and begin to pull her along. She’s got her feet planted, so I yank her causing her to nearly fall as she grudgingly follows behind.

“Get in.” I say as I open the passenger side door.

She looks from me to the door, “Are you going to kill me?”
“I won’t if I don’t have to.”

She stares at me for a moment before nodding haltingly and sliding onto the leather seat.

I get into the driver’s seat and look towards her as I back out of the parking space.

“What am I going to do with you?”

Chapter Forty-Five: Amelia

“
N
O, NO MRS. THIBAULT. YOU WANT STRONG BOY. Not girly boy. Blue. No, eh…” Esmerelda says as she wags her finger and contemplates the appropriate word.

I smile, “Yellow. You don’t like the yellow?”

“Si. No yellow.”

I nod as I grin over at Able who is assembling the crib. He’s been suppressing a smile. We’ve been discussing the décor, and Esmerelda is evidently not a fan of yellow.

The room that I’ve chosen within the home is an octagon shape, with windows throughout and wood floors, much like Gabe’s study. The room is light and airy.

I frown when I see the town car pull into the circular drive. Gabe steps out, but he’s not alone – other than the obvious trunk that contains a human. He lugs that from the trunk after every trip.

This time, there’s a girl with him. She looks to be about my age as she looks around aimlessly.

“Who is that?” I ask as I look towards Esmerelda and Able. They look towards each other as Able puts together the finishing pieces to the crib.

Able stands and rubs his hands together with an unreadable expression on his face, “Gabe said that he was going to be bringing a house guest with him… a permanent house guest.”

“What?” I breathe out as I make my way across the room and out the door. Able is by my side as I descend the stairs, gently gripping my elbow for support. My growing stomach often gets in the way of my equilibrium.

I open the door and walk down the steps to greet them.

“There’s my beautiful wife.” Gabe says with a bright smile as he approaches me and places his hands on my stomach, “I swear, our boy grows more and more every time I come back.”

I give him a warning look, “Gabe. Who is that?”

He looks over his shoulder towards the girl, “That’s Kat. She’ll be staying with us.”

“Oh,” I respond, “How do you know her?”

Gabe tilts his head, an annoyed expression overcomes his face, “Does it matter, Amelia?”

I grit my teeth as I look into his green eyes, “I suppose not.”

“Great.” He says as he brushes past me and walks into the house.

I clear my throat as I take a couple of steps towards her, “Kat… I’m Amelia.”

She only stands there silently, her body shaking like a leaf.

“Well, come in. Please. Let’s get you settled.”

Chapter Forty-Six: Able

I
STAND BEHIND THE DINING ROOM TABLE. My post for the evening as I observe the awkward dinner. Gabe is at one end, Amelia at the other and Kat, the new “house guest” – or shall I say captive – is in the middle. I can only assume that the poor girl was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Amelia looks pissed. I think she knows why Kat’s here. Is she jealous, or does she feel angry about him taking Kat, much like he took her? Perhaps it’s a mixture of feelings. I can’t help the stab to my heart in thinking that she could be jealous. I couldn’t blame her either way, though. Regardless of the circumstances, she is his wife and she is carrying his child.

Kat was in some type of drug induced haze when she arrived. Now, she looks utterly terrified and uncomfortable.

Gabe is neither here nor there as he steadily eats the chicken parmesan that had been served to each of them and sips his red wine. Neither of the girls have touched their food. Gabe notices.

“Amelia, you need to eat.” He says sternly.

Her eyes snap to his, “I’m not hungry.”

He tilts his head to the side and puts his fork down.

“Do I need to make you?” He growls.

Amelia picks up her fork, takes a bite and then puts it back down as she chews before taking a sip of her water.

“There.” She says quietly.

Gabe slumps down into his chair. I watch his fingers as they twitch. I’ll kill him if he touches her.

“You’re being a child. Eat. Your. Goddamn. Food. Now.”

Amelia looks towards Kat, “My husband is very demanding. In fact, he’s very controlling as well.”

“Amelia…” Gabe warns, his voice laced with pure venom.

She ignores him and continues, “I didn’t choose to be here, or to be married, or to have a child.”

“Amelia!” He hollers as his fist crashes down against the table, causing the glasses and plates to jump with the impact.

Her gaze shifts back to his as she stands, “You let her go, Gabe.” Her hands are clenching the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white.

He stands as well and Kat slumps further into her seat, “Amelia, you need to stop right now.”

She shakes her head slowly, “No. You won’t touch me.”

I see a devious smile stretch across his face, “Perhaps you’re right.” He stands up straight and I feel my body stiffen as he walks around the table and stands behind Kat. She shrieks as his fingers tangle and fist her hair, pulling her to her feet.

“No!” Amelia shrieks. Gabe leans over and snatches a knife from the table.

“Deja Vu, Amelia? Remind you of someone?”

Her hands fly to her stomach and she shrieks and crumples to the floor.

“Amelia!” I exclaim as I rush to her side. I hear the knife clatter to the table as I kneel down beside her. Her eyebrows are pinched together and her face lacks color.

I narrow my eyes at Gabe. He stands tall above us, his expression impassive.

“She needs a doctor.” I rasp.

Gabe runs a hand over his face, which is now sporting a five o’clock shadow.

“Take Kat to the guest bedroom. Make sure she doesn’t go anywhere.” He says slowly.

I look at him incredulously, “I trust that you’re going to take care of your
wife
?”

He glares at me, “Take Kat. Now.”

I grudgingly stand and our gaze locks momentarily before I turn and grab Kat from under her arms and drag her along.