The UnKnown (A Novel) (10 page)

“This crap is for the birds. Why would they not tell me? I just hope Dad will get better. I wish they would have trusted me enough to tell me.”

“They wanted to, trust me. They wanted to find the right time, though. They were waiting until you got home from school. I only found out because I intercepted a letter. They were going to tell us together,” Sean replied.

“I guess. Whatever.” I pushed past him, shoving him hard, and headed to my room. I shouldn’t be taking it out on him. It wasn’t his fault that they had kept this from me. 

I threw myself on my bed and landed face first then pushed my body over. I was trying to process the fact that my father had cancer. Right then, my phone lit up on my night stand and I didn’t think any more about it. . I must have accidently turned the ringer off. I reached over and saw her beautiful face. My worries soon faded way.

“Hey beautiful,” I said. Just hearing her breathe on the phone made my heart flutter. How was I already so wrapped up in her?

 “You’ll never guess what happened today!” She was obviously excited about something. “Russ, my aunt’s husband, got me a job interview at Maggie’s Diner. She said the job is practically mine.”

“That’s great. I knew you wanted to find something soon and there you go. Your luck is already changing.”

“It is. I had a wonderful day with Aunt Silvia and we had the best-tasting Chinese food I’ve ever had.” She sounded like a kid that had started her very first day of school. I couldn’t be happier for her. She deserved all the kindness in the world.

“I’m glad to hear it, Peaches.  I missed you today. Do you think I can come see you? I just need to lay my eyes on you.” It wasn’t that late and I knew if I saw her my problems would dissipate.

“Sure, but we have to stay outside. The kids are getting ready for bed and I don’t want to disturb their routine.” Whenever Misty wasn’t around, I felt like I was suffocating.  I never knew there could be someone in this world that could truly complete me, that there could be one person...That just the very thought of losing her could destroy me. She could see the real me, the true me. I didn’t have to hide behind the rich boy façade.

“I’ll be there shortly. Stay on the phone with me until I get there?” I was irritated and frustrated. I know I sounded short and stressed

“Drake is everything ok? You seem really stressed.” I wasn’t going to tell her my news over the phone.

“Not really, but seeing you will make it better.” I threw on the nearest pair of shoes and grabbed my car keys. It was still fairly warm out, so I had on khaki shorts and a white t-shirt.

“Alright,” she said. I talked to her all the way to her house. Misty was only a short drive from me.

“I’m here,” I said, then threw the truck into park and hung up the phone. I climbed down and waited for her by the driver’s side door. I don’t know what the hell came over me, but as soon as I saw her I ran to her and lifted her into my arms. All of my worries melted away as I nuzzled my nose into her now short red hair.

“Babe, are you ok?” I put her down and looked at her.

“You look stunning with the hair cut. What kind of haircut is that anyway?”

“It’s a pixie cut. I was feeling a little adventurous. I was hoping you’d like it,” she said. I did like it, although I would miss running my hands through her hair.

“Anything would look beautiful on you, Peaches. Let’s get in the car and turn on the air.” I was starting to sweat a little. “Wait, let’s get in the back. I can fold the seat down and we can just lay there. I promise nothing will happen.”

“I know it won’t, Drake. I trust you.”  We climbed into the back of the truck then she laced her fingers with mine.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, as we lay on our backs. Misty moved closer to me, laying her tiny head on my chest. It felt good to have her so close.

“When I got home last night, my parents were acting really strange. They weren’t themselves. Growing up my parents stayed on me to be the best. They harassed me in college to change my major to Pre-Law. They were never around growing up, either. I know they loved my brother and me, but they had a terrible way of showing it. Well last night it was a complete one-eighty. They were nice, kind, and loving. My father even told me to follow my dreams. Come to find out, my dad has cancer. That is why they were acting differently. He wants to get to know me and make up for lost time. I guess I just don’t know how to take it. It is all so new, and I’m pissed that they didn’t tell me about it sooner.” I knew this was a lot to unload on her all at once but I needed to talk to someone. I didn’t want to talk to any of my so-called friends. Those jackasses only associated with me because of my parents’ money. If they only knew the career field that I had chosen. They would drop me like a bad habit.

“I’m so sorry to hear that, Drake. You just need to love your dad and be there for him. That’s all you can do at this point. You know that he loves you and is trying to make up for his mistakes. You need to forgive him and move forward with your life or this is going to eat you alive.” She put her hand on my chest and I took it.

“I know you’re right. It’s just hard after all these years, but I’m willing to try. I always am.” I was willing to try almost anything to keep being wanted by my parents.

Misty and I lay in the truck for hours just talking. The more I talked to her, the more I wanted to be with her. I didn’t want to take things slow. I loved her and I knew it the minute I saw her on that phone looking so lost. The only thing that worried me was whether or not she felt the same. I could stay here with her, in this truck, for the rest of my life.
 Misty had fallen asleep on my chest and I felt the
rhythm of her breathing in sync with mine. I noticed that her shirt had lifted and I could see her flat stomach. There were marks there too. I couldn’t really make them out, but they almost looked like burn marks. Who the hell would do something like that to her? I wanted to wake her and ask, but she looked so peaceful sleeping. I just laid back and fell fast asleep myself.

Chapter 13

Misty

I awoke to the sound of someone knocking on the window. Oh crap! We fell asleep in the back of the truck with it running. I raised myself up while rubbing my eyes. Trying not to wake Drake, I got up and climbed over the back seat. I opened the door to find a very pissed off Russ.

“Do you know how worried your aunt was?! She thought you had run off! She is in there crying her eyes out!” God, I felt like crap.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to fall asleep. I was only coming out here to talk for a bit.”

“Listen Misty, you are welcome in our home as long as you need, but you will notify us when you leave.” He said nothing more and stormed off. When I turned back around, Drake was awake just looking at me.

“Sorry baby. I should’ve woke you up, but you looked so peaceful. After the awful night you had before I know you needed to rest.” How was he this cute just waking up? Oh God, I must look like a hot mess and my breath is probably kicking.

“I better get going. I have that interview this morning.” I tried to get out of the car when Drake caught my hand stopping me.

“Not until I get a goodbye kiss.”

“I haven’t brushed!”

“I don’t care.” Before I realized what was happening, Drake’s lips where crashing down on mine. His lips were so soft and moist.

I broke away from him before more than kissing happened. Drake kissed me on the check and said goodbye before getting in his truck to leave. I waved goodbye to him and went to find Aunt Silvia. I found her in the kitchen with puffy red eyes.

“Oh there you are! I thought you had run off.” She leaped off the stool and hugged me tight.

“No, Drake and I fell asleep in his truck. I am sorry that I alarmed you.” She was still hugging me tightly.

“Just please let me know when you’re not in the house.” She said pleadingly. “Listen, you need to go get ready for your interview. You have about thirty minutes before we have to leave,” she said.

 I made my way up to my room. I had no idea what to put on. Rummaging through the clothes Aunt Silvia bought me, I settled on a black knee-length skirt and a white button-down shirt with three-quarter length sleeves. I paired it with a pair of black pumps then brushed and fluffed my hair to have my layers show in my new hair cut to complete the look. I looked like a school teacher, but it would have to do since I had so little time to get ready. I decided to forgo the makeup since I really didn’t know how to put it on anyway. The lady at the Macy’s makeup counter showed me some things to try. I was going to have to practice and I could ask Aunt Silvia for help. I was down and back in the kitchen with five minutes to spare. “Shoot, forgot to brush my teeth.” I ran back up the stairs two at a time, found my tooth brush, and brushed my chops.

When I made it back down the stairs she was standing in the kitchen with keys dangling from her hand.

“What is this?” I asked with enthusiasm.

“Russ and I thought it best you have a car. You are taking mine and I am getting a new one this afternoon.” OMG! I couldn’t get the words out to say anything.

“Look, I know it is a lot, but I don’t have time to take you back and forth to work with the kids and my volunteer work.”

“This is too much. I can’t, I just can’t.”

“Yes you can and you will. I take it you have a license?” I nodded, unable to speak again.

“Good, grab your purse and let’s go. After your interview we’re going car shopping. I searched online and think I have what I want narrowed down.” I still couldn’t believe I was getting my very own car.

“There are three conditions that go with us giving you this car.” I knew there was a catch. No one gives you a car for free.

“One- you pay the maintenance and insurance; two- you enroll at the junior college; three-you help cart the kids around when needed.”

“I’m more than happy to comply with all of those conditions.” I was almost bouncing up and down.

“Let’s go before you’re late.” We both got into the Lexus, yes Lexus. I had a freaking Lexus!

“You’re going to pull out and turn to the left,” Aunt Silvia said as she gave me directions to get to the diner. 

The car purred like a kitten and I was anxious to see what this baby could do. I knew I couldn’t while she was in the car with me. It felt like the car wasn’t even moving. I could take Drake for a spin when I saw him later. He and I could enjoy a little joyride. A smile crept on my face when I thought of that. As we rode in the car, there was a weird silence between us. I pulled into the parking lot of Maggie’s Diner next to a mint condition 1935 Cadillac. It was beautifully restored to all its glory.

“I’ll be back in a half hour to pick you up. I don’t want to linger and make you nervous.” My stomach was doing flip flops as I got out of the car.

“Ask for Judy Michaels, she is the manager.” I nodded as she pulled off.

I walked the few steps into the diner. It was almost a perfect replica of the diner in Texas where I met Drake. I walked up to the counter and got a whiff of cigarette smoke. It gave me an eerie feeling.  Over to my left was a woman in what looked to be her mid-fifties. My legs began to feel like jelly beneath me and I was warped back to a dark place, a very dark place.
She reminded me so much of Miss Donna, my very first foster mom. She was so warm and loving at first glance, but there was darkness in her that most didn’t see. She was a pudgy little blonde woman with deep blue eyes. When I first arrived at her home the children there seemed like zombies. I met a little boy named Ryan who warned me not to cross Miss Donna. I didn’t believe him, how could a woman so jolly be mean. On the second night there I learned just how wrong I was. We were all summoned to dinner and we were having chicken and broccoli casserole. I tried to tell Miss Donna I was allergic to broccoli and she made me eat it anyway. It landed me in the emergency room to get an Epi shot. The doctor shot it right into my left leg. I still had the dark brown spot on my leg as proof. I guess Miss Donna thought she was going to get into trouble for taking me to the hospital.

“You ungrateful little brat. I take you into my home and you do this. I’ll teach you.” The tears started streaming down my little face.

“I am sorry. I tried to tell you I was allergic.”

“This is not my fault. Get in the car!” she screamed. I quietly opened the door and slipped into the back of her rusted out Toyota. I couldn’t remember my arrival to the hospital probably due to the fact that I thought I was going to die.

Miss Donna drove us home in silence. I was so scared of what was going to happen. When we pulled up in the drive way, it took me what felt like an eternity to get out of the car.

“Get your little ass in there.” I had never been talked to like that in my life. My parents always used kind words with me even when they were mad.

“Mr. Todd will have words with you when he gets home,” she said as she lit up a cigarette. “Get up to your room and get ready for bed.” I ran up there as fast as I could and then burst into tears. I changed my clothes and lay in the tattered, squeaky bed. After about an hour I heard footsteps outside my door and saw a shadow. I curled up into a little ball. It was already late when we had arrived back home. The door opened and a tall, slender man stood in the doorway.

“So Donna tells me you’re the little trouble maker. We don’t tolerate trouble makers.” He closed the door and locked it behind him.  I couldn’t see his eyes. All I could see were balls of black walking towards me.

“Please don’t hurt me. I didn’t mean it.” He said nothing.

I smelled the cigarette that was dangling from his fingers. He walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. “You sure are a pretty little girl.” The way the words “pretty little” rolled off his tongue sent shivers down my spine.

I’ll never forget that night for as long as I can remember. Mr. Todd came to visit me almost every night that I was with Miss Donna. I hated it there. Mr. Todd would put his cigarettes out on my skin when he was done with me.