ASHTON
"Mr. Rollins, I hope the house is to your liking. If it isn’t, there are a few other options you can check out." The strange man in casual jeans and shirt tells . We are standing in the middle of an opulent duplex with a sprawling staircase and impeccable décor. I have a hard ti understanding half the things he’s been saying to since we t at a bar because I can’t fathom why he won’t just tell who sent him.
"Otto, right?"
"That’s right."
Otto, who exactly put you up to this?"
"I’m sorry, Mr. Rollins but I already told you that information is classified for the sake of your benefactor. All I can say is that my employer cares about your wellbeing and wants you to live comfortably while you’re going through this hard ti."
Whoever is employer is, it’s certainly soone that knows my taste to the tee, I think while observing the minimalist touch of the house and the sport car collection I spied in the garage. That employer also happens to have a truckload of money to dish around if my new bank account balance is any indication. That tells that it’s definitely a family mber. Could it be one of my brothers anonymously trying to help out? Could it be mother?
"You don’t seriously expect to live in a house and drive the cars without knowing who’s behind it all, do you?"
"You should, Mr. Rollins..."
"Sawyer."
"What?"
"I go by Ashton Sawyer now. Do you mind keeping up?"
A short flash of bewildernt flits across his pupils but he remains composed.
"Mr. Sawyer, I’d really advise that you accept everything you’re being given from my employer. They’ve gone through great risk setting you up comfortably. It’ll break their heart if you rejected it. They just want you to be happy and safe."
Sothing warm blooms in my chest. I stare around the house. It’s definitely better than my survival plans.
"Fine. I’ll stay but tell my mother I want the caras out. If she wants to see my face, she can call through an unregistered line." I head for the door while Otto attempts to deny mother’s involvent in everything.
"Mr. Rollins, I an...Sawyer, your mother isn’t behind..."
"Shut it, Otto and start getting rid of those damn caras before I change my mind." He fails to see the smile on my face as I exit the house.
I needed to confirm sothing and when I got back in the garage, there it was. I had only ever ntioned wanting this car to mother. I knew I could purchase it anyti but for so reason, I always put it off.
Even my brothers had no clue that I had a soft spot for minivans. I always kept it to myself to avoid getting mocked for my sentintal attachnt to the type of car we drove to school in as kids, the car that reminds of a ti in our lives when we were still uncorrupted by our father.
The minivan centers . It reminds of who we were as boys, our innocence, our happiness while we were still oblivious of father’s dark side. I run my hand over the grey van. This is definitely mother’s love letter to , a reassurance. I know she must have been hurt by my doubts. I know she must worry that I question her place in my life and it hurts to realize how much I must have hurt her.
I wish I can call her without father knowing. Sighing, I blink away the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I’ll just wait for her call.
I slide into the minivan and drive off to Keith’s. It’s great because no journalist will be looking for in a tinted minivan with a sticker that says, Kids on board.
I drive like an old lady, the way I recall our driver used to drive us to school. I used to wonder why he wouldn’t step on it. I complained about his speed, wondered if he was trying to get us there safely or too afraid to scratch father’s car. I guess my love for fast cars was born out of the frustration I felt in those days.
Now, while I drive like a grandma, I realize that sotis, taking things slow helps in life. My life just got upended. I am still figuring out how to navigate this new life of mine, one where I fear that I can’t protect the ones I love from the man called Brett Rollins. I’ve just realized I’m nothing without him. I’ve got no real power and that scares the shit out of .
I need the slow rides to think. I need to figure out how to ta Brett Rollins so he never attempts to trifle with by going after the ones I love just to get at . I pull up by a phone booth and hastily dial Demi’s number. I just suddenly need reassurance that she’s fine.
The number you’re calling is unavailable...
I try again, and again, and again. My heart clenches in my chest.
"Don’t overthink it, Ashton." I tell myself. I’m sure she’s fine. She’s with her uncle in a different city. I’ll try again on my way back from seeing Adriana.
Keith’s parents are finally around. The lovely couple gladly welco into their ho as usual.
"Paul, it’s been difficult to bump into you and your wife since our last conversation."
Paul and his wife exchange shy glances with each other before Collete smothers a laugh behind her handkerchief.
"Forgive us, Mr. Rollins. Thanks to you, my wife and I checked off one lingering wish on our bucket list. With the money you gave us the last ti, we took a trip to my wife’s dream, honeymoon destination which I couldn’t afford at the ti of our wedding. We only planned to stay a week but we fell in love with Thailand and kept postponing our trip back."
Collete clears her throat. "I never got to thank you properly, Mr. Rollins. That trip was more therapeutic than we envisioned. Paul and I got to spend quality ti together. It proved really healthy for our marriage too."
"I’m glad I could help." Smiling, I take a bite of an apple.
I notice the brief exchange of awkward stares between the couple before Collete turns to again.
"We are deeply sorry to hear about your family. I hate how much people tend to target you guys because of how ’up there’ you are. If I hadn’t t you, I probably would have joined that bandwagon in criticizing you but from what Paul and I have seen, you’re such a sweet soul. Hence, we know the rumors can’t be true."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Collete."
"How are your parents and brothers? Hope they’re all hanging on."
The topic unsettles . "It’s been very tough on us but I believe we’ll pull through eventually." Then, to digress, "Keith has been super helpful to in your absence. I’ve made incredible progress with finding my sister."
"Really?" Paul rubs his knees in circles as a big smile warps his face. "That’s...good to hear. I was worried he’d be difficult about it given how over-protective he is of his sister."
"Yeah, I saw firsthand how protective he can be, rember?" An image of Keith shredding a picture of Adriana which he had drawn of her in her sleep, and chucking it into the fireplace before his mom could hand it over to , flashes in my mory. "But a lot has changed since then. Let’s just say I found a way to get through to him."
"So, you’ve t her?"
"Oh, yeah." I reply Collette whose eyes dilate with happiness. "We’ve hung out a few tis here at your house. It’s a slowly growing relationship but I am glad she and I are making up for lost ti." A dull look clouds Collete’s face. "Is everything okay?"
She dabs off a stray tear. "Oh, it’s all good. I just feel a smidgen of sadness over the fact that I could never pull down her walls. I tried my best to be a good mother to her but she never accepted . That always stings when I recall it." She burrows her hands between her thighs. "I always felt she had deep scars from her childhood that made her so closed off to everyone. Did you ever sense that from her too?"
I almost choke on my fruit, knowing exactly why Adriana was the way she was.
"I just think she had it really rough growing up. I could never apologize enough for the loneliness and neglect she faced."
"But why would you? You were also just a child when you got separated. If anyone is to be blad..." She catches herself. "No, I’m sure your biological parents didn’t have much of a choice and did it, hoping for her wellbeing. Have you guys been able to discuss the past, make up?"
"She’s not over it but we are getting there. Just taking it one day at a ti."
Paul lunges to his feet to break off the awkward tension. "I should go check on the animals. They’re being unusually quiet which is always a bad sign. Lovely seeing you again, Mr. Rollins. Always a pleasure. Do stop by as often as you want."
"Yes." Collete adds, rising as well "You are beyond welco in our ho anyti. Do bring your sister too. I’ll...I an we will love to see her as well."
The look in her eyes lts my heart. I whip out my phone. "You don’t have to wait till then. Here, I took a photo when she wasn’t looking too." I pass the phone to them and watch them delightfully stare at Adriana on horseback. "Isn’t she cute?"
But the couple’s silence and the uncertain look on their faces smoke away the wide grin on mine.
"Is sothing wrong?"
They return my phone with a weird smile. "She looks..." Collete trails off so her husband can finish her sentence.
"Really happy." Paul finishes.
I slip my phone in my pocket and lock eyes with them. "Paul? Collete? What is it? What are you not telling ?" My voice is smooth but laced with a warning.
"Promise you won’t get mad? I’m sure Keith has his reasons."
"I won’t." I assure Collete. "What is it?"
She wrings her hands like a petrified child. "The woman in the picture isn’t our Zoe."
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