Chapter 60: Facing the Shadows
My heart was crashing in my chest. I couldn’t breathe properly. There was a door behind ; I grabbed the handle, desperately wanting to get away before he ca in.
I couldn’t see him; I couldn’t let him see . Rattling the handle I quickly realised that the door was locked. I could feel the tears starting to prickle in my eyes.
"I’m sorry, Stephen. I’ll put him to bed in a minute, he’ll sleep it off," the lady said quietly.
"He f**king better, he’s giving
a headache," he growled angrily.
I ramd my hand into my pocket, grabbing my cellphone. Who I was planning on calling I don’t know.
Liam and Jake were too far away, and Johnny was probably in the shower. There was no one, no help; I was alone in my horror.
I turned around facing the door, waiting for him to co in. I felt sick. Oh God, was I actually going to throw up?
The lady walked in, carrying a whining little blond boy in her arms, stroking his back soothingly.
Her eyes snapped to
and she jumped a mile, obviously not knowing I was in here. "Hi, sorry, I didn’t realise Johnny had friends over," she said, smiling at
warmly. She was very pretty, brown hair and grey eyes, just like my mom’s and mine. I nodded, unable to talk.
"Johnny’s got friends over?" my father asked as he walked through the door.
I felt dizzy, my legs were weak, he looked almost exactly the sa, just a little older, a little less hair and more greys.
His eyes were hard and stern like they used to be, not like the photo that Johnny showed . He hadn’t changed at all.
He looked at , his eyes raking over every part of my body while I just stood there, unable to move, unable to breathe.
I felt like I was a kid again. I was terrified, and this ti I had no Jake to protect . The man that ruined my childhood, my brothers childhood, was standing less than fifteen feet from .
"Amber," he said quietly. He smiled and I felt bile rise in my throat.
"Amber?" the lady repeated, looking between him and . "Your daughter, Amber?" she asked, a smile tugging at her lips.
My father nodded, his eyes not leaving mine. I felt like a deer trapped in the headlights of an oncoming car, and all I could do was brace myself for the impact.
"Well, it’s great to et you at last. I’ve heard so much about you from Stephen and Johnny that I feel like I already know you," the lady chirped, smiling warmly at .
I tried to smile back and pretend that everything was fine, that I wasn’t about to pass out any second, that I wasn’t about five seconds from screaming the house down.
"You too, Ruby," I replied quietly, dragging my eyes away from him.
"What are you doing here, Amber?" my father asked, raising his eyebrows and smiling a half smile. The sound of his voice sent chills down my spine as I tried desperately not to rember my childhood.
I had nightmares about his voice, his eyes, the way he stood so straight, and how his fists were always clenched, just like they were now.
"I..... I ca with Johnny. He’s.... he’s getting changed," I stuttered. Imdiately I was ntally scolding myself because I was stuttering. His old rules were coming back, stand tall, speak clearly, no mumbling.
Ruby smiled. "Well, it’s great that you’re here. Would you like to stay for dinner? I think we’re getting a takeout because there’s not much food in.
We weren’t due back until later tonight, but Matt’s been ill all weekend so we ca back early," Ruby explained as she kissed the baby’s head softly. She seed really nice, too nice for this abusive asshole.
I shook my head, I couldn’t speak again. My hands were shaking so I clasped them together tightly, trying to remain in control and not slump into a pile on the floor and sob. "You sure? It’s no trouble.
We’d love to have you stay for dinner, wouldn’t we, Stephen?" she continued, smiling at him, completely oblivious that I was living my worst nightmare right now. He nodded, his gaze travelling the length of my body, making
go cold.
"I’m sure, thanks," I said quietly, my voice breaking at the end.
The little boy started crying again. Ruby’s eyes went wide as she looked at Stephen. "I’ll just give him so dicine and put him down for a sleep," she said, heading over to a cupboard pulling out a dicine bottle and spoon.
My father walked a couple of steps towards
and I shrank back against the door, my breathing coming out in shallow gasps.
I thumbed my phone open and dialled Johnny - he was the closest person, if I could just call him and sohow tell him to get the hell downstairs, then we could leave.
"How have you been, Amber? I’ve been trying to see you for years but your brother wouldn’t let ," he stated, sneering on the word brother.
He’d been trying to see
and Jake didn’t tell ? Why the hell wouldn’t he tell
sothing like that? Knowing Jake, he probably thought he was protecting .
I looked at Johnny’s mother for help; she was putting the dicine bottle back now.
"I’ve been fine, thank you," I answered. I glanced down at my phone, it was still trying to connect, Johnny wasn’t answering. Damn it!
"I’ll just put Matt to bed, then I’ll be back and make so coffee or sothing," Ruby suggested, smiling kindly at .
"OK, love," my father replied, his eyes not leaving mine.
I gulped; I couldn’t be here with him on my own! "Can I co with you?" I asked desperately.
Ruby looked at
a little shocked. "I’d like to see Matt’s room, if that’s OK," I lied quickly. There was no way I was staying in here with him.
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