Chapter Twenty Two

 

Makayla

 

 

It’s been over a month. Thirty-nine days of absolute torture. Thirty-nine days of feeling like my heart has been shattered in my chest. Thirty-nine days since I had last seen his face.

I wasn’t prepared for this. I wasn’t prepared to fly over half way across the country to face the people who had destroyed my life. The people who had taken from me the one thing I held dear. I wasn’t prepared to face the woman who had taunted me throughout the years. The same vile woman who left threatening letters in my little girl's backpack.

When Lisa called and said I was needed there, I didn’t give it a second thought. I immediately agreed. Now that the day had come I was riddled with fear and insecurities. I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to see his face for fear of what I might see in his eyes, or what I wouldn’t. I was a nervous wreck, there was no denying it. It would do no good.

My bag was packed sitting by the door alongside Avery’s. Lisa and Lenny were picking me up and my mother was going to keep Avery while we were away.

As I anxiously paced along the living room floor Avery played quietly in her playroom. She had packed a bag for her toys ensuring she had everything she thought she would need for the overnight stay with her Grammy. The thought was silly as she had everything she could ever need or want over at my mothers. That didn’t stop her from packing more. With Avery, everything was in excess.

The sound of the front door opening sent my heart lurching into my throat. I swallowed around the lump that formed in my throat. I spun around, my hand clutching my chest, afraid of what I would find.

“Good heavens child. Sit down. You’ll worry yourself to death.” My mother scolded, laying her purse down on the entry table. Ignoring my tattered state she went in search of Avery, calling her by name. My breath left me is one loud whoosh. I staggered to my feet, struggling to regain my composure.

“Grammy.” Avery squealed out in excitement.

“Hi, ya baby girl. How has my most favorite granddaughter been?” My mother cooed as she hefted my daughter up, clutching her in a warm embrace.

“I'm your only one.” Avery giggled hugging my mother’s neck.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t be my favorite.” Avery giggled. “Do you have all your bags packed?”  My mother asked glancing around the room.

“Yes. And I have my jammies and my babies.” She squealed excitedly.

“Good, good.” Smiling up from my daughter my mother’s eyes landed on me. Her stare was even, probing. “Do you have all your things packed?” She asked in a much cooler voice.

I had told my mother everything, laying it all out there at her feet. To say she took it well was an understatement. On more than one occasion she called me a fool, throwing my mistakes at me like punches to the solar plexus. Our relationship had been cool since then, nearly Icelandic.

Expectantly, she was on Lenny’s side. I wasn’t even aware there were sides. But apparently there were and no one was on mine. No one could understand how I had so easily cast him aside. I couldn’t either. Looking back I realized how selfish I had been. How carelessly I had treated his emotions. I was no better than Angela. The thought alone sickened me.

“Yes. I have everything packed and ready. We’re just waiting on Lisa and Len.” I smiled despite the growing ball of unease that settled in my stomach.

“Hey, Princess.” Lenny’s deep baritone filled the room demanding the attention of all its inhabitants.  Lisa came in behind him, flashing a polite smile in my direction.

I was an outcast in my own home, my own family. It pained me. It ate away at my heart until there was nothing left.

“Daddy,” Avery screamed out wigging to get out of my mother’s arms. Obediently, my mother set her down allowing the tiny tike to run across the living room into Lenny’s outstretched arms.

No one said anything about her running in the house. It was our number one house rule, yet forgotten in the presence of the great one, Lenny. My mood soured further by the coldness blasted in my direction from everyone in the room.

I stared slack-jawed. He looked good. He looked really good. Lenny had filled out. His biceps bulging at the hem of his sleeves. He looked as though he was one wrong move away from ripping his shirt to shreds. A pulsing low in my stomach wished he would. Despite my blatant lust for the man before me, he didn’t so much as a glance in my direction. Instead, he turned, giving me his back.

“Stephanie.” I didn’t miss the affection in his tone as he greeted my mother, nor did I miss the way she hugged his neck dearly.

Sniffing back tears that threatened to fall I crossed my arms turning away from the bunch. I was pouting. I knew it. I didn’t care. It hurt. My heart ached.

“You ready to go spend the night with Grammy?” I heard Lenny asking. Avery replied excitedly relaying all of her overnight plans with her Grammy. The four chatted merrily leaving me to stew in my spoiled mood.

After a long round of goodbyes, Avery was escorted out by my mother; Lenny trailed behind with her bags. For being only three, she had accumulated a lot of luggage for an overnight stay.

“You can quit with the pity party. We have a case to win. Suck it up buttercup, this one was all on you.” Her words stung, but they were the truth.

“I’m fine,” I replied shortly.

“Good, now grab your bag and let’s go.” Lisa gave me a pointed look before spinning in her heels.

Before I could grab my bag, Lenny appeared. Without a glance in my direction, he grabbed up my bags and walked them out to the car. “Thanks,” I mumbled after him.

If he heard me he didn’t acknowledge it.

Grabbing my purse and keys I double checked for my phone before locking the door.  By the time I got to the car everything had been loaded. Lisa and Lenny sat in the front seat waiting; both of them had their eyes trained forward. With a huff, I climbed into the back seat.

This was going to be the longest most disastrous trip ever.