Chapter Seventeen
Leah
Facebook is an amazing thing. After not being allowed to use it for so long, I never knew how convenient it could be. I found Isaiah Jackson in no time, and it was definitely him. His profile picture was of him sporting a beard with his arm around that same girlfriend from so many years ago. I remember her. She had always been nice to me. Their four kids surrounded them in the picture, and I found myself crying on the bus to downtown.
I have two nieces and two nephews. There’s a family out there for me if Isaiah would be able to forgive me for not standing up against my family so long ago. He’s the only person I know who could help me. Our age gap is large, but we used to get along, and I missed him so much when he left. As a kid, I never knew how to contact him. I worried he wouldn't want to see me again, especially as my parents painted him in such a bad light. If there’s at least a slight chance now, I have to try.
Finding his address was a little harder. I was able to look at a past event of his he held at his house a month ago. It was Penny's birthday. One of my nieces is named Penelope… I found myself crying all over again as I hopped in a taxi and gave them the address.
The house is simple, beautiful. Nicer than the place we grew up in. Our old family home was a trailer down the road from the Kingdom Hall. Half the floor was missing in the bathroom. We had to watch for opossums, spiders, and other creatures anytime we were in the bathroom. The paper on the walls was always peeling, and the constant aroma of cigarette smoke filled the whole mobile home. I never felt safe there or was proud to call it home.
This house, Isaiah's home, is two-stories and made out of brick with big windows and white curtains. They have a porch in front where a little pink tricycle sits next to a rocking chair, and a book has been placed on the arm, bookmark sticking out the top. Their yard is kept trim. The bushes in front of the house are beautiful.
They cherish this home so much more than our parents had valued anything in their lives.
My hands shake as I clear my throat, reaching forward to knock on the door. My heart stammers out of control as I force myself to stand tall. I rehearse the first words I plan to say to him over and over as I wait for someone to answer.
Once it finally opens, I wasn't prepared for the little boy on the other side. He has to be about nine or ten years old and looks exactly like Isaiah. The blonde hair and the dark eyebrows are almost identical. His eyes are hazel and breathtaking. He’s the firstborn, the reason Isaiah left so many years ago.
The little boy tilts his head as he assesses me. "How can I help you?" he asks, sounding so cute and grown up.
"Um..." My voice shakes before I clear my throat again. "Are your parents home? I really need to speak with them."
"We're not interested," the boy says, sounding brave like it’s his job to turn people away.
"It's not anything like that. I know them. It's important."
I hear footsteps, then a familiar voice. Chastising, but still kind and soothing. "Seth? What'd I tell you about answering the door? Get back in here."
He grumbles, rolling his eyes before pulling away from the door, and Mackenzie comes into view. She stands in the doorway, blinking at me like she can tell I look familiar. She doesn’t completely recognize me, but that’s okay. I was barely in middle school when I last saw her.
She still looks the same. Slender and tall with light brown hair. She has these big, pretty blue eyes with eyelashes that go on for miles. She never wore makeup and didn't need it. She’s wearing a sundress, when she used to always wear jeans. She looks the same, just ten years older.
"How can I help you?" she asks, caution in her tone.
I blink a few times then opened my mouth, but nothing comes out. I take in a gasp of air and try again but fail. She stares, her gaze never wavering as I panic. My chest constricts and my eyes swell. "Oh, my God," she breathes out before I collapse to my knees on the porch. "Isaiah!" she calls into the house.
My eyes roll back as sweat pours down my face. My breathing slows as I finally fall unconscious.
✵ ✵ ✵
"Is it really her?" a female voice asks.
"Of course, it is. She's just…so grown up. Holy shit. Leah," the male counterpoint responds, laced with emotion. Is that you, Isaiah? Are you taking care of me?
Mumbling comes from my lips as I try to tell them I’m okay. My eyes slowly blink open, blurry at first, but once they clear, I see his face. The same hazel eyes his son has. The same dirty blonde hair and the strong jaw. "Isaiah," I manage to whisper, choking up at the sight of him.
"Leah," he whispers back, falling to his knees beside me. Am I on a couch? My back is cushioned as my head is cuddled by a pillow.
Behind my brother is the rest of the Jackson family. Mackenzie’s holding a smaller child, toddler age. Another little boy is holding her hand—he has to be four or five. On the other side of my brother are the two older ones. The boy who'd greeted me at the door and a girl who couldn't be more than a year or two younger than him.
My brother cups my face in his hands as he leans closer, blocking my view of the family. "Leah, you're here." His thumbs caress my cheeks before he leans forward and kisses my forehead. "What happened? Why'd you leave Mom and Dad?"
I scoff, rolling my eyes. My voice is still weak. "I left them years ago."
His eyes widen. "What? Where did you go? What happened to you? You know you could have come to me. I woulda taken care of you. Leah—"
"Enough," Mackenzie jumps in, pulling him by his shoulder. He listens to her as he pulls back, pinning his mouth shut. His older daughter wraps her arms around him and kisses his cheek like I’m sure he's done to her a million times.
Mackenzie smiles down at me. "Are you alright? Still dizzy?"
"A little," I manage to croak.
"Seth," she calls.
He steps up next to me with a glass of water. I smile at him, taking the glass then gulping it down. "Are you my aunt?" he asks.
"Alright, enough questions, guys," Mackenzie commands as I nod to the boy. He smiles before turning around and stepping back. "Kids, go off and play somewhere else so Leah can relax."
"Is she staying?" the older girl asks, giving me a suspicious look. Smart girl. Do not trust strangers. Even family members.
"Maybe," Mackenzie answers. "Now go upstairs and play."
"But, Mom!"
"Enough," she growls, using her ‘mom voice.’
Isaiah and I continue to stare at one another. So many years have passed. So much regret. His eyes keep searching mine before he’s at my side again, running his fingers through my hair in a way he would have never done growing up. "Hungry? Thirsty? I can't believe you're here."
I nod, finally strong enough to sit up. My ears are ringing as I press my fingers to a very distinct knot on my forehead. "Sorry, sweetie," Mackenzie says, "wasn't able to catch you before you fell."
I force a smile. "It's okay. I am a bit hungry. Didn't eat breakfast, then ran around town looking for you."
Mackenzie's eyes almost bulge out of her head. "It's nearly four o'clock. No wonder you fainted. You should take better care of yourself, honey."
A small smile appears on my face. This is the first time someone actually told me to take better care of myself. "I'll make you a sandwich really quick. You two catch up." She scurries out of the room with her baby still in her arms.
Isaiah moves to the empty spot on the couch next to me. We stare in silence again before he grins, and I laugh. "Holy shit. You were still a kid when I last saw you. Now you're all grown up. I can't even…wow…just…”
"I know," I manage to say. "You look the same. Less scrawny, but mostly the same."
His eyes narrow. "Alright, jerk." He playfully punches my arm. His eyes grow serious. "So, what happened? I'm glad you're here, but why did you come?"
My head shakes as I sigh. "It's a long story."
"I got time," he insists, eyes still searching mine. "Your eyes are sad. Really sad. Even Seth noticed. What happened to you?"
My eyes start to well again. "A lot," I whisper.
He bites his lip, shaking his head before running his fingers through his hair. "Okay, we don't have to talk about it now. You can stay here, though. As long as you need. I'm serious. We'll put the boys together and give you Seth's room."
My head shakes. "You don't have to do all that for me."
Mackenzie returns with a plate and a particularly delicious looking sandwich on it. "That's what we do when my parents come. There are two beds in Jason's for that exact reason."
She hands the plate to me, and I take it. She sits in the armchair as the baby in her arms tugged on her hair. "What's her name?" I ask before taking my first bite of the most delicious sandwich on the planet. How had I not realized I’m starving?
Mackenzie smiles, looking right at Isaiah. Our eyes meet as he breaks into a broad smile. "We named her Leah."