MIAN

Three Years Ago

 

I CAN STILL feel the butterflies.

Angel’s midnight voice on the phone, making me wish him a happy birthday, and inviting me to his party tonight did that.

I never thought I’d see him again. I never thought he’d care if I didn’t.

Mixing with the flutters in my stomach was the stabbing memory of his order to stay away from him. I tried to picture a girl he loved enough to hurt me, but I could only see myself as the girl he shared his kisses with—only and forever.

I sighed and fell back onto my bed. If he loved someone else, why would he purposely stir these feelings inside me by inviting me to his party?

A little hope and a lot of uncertainty wreaked havoc on my mind. I’d go to his party, but if he wanted me to stay, he would need to be honest about what he truly wanted—and if he wanted me.

Before I could get any answers, though, I’d need my father’s permission to go. Angel might think he could control the universe, but so did my father.

He spent most of his time in the den during the rare occasions he was home. I rehearsed my lines as I made my way to his man cave. He’d definitely be suspicious of why I wanted to attend since Angel and I weren’t exactly best friends. Any reason other than the truth would do.

I stood outside the den until the truth no longer sounded so distorted. My fist was poised to knock when I heard Daddy speak. His angry bark made me jump back from the door. I’ve never heard him speak in that tone before. Curiosity had me pressing my ear to the door.

“Why are you showing me this?” The long silence meant he was thankfully alone. I didn’t want to know what he would have done if the person had been standing in front of him. I decided I didn’t want to know what he’d do to me if he found me eavesdropping, so I headed to the kitchen for a snack. I wanted to go to this party more than anything and maybe dance with Angel. Getting on daddy’s bad side definitely wouldn’t get me there.

It was an hour before I heard his footsteps moving across the wooden floors my mother had loved so much. She spent a good part of her day watching home improvement shows after she’d fallen sick.

I jumped from the barstool where I’d been eating an apple and met him in the hallway as he was tugging on the distressed brown leather jacket he always wore. I think he’s had that thing longer than I’ve been alive.

“Daddy, I need to talk to you.”

“Not now,” he answered in a clipped tone. He didn’t bother to spare me even a glance as he shoved his phone in his pocket and moved past me.

“But it’s important,” I whined then winced. Maybe Angel had been right about me being spoiled.

“It can wait.” His back was still toward me so he couldn’t see my frown. Daddy was never short with me.

“Where are you going?” I demanded. I was tempted to stomp my foot and cry as I would have six years ago.

His eyes seemed to lose some of their jade as he said, “I’ve got a job, Mian. Go to your room.”

“I’m too old to go to my room,” I sassed. I’ve never openly defied my father before. I was accustomed to getting my way, especially after Mom died.

But when his finger jabbed angrily toward the stairs, and he bellowed for me to obey him, I stared back at him in shock.

I felt betrayed.

He’s never spoken to me this way before.

Ever.

“I hate you,” I lied on a broken sob. The truth was I could never hate my father no matter how much he hurt me, and maybe it was the reason Angel mocked us, but my father was all I had. I could see the jade in his eyes returning a second before I turned and ran.

 

* * *

 

WAS STARING in the mirror silently bemoaning my puffy eyes and hoping they’d return to normal before the party when the doorbell rang. When the tears finally stopped, I’d decided I wasn’t waiting around for Daddy’s permission. He’d be forced to deal with me when he found me at the party falling deeper in love with his best friend’s son.

Still standing at the mirror, the visitor continued to ring the doorbell more rapidly until it became obnoxious. My phone then vibrated twice signaling a new message, and when I saw Angel’s name at the top of the message, I quickly snatched up the phone.

Angel: Answer the door, Sprite.

I clutched the phone tight in my hand. It couldn’t possibly be him standing on the other side of my parent’s front door. Even he wouldn’t be that daring.

Would he?

I ran, dangerously skipping steps on my way down. I thought of my puffy red eyes for only a second before I ripped open the door. I was wearing a smile I couldn’t fight, but when I saw who was standing on the other side, my smile quickly fell.

The man standing on my front porch didn’t have Angel’s dark hair, imposing body, or eyes with depths no one could ever reach.

Instead, this stranger sported blond hair and impatient blue eyes. He was dressed in a navy sports coat with a simple white shirt underneath and dark gray slacks hugging his legs. Clutched in his hands were three boxes of varying sizes. The adrenaline that sent my heart racing with anticipation, fear and delight evaporated.

“Mian Ross?”

“Yes?” The confusion I felt was evident in my tone. He held out his arms, indicating I take the boxes. I did after a moment’s hesitation.

I put them on the floor just inside the door and turned to ask what the packages were. “Sign here,” he instructed before I could question. He then thrust a tiny device forward, and I obediently scribbled my name across the screen. “Have a good day.” He turned and left, leaving me even more confused.

I eyed the packages after closing the door. There was no labeling. The smallest box was made of light blue velvet. It looked just like a box to hold a ring. I took the boxes upstairs, and only when I was behind doors did I open the first box.

A ring was exactly what I found inside.

My eyes bulged at the size of the single diamond. With careful fingers, I plucked the ring from the bedding. The band was platinum, and a diamond twinkled brightly at the very top of the band even in the low lighting.

I didn’t know much about rings, but this seemed like a ring a guy gave a girl when he wanted her to wear it forever. But that was impossible, right? I was only sixteen, and Angel didn’t love me.

With shaking hands, I placed the ring back in the box and closed it gently. The possibility that it could be true was too frightening, so I decided not to open the rest until I had answers.

It took me four tries before I knew what to say.

I got your package, but somehow, I think you know that already… What does it mean?

My other problem occurred to me after I’d sent the text. A few minutes had already passed without a response, so I bit my lip and sent another.

Um…I may need a ride. My dad bailed a few hours ago, and he still isn’t back.

Ten minutes later, I was still waiting on Angel’s response when the front door opening and closing sounded as if it’d been kicked in by Big Foot. I could hear Daddy calling my name. His voice sounded desperate as he ran up the stairs. Seconds later, he was filling my bedroom door looking just as he sounded.

“I need you to pack a bag and come with me.” When I didn’t jump to obey, he snapped. “Now, Mian.”

His mood obviously hadn’t improved in the few hours since he left, but this time, instead of running away in tears, I stood my ground and crossed my arms.

“Why should I come with you? You’re being kind of a jerk.”

“Mian, I’m very serious.” He brushed past me to my closet and pulled out my lime green Jansport. My arms dropped from my chest when he dumped my notebooks and homework from the backpack. He then crossed to the dresser and started pulling my clothes out randomly and stuffing them into the bag.

“Daddy, I’m going to the party tonight.”

He twisted with my pink lace bra clutched in his fist. I don’t think he noticed, so I snatched it from him and ignored his impatient scowl.

“You aren’t going to any party,” he dictated. “I need to leave Illinois. I’m taking you to my brother where you’ll be safe.”

My head tilted as I frowned. I was used to him coming and going, but this held finality. “What do you mean you’re leaving Illinois?” The thought left a bad taste in my mouth, especially since he noticeably hadn’t included me. “Why wouldn’t I be safe here?” Uncle Ben was Daddy’s illegitimate half-brother after my late grandfather’s affair with another member of their church. I didn’t know many of the details, but I knew enough to know the end of the affair had been ugly. Uncle Ben and his wife, Gretchen, kind of gave me the creeps. Their religious views bordered fanatic.

“Later, baby girl. We don’t have much time.” He zipped up my backpack and moved to grab my arm, but I twisted my body, escaping his hold by a mere inch. I no longer had his attention when his gaze had fallen on the boxes.

I didn’t try to stop when he plucked the tiny velvet box from the bed. He gingerly flipped open the lid, and when his gaze settled on the ring, his face turned to stone. I didn’t know how to explain the ring’s presence or what it meant. I braced for his anger and the questions.

I didn’t expect him to place the box back on the bed carefully. 

He grabbed my arm before I could think to escape and pulled me from my bedroom.

I never saw my home again.

A month after Daddy drove me to Tome and left me with my aunt and uncle, I learned he had been arrested.

I never expected his victim to be his best friend.