Chapter 8

Luckily, we quickly turned into what looked like his driveway, that’s what I hoped.

Closing my eyes, I started to pray softly, please oh please, don’t give me any more surprises.

When the car stopped, two beautiful boys ran out. He quickly got out and hurried to them, picking both up and showering them with kisses. I slowly got out, standing very uncomfortably next to the car, switching legs now and then.

He turned to me with a wide grin on his face. “Come on in, we don’t bite.” He started laughing again.

Walking to the house. I slowly followed behind him. The children were acting like monkeys. One hanging on his arm and the other one strapped around his legs.

“Honey I’m home.” He sang.

“Look at what I brought you, ain’t I a good husband!” He said while looking very smug.

OH, please earth, please open, and swallow me whole. Rubbing my forehead with my hand. I looked confused at the man standing in front of me. Why would any man give another woman, what doesn’t even belong to him, to his wife, and he’s even proud of himself?

The kids let go of their father and ran off into another room.

Out of the kitchen walked a really, pretty woman. Looking also in her late twenties, dark brown hair hanging loose over her shoulders, beautiful gray eyes, slender build, dressed in blue jeans, a light brown sweater, and chic cowboy boots.

With a forced smile, she walked straight to him, hitting him on the chest.

“You’re late again, again! She said through gritted teeth. “We should have been on the road already. Dad keeps phoning and asking where we are. Hurry up and load everything, so we can get there quickly.”

“Honey, we have company.” He said, pointing his finger at me.

She turned towards me, quickly covering her face.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry.” She said with an apologetic voice.

Quickly wiping her hands on her jeans. She came towards me, wrapping me in a big hug.

Oh, my word. What is happening! I stood there like a statue not knowing what to do. Looking at the big baboon who is grinning from ear to ear in front of me.

“It looks like you haven’t eaten for days.” She held me at arm’s length, looking me up and down.

“Come quickly let’s feed you.” She said while clapping happily, rushing off to the kitchen.

“Hey! I thought we were in a hurry, and where is my kiss?” He said with a pout while he threw his hands in the air.

A head quickly popped around the corner.

“You, handsome, come get your kiss, then go pack the car.”

He rushes up to her, giving her a big smooch. Shaking his head while walking away.

Standing alone in the hallway, I slowly walked to the kitchen. Charlene is standing at the counter, making a sandwich.

“Please take a seat.” She said while pointing at the kitchen chair.

Walking over, I slid the chair out, and slowly sat down.

“You look like you had a rough time.” She looked at me with caring eyes.

I was shocked. I still had no words. These people just met me and treat me better than my own family ever did. You can feel the love in this house. I have never met such lovely people before.

Tilting my head, I looked at her puzzled. She looked back at me with a soft smile, taking a seat at the opposite side of the table.

“What`s your plan, Amore?” She asked.

“I don`t have a plan, yet,” I said while looking down at the table.

“Where are you from, Amore, from what are you running?

My head jerked in her direction. Fear written in my eyes. Does she know my father or maybe my sister? How else would she know I’m running away from something? I thought to myself

Maybe seeing the fear in my eyes. She stood up, walked to the fridge took out a bottle of water, and gave it to me, taking her seat again. She closed her eyes taking a big breath.

“My father left us when I was eight years old, ran away with his mistress. He took all our money with him. My mom left school at sixteen when she got pregnant with me. Her parents wanted nothing to do with her, so they kicked her out of the house. She moved in with my dad. My mom stayed home to look after me and my dad was the provider. In the beginning, they were very happy. Later my father started staying out more coming home late. He always told her he worked late. She later found out, that the time he would not come home, he would be with his mistress. With no place to go and no money, she stayed with him. This went on until the day he left us. My mom could not get a job, and with no money, we could not afford our house. She started leaving me alone at home, telling me to be a good girl and not wait up for her. She changed the way she dressed, the way she did her hair, everything of her changed. She would sometimes not show up for a week and when she did, she would be passed out on the couch. Then she started bringing men home. The first one she brought asked her if I would be joining them. She just looked and me with a sneer of disgust. From then I would start locking myself in my room once I got home. At sixteen I left home. I got a job at a diner as a waitress. I would sleep in parks or gas station bathrooms. Until I met Joe. He was a good customer at our dinner and saw me once sleeping outside on a bench. He took me right to his home. Told me he could never turn a blind eye. He changed my life. That’s how I met Rudolf. Joe and his wife adopted Rudolf when he was three. Unfortunately, Sarah died five years later of cancer. Rudolf told me when he first saw me it was love at first sight.” She stares off in the distance, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile as if thinking back to that memory.

“You don’t have to tell me anything from your past, Amore, just know when you want to talk, I’m here to listen."

“That’s the reason my husband did not think twice before bringing you to our home.”

“I promise that you can trust us. As you have seen by now, my husband is one big goofball with a big heart. I just know it in my heart, you have been sent over our path for a reason.”

“Please always remember what I’m about to tell you. Someone once told me, these words in my past and they got me through the toughest times.”

“No one gets to determine your value. Only you get to determine your worth. Always guard your heart against this cruel world. Do not let your scars control you’re future. Seize given opportunities with both hands and make the best of them. Always look forward don`t waste your time looking back. When reaching a stumbling block see it as an opportunity to grow. There’s always a silver lining.”

“You are more than welcome to stay with us until you get everything figured out” She pushed the sandwich over to me. “Please eat.”

With a tear rolling down my face, I looked at her with so much gratitude.

“Thank you, so much,” I said while wiping the tears away.

She gave me a warm smile. “When you’re done eating, please go take a shower and get out of those clothes. I will leave you a clean pair of clothes in the bathroom.” She scrunches up her nose. “You smell pretty bad.” She stood up.

“The bathroom is on your left, you can take your time but not too much, we are kind of in a hurry.” Giving me a wink before she left.

I quickly finished my sandwich. Walking to the sink, rinsed off my plate, and placed it on the drying rack. I hurried to the bathroom to take a quick shower. As promised a pair of clothes was waiting for me on a small bathroom table. I quickly showered, wiped myself, and got dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans, a light blue t-shirt, and a light gray sweater. There were even white sneakers with socks. Feeling refreshed. Folding up my dirty clothes, I walked out looking for Charlene.