(Winona) “Winona? Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?” Jayden asks as the kids clamber out of the car. His voice is filled with concern, and it’s clear he’s struggling to process everything.I nod, trying to steady my racing heart. “I can’t leave them with him. You have no idea how bad it is, Jayden. Look at them.”Jayden looks at the kids, his expression softening with empathy. “Okay.” He lets out a long breath. “I guess we’ll figure it out.”“There must be a mother,” I say, more to myself than to him.“She left them,” Jayden replies, his voice tinged with sadness.“He would never have let her leave with them. The kids are his meal ticket. I can keep them safe until I find her.” I usher the kids through the front door and into the kitchen, my mind racing with a hundred different thoughts.Jayden follows us inside, shaking his head. “He left them here, though.”“He’ll be back when the cash runs out,” I say, knowing my father all too well.Jayden sighs, his frustration evident.
(Winona)Having these kids for a full day, I’m still very nervous about it. They aren’t saying much and I don’t want to press them on the details of their mother. Sarah basically says nothing and Bobby is protective of her, and isn’t offering any information either.Perhaps I’ll try asking again later. I mean, these kids are my half-siblings, I’m not sure what to do with them. Abby has been fine about having them here, but four-year-olds are fine about most things, I guess. They talk to Abby, I heard them chattering and laughing with her. So I know they can communicate.I wonder if their life has been like mine was. Cold, hungry and punished most of the time. Lonely. Tears swell in my eyes. I’m not letting that bastard take over my life again. I know he’ll be back when the money is gone. I need to be ready and to try and get these kids to a safer home environment. I don’t want him in my home. I do feel better now I know I have security watching. Otherwise, I’d be a complete mess. M
(Winona)“Thank you for trusting me. I’ll try and track down your Mom. Do you think she’d move far?” I ask Bobby, hoping for some clue.Bobby shrugs, his shoulders slumping in defeat. I can tell he’s not giving up any more information. But I have enough for now. I can get the authorities involved. I’ll get a restraining order out on my father. I don’t want him to be able to come anywhere near me.“I’m going to make some calls. To my old school and to child protection. I need to see if we can track down their mother or any other relative that might be able to help them,” I tell Jayden at my kitchen table, my voice firm with resolve.Jayden leans back in his chair, a look of concern etched on his face. “I still think it might be better if we were all at my place.”I shake my head. “I think that huge place would be too overwhelming for them. The way they would have lived. Plus, I don’t want that asshole getting a sniff of there.”Jayden nods, understanding my point. “I’m sure he already
(Winona)Jayden pulls up in the driveway with Bobby and Sarah in the backseat. They both look a little more at ease now, clutching small shopping bags filled with new clothes and a few beach toys. I meet them at the door, Abby holding my hand and bouncing with excitement.“Did you guys have fun shopping?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light.Bobby nods, a shy smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, it was cool. I got a Lakers cap.”“I don’t doubt that with Jayden.”Sarah peeks out from behind Bobby, her eyes wide with curiosity. “I got a new dress,” she says softly, showing me the bright yellow fabric peeking out of the bag. “And a pink swimsuit.”“That’s wonderful, Sarah,” I say, giving her a warm smile. “We’re going to have a great time at the beach house.”Jayden unloads the car and we all pile into his SUV. The drive to the beach house is filled with the sound of the kids chattering excitedly and the gentle hum of the radio. The tension from earlier starts to ease as we pull into the d
(Jayden)I hand soda out to the kids who are dripping on my deck. “You lot have worked up a real thirst. Is anyone hungry?” I ask.Bobby and Sarah both look down and shake their heads, their expressions guarded. Abby bounces up and down, full of energy. “I am!” she exclaims.“I have some strawberries here and I’ll cut some banana and watermelon,” I offer, hoping to coax the other kids into some healthy food.“Oh,” Abby says, looking a little crestfallen.I smile, trying to make it sound fun. “No junk food till after dinner, Abby.”“I need to go potty,” she announces suddenly.“Mommy is inside; she’ll help you get your wet swimsuit off,” I tell her, watching as she runs inside where Winona is resting after her incident. She really lost it at that guy. I’m worried about her mental health at this point. I think she may need some professional advice, and we need to get her father out of her life. I’ll have the bastard jailed if I can.I peel bananas and cut them up for the fruit platter,
(Jayden)“It’s so complicated,” she murmurs, her voice filled with pain.“Tell me about what it was like, before you got to live with Anne,” I urged gently.Her shaking increases, her breath hitching with each sob.“I got you. I think you need to talk about this, get it out. Otherwise, you are going to explode,” I say in encouragement.“He was awful. I was his meal ticket. If he wanted stuff off people, I had to go too. Said they’d feel sorry for me. I had to go beg on the streets, and if I didn’t get enough, I never got to eat anything,” she confesses, her voice raw with emotion.“Jesus, Winona, I’m so sorry you went through that,” I say, my anger towards her father burning hotter.“School saved me. I knew an education was my only way out, and we had a school breakfast program. I got to eat there,” she continues, her voice a little stronger now.“Your mother?” I ask, not sure if I want to hear the answer.“She hated me. Hated that I’d come into her life and ruined it. So did he, but
(Ashlyn)I laugh out loud. “Oh, Gus. You really are so bad.” He’s been flirting with me for weeks now. The old fool thinks he can manipulate me, but he has no idea who he’s dealing with.He grins, his eyes twinkling with that fake charm. “I’m always putty in a beautiful woman’s hands.”“A woman who’s pregnant with your grandchild. I mean, isn’t that a little taboo?” I tease him back, playing the game with ease.“I think you like a little taboo,” he says as he gets up from the formal dining table. “Excuse me a second, my dear. I need the bathroom.”I smile sweetly. “Of course.”If only he knew. His attentions aren’t fooling me. I know he’s just trying to distract me from Jayden and Winona and their little family thing they have going on.Fuck them. I’m playing stupid. It’s easier to do what I need to do that way. Gus may think he’s clever. Judy may think she’s clever. But they aren’t as clever as me. Jayden is mine. I’m married to him. I’ll keep him.This baby is my cover right now. Wh
(Winona)I’m still shaken from attacking that man yesterday. I’ve stayed at the beach house another night, but now I want to get back to the cottage and prove I can do this.“Jayden, thanks for everything. The police are coming this afternoon for an interview and child services will be here in the morning.”“Are you sure?” He looks at me, concern etched in his features.I nod. “I really am.”“I have some meetings today. Hopefully, I’ll finally make some headway to buying more shares. Then I’ll come around and sleep on the sofa.”“You don’t have to put yourself out.”“I do, and I will. If you’re sure he’ll be back, we can’t take any chances.”“He will be, but he’s not stupid enough to try while the authorities are around.”“If he knows you’ll contact the authorities, then he may want to get the kids back with him before then.”This is true. I consider my options. I don’t have a car here and Jayden has meetings he needs to get to. “So, it’s either I wait at the cottage or here.”I don’t