A Texas Family. Linda Warren
family get so messed up? There wasn’t an answer.
Glancing at his watch, he rose to his feet. He had to get his kids from school. They were the bright spot in his life. He would never let them down, and he made sure they felt his love every day.
With one foot in the stirrup, he swung into the saddle and turned Jet toward home. The last thing he wanted to do was talk to Jena. He’d rather take another lash from Pa’s belt than tell her she would never know what had happened to her baby.
* * *
JENA WAS RESTLESS and had to do something to let off some steam. She pulled the mower out of the shed and finished mowing the yard. After that, she used the Weedwacker to trim around the edges. There wasn’t a single blade of grass peeping up its head. The yard looked better. But it would look even better with flower beds.
In the shed she found a hoe and started digging. She didn’t stop until she had a bed on each side of the porch. Her back and shoulders ached, so she thought she’d stop for the day. After the house was painted, she’d buy mulch and finish the beds.
All day she’d forced herself not to think of Carson and their talk, but she’d looked at her watch about a hundred times. She’d given him until eight o’clock, and she intended to keep her word on that. Wiping sweat from her brow, she decided to take a break and sat on the porch. A light breeze fanned her heated skin.
Carson had wanted to know why it had taken her so long to come back. Her reason was personal and private, and she would not share her life with him. Hilary and cousin Nan knew, but other than them she hadn’t told a soul, not even Blake.
Realizing it was six o’clock, she went inside to fix supper for her mother. At least Hilary didn’t have to rush home for that. She made ham-and-cheese sandwiches, and her mother ate very little. She had a faraway look in her eyes as she picked the cheese off her sandwich.
“Is Hilary still at school?” Norma asked.
Jena was taken aback. Her mother had been fine all day. Now she seemed to be in another place.
“Um...yes.” She followed Hil’s example and agreed with her.
“I don’t like her walking home in the dark.”
“Hilary’s fine, Mama. I’ll check on her later.”
Her mother touched her arm. “You’re a good sister. Have you finished your homework?”
“Um...yes.”
Norma suddenly sat up straight, her head cocked to one side. “Did you hear that? Is that the sound of your dad’s truck?”
“No, Mama. It’s just a noise on the highway.”
“I don’t know.” Norma jumped up and went into the living room, peering out the window. “I don’t see anything.”
Jena followed her. “It’s nothing.”
“I’ll sit in my chair and wait.” Norma sank into her recliner. “If I holler, you get out of the house. I don’t want him beating on you again.”
How many times had she heard those words? More than she wanted to remember. In that moment she realized her mother had spent most of her life listening for the sound of her husband’s truck. No wonder she was losing her mind. Without any happiness, the mind had found its own kind of peace.
After putting ham and cheese back into the refrigerator, she slammed the door just a little too hard. Why did life have to be like this? As a kid she used to dream of a happy family with loving parents. She’d tell her dad about her day and he’d smile and encourage her. Reality was far removed from the fantasy. But when their grandmother had been alive, their life had been almost normal. Their dad had supper with them every night and he didn’t drink. At least not in Grandmother’s presence.
After her death, life became a nightmare. Her father lost his job, and he was angry all the time. The drinking, arguing and fighting started. Life was never the same again.
She cleaned the kitchen counter with a deep sigh. There had to be happy families somewhere. Maybe they only existed beyond the clouds in Hilary’s mural.
To stop the depressing thoughts she went to take a bath. Afterward, she slipped on clean shorts and a tank top. She hadn’t brought many clothes, and it was a good thing Hilary had the washing machine. After putting a load on to wash, she checked on her mother. She was sound asleep in her chair. At peace.
She went outside and sat on the porch, swinging her legs off the side the way she had as a child. It was after seven and Carson hadn’t come by or called. She’d wait until after eight and take it from there. She hadn’t called Blake today, and she’d wait on that, too. Right now her thoughts were on her child. Carson would come, she kept telling herself. He’d have news. But they’d parted on an angry note, so she shouldn’t expect much. Still, she kept hoping.
The white constable car turned into the driveway and her heart raced. He was here. She ran her sweaty palms down her bare thighs and waited.
He strolled toward her, and there was something in the way he moved. Was it dejection? Despair? She couldn’t decide. Either way, it wasn’t good.
“Good evening, Ms. Brooks,” he said, his voice cordial yet hesitant.
“Good evening,” she replied. “Have you talked to your father?” The words rushed out before she could stop them.
“Yes.”
“And?”
“He admits to taking your baby.”
Her heart skyrocketed. She hadn’t expected Asa to admit that so easily. “Oh” slipped from her throat.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” he warned.
“Why?”
“He’s never going to tell you where that baby is.”
“What?” She was confused.
“Revenge, Ms. Brooks. The ultimate revenge. In his mind you took Jared from him, and in return he took your child. And since he can’t get Jared back, you’re not getting your child back, either. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way Asa is.”
Her hands curled into fists. “How can he be that evil?”
“Like I said, I’m sorry for what you’ve been through, but I’ve done what you asked. It’s out of my hands now. Call your lawyer and let him do what he can, but nothing on this earth will make Asa tell his secret. I know him well enough to know that.”
“It’s illegal to steal someone’s baby,” she said with barely controlled anger.
“Yes, and Asa will be arrested because he freely admits to everything, but in his condition very little will be done. He’ll probably be put into a home.”
She fought the tears forming in her eyes. “I don’t understand any of this. Asa was so mean to Jared, and all he wanted to do was get away from his father. Now he’s acting like Jared was a son he loved dearly.”
“In his heart I guess he did.”
“He doesn’t have a heart,” she spat. “How can he keep a child from its mother? Jared’s child!”
Carson shrugged. “I don’t profess to understand my father. He’s all the things you say he is, but that’s not going to change a thing. He will never tell you what happened. That secret will die with him. I’m sorry for what he put you through, but for me this is over. There’s nothing else I can do.”
She stood on unsteady legs. “It will never be over for me, Mr. Corbett.”
“I understand that.”
“Do you? Do you know what it’s like to have your baby forcefully taken from you? Do you know what it’s like to be in fear of your very life? Do you...?” Tears clogged her throat, and she had to stop.
He