Fireside secrets

Goodbye Port Bellows.

Adam took me by the arm and pulled me to his side.

" I'm not holding any of this against you, I know how easily you can be manipulated by men.

From this moment foreward, I will treat you as I once did when we were in love.

I love you, even if you don't realize it yet. I'm doing all of this for your own good. You and I deserve eachother."

I remained silent. I was only consenting to marry Adam for Eivan and Thomas.

I was taken out the front doors. Thomas and Eivan were in cuffs.

They had their backs to me as the guards were releasing them.

I held my voice. I couldn't say anything to them anyway. I just signed my rights away. I did it to protect them. I would always put them first.

I know that this is what love is. Love is caring about someone else more than you do for yourself.

I put my head down and hurriedly walked past them.

Daddy was driving. Adam opened the door for me and helped me inside.

I knew by the way daddy averted his gaze from my angry eyes that he sold me out.

I held my tongue. I pushed all of my tears and sadness down, deep, deep down. I lost. Betrayed by my own father for what? Money and greed.

I looked out the window as we drove past the caretakers house. The place that I found love and acceptance.

I mean, I could care less if Adam leaked my abuse story.

But ruining Eivan and Thomas is where I draw the line.

I felt tears falling silently. I let them. Adam was on his phone making plans for our private jet.

" Did you tell April. She's going to be heart broken." I said, worrying about my older sister.

" I let her down easy, don't worry.

The concern you feel for her is misplaced. I mean, she was the one who seduced me.

She told me that she wanted me the very first time that she met me.

I fought it at first, I didn't know why you were so frigid in our bed. I finally gave in to her the night we ended things."

You mean when you callously dumped me.

"Recently...when I found out about your past, I realized that I had made a huge mistake about you.

For that, I am very sorry Jan. I should have been more patient with you my love."

He stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. I tried not to shiver with revolt.

I looked him in the eyes.

" I will submit to you Adam, but I might need time to adjust. I would like a long engagement to...get to know you again."

"Sorry honey I need to officiate our union as soon as possible. I don't want to lose you. Can't risk it." He leaned over to kiss my lips.

I let him kiss me. My lips felt bruised by his slap earlier.

I knew why he needed to be married. I didn't let on about his inheritance.

" Are you going to let Ronald Parsons loose on me again?" I knew daddy was listening. He didn't know about that little threat, or did he?

I saw his jaw twitching as his hands gripped the wheel tighter.

" You'll be a good girl for me won't you. Treat me even better than those d***s that you let f**k you?" he asked.

My father almost had steam coming out of his ears. But remained silent.

I guess he didnt know that Adam had threatened me, to unleash my personal monster, Ronald Parsons on me.

" Parsons is out of prison?" dad asked Adam.

" Yes, I've heard a rumor about this." Adam said.

My father stared at me in the review mirror then. I knew he was looking for my reaction.

I just looked out the window.

I am on my own. My family is pretty much dead to me.

April and my father both betrayed me.

My mother, well I've always felt like she was ashamed of me for what Ronald did to me.

Knowing she favored her daughter that wasn't touched just added to my feelings of abandonment.

" Adam can you have the driver pull over, I'm going to be sick now."

" Pull over Calvin." Adam told my father, whom I will now refer to as just the driver.

I wondered what amount of money he offered him. It must have been enough for repairs on the Eastern May.

" Are you ok kid?" the driver asked me seeing my cut lip now.

I opened my door and puked on the side of the road.

" Get her some water!" the driver yelled at Adam.

Adam reached for a bottle of water and handed it to me. I rinsed and spit before settling back into my seat.

" Drive Calvin, we're going to be late." Adam said, as he rubbed my arm.

I could see real concern on his face, but to me it was one sided.

I didn't even care much about myself right now.

I was numb.

************

The flight was uneventful.

I spent most of the time sleeping in the back of the jet. I took two of my anxiety pills before we took off.

I was not fond of flying.

Daddy came to wake me up.

His face looked anxious. His eyes searching mine.

I sat up and rubbed my red rimmed eyes.

Not even acknowledging my father.

" Adam could I use the bathroom before we land?" I asked as I wobbled towards it.

" Of course dear." He stood up quickly and walked me to the bathroom.

" I'll be fine. Thank you."

I washed my hands and face and prepared myself for my new life. Wife of a man I did not love.

I came out and sat in the plush leather seat and buckled myself in.

Adam leaned over and asked me if I was OK.

" I don't want to go home please. Can we just head to a hotel for the night?" I asked him, not loud enough for my father to hear.

" Why, don't you want to see your mother? She's been worried sick about you?" Adam asked me.

I shook my head. "That's not true, we both know it. I would like to be able to go to the hotel as soon as possible, plus Ronald is out of prison."

He actually looked guilty, but did not deny it.

My dad didn't know that I planned on never returning to Port Bellows. I had no reason to do so and every reason not to.

I was never going to forgive them for this. I was going to turn to ice soon. I was sure of it.

Adam placed a drink in my hands. "Here, might take the edge off, I promise you my love that as long as you obey me, I will protect you from Parsons."

" I'm scared Adam."

He looked away. Was he truly going to keep threatening me all my life to keep me in line?

I sipped the bubbly champagne as the flight circled for it's final descent.

Once we landed, my father walked to the waiting car and held the door open for me.

Adam informed him to go on without us.

" What? She's not coming home. That's not part of the deal?" I heard him say.

" It is now. Whatever my fiance wants I will give it to her. Goodbye Calvin. See you at the wedding." He said, slamming the door in his face.

The car sped away.

Alone with my future husband now. I had to make him believe that I was scared and that he was the only one to protect me.