We were at the bottom of their garden, heading to the place Travis called his den. It was a wooded area with a small stream and tons of cool hiding places. Travis and his Dad had built a treehouse, and there were stepping stones over the stream close by, that we used to hop onto whenever we pretended that the stream was molten lava. Having Ryley with us today was slowing us down, and we wouldn’t be able to play some of the more deadly games we liked to play, but our parents trusted us to take care of her. I’d never want to let them down, or her.
“I figured you’d be coming here today, so I’ve put some snacks and bottles of coke in the treehouse. We can have a feast and read some of my new comics.”
Travis obviously hadn’t factored Ryley into our day’s play.
“How’s Ryley supposed to climb the ladder with her little legs?” I looked down at her, as she glanced back up at me. Her doe eyes shone with innocence as she listened to us.
“Me no like it treehouse,” she said in her sing-song voice, pointing up to the trees we were walking through. “Me no like it. Scary.”
“You’re too little to climb the ladder, Ryley. We won’t go up there today.” I squeezed her tiny hand to reassure her, but Travis was having none of it.
“She can play at the bottom of the tree. She’s not spoiling my fun today.”
I shrugged, not feeling a shred of confidence in his plan. The ground would be safer for her, but was it really safe to leave a two-year-old unsupervised in the woods? As if he was reading my mind, Travis continued.
“She’ll be fine. It’s not like I haven’t left her there before. She just finds her own games to play. She’s not a baby anymore.”
But she was a baby, she was to me anyway. She needed help getting a drink and she couldn’t reach the snack drawer in the kitchen. Her bedroom had a guard fitted at the door so she couldn’t wander out in the night. When the adults were around, one of them always shadowed her, making sure she didn’t touch anything harmful or hurt herself. So why, when she was in our care, were we leaving her on her own?
I didn’t want to argue anymore, though. I guessed Travis would just call me out on it; accuse me of being a wimp and a spoilsport. So I bit my tongue and went along with his plan. It was a decision that’d haunt me for weeks and months to come.
“You. Stay here.” Travis pointed at the ground as Ryley pushed out her bottom lip and started to tear up. “We have boys’ stuff to do up there. It’s a boys’ only treehouse, do you understand? No girls, Ryley, okay? You’re a girl, aren’t you?”
Ryley nodded her cute curly head and sucked in her cheeks, giving us both a show of her independent side. She had a wicked, adventurous side to her, but when it came to her big brother Travis, she always did as she was told.
“No following us up there, okay? We’re too busy to be messing about with babies like you. I’ll throw you some cookies and a drink down, but you stay out of our way, got it?”
“Uh huh,” she sniffed out, and sat herself down at the bottom of the tree, running her hands through the leaves that surrounded her, and ignoring us as she looked over to the little stream.
“And no paddling either. Mum grounded me for a week after you ruined that summer dress with the ladybirds on it. Sit there and stay out of trouble.”
“Okay, Tavis.” She still struggled to pronounce the ‘r’ in his name, like she struggled with the ‘s’ in mine. I thought it was cute. Travis thought it was beyond annoying.
“My name’s Travis, you dummy. Now shut up and let us get on with our stuff.”
Twenty minutes into our game of battleships, and I was starting to get nervous. I couldn’t concentrate. It was eerily quiet outside. Shouldn’t she be singing or saying something? Ryley was always chattering away.
“Is your sister okay?”
“She’s quiet, make the most of it. Most days she’s whining like a freak.”
I sank one of Travis’s battleships, and was doing a victory dance in my seat as we heard the snap and thud sound from outside. No cries, just thump and thud.
Travis ran to the open door of the treehouse and threw himself down the ladder faster than I’d ever seen him move. When I got to the top of the ladder, I saw why. Ryley must’ve tried to climb up to get to us, but her little legs weren’t big enough or strong enough and she must’ve slipped. She was lying lifeless, like a rag doll on the woodland floor. There were leaves tangled in her hair and an open, gaping wound on her forehead that was dribbling red blood into her bright yellow hair. Her left arm was twisted at a peculiar angle, and a jagged, dirt-encrusted piece of old glass was sticking out just below her elbow.
“What… oh my god… what do we do?”
Travis was panicking, circling his sister and grabbing chunks of his hair in despair.
“We have to pick her up, Trav. Get her back to the house. She’s hurt.”
I jumped down the last rung of the ladder and knelt down next to her.
“Is she… dead?” Travis was crying now, and rocking on the spot like a lunatic.
“No, she’s not dead. She’s still breathing.”
I pulled her into my arms and stood up. She weighed about as much as a feather, and her little head lolled to the side to rest on my chest. I didn’t know if picking her up was the right thing to do after a fall like that, but all I did know was that I had to get her to safety. Seeing her lying there, injured as she was, had done something awful to my insides. I was hurting really bad, and the thought that something serious was wrong with her made me want to throw up.
“Don’t tell them we left her. If my mum and dad find out she was on her own they’ll ground me forever.”
Travis was sprinting behind me as I ran with Ryley in my arms, panting with a mixture of exertion and his desperation to avoid getting into trouble.
“What else are we supposed to say? She’s got a cut on her head and her arm looks weird. They won’t believe us if we tell them she just fell over. We need to tell the truth.”
I didn’t care if I got into trouble for this, I truly believed we both deserved to be punished. Ryley was hurt because of us. We’d been selfish. The adults needed to know that. I felt so ashamed.
I sprinted out of the woods and into their back garden, with Ryley cradled like the baby she was in my arms. Her mum saw us first and let out a blood-curdling scream. My dad and Travis’s ran faster than his mum though, and when they reached us on the grass, Travis’s dad took Ryley out of my arms and scowled at me, as if I’d attacked his little girl myself.
“What the hell happened? Speak boys, NOW!”
“I’m so sorry, Mr Emerson. Ryley tried to follow us into the treehouse, but she slipped on the ladder and fell. She hit her head. I’m so sorry.”
I looked over to Travis, to see him glowering across at me with daggers in his eyes.
“Jesus Christ, are you really that stupid?” Mr Emerson looked ready to kill us.
“She’s only just turned two. Can’t we trust you to look after her?” He turned his hateful stare onto Travis, but Mrs Emerson cut him off.
“Enough, Harry. We can deal with this later. We need to get Ryley to the hospital.”
We trudged our way back up to the house, feeling like the wind had been knocked out of us. I couldn’t bring myself to look at my dad. I couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in his eyes. We’d messed up big time today, and we’d found out the hard way that one bad decision can have devastating, lifelong effects. Travis’s parents had already gotten into their car to make the frantic journey to the hospital. We were left to wallow in our own guilt and worry.
Present Day
“Thanks for today, Liam.”
I threw my bag onto the table and looked up to find my big brother, Travis, sitting on our sofa. He looked like a zombified hot mess.
“What the fuck, Travis? What’re you doing here?”
He shuffled about in his seat uncomfortably and avoided my gaze.
“I took over babysitting duties. That dick, Liam, was more t
han happy to fuck off. What the hell did you call him for, Rye? I’d have come round. You know you can call me anytime, sis.”
I had to admit, I didn’t know why I’d called Liam either. The guy was a flake and a sleaze. I knew he’d probably only come round to try it on with me, but my brain had been frazzled by the lack of sleep and the events of the previous night. So, in my defence, my judgement had been severely compromised.
“Hell if I know. The guy’s a douche, but I thought he might want to help his friend.”
“Some friend, Rye. He’s done fuck all to help Justin these past few months.”
Travis clamped his mouth shut then, realising he’d said too much.
“You knew?” I tried to rein in my fury, but it’d started seeping out of every tiny pore. “You knew about Justin’s drug problem and you didn’t think to tell me? What the hell sort of brother are you? What sort of friend? You two were inseparable the last time I was down here. He’s been your friend for years. What happened? Did you just dump his ass when the going got too tough for you?”
“It wasn’t like that, Rye. I wanted to tell you, but he begged me not to. I tried to get him help, but he kept saying he could get himself clean. I thought he was handling it. I’m so sorry. I know now how shitty that looks. Honestly, if I had any idea about the state he was in, how far down that rabbit hole he’d fallen, I would’ve done more, I swear. I’ve kinda been… distracted lately.”
I could see my brother was hurting, and to be honest even I was struggling with the new and so not improved Justin. I couldn’t berate him for what had transpired. Justin was a grown man; he had to take some responsibility for this. We were the pawns in his game of life. He was the master of his own destiny.
“How’s he been?” I gestured to the closed bedroom door behind me, where my strung out fiancé lay drowning in his demons.
“He’s moaned, whined and called me every foul name under the sun, but I just gave him my version of a pep talk and left him to wallow.”
I nodded. I wasn’t looking forward to meeting that version of Justin later.
“So, what’s happening with you, bro? You look like shit.”
“Thanks. I feel like it too.” He smiled sadly then rubbed his hands over his face. “Cassie and me… I think it’s over.”
“What? But you guys are perfect for each other, what happened? Did she cheat on you?”
I was getting ready to storm round to Cassie’s and give her a piece of my mind. Travis was a good guy, a great catch. If she’d fucked him over, I’d make her pay. My revenge plan fell short as soon as I saw my brother’s guilty face.
“Travis, what did you do?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, it just kinda happened. I met someone. She… bewitched me.”
“Jeez bro, we’re not in a Twilight novel. Bewitched, my ass. What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I don’t know. I thought I had it all figured out. I loved Cass. I do love Cass. But this girl, Ryley, she… I don’t know. I can’t explain it, but I’ve fallen for her hard. I can’t marry Cassie when I’m in love with someone else.”
“Like hell you can’t. You need to do the right thing, Trav. You need to be honest with her.”
“That’s the problem. She’s already found out, and in a fucking brutal way too.”
“How? What happened?” I sat down next to him and put my hand on his trembling knee to show him some support, even though I could’ve throttled him for being so weak.
“She caught us… in a hotel room. Shit, Rye, it was bad. Really bad. I’ve no idea how Cassie knew we were there in the first place, not to mention how she got hold of a key card for the room, but she did. How the hell are we supposed to get over that?”
“Fuck. That’s so bad.”
I couldn’t imagine how Cassie must’ve felt seeing that. I’d have probably thrown up if it was Justin with someone else. Cheating was a massive no-no for me. It was something I’d certainly never forgive, ever.
“She stormed off, obviously, and is refusing to see me now.” He hung his head down and sighed like it was his last day on earth.
“Can you blame her? I’d have kicked your ass, and the whore you were with. Where does she figure into all this?”
“That’s the thing, Rye. I have absolutely no idea what the deal is with her. One minute she’s telling me she loves me and can’t live without me, then next thing I know she just ups and disappears. I don’t know where she is, or why she’s gone. I’m gonna sound like a paranoid freak, and I don’t know for sure, but I feel like someone’s out to get me. I can’t bring myself to believe that Lilly would just up and leave me like that. Something’s not right. How did Cassie get into that room? Did Lilly tip her off? Or someone else? Jeez, I just miss her so much. She’s the sweetest, kindest-”
“Biggest whore to walk the planet, and you’re no better either.”
He turned to face me, giving me his most intense stare. “Don’t say that. You don’t know her.”
“No, but I know Cassie, and she’d never do anything to hurt you. She doesn’t deserve this, and to be honest you don’t deserve her, Trav. I love you and you’re my brother and all, but you’ve been an ass. The worst kind. I wouldn’t blame her if she never forgives you for this, but you could at least try to make it work.”
“But what if I don’t want her forgiveness?”
“Jesus, Trav. She’s the love of your life. Don’t throw that away for some cheap whore out to cause trouble. Maybe this Lilly had her eyes on your money all along. Maybe she’s one of those girls who likes causing trouble and breaking up relationships. There are girls like that out there, you know. Guys too. You can be so naive sometimes.”
“No, she wouldn’t use me like that.”
“You’d be surprised what desperate people do.” I nodded over to the bedroom again to hit my point home.
“No. It’s not like that. It wasn’t like that with Lilly. Look, I shouldn’t have come. I just wanted to give you a heads up about all this. The wedding is supposed to be in three months, but I doubt that’ll go ahead. I’m done, Ryley. I’ve no idea how to come back from this.”
“Never say never. Cassie is perfect for you, Trav. You’ve just lost your way. Take a bit of time out, then talk to her. If it’s meant to be, then you’ll find a way to work things out.”
I couldn’t give my brother much more than that, because quite frankly, I had enough of my own shit to deal with, and I was mad as hell at him. Cheating was a hard limit for me. I wouldn’t put up with it. I loved my brother, but I was finding it hard not to yell at him and throw things right now.
“I’m taking a bit of time out myself, to be honest. I’ve managed to get Justin into a ninety day rehab program out of town. I’m going to rent somewhere nearby to be close to him, so I won’t be around for the next few months.”
I was quite impressed with my excuse for being out of the apartment, which I’d thought up in the last few seconds. It wasn’t the same excuse I’d give Justin when he woke, but the two wouldn’t have time to compare notes. It didn’t matter if I was the dutiful girlfriend staying near the rehab centre, or the wayward daughter who’d asked her father for his help. They were both pretty feasible stories, and would keep the two most important men in my life away from the awful truth. A truth that would crucify them if they ever found out.
“I’m proud of you, Rye. You’re taking all this really well.”
He grabbed my hand to hold in his and gave a sheepish, guilt-ridden smile. He used his finger to gently trace the silver scar on my arm, just below my elbow. My ‘brotherly war wound’, as my parents called it, was just as much a part of me now as any other body part. A badge of honour, if the stories my brother told were anything to go by. I was, as he liked to remind everyone, a feisty little sister and a handful to control. I remembered our childhood differently though. I was his shadow, his little minion, and I got on his last nerve until we got older and realised we were each other’s
biggest supporters.
That day, when the two of us were mucking about at the tree house was a bit of a blur, but I remember being carried back by big strong arms, to the safety of my mum and dad. I’d always be grateful to Travis for doing that. He stepped up when I needed him the most. I wanted to do the same for him, always.
“This mark right here always reminds me that I need to be a better brother to you. That was such a shitty day.”
“Good job I barely remember it then.” I smiled. “You weren’t that shitty though. You carried me back to mum and dad. You looked after me that day.”
“I… yeah… whatever.” He scratched his head and frowned, as if he was trying to remember something. “It was a long time ago, but I’ll always have your back.”
Travis stood up and gave me a much-needed brotherly hug. I buried my face into his chest and felt the pain of missing my family. It’d been so long since I’d last seen my parents. I guess my longing was more obvious than I thought. I really missed them.
“You know, Mum and Dad ask about you most days. They really miss you, Rye. It wouldn’t hurt to give them a call once in a while, or even pop over to see them. They’re not getting any younger.”
“I know, it’s just difficult at the moment. They don’t approve of Justin at the best of times. I doubt they’d approve right now.”
“Well, don’t leave it too late. They’re still in the middle of the Med somewhere, on their cruise of the month, but they’ll be home in a few weeks. They’d really love to see you.”
Travis kissed the top of my head, then headed out of the apartment, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. If I ever met his Lilly, I’d be sure to give her a piece of my mind. Well, it would be a lot more than that, but I couldn’t get caught up with my outrage for Travis’s situation. I had my own to conquer.
This Cruel Love (A Dark Hearts Stand-Alone Novel Book 2) Page 6