She swayed from side to side smiling. “What’s your name?”
“Mama.”
“You look like my mommy.” She spoke well for being a little more than three.
“I know. All fairy godmothers do. That’s how you know you have the right one,” I said convincingly.
“What about my brother? Are you his fairy godmother too?”
Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t control my emotions. I’d waited my whole life to be close to this little girl, and now she wanted me to include another precious child in our new life. “I am. Do you want to know a secret?”
She nodded.
“I’ve come to take you to a land where you’ll be a princess and he’ll be a prince.”
She looked excited for a second, but then seemed concerned. “Can my mommy and daddy come?”
“Well, it’s not a secret if they know. My magic only works if you can keep it a secret. You can’t tell your mommy or daddy you saw me, okay, princess?”
She nodded again. “Okay.”
“Go in your room and gather some of your favorite things. If your mommy or daddy ask you tell them you’re going on a secret adventure.”
I watched her run away, giving me little time to come up with a plan to get inside. Lucky for me, I saw Willow walking out back with a basket full of wet clothes to hang. I watched as she gracefully picked up the light colored clothes one by one and hung them on the clothesline. I waited until she was too involved to notice me walking toward the back door. Before going inside, I made sure to check Stoshua wasn’t in the room. I entered the kitchen, smelling bacon immediately. A door shut in the distance, and I stood still just to make sure someone wasn’t walking back in my direction. The baby was rocking in a swing, sound asleep. I approached the little infant, noticing how perfect his skin was. His cheeks were chubby, and he was blowing little bubbles while dreaming about happy thoughts. He was perfect, and soon he’d be mine.
I was startled when the sound of feet got louder. Destiny was at my side, a small bag over her shoulder. “I’m ready.”
“We’re going to need some things for your brother. Can you find his diaper bag for me?”
While she was occupied, I ventured deeper into the home, intent on finding Stoshua and seeing the look on his face when he realized I wasn’t his precious Willow. The sound of water led me into the master bedroom. It was obvious someone was in the shower, just feet from where I was standing. When I heard the sound of a bar of soap dropping to the floor, I knew he was preoccupied. Slowly, I cracked the door, peeping inside before going all the way in. With only a foggy glass door between us I stood there, smelling the familiar scent of his shampoo as if we were still married and together.
“Hey, honey, can you toss me a washrag? This one is full of leg hair stubble for some reason,” he requested with a sarcastic tone. The door came open and his head popped out, but his eyes remained closed and covered in soap. “Or you could come join me and get all my hard to reach areas.”
I had no idea where a rag was, but the idea of feeling his skin against mine again left me with no decision to make. I began shedding my clothes in hopes of sauntering into the shower like I owned the place. On the counter was a straight razor. I considered the struggle we’d have once he discovered I wasn’t his beloved wife. I had to be careful, so I placed it on the floor, just at the opening to the shower. Need be, I could grab it within seconds and use it as my way to stay in control.
I didn’t have much time. My sister would be finished hanging the laundry in as little as five minutes, though I couldn’t resist being with him.
I stepped inside, placing my body as close to his back as possible. Before he was able to turn and open his eyes, I brought my hands up and slowly wrapped them around his wet body from behind. Stoshua placed his over mine, keeping me close for a second. "We can't be too long. Des will have the house in a disarray."
I spun him around, kissing him before he had the chance to get a good look at me. He caressed my skin, getting involved in our embrace so much it made him forget about his worry. His tongue stroked over mine, quenching my thirst as remnants of the water spritzing sat on his skin. My hands were all over him. I remember his favorite places to be touched, and how he liked to get off.
I slipped down to my knees, jerking him off quickly, watching as he threw his head back against the tile wall.
I wished my sister was watching us, catching him being intimate with me. She’d never forgive him, and I’d have more reason to be the person he ended up with.
As I took him into my mouth, he let out a few moans, running both hands into my damp hair. I kept watching him, waiting for the moment when he realized I wasn’t his wife. He’d hate himself for being careless, and overreact as soon as it happened.
His eyes finally fluttered open. At first he was oblivious, having no idea I wasn’t his precious wife. I withdrew my mouth from his hard cock and licked the tip, while I reached out to grab the straight razor. “You always did like getting head, Stoshua.”
He started to panic, backing against the tile wall while pushing me away. “Ivy? Shit!”
I remained on my knees, licking my lips while holding his cock in one hand and the razor blade in the other. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. One slip and you won’t be making anymore babies. I’ve got nothing to lose, so don’t try and cross me. I can take out your whole family without regret. Keep that in mind.”
He threw up his hands, keeping his distance, even though I was still completely in control. “What do you want? How did you find us? Where is Willow? If you hurt her or the kids…”
“Shut up and listen. I didn’t touch your pretty little wife, not yet at least. It’s funny you mention the kids. It would have been nice to know I had a nephew. I suppose it slipped everyone’s mind. He’s cute. He’ll probably look just like his mother when he’s older. It’s a shame you won’t be around to find out.”
He took his hand and smacked me in the face, sending me back against the tile. As he tried to escape the shower, I took a deep slice out of his ankle. Blood gushed out all over the bath mat. He fell to the floor and cringed in pain, yelling for Willow. “Babe, if you can hear me, take the kids and run. Get in the car and go. Ivy’s here. IVY’S HERE!”
I kicked him in the face. “Shut up! She can’t hear you. She’s outside.” I crouched down to be face to face with him. He took out my legs, sending me down on the tile next to him. Ignoring the pain in his leg, he made a mad dash for the door. I managed to slice the bottom of his opposite foot, slamming him into the wooden exit, until he collapsed down in front of it. “Did you think it would be easy to get away? I’m nothing but relentless, Stoshua. You should know that. I’ve had plenty of time to consider what I wanted to do about you. I thought I could convince you to be with me and raise our children together, but I was wrong. You’ll never love anyone but my sister.”
“Don’t call them your children. You’ll never lay a hand on my children. Willow won’t let it happen.”
Stoshua was holding both his bleeding appendages while he spoke. He wasn’t able to make a beeline out the door, since he was leaning on it. I stood back up, fully exposed and not caring, and reached for my bag. Inside was the gun. Once I pulled it out he knew he was done for. A smiled formed in the corner of my lips as I watched him surrendering to his fate. He covered his head and balled up. “Please. You can do whatever you want to me, but leave your sister and the kids.”
“It’s not your call what happens next, Stosh. You had your opportunity a long time ago. What’s done is done. Now, do you want to say goodbye to the kids now, or would you rather me tell me you didn’t want them anymore?”
“You’re a sick bitch, Ivy. They won’t believe you. Destiny will never let you pretend to be her mother.”
“Children are resilient. I’ll make sure she’s happy. I’ll keep both of them safe.”
He shook his head and let out a disgusted laugh. “I never loved you. You’re pathetic. I�
�m repulsed by you.” Then he began to yell again. “Des, go find Mommy and tell her to run. Call the police, baby. Daddy’s in trouble.”
I pistol slapped him across the face, repeatedly, knocking him out finally. Surprised in myself, I pulled the tape out of my bag and fastened his wrists and ankles to prevent him from getting away. I put a large strand across his mouth in case he awoke and tried to scream for Willow. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, Stoshua. I wanted you and I to spend the rest of our lives together. In some ways, I suppose I’ll get that wish, since I’ll be the one taking yours today.”
Chapter 9
Once I’d made sure Stoshua couldn’t go anywhere, and I managed to put a pair of pants on him, I dressed myself in clean clothes and ventured back out into the main part of the house. Destiny came running up to me dragging a diaper bag behind her. “I found it.”
“Good girl. Do mama a favor and go sit quietly in your room. I need to let your mommy know we’re going on an adventure.”
She seemed excited. It gave me hope.
When I knew she was safe in her room, I went and stood to the side of the kitchen door. A few minutes later I heard my sister coming up the steps. She was humming some stupid tune as she climbed them, paying no mind to anything that could be going on inside. With an empty basket in her hands, she couldn’t defend herself when I stuck a gun up to the back of her neck. “Long time no see, Will.”
My sister froze in place. I watched the color leave her face as she came to terms with the fact that I was standing in her kitchen. “Ivy? But how?”
I let my lips go into her hair as I spoke. “Did you think you could get rid of me so easily?”
She was crying profusely, shaking worse, and losing her ability to stay on her feet. “What do you want? Please don’t hurt us. Where are my babies?”
“Your babies?” I asked. “Don’t you mean my babies?”
“What? You’re crazy. You need to stop this. The police are probably on their way. There’s no way you’ll get away with this.”
“Even if the police have been called, they’ll go to our parent’s house first. Then they’ll have to get the address from someone to check here. It will take hours. We won’t be here that long.”
Her lips trembled as she spoke. “Where are we going?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll make sure you don’t suffer long. If you prefer, I can end it quick right now.”
“Ivy,” she pleaded. “Please. Don’t do this again. I have a family. My children need me. They need their daddy. Whatever you think we did you’re wrong.”
“You took everything from me. Now I’m taking it from you. Don’t worry about your children. I’ll give them a good life.” I kneed her in the back, forcing her to hunch forward. She cried out in pain. “Do you have anything left to say to me before I put tape over your mouth?”
I pulled the roll off my wrist and started to rip a long piece from it.
My sister sobbed on the floor, but managed to get one thing out in between breaking down. “I’m their mother, Ivy. I know you hate me, but you wouldn’t harm a child. Please. I’m begging you to walk away. We won’t bother you. You never have to see me again. That’s why I’ve been staying away. I knew you didn’t want to see me.”
I took the gun and hit her hard over the head. Unlike Stoshua, she covered it with her hands and bawled.
I put tape over her mouth and secured her hands, finally dragging her outside and placing her in the family mini-van. After forcing her to get in the third row seat, I taped her to the headrest so she couldn’t look away. “Hang tight. Stoshua will be joining you soon. Then we’re all going on an adventure. Remember how much you liked going places as a kid?” I pretended to be excited, but mostly came off as sarcastic.
I was trying to avoid going back into the house, even though I knew it was impossible. It made me nervous. I couldn’t take the chance that Destiny had discovered her father’s injured body. There was loud thumping when I entered the home. I ran toward the hallway, stopping at the first bedroom on the left. Destiny was sitting on her bed playing with two dolls. She was talking to them, explaining how she was about to go on a trip with her fairy godmother. I stood there in awe of her innocence. To be young without jealously again wasn’t reachable, so maybe I could live vicariously thorough her adventures.
When the knocking continued, I headed in the direction of the noise. It was apparent Stoshua had awoke and was doing his damndest to break free of his restraints. I went into the bathroom, staring him in the eyes. “Seriously? What good will it do to rough yourself up some more? Do you want your kids to see you this way?”
His eyes were huge. He was attempting to speak, but obviously was unable to do so. “Just a little longer, Stoshua. It will all be over. I promise.”
His pleading eyes caught me off guard. I could see pain in them, and maybe a bit of fear. He was scared to die, and I wondered what he’d be willing to do to save himself from his apparent impending fate. “Are you having a change of heart? Does the idea of death make you want to reconsider your decision? You can still be a father to your children, Stoshua. All you have to do is be with me forever. Your kids need their daddy.”
I patted him on the leg. “I’ll let you think about it while we get on the road. There’s still time to change your mind.”
It was rough, but I managed to get him on his feet. His head wound was looking nasty, so I forced him to stand still while I cleaned it. “I need to get this blood off you so you don’t scare our daughter.”
The mere mention of her being ours set him over the edge. He started flailing around, making it impossible to keep a hold of him. At the same moment I heard crying coming from another room. The baby had awaken, and he’d need to be taken care of.
I left Stoshua in the bedroom while hurrying to reach the infant. Destiny was standing in front of his swing, trying to stick a pacifier in his mouth. “Sorry I left my room. He was crying, and Mommy always lets me help.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to need your help when we go on our adventure. Are you excited?” I asked while picking up her brother. I grabbed a diaper off the table and laid him on the couch to change him. He stared at me, watching my face as I removed the snaps to his onesie. Like a natural, I removed the wet diaper and put on a dry one. I carried him in the kitchen and checked the refrigerator for a bottle. Sure enough, there were a few located on the side of the door. I took one out and popped it in the microwave for a few seconds, then checked to make sure it wasn’t too hot before giving it to him. I nestled him in one arm, and played with his tiny hand with the other. His little fingers latched on to one of mine. It was beautiful, and for a moment I forgot about what I needed to do to ensure he’d be mine forever.
“Marcus likes it when you pat his butt,” Destiny mentioned.
I did as she told me, noticing him closing his eyes again. “He sure does sleep a lot.”
She shrugged. “Mommy said he didn’t sleep at all last night. Daddy ran out this morning and got him medicine. He had a belly ache.”
“We better make sure we bring his medicine with us. We wouldn’t want him to be sick while we’re having fun.”
She ran into the other room and came back with a small bottle. I placed it in the diaper bag and patted her on the back. “Good girl.”
“Is Mommy and Daddy coming with us?”
I had to change the subject, since I didn’t have a good answer for her. “How about you go get that bag? We need to get on the road.”
She ran with excitement and fetched her things, while I sat the baby back down and headed into the master bedroom to check on Stoshua.
It wasn’t surprising that he’d maneuvered over to where the landline was sitting and knocked the receiver off. He was attempting to dial with his nose. I placed my finger over the button, cancelling the call. “Seriously? I wanted to believe you’d do anything for your children, but I come in here to find you going behind my back. You’re the same as Willow. I can’t trust you.
”
He shook his head and begged beneath the tape. When I heard Destiny knocking I knew I had to come up with a reason he was bound and gagged. I opened the door and acted excited. “Hey there. Guess what?”
She looked at her father and then back to me. “Why is daddy like that?”
“He’s playing a game. Do you want to play with him?”
She nodded.
“Good. Daddy and Mommy can’t use their hands or mouths while we go on our adventure. It’s against the rules of fairy godmothers.”
“But is he okay? He looks sad.”
“He’s not sad, silly. He’s telling you to hurry up so we can get there and take off the tape.”
“Oh!” She looked shocked but content with my reply.
“Come on. Let’s get your brother and dad in the car so we can be on our way.”
Destiny carried her bag while I helped Stoshua out of the house. I went back in and grabbed the baby, including his safety seat for travel, and both my sister and Stoshua’s wallet. I’d need to have their identification for travel purposes. Destiny kept asking her parents questions, unaware they were trying to get her to free them. She was laughing and carrying on, pretending it was a game. The three year old didn’t have a clue, which was good for me. I couldn’t afford for her to be scared.
She helped me get her brother in his seat and strapped. I made sure Stoshua, who I’d placed in the passenger side, was buckled in his safety belt, before hooking Destiny in her booster seat.
In the rearview mirror I could see my sister crying. She knew nothing good would come from this, at least with her. I was still undecided when it came to Stoshua. He loved his children, and I knew a part of him would do anything to stay in their lives.
As we pulled out of the driveway I looked back at Destiny. “Are you ready for our adventure, princess?”
She kicked her feet with excitement. I turned on a movie that would play in the back of the headrests and handed her a set of headphones, so she wouldn’t have to hear her parents making weird sounds to catch her attention.
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