Family Ties

by Debi V. Smith

“I know we never talked about it before, but with your father in prison and your mother on trial we figured it would be easier to pursue now than it was before the trial,” Andrew explains.

  “You know we already consider you part of the family. We just want to make it legal,” Rose continues.

  “We’d really be sisters!” Arissa beams.

  I nod, unable to say anything. They took me in, they got me help, they fought for me when I was taken away, and they stand by me. We’re already family and adoption will make it official. I’ll have a real family. A normal family.

  “What? No one wants to adopt me?” Damian asks.

  I break out laughing, despite the overwhelming love washing through me. “Better timing.”

  “I thought so.” He winks at me.

  “We’ll call Gloria tomorrow,” Andrew says.

  Arissa squeals and bounds out of her stool, squeezing me in her arms. “I’m going to have a real sister!”

  “I’m going to have a better sister,” I state, smiling so wide my cheeks hurt.

  “Was there something on your mind, Sara?” Andrew asks.

  “The threat my mother made could be real.”

  “She’s in jail now,” Arissa says. “She can’t do anything.”

  “If she still has contact with Victoria, there’s no telling what she’ll say to her. They’re so enmeshed that Victoria will accept anything Mother feeds her.”

  “And she’s already come after you once,” Rose says, her face blanching.

  “Exactly.”

  “We’ll talk to Gloria about our options,” Andrew reassures me.

  Damian smiles and slaps my back. “It’s a good thing you travel with two bodyguards.”

  “Oh, please.” I roll my eyes and grin. “I need to call Jason.”

  “Invite him and his parents over for dinner,” Rose tells me. “And Hunter,” she adds.

  “You have enough for all of them?”

  “Sweetie, as soon as you and Arissa started bringing two growing athletic boys into this house regularly, I started buying more food.”

  I shift my gaze to Damian. “You’re still growing? Could’ve fooled me.”

  “Funny, Sara,” he says wryly.

  I smirk, then leave to call Jason from my room.

  The phone rings once. “Hello?” he answers.

  “Were you carrying the phone around with you?”

  He pauses. “Yes. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah.” But we’re going to have to talk about his incessant worrying. “Do you and your parents want to come over for dinner?”

  “Hang on.” Crackling comes through the receiver while he covers and uncovers the phone. “It’ll be just me. Dad’s a bit tired and he wants to be there tomorrow. Mom works third shift tonight. I’m on my way.”

  Hunter tells me he can’t make it when I call him and congratulates me on the adoption news.

  Jason arrives fifteen minutes later and we go to my room for privacy.

  I rest my back against my pillow and headboard. Jason sits on the edge of my bed facing me, unease creasing his face.

  “They’re talking to a lawyer tomorrow about my mother and Victoria. They’re also going to talk to the lawyer about adopting me,” I tell him.

  He smiles wide at the last bit of news. “That’s great!”

  “You can’t call me Parker anymore.”

  “I’ll always call you Parker.”

  I slip my hand in his before changing the subject. “Stop worrying about me. Your worry should be focused on your dad, not something that will stress you out more.”

  “Your mother threatened you today and you’re telling me how to keep it together,” he says, wonder filling his voice.

  He’s not getting my point, so I try again. “You can’t keep putting everyone else first or you’ll break. Imagine how your parents would feel if that happened.”

  “Or you.”

  “J, I depend on you, but I’m not dependent upon you. Your parents needs you to help take care of your dad. I just need you to keep loving me without all the worry.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  Mother scowls at me from the defendant’s table with her brows pinched so close together her eyes look crossed.

  “Sara, would you please tell the jury what happened out in the hallway yesterday when the lunch recess started,” Len directs.

  I recount the attack in detail. My eyes dart to her at the sound of a snap. Half a pencil is caught in her crushing grip and the other half lays on the legal pad in front of her. Her eyes narrow at me.

  Edgar places a hand over her stranglehold. Her icy glare continues despite the cue from him.

  “Thank you, Sara,” Len says. “No further questions.”

  Edgar waves his hand. “No questions, Your Honor.”

  I step down and walk to the spectator area. Mother’s evil eye bores into me until she’s unable to continue without turning her head. I take a seat between Jason and Hunter.

  Len calls Rose next. She recounts discussions with Mother in which she tried to convince Mother to let me sleep over, go out with them somewhere, the sex talk, and allowing me to date Jason. She also goes into detail about the conversation with my parents the day the Jerichos intervened when Father was beating me.

  “How has Sara fared in your home?”

  “She’s flourished. She’s more confident and stands up for herself when she feels people are trying to make light of the abuse she endured. She’s been a wonderful addition to our family and she’s an inspiration with how she’s managing everything going on.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Jericho.” He turns around and nods to Edgar.

  Edgar pushes himself to his feet and steps to the stand. “Mrs. Jericho, why did you take such a personal interest in a neighborhood girl whom you barely knew after moving in?”

  “She was the most polite girl I had ever met, yet there was something about her I couldn’t pinpoint. She was jumpy over little things. We learned from her therapist that it was Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from all the years of abuse. And my daughter adored her. Sara was the first person Arissa made friends with and they’ve been best friends ever since.”

  “When Sara and Arissa asked you about sex, why didn’t you direct Sara to talk to her parents?”

  “She said she had just tried to talk to Tibby and Tibby refused to talk to her about it. Sara was confused because she was starting to realize she liked a boy at school. I let Tibby know after I talked to the girls.”

  “The boy in question would be Sara’s boyfriend, Jason Waters. Correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are they sexually active?”

  I tense and Jason squeezes my hand while Hunter rubs my upper back in small circles. Rose’s face darkens, but she remains composed. My sexual activity, or lack thereof, is in question once again. So far, two defense lawyers seem to think it’s logical to bring it up to cast doubt when it just distracts the jury from the truth: Mother knew Father was raping me and she let it continue.

  “No,” Rose says flatly.

  “How do you know for sure, Mrs. Jericho?”

  “They mostly double date with my daughter and her boyfriend. At least one of his parents is always home when they’re there. Sara has said to us, to Jason, to her therapist, and at her father’s trial that she’s not ready for that kind of relationship because of the trauma her father inflicted when he raped her. Andrew and I trust both her and Jason because they have proven themselves trustworthy.”

  “How do you know one of his parents is always home?”

  Rose narrows her eyes and her lips form a thin line. “Because his father has cancer and can’t work,” she answers sharply. “He’s always at home, with the exception of being here to support Sara for the trial and her father’s trial. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.” She points to Mike. “He’s the one in the wheelchair.”

  “No further questions, Mrs. Jericho.” Edgar turns around, red-faced.

  Rose
joins us on the bench. Andrew is next, but Edgar declines to question him. Mother is livid at his decision and talks to him in barely hushed tones. The judge calls for lunch recess and the sheriff cuffs Mother and takes her out the side door.

  “You guys go on to the deli,” Rose says in the hallway. “We’re going to call Gloria.”

  We return an hour later to Len waiting for us in the hall with a smile lighting up his face. He approaches me as Arissa hands Rose and Andrew a paper bag with their sandwiches and bottled water.

  “You aren’t going to believe this,” he says. “Your mother is changing her plea to guilty.”

  “What?” I’m not sure if I heard him right.

  His head bobs up and down repeatedly. “Edgar and I just came out of the judge’s chambers. He talked to her about changing her plea yesterday after she attacked you. He convinced her today when her reactions were being noticed by the jury.”

  “That’s it?” I ask, stunned. “It’s over? She’s going to prison?”

  Everyone hugs me at the same time.

  I push through the crowd to reach for Len. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  He returns my hug without hesitation. “Your courage made my job easy, Sara. Thank you. Manny’s trial is set for September. Just one more time.” He shakes everyone’s hand and accepts their thanks.

  The hugging starts up again as my head swims with the knowledge that both of my parents will be in prison. A hand tugs mine and I tip my head down to Mike’s bright smile. I kneel next to his wheelchair and he pulls me into his embrace as I kiss him on the cheek.

  “I don’t know about you guys, but this sandwich isn’t going to cut it for a celebration,” Andrew says, shaking and crinkling the paper bag he holds. “Alana and Mike, would you be up to coming over for a cookout? We’re always at your home, we’d love to have you in ours.”

  “I’m up for a party,” Mike says, eyes gleaming.

  “If Mike’s up for it, I am,” Alana agrees.

  “Great,” Andrew says. “Jason, do you mind taking Sara with you? She can let you all in. We’ll make a grocery run on the way.”

  “I’ll go with you, J,” Damian volunteers. “I can help you with Mike if needed.”

  “Thanks, man,” Jason says.

  “Hunter, you’re welcome to join us,” Andrew says, turning to him.

  “Thanks, I might come over for a little while.”

  I show Mike and Alana the first floor of the house, then set Mike next to the dining room table. Alana sits next to him.

  Jason joins us while I’m pouring ice tea for his parents and he sweeps me up in his arms, whirling us around as I squeal. He pecks me on the cheek over and over until he stops spinning. I throw my arms out to regain balance, my head still going round and round, as he sets me down. He laughs as I grab his arm with both hands to keep from falling. He tugs me in and holds me against his chest.

  “Oh, break it up,” Damian teases.

  “Jealous, Damian?” I joke.

  “Only until Riss gets home.”

  I wash out the pitcher to brew more tea.

  “Sit down,” Jason orders.“You’re the special guest.”

  “I live here.“

  “Unh-uh.” He takes the pitcher from me. “Sit,” he orders, pointing to the dining room table.

  I roll my eyes, heading for the table while Damian laughs. Jason busies himself in the kitchen and I sit with Alana and Mike.

  “Your son is bossy,” I tell them.

  “We noticed,” Mike says, laughing.

  “He’s lucky I like him.”

  Alana reaches across the table and pats my hand. “We all are, honey.”

  Hunter arrives and helps Jason and Damian in the kitchen. Then, Andrew, Rose, and Arissa return with enough food to feed an army. Alana and I get up to help.

  Jason points to me. “Sit.”

  I sigh dramatically, having learned well from Arissa, and plant myself back in the chair.

  “Jason,” Andrew says, “would you prefer to start the grill or season the steaks?”

  “Your home, your grill. I’ll take the steaks.”

  “Can I help, please?” I ask.

  “No,” Jason answers, clacking a pair of tongs at me.

  “Meanie.”

  “I love you too.” He gives me a playful grin.

  I glance at Mike. “Why did you have to have a son who is so adorable, it’s hard to stay mad at him?”

  Mike shrugs. “I had to have a carbon copy of me.”

  We break into easy laughter, the kind that is carefree and conveys joy without the hardship we live with daily. The kind that makes you forget everything wrong and horrible in your life.

  “What is with them?” I ask Alana, joking.

  “Try living with them,” Alana chimes in.

  “Mom!” Jason cocks his head to the side, then sets his hand over his heart. “You wound me.”

  Alana throws a dish towel at him and he catches it easily.

  Everyone moves around the kitchen in a whirlwind. Arissa chops vegetables. Alana mixes together some dressings. Rose pulls out more pitchers and brews more tea. Damian scrubs potatoes at the sink and wraps them in foil. Jason lays out the steaks on a tray and uses the tongs to flip them over, seasoning both sides. Hunter gets out the plates and utensils. I’m dizzy from watching.

  Andrew slides the glass door open and pokes his head inside. “Mike, would you like to come outside?”

  “I’d love to.”

  Andrew wheels Mike out while I roll my glass of tea between my hands. Jason strolls over and nuzzles my nose with his.

  “You’re obstinate,” I whisper.

  “Yeah, but you still love me.” He grins, placing a warm kiss on my nose, then grabbing a red plastic cup.

  Rose sets out an ice bucket and a fresh pitcher of tea on the table.

  “Just what I wanted!” Jason exclaims. Rose snickers as he takes the lid off the ice bucket and scoops out ice with his cup. He pours himself some tea and joins Andrew and Mike outside.

  Hunter sits next to me, draping his arm over my shoulder. “You okay?”

  I rest my head on him. “Relieved.”

  He tugs me close and sets his head on mine. Arissa drops a serving bowl on the table and startles us.

  “Jeez, Riss. Careful with that.”

  She glares at me and I give her a questioning look. Her glower flickers to Hunter. His arm falls off my shoulders and he resumes work in the kitchen. She plants her hands on the table and leans in. “You said you were just friends.”

  “We are.”

  “You look too cozy to be just friends.”

  I thought she understood my friendship with him after his party.

  “Draw me a picture,” she says.

  “Seriously?”

  She stares at me and points to the sliding glass door. “Your boyfriend is outside,” she stabs the table, “and you’re in here with Hunter’s arm around you looking like he’s the one who’s your boyfriend.”

  I press my lips together for a moment. “I spent most of my life without anyone giving me physical affection. No one hugged me until I met you or your parents. I was like a dying plant that was finally watered regularly, only to thirst in the midst of another drought.

  “Hunter was my water. He hugged me, he held me, he let me cry on his shoulder. He was there for me the morning after Manny tried to rape me.

  “He knew I loved Jason and never made a move on me. Not once. Don’t you think if he was going to, it would’ve been when Jason was out of the picture and not when I’m back with him?”

  “How do I know he didn’t?”

  I hit the table with the side of my fist, drawing stares from the kitchen. “Because I said he didn’t and I’m your best friend,” I answer through clenched teeth.

  “You’ve lied to me before.”

  Maybe it was too good to be true that they were all so forgiving when they learned about the lies I told to keep the family secrets. “You did not jus
t go there, Riss.”

  “Yeah, I went there.”

  I shove myself to my feet, glaring at her. “I shouldn’t have to explain myself to you, of all people.”

  “Better me than Jason.”

  “There’s nothing to fucking tell.” I grab mine and Mike’s drinks and go outside. I breathe through the fury, trying to expel it with each exhale.

  We’ve never had a low point before. Being accused of cheating and using my past against me is definitely near the bottom. I can’t believe she did it. I don’t know if she’s jealous that I have a friend outside our little circle, or if she’s mad about something else and using this as an excuse to express it.

  Mike, Jason, and Andrew sit near the grill.

  I hand Mike his glass. He takes a drink and hands it back to me. “Thank you, honey.”

  I set our glasses on the low table behind Jason and force a smile. “You’re welcome.”

  Jason stands and leads me across the yard. “What’s wrong?”

  “Riss and I got into a fight.”

  “What? You two never fight.”

  “She thinks there’s something going on between me and Hunter. But there isn’t. I swear there isn’t.”

  “I know, Parker.” He caresses my arms as he always does when reassuring me. “I know how close you two are. I’ve seen the hand squeezes and little touches. But I know Hunter and I know you. I trust you.”

  “Think you could tell Riss that?”

  “Definitely.” He presses his warm lips to my forehead.

  I should be happy, but my mother’s threat and the fight with Arissa are under my skin. I need to process this. “I’ll be back,” I say, climbing off Jason’s lap.

  “You okay?” Jason asks.

  I squeeze his shoulder. “Yeah. I just need to do something.”

  I step inside and everyone is still buzzing around the kitchen. I go straight to my room, picking up the phone on my nightstand.

  “Sam Close,” she answers.

  “Sam, it’s Sara.”

  “Hi, Sara. How is the trial going?” she asks.

  “It’s over.”

  “I thought it just started yesterday.”

  “It did. She attacked me yesterday and today during the lunch recess she changed her plea to guilty.”

  “That’s great, Sara!”