Izzy was quiet for a couple moments and then finally answered in a soft tone, as if she were intimidated. “Okay.”
“When I met your mother, she was giving birth to you. We’ve been close ever since. I got to see what she was put through when she was still seeing Tucker. Not only did he ask her to terminate her pregnancy, but he made it clear that he didn’t want to be a father. Your mother was heartbroken, because she loved you more than anything in the world. She wanted the best life for you and soon realized that it was best if they ended things. We went out one night and he tried to kidnap her. Ty and Conner had to fight him off of your mother because he was beating her up.”
“You’re lyin’ so I don’t like him.” Izzy was in disbelief. She couldn’t allow herself to think that Tucker Chase was better off dead.
Van paused for a second and gave me a look, then proceeded again. “I’m not lying to you, Bella. They had to get a protective order from the police and that’s why you two moved to North Carolina.”
From the look on Izzy’s face, I could tell she was starting to piece everything together.
“That’s not the worst Bella. When your Uncle and I got married, we wanted to have children immediately. We tried for months and nothing happened. Finally, after we’d given up hope, I found out I was pregnant. We were so happy and the doctors told me that I was in perfect health.” Van started to cry. She grabbed a couple tissues and blew her nose. “It was such a happy time for me, back then. I felt like the luckiest person in the world.” She sniffled some more before she could continue.
“You don’t have to continue, Van.” I didn’t want her to.
“Yes I do.” She turned her attention back to Iz. “I was abducted in a grocery store parking lot by Tucker Chase and his friends. They took me to an abandoned house and tied me up in the basement, demanding a million dollars for my life. He kicked me around and threatened my safety. When I was finally able to free myself and started to climb out a window, he caught me and threw me down on the ground. He kicked and beat me repeatedly, until I was bleeding and thinking I was about to die. I managed to fight to survive and hit him with a shovel. I didn’t mean to, but that ended his life. If I didn’t kill him that night, he would have killed me.” She began to sob, but when I headed in her direction she held up her hand. “I’m okay.”
She looked back at Izzy. “By the time the police found me, I’d lost my sweet baby. I’d been kicked so many times, beaten to a pulp. He knew I was pregnant and it didn’t matter to him. He was a monster, Bella. He took everything from me in that basement and after that I didn’t want to go on. It wasn’t until Noah came into my life that I started to want to live again. Being his mother brought me back from the brink of giving up. I owe him everything.”
Then she looked up at me. “Bella, I couldn’t live another day with thinking you’re willing to give up this wonderful person,” she pointed to me, “for that terrible man that did so much to hurt us. Tyler would die for you. He’d do anything to see you smile. You’re my family and I love you, but I can’t be a good aunt to you if I didn’t let you know the truth.”
Izzy stood up and placed her hands on the desk. “You’re nothin’ but a liar! Nobody would believe that story. You just want me to stop tryin’ to find out things.”
“Izzy, stop it! Aunt Van is telling you the truth. We all are.”
She ran out of the room crying. “I hate you all!”
I sat down in the chair that she’d been in and looked at Van. “You didn’t have to do that.” I had a feeling it would make things worse, but anything was worth a try.
“If I didn’t then who would? This is ridiculous. She’s a child, Ty. You can’t let her manipulate you like she is.”
I covered my face with my hands. “What am I supposed to do? I’ve tried being mean, being nice and everything in between.”
“Leave.”
“Come again?” I looked right at her, wondering why she’d be so cold.
“Go tell your daughter goodbye and leave. Pretend that you’re done with her, Ty. Just go.”
“But I’m not.”
Van rolled her eyes. “Duh! Look, Colt thinks that once my story simmers in her little head, she’s going to change her mind about staying here. If you walk away, right now, it will open her naïve eyes to the big picture. Bella’s a smart girl. I know she’ll make the right decision.”
“So, you want me to say goodbye and pretend I’m going straight home?”
“Yes.”
I shook my head, assuming she was stupid. After that story and the things I’d said to her in the car, she’d still said nothing to make me think things would be better.
I found her outside, standing with her old horse. We’d since got new ones at home, but she still felt close to the old one. “Iz, Da.., I’m leaving. I was wondering if I could have a hug for the road.”
She walked over and hugged me. I held her so tightly and could feel myself getting upset. She pulled away and walked back to her horse, like nothing had happened.
I climbed in my truck and waved to her as I drove away.
It was horrible looking back in the mirror and seeing her not paying attention to me.
After I sent a text to Miranda, I went in the guest-house and locked the doors. Then I jumped in the shower to clear my head. I appreciated the gesture from Van, but nothing was going to help me. I could only hope that at some point we’d be able to be close again. No matter how much she fought me, I knew I’d always love her.
She was my daughter and she always would be.
Chapter 36
Miranda
When Van called me and asked if she could tell Bella the truth, I wanted to beg her not to. The idea of Bella knowing what kind of monster her father was could ruin her worse. It definitely would change her perception, whether it would be for the good or the bad.
Finally, after we bickered for a while, I decided that anything was worth a try. I gave her my blessing and hung up more worried than ever before.
While waiting for a phone call, I bit off all of my finger nails, drank three cups of coffee and cleaned the entire house to stay busy. The boys were outside with their poppy, so the house was too quiet for me.
When I got the text from Ty, telling me that he was calling it a night, I knew things hadn’t gone well. If my husband didn’t want to talk at all, it meant he was too upset. My heart ached for him and Bella.
I lay in bed later that night wondering how we were all going to get through this. I couldn’t force my daughter to love Ty, not if her heart wouldn’t let her. I also couldn’t live with that kind of animosity between them. I balled up in the bed and sobbed uncontrollably, not understanding how our lives had turned so bad, so quickly.
The rationalization of what was going on was only half of our problems. In lieu of the truth, I worried that Bella would try to find Tucker’s living relatives. Had it not been for Van’s quick thinking about coming clean with her story, Bella and Noah could have already found the truth and planned to hunt down that wicked excuse for a mother, that tried to fight us for visitation of our sweet girl.
She was too young for all of this to be happening.
I remember how innocent she was before she’d gotten sick. Everyone used to tell us how perfect she was and how they wished their daughters would be like Bella. It made me feel so good about the way we were raising her and how lucky she was to have a father that loved her wholeheartedly. It was such a shame that the terrible truth had come out; all because Ty went out and bought his mourning family a puppy.
My brother showed up at my doorstep a little while later. I refused to answer the door, so he located the hidden key and came in himself. “Randa, where are ya?”
“In my room,” I said in between sobs.
He came in and sat on the edge of the bed. “Amy sent me over to check on you. She said she’s been tryin’ to call for hours. Where’s your phone?”
I shrugged. “Probably in the kitchen.”
“Look, I know you’re goin’ through some crazy shit, but cryin’ ain’t goin’ to solve nothin’.”
He would have been crying too if his daughter hated him. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“I get it. I know how hard it is. Did you forget that I’m with your husband as much as you are?”
“No, I didn’t forget.”
“Randa, do you want to go to Kentucky?”
I shrugged again. “I can’t leave the boys.”
“Amy already went over and got them. They’re stayin’ at our place tonight. Now, pack a couple things and I’ll drive your ass to the airport. Colt called earlier and asked me to get you there. He said Ty needs you and I agree.”
“He bought me a ticket?” Bella must have not taken Van’s story well. I feared for my family and what had taken place. “When is my flight?”
“In about two hours. Get yourself together and meet me outside. I’ll look after things here until you three get back.”
“Bella’s stayin’ there.” He knew the plan.
“No, she ain’t. She’s comin’ home with her parents where she belongs. This idea of yours is stupid. I should have come to you sooner with my opinion. Look, sis, Bella needs to know who is in control. You’ve given her too much freedom in all of this. You need to get your ass there and demand that she change. Show her who is the boss. So what if she’s mad? She’ll get over it. You and Ty are bein’ so ridiculous. You’re in control of this situation. If it hasn’t fixed itself yet, make it happen.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“It is. She’s a kid. You’re the parent. Make it happen.”
I hated arguing with my brother, but he was right about me needing to be there. I got up out of bed and packed a couple things. We were on the road ten minutes later and I was more nervous than upset.
I didn’t argue with Conner in the truck, knowing he wouldn’t shut up until I admitted he was right. Since I wasn’t willing to do that, I said nothing.
We pulled up at the departures and he unlocked the door. “Have a safe trip. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Who is pickin’ me up? Do I call Ty?”
“No! Don’t call him. He doesn’t know you’re comin’. Colt said he turned off his phone and went to the guest house. In my opinion, Van probably offered to go after him and Colt put his foot down. He may be better with the two of them, but he still gets jealous sometimes. Don’t tell him I said that.”
I shook my head and laughed. “I won’t.”
“Anyway, Colt is comin’ for you. Look for his truck when you come out.”
I hugged my brother. “Thanks for this.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m just a messenger. Besides, you need to be with your husband and daughter.”
After finding a customer service representative, I had a boarding ticket and was ready to go. Thirty minutes later I was boarding the plane. I tried to focus on the flight and getting there in one piece, but all I could think about was my need to be with my husband.
Conner had been right about my cousin being there to pick me up. My flight was a little over and hour and Colt was there waiting for me in the arrival lane. I climbed in the truck and reached over to hug him. “How bad is it?”
“We ain’t seen Ty all night. I know he’s over at the guest house, but he won’t answer the phone. Bella’s bein’ stubborn. She refused to eat dinner. Van’s a mess. She thought she was helpin’ and now she’s afraid she’s made things a lot worse.”
“It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.”
I was being driven into a mess and I didn’t know who I needed to comfort first; my messed up daughter, or my broken husband.
Colt drove us to his house and I wasted no time getting out and running up the porch steps. Van was in the living room, sipping on a cup of tea. She chippered up when she saw me standing there. “Hey.”
I walked over and hugged her. “Stop blamin’ yourself. This ain’t your fault.”
“I feel terrible.”
I looked around and didn’t spot any kids. “Are they all sleepin’ already?”
She shook her head. “The little ones are, but I think Noah and Bella are in his room, playing a video game.”
I walked upstairs quietly and opened Noah’s bedroom door. He was sitting on the edge of the bed playing a game, but Bella wasn’t in the room with him. “Hi, Aunt Miranda. I didn’t know you were here.” He looked like he was up to something.
“Where’s Bella?”
He shrugged and looked even more guilty. “I don’t know.”
“Noah, your mother said she was up here with you.” I put my hands on my hips demanding him to answer me.
“She told me not to tell anyone.”
“You better tell me, right now!” I was raising my voice, demanding an answer and I wasn’t leaving his room until I got one.
“She said she wanted to be alone and for me to not come lookin’ for her.” He knew he was in trouble when he admitted it.
“So, you don’t even know where she is?”
He shook his head. “No. she went out the back door with her bag and a flashlight.”
“WHAT?” I couldn’t believe he let her go outside all alone.
I ran down the stairs, alarming Van and Colt immediately. “She’s gone. Noah said she left a while ago claiming she wanted to be alone. She’s out there somewhere, all alone!”
“Calm down. Maybe she’s with Ty?”
I shook my head. “I have a terrible feelin’.”
Colt went into the pantry and came out holding three flashlights. “Take this. I’m goin’ to fetch Noah and we’ll all start lookin’. Hopefully she’s hidin in one of the barns, or she’s with her dad. Try to calm down, Miranda. She won’t go too far.”
I was freaking out. Clearly, they weren’t considering how devastated my child was. She’d learned that her biological father not only didn’t want her, but was also a murderer. She’d also learned that her perfect aunt had ended his life to save her own. I couldn’t imagine how messed up the child was and I hated myself for allowing it to happen.
I went running out the door desperate to find her. I yelled her name and was determined to not stop until I found her. Without waiting for Colt, I hopped on a Gator and headed for the guest house, praying she was with Ty and they were both safe.
Chapter 37
Tyler
I woke up on the couch to beating on the door. Much to my surprise, my wife was standing there as I opened it. I went to speak, but she shoved me inside and started looking around. “Is Bella here with you?”
“What? No. Wait, how did you get here? What are you doing here, baby?”
“Ty, she’s missin’. Colt and Van thought she was upstairs with Noah, but he helped her sneak out of the house. They tried to call you.”
“My phone died.”
“Get some clothes on. We’ve got to find her.”
I rushed into the bedroom and started throwing on clothes. Once I had enough layers, we headed out to the Gator. “What the hell is going on? Where would she go?”
I didn’t expect Miranda, who was clearly frantic, to have answers. “I don’t know.” She started crying.
“Okay, we need to stay calm until we find her. I’m sure she’s not far. It’s too dark out here.”
“She’s so upset Ty. We should have known this would happen. We should have paid more attention.”
We started yelling her name as soon as we pulled away from the house. “Where’s Colt?”
“He and Noah are searching the barns. We need to stick to the woods and surrounding areas.” She was determined and suddenly nothing else mattered except our need to find our daughter.
With all other issues aside, her life could be in danger. We’d been in this type of situation once before and it didn’t come without injury.
We continued yelling her name out into the dark night.
Nothing.
No crying or screaming, just sounds of bugs and wi
ldlife.
“Jesus Christ. Where would she go, Ty?”
I tried to stop worrying for a second and think about where Iz would go if she was upset. I thought about all the spots that we’d played hiding-go-seek and every place that someone her size would feel safe. Since my arms would have sufficed before all this drama happened, I stopped the Gator and realized one place that nobody had checked.
“I know where she’s at.”
“Where?” she asked.
“Hang on, I’ll show you.” The truth was, I wasn’t sure she would be there, but if I had to take a guess, and put myself in her shoes, I knew where I would go.
We pulled back up at the guest house and I knew my wife was confused. She stayed seated as I walked over to my truck. “Ty, were wastin’ time.”
I peeked in the window of the passenger side and saw Izzy sprawled across the seat. She had her ear buds in her ear, which would explain why she hadn’t heard Miranda pull up or us calling her.
Miranda started to run up to the truck, but I motioned for her to stop. I opened the door slowly and startled her when I touched her leg. She pulled out the ear buds and looked at me with tear filled eyes. “You said you were goin’ to leave me.”
I stood there, speechless that I’d been able to find her. It was like I was meant to be the one that was able to ,out of everyone that was looking. “I thought that’s what you wanted?”
She shook her head. “It’s not. I was coming here to hide and saw your truck. I figured you wouldn’t be able to leave without me if I stayed in it.”
“Sweetie, I wasn’t leaving until the morning.”
“I’m sorry for everything I said to you. I’m sorry for being a bad daughter.”
I pulled her into my arms and held her tightly. “You’ve never been a bad daughter, Iz. You were just upset. We should have told you the truth from the beginning. It’s our fault.”
She pulled away and looked right into my eyes. Her little bottom lip was quivering. “I wish I didn’t know. I wish I never heard about it.”
“He can’t ever hurt you. None of those people can. I made sure of it. You’re safe and you always will be.”
Loving Her (Mitchell Family Series BK9) Page 21