fragile little mind. She didn’t speak for a good year, did she tell you that? Weak! If I hadn’t pushed her out of my body, I would’ve believed the hospital switched the little bitch at birth. Do you know who my family is?”
“There isn’t a weak cell in any of us, but I had to give birth to that simpering little idiot.” The door opened with a crash, startling both of us. “Oh shit, Giselle.” She stood there with her chest rising and falling, and her little fists clenched tight. “Mom, what’s going on, why is she here?”
Giselle
I jumped up from the table and called out to him, but it was too late; he was already gone. That’s when the nerves and panic set in. What have I done? I can’t let him face her alone. She’s going to hurt him, just like…just like what? I got the same splitting headache I always get when I try to remember what it is about the monster that makes me so afraid.
It’s silly, I know, to be this afraid when my scattered mind can’t even recall what it is that I’m afraid of, but I know that it’s bad whatever it is. I’ve seen flashes in dreams, hints of blood, and a loud banging sound that scares me and makes my heart race, but in the cool light of day, nothing comes to mind, just that feeling of mind-numbing fear.
My tummy started to hurt as I looked at my son’s innocent little face. What should I do? I can’t let Calen walk into danger. I may not recall the things from my past that had shaped me, but I remember very well her threats against him. It’s because I can’t remember much more than those flashes in my dreams that I believe her capable, that, and the pure malice I see every time we meet.
I bit my nails and paced back and forth, trying to come up with something. Just then, Calen’s mom entered the room; all smiles as she made a beeline for her grandson. “Who’s a precious boy? Give nana a hug.”
My heart warmed at the way he chortled at her, holding out a piece of bitten fruit that he’d slobbered all over. Her laugh and the way she lifted him from his seat in the highchair almost brought me to tears when I thought of the fact that he could’ve missed all of this had Donovan not seen us that day.
Was that only a few days ago? She turned with the baby in her arms and must’ve read the panic on my face because the smile fell from hers. “What is it? What’s the matter?”
“It’s Calen, he…” How will she take what I’m about to say? I know she’s always been kind to me, but what will she make of the fact that I’d put her son in danger?”
“He what? What’s going on?”
“He went to see my mother.” She didn’t seem to get it because she turned her attention back to the baby and bounced him in her arms. “Oh, that’s all? He’ll be fine, trust me.”
“No, you don’t understand, she’s, she’s dangerous.” I started to shake uncontrollably even though I tried not to.
“Delores, get in here. Okay, Giselle, calm down.” The head housekeeper came at a run, probably alerted by the tone in my mother in law’s voice. She passed the baby off to Delores and took my hand in hers. “Let’s go!”
“Where?” I’m afraid I knew, and the fear rose up to choke me. But then the thought of Calen facing her alone erased any fear I had for myself, and I straightened my spine and nodded my head as we turned for the door.
“I don’t have to tell you to guard my grandson with your life Delores and of course, no one is to be let in, no one, except my husband if he comes by. I forgot to tell him where I was headed since his son didn’t give me any warning.” She said all of this as she all but dragged me to the door.
Her driver was sitting back, reading the newspaper when we approached her town car, and he hopped out to open the door for us. “Where to?” She looked at me, and I had to think hard to remember my address. I rattled it off, and he put it into the GPS, and we were off. “Okay, give me the condensed version.” She turned to me as the car made its