Chapter 11
Avidya
“What in God’s name were you thinking? Eloping? Secretly?” Julia hissed out angrily. The invisible steam could be seen escaping her ears like water. I had assumed correctly that she wouldn’t be the least bit happy about what Zachariah and I had done. Her anger was only directed at my husband, her hand crossed over her chest. “I can’t believe you’d do such a thing, Zachariah!”
“I can,” Carlos spoke calmly as ever.
“Don’t you dare start!” Julia seethed, shooting a heat filled gaze towards the man. “Your parents will not approve of such a thing!”
“I amnotmy parents,” Carlos gritted his teeth. “And we won’t make a big deal out it. Both of these two people are adults. They are capable of making their own choices.” His voice was calm, not at all surprised by his wife’s hot fire that was thrown his way.
“I’ll deal with you later,” Julia stated, pointing one lone finger at her husband.
Carlos simply raised an eyebrow at his wife, daring her to do just that.
“Don’t give me that look,” Julia huffed out in one breath.
“Do you two have to do this now?” Zachariah said with a mix of amusement and disgust at the same time. Carlos only smirked, but otherwise didn’t move. His eyes then wandered to the boy, who stood in the doorway between the living room and kitchen. He kept his head down, but shook as rivers of fear washed over him.
Poor guy,I thought.
Before my brain could catch up, my feet took me towards him in mere seconds. My steps were light and non-threatening. Not there was anything to fear from little ol’ me.
Bending down to his level when I was right in front of him. “Hi there, honey,” I spoke quietly.
His eyes glanced to my own, but for only a second before dropping once more. I could only guess what all he had possibly gone through. Zachariah hadn’t said much of anything about why this boy was in our house, and right now wasn’t the time to draw the answers out.
“Are you hungry?” I asked. When had he had a good meal last? But more importantly, what had happened to him?
He nodded one quick nod before shuffling his feet where he stood.
“Well, then, it’s a good thing that Zachariah took over the cooking,” I smiled. “Because healwaysmakes too much for just me to eat. I need help to eat all the toast and scrambled eggs. Do you think you can do that?”
This close to him, I could see the fading bruise on his tan-colored cheek and the dark rings around his eyes. My heart hurt just thinking of what he’d been through; what he’d suffered at the hands of who knows who.
“I like toast,” he whispered, his voice soft.
“Great!” I said, my voice soft, but still cheerful.
I had experience with working with children of all ages, therefore I knew how to handle skittish children. Given, I hadn’t worked with children for a number of months now.
Cody was certainly trying to control my life one step at a time, and I hadn’t even realized before it was too late. Good thing he had no say any longer about anything. Not when it came to how I wanted to live my life now.
Even Zachariah, in his more domineering nature, wasn’t controlling. My husband only wanted me to show him respect, and I was doing that, and more.
I stood up, holding out my hand. With a small, shaking one, Toby laid his small hand in my own. I gave him a beaming smile in approval.
“What do you plan to do with him?” I heard Julia whisper towards to the two men as I led Toby towards the island where Zachariah placed a plate of food and a cup of milk for him.
“Find out what happened, first,” Carlos said. “Then return him to his parents.”
“They’re dead,” Toby muttered, shoving his emotions down. I could see that he fought to keep a tight hold on his sadness, his hurt.
“Eat. Then you can answer their questions, okay?” I said, motioning to the food in front of him.
“You won’t take it away?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.
“Nope,” I said with a shake of my head. “No one here will do that.”
