“It’s for your own benefit, Avidya,”he had said.“It is to help you find yourself. When you look back on these words, you can see just how much you have changed and how far you have come.”
So, I wrote a page and a half before we left, making us a little over ten minutes late. But that shower sex made up for it. That’s what I pretty much had written about, but it was enough to appease the man.
Zachariah waited at the front of the car for me. When I was close, he held out his hand, which I didn’t hesitate to take. If this right here didn’t show me that we were meant to be, I didn’t know what would.
Right as we were about to open the front door, it was pulled open. Julia stood there, a look of annoyance on her face as she stared at her son. I covered my mouth with my free hand, trying to hold my giggles in.
It was a lost cause though. For some reason, I always found it amusing when Zachariah got in trouble with his mother.
“You’re late,” she stated before turning her look to me and giving me a smile. “Hello, dear.”
“Hi, Julia,” I returned her smile.
“Well, come on in,” she spoke, moving out of the way and letting us enter. “My son never can be on time for these lunch things.”
Instantly, I could remember the first time I was brought to this house by Cody and Lynn. It wasn’t the best of my moments, but one that was memorable all the same. I had been in pain from a bruised rib, thanks to Cody.
The house was just like I remembered. Everything was clean, not a speck of dust to be seen. The wooden floors were shiny with gloss, and the same artwork was hung on the walls.
“Avidya!” Toby called as he rounded the corner, Violet close behind. The moment he saw Zachariah next to me, though, he froze with a look of horror crossed his face.
“Hey, Toby,” I smiled at him.
“Sorry,” Violet said, laying her arms across the boy’s shoulders and pulling him to her side. “Some days are better than others.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” Zachariah said, clearing his throat. “I’ll just go find my father.”
He pressed a kiss to the side of my head before letting go of my hand and disappearing down towards the kitchen area. I assumed the kitchen had another exit.
“Still not a fan of the idea of children,” Melio laughed, brushing off his brother’s attitude.
“He’s not the father type,” I rolled my eyes. That issue would be long lasting and not one I wanted to get into again. There was no point.
“Shall we go to the living room, then?” Julia hinted since we were all just standing here in the entryway.
“Come on little man,” Melio said, holding out his hand to the boy.
I watched as Toby glared at the hand before looking back at me. I could read the desire on his face clear as day.
“Or not,” Melio shrugged out. “Go on, then.”
At the words, Toby took short fast steps to me until he had his arms wrapped tight around my waist. A pure look of relief covered his entire frame as he got what he wanted without any lashings
“Hi,” I smiled at him, returning his hug.
Once he pulled back, Toby glued himself to my side and we all made our way to the living room.
“How are you doing?” Violet asked, taking a seat next to me on the couch with Toby between us.
“Pretty good,” I answered. I knew she knew how Zachariah lived, but I wasn’t sure entirelyhowmuch she knew about what went on.
“That’s good,” she said. “Toby was asking to see you the other day, but Zach said you were worn out. Do I want to know what you two had been up to?”
“Probably not,” I laughed out. “Some things are better left unsaid.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. I did hear that Cody paid you a visit,” she spoke.
“Yeah, not a pleasant one,” I sighed. “But no harm was done.”
