Chapter 5
Avidya
I swear I had just fallen asleep when I was being shaken awake. The shaking was so bad that the entire bed was moving with the force.
Was there possibly an earthquake?
No. The hand on my shoulder was a good indication that was not happening.
With a low groan, I forced my eyes open. The first thing I saw, other than it being way too bright outside, was Taylor as he stood over me. I stared up at him, confused as to why he was waking me up. I was sleeping so well, too. Why couldn’t he just let me sleep?
“You have a visitor,” he grunted, not seeming happy about that fact.
“Huh?” I muttered, trying to rub away the sleep and the fogginess that covered my brain. This man was going to learn quickly that I was not a morning person. It had gotten worse the past few weeks, too. I wasn’t ananythingtype of person, truthfully.
“You have a visitor,” he repeated, a bit slower this time. His hard voice turned into slight amusement.
“Who?” I asked after a moment as the words registered. Who would possibly come here?
“I guess you’ll have to see,” he said, leaving me to myself.
Thoughts of my husband instantly filled my head. I was sure it wasn’t him, since he’d most likely just charge in here without a second thought. Plus, Taylor didn’t seem to be a huge fan of the man. There was no one outside of a very few limited people that knew I was here, and I figured it would have stayed that way.
With a long sigh, I slowly pushed myself up and out of the bed. This bed wasn’t as soft or as welcoming as the one at Zachariah’s house, but it was good enough. The bedroom had a full-sized bed, a tall six-drawer dresser, a window looking out to the back yard, and once more, nothing personal. All my belonging easily fit in the closet. Not that I had taken the time to unpack just yet. A plus side to it was that I was right next door to the bathroom.
After using the shared bathroom, I slowly made my way towards the living room and kitchen. I didn’t bother getting dressed, or brushing my hair. I had no one to impress, so I didn’t see the point.
I may be eating now, but that didn’t mean I was trying the best that I could to keep things as if nothing had changed. My heart was still in millions of pieces. I was broken, and forever would be. I would eat enough just to get by, my appetite nearly nonexistent as it was.
Pausing before entering the living room, I wasn’t sure how to react. Nor what to say. I assumed this wasn’t a simple social call, given I have been here for only a little over a week. I never expected to see him, at least not here of all the places he could have shown up.
“Kent,” I said with a nod of my head his way. My voice came out emotionless as I hid my worry.
“Hello, Avidya,” he replied in kind. He took a moment to look me over as I stood there, fidgeting. Yeah, I wasn’t impressed with my own appearance, but it was the least of my concerns at the moment.
“I’ll just go out back,” Taylor stated, feeling as awkward as I was I’m sure. I had quickly found out that Taylor didn’t like change. I didn’t care much for it myself most of the time.
It hadn’t been all that long ago with Kent and I were able to get along fairly well. It was during that time when Zachariah was in the hospital, but I had hardly seen this man since then. My husband and I had been a bit busy dealing with life. Now, I wasn’t so sure how to behave in the presence of this man.
“So, it’s true?” Kent asked, not walking around the subject.
I shrugged, willing tears to not come to my eyes. Many things were true these days. “Depends on you are asking me.”
His eyes moved to my stomach, seeming to try to calculate things in his mind. I wasn’t showing yet, but that didn’t stop him from saying what he wanted.
“Are you sure? I can talk to my grandson about this, you know,” Kent stated, raising his eyes back to mine.
“There is nothing on this earth that will change his mind. Zachariah has said what he will force me to do if I became…well, this,” I said, hot anger flashing behind my eyes. I moved one hand up and down my body in a manner that spoke what my words were unable to. “This is the only thing I can do.”
“Alright,” Kent said. He didn’t argue. I figured he may have wanted to since I was carrying his great-grandchild.
Once more, I couldn’t help but notice just how much the male gene took effect in this family. I knew for a fact that when Zachariah was old and gray, he’d look like Kent’s twin. Dark brown eyes, dark hair with gray, and slightly wrinkled skin around the eyes and mouth. Kent looked good for his age, that was for sure.
“I had to see for myself,” Kent went on. “Zach isn’t doing well.” Why he made sure to tell me, I wasn’t sure. What was the point in even telling me? To make me feel worse than I already was?
“You think I am doing any better?” I asked with a huff. “Sorry, I’m not a morning person.” I took a deep breath, willing my anger at the situation to leave me.
“I think you are entitled to it,” Kent laughed. “That man of yours is going to hate me, but I think you did the right thing. Zach has always been stuck on the rules he made for himself. You need to get a doctor lined up. And how long do you plan to stay away? Julia sends her well wishes.”
