“I
‘m so glad to be going home,” my dad says from the other side of the car.
Thomas and I went to pick him up almost two hours ago. He was finally discharged fifteen minutes ago.
“I can’t wait for you to spend more time with Jamie and the twins. They’re so excited for you to be coming home,” I exclaim.
His smile lights his face, lines appearing as he crinkles his eyes. “I’m glad to be back. I wish it were under better circumstances,” he mumbles the last part. The happiness that was glinting moments ago dims. The long look lasts a few seconds before he quirks his lip and smiles again.
My frustration with everything that’s happened grows, and my anger at Elise boils. All the questions I’ve had about her behavior over the years resurface.
“Hey,” my dad interrupts. “Don’t go there, at least not today,” he coaxes just as Thomas turns into the driveway.
He laughs, and I know he can see the ridiculous hand-painted welcome sign we made for him.
I look out the window and confirm that to be the case, but it’s the jumping twins, dressed in their superhero costumes, that make me join him.
“Those two are ridiculous,” I chuckle.
“Quite the pair, I imagine,” he begins. I feel him tap my arm to get my attention, and I turn as he continues, “I want to say this again. Thank you so much for being what your mo- Elise and I couldn’t be, Ry.”
I shake my head, “You don’t need to keep thanking me. I did what needed to be done. If you want to do anything for me, tell me what you couldn’t when you were at the Calloways’. What don’t I know?”
After everything that happened, I needed answers, and he owed them to me.
“Let me get situated, and once you brothers and sister go to bed tonight, we’ll talk,” he suggests.
I nod as we pull to a stop. It was fair enough.
Much like the night I returned, the car door is ripped open, and two mini-terrors dive into the car, causing dad to groan out in both shock and pain.
“Hey, you two, take it easy. Remember what we talked about,” I instruct.
Kylan and Kellan pull back, their tiny identical faces scrunching up in remorse. “Sorry,” they say in unison.
“I’ve missed that,” dad chuckles. “The twinning thing you two do,” he clarifies, and we all laugh.
Once we’re in the house, Tabitha greets us, and her eyes begin to water, but she quickly brushes away the tear before it can fall. “You’re home, Mr. Bishop,” she croaks.
What is that about?
I look back to see if Dad’s expression will give anything away, but before I completely turn, his words shock me still.
“Mom,” he gasps. “What-what are you doing here?” Dad asks.
Mom?
My gaze swings back and forth between the both of them.
“Aaron,” she cries, running for him, but slowing so as not to hurt him before wrapping her arms around him.
“They need me. You needed me,” Tabitha, my grandmother states. “I would never leave them here alone. Not after everything.”
Jamie moves to stand beside me. “Wait, so, we’ve been here with our grandmother this whole time?” She turns her accusatory gaze in their direction. “What is going on?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” I mutter.
Dad looks at me, imploring me to understand and wait.
“Fine,” I mumble. “Jamie, let’s give them a minute. I’m sure they both will give us answers later.”
Jamie rolls her eyes and stomps away, murmuring things about stupid adults, always trying to keep kids in the dark as she coaxes the boys to follow her upstairs.
I couldn’t agree more.
Turning back to my father and Tabitha, I cross my arms and demand, “I think I need some answers before they go to bed. I think it’s only fair.”
“Let’s go to the office,” Tabitha suggests.
I can’t believe I’ve been living and spending time with my grandmother.
Once we’re in the room, my dad closes the door behind him, as my grandmother and I take our seats at the same table I learned of my fate in this town.
My dad clears his throat, taking his seat before he begins. “You know I was never born in this town, but still abided by the laws set out by our founding members.” He stands, pacing the room, and continues, “When I was old enough, my father, your grandfather, Tobias Bradford, explained it all to me. The assassination and kidnapping attempts. Calloway was no longer a place they could stay. So, we hid until it was time, but our hand was forced.”
“Why the hell would someone want to kill our family?” I exclaim.
My father turns, stopping in front of me, “I need you to understand, Ry, I never wanted to return here or wanted you anywhere near this. I was hoping it would never get to this point. But your conniving mother-.”
Tabitha cuts in, “What your father is trying to say is. It wasn’t safe for us. We weren’t sure who was killing off the Bradford line, but after your great-grandfather was killed when I was pregnant with your father, we knew it was time for us to leave.”
I weigh her words, processing all the information I’ve just been provided.
“Where’s my grandfather?” I ask. It probably shouldn’t be my first question after all of the revelations just shared, but I want to know if I have more family out there.
“Still back in Bronston. We couldn’t risk him being exposed. Not with your father gone,” Tabitha replies, rubbing the back of her hand.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.