[Dawn]
It’s been a week since Aldo spotted the car outside the house. He ran out like a madman, pulling on his pants as he went. But ultimately, the car screeched off and we didn’t get to find anything about them other than that they’d been there.
Aldo was furious. But also slightly relieved that he wasn’t completely wrong in his paranoia. We’d finally seen someone.
So he slept every night here at my mother’s, using the excuse that there was a water leak at his place. My mother didn’t mind, she said it was nice having a man’s presence in the home again. It’s been years since anyone other than Andre and occasional visits from Aldo’s parents has lived with her.
Aldo took it upon himself to do as much handwork as he could around the home too. Mending squeaky doors and hinges, plastering up holes and righting crooked shelves.
Her heart was overwhelmed by the generosity, and even with the loss that had preceded it, she fell into the habit of spending more of her days in silence.
After a week indoors, and much against Aldo’s wishes, I’m taking a trip to the corner store. We’re both a little nutty from being in hiding, but, more than mom, I am craving some fresh air.
I can barely sleep at night from the heat. My stomach is a furnace, and all I can think is that it’s still not even kicking yet.
My feet are warm through the boiling road, and when I get to the corner store, I pick up some iced tea too to take home. I take a nice long drink from it when I pay the man and begin heading back. Mom is probably still asleep.
Aldo will be around later on for our scan. Today’s the day when we can officially see what’s growing inside me.
I called a doctor last week and asked her for advice. The first thing she asked was how far along I was and if I’d had a scan.
I could only guess it was almost three months, she booked it without saying anything else.
A text comes through from Aldo. Missing you.
The big oaf is such a romantic. I text back. Me too.
But so am I.
The street my mother still lives on hasn’t changed much since we were kids. A lot of her neighbors are the same, and even a few of them have grandkids that come and visit with their own kids.
I smile, secretly happy that my mother will be able to count herself among them now. She’s gonna flip when she finds out I’m pregnant.
The reason it’s been even more stressful this past week is that my mother found out that Andre wasn’t actually in an accident either.
She received a call from the NYPD saying that she could finally fly her son home. She was surprised to get a call. I was surprised they had her number. But it all turned ugly pretty quickly.
I come upon our doorstep and reach into my handbag to draw out the keys when I realize the door is slightly ajar.
I closed it…
Didn’t I?
I take my phone out to call Aldo. I’m probably being stupid, but I dial anyway. It starts ringing…
I probably just forgot to close the door. Or mom’s up and letting a bit of air in.
“Mom?” I call, coming into the home and listening as Aldo’s phone rings out.
Why isn’t he picking up? “Mom?” My heart is racing.
“You up mom?” There’s no answer from either as I move further into the house. I keep going, though, trying to ignore the feelings in my gut screaming for me to flee.
I’m just being paranoid. I’m just-
A broken glass on the floor.
Aldo’s phone goes to voicemail, and I hang up and redial. Something is wrong.
“Mom?” I scream. I freak the shit out and run for her room. I’ve barely been gone for ten minutes. What could happen in ten minutes?
“Mom?” I open the door and find out.
“Your mother is a little tied up,” drawls a man.
I stumble to a stop in her darkened room. There’re two men standing there with bulging muscles and shaved heads. They look like the men from the highway.
But I barely register that, all my thoughts are on my mother in her wheelchair. Tied to it.
“She’s fucking disabled and old, why the fuck did you tie her?” I move forward to free her, and the second man, who hasn’t spoken, moves in front of me. He’s like a brick wall.
“Do not touch.”
“It’s my mother!” I go to push him aside, and understandably, the brickwall doesn’t budge.
“You don’t understand,” he says. Then he slaps me across the cheek so hard that I fall onto mom’s bed. She gasps and cries out. The man takes my phone and hangs up, stepping back next to mom.
The man, who I can only think is the leader, comes around his friend and looks down over me on the bed.
“You must understand we don’t enjoy doing things like this, but Andre, you see, he left a very sizable debt. And well, you should’ve stayed with your friends.”
“And you should fuck off!” I kick out and go to get up, but he laughs and slaps me back down.
My cheek is burning and I feel shame washing over me. I can’t believe my mother has been dragged into all this.
The second man pulls tape from his pocket and strips it out to wrap my legs. I kick out and catch him in the dick.
He spasms and crouches awkwardly, but not before punching me in the chest. I collapse to my knees, gasping. Grateful that he didn’t punch a foot lower.
“There’s no point trying to be a hero.” The man comes around to me and yanks my hair up. “We wouldn’t want you to end up like your brother.”
My mother begins to cry. Her tears pierce my heart. I’m still on the floor struggling to breathe, I’m defenseless and want to join her.
An idea comes to me. Something so desperate and stupid that I hope it will work.
“What if we can make this all go away?” I ask, my voice trembling.
The man’s eyes darken, a sinister smile creeping across his face as he leans closer. “What did you have in mind, sweetheart?”