Chapter 20 A cold welcome
MIDNIGHT PACK
Jovy stepped out of the car into the environment she has been family with all her life and with her heart jumping out of her mouth. It didn’t occur to her how much trouble she would get into until she neared the house. Three good days she had been away, switching off her phone like she had gone missing.
Logan had been generous enough to drop her off but after getting her number and he made a grumpy promise to call. Butterflies had been running round the pit of her belly when he had asked for her contact. The days they had spent together were pure bliss to her. Every night, day and minute was a rigorous one with consistent sex and eating. It definitely was an adventure she would never forget in a while and really hope that it continues for a long time.
Jovy had asked for him to drop her off three houses away from father’s house to enable her have a clear view of whatever might be happening in front of her house. If it were up to her she would have wished the times with Logan would never come to end.
Jovy checked her time and she was glad everyone would have left home for their various destination. It would give her enough time to coordinate herself for what lie to cook up. Happily strolling towards the house, she checked for her key only to realize that she actually doesn’t have a key to the main house. There was a back door through the kitchen where she passes through to get into the house.
Thankfully, it wasn’t locked again when she got there and she went into the house. She felt free and renewed. As she opened the door leading to the living room, she stopped on track and stared in bewilderment at the sight of her father, step mother, step sister and her best friend, Alice looking so lost in thought.
Tommy had his hands on his waist with his back turned to her as he was lamenting about her disappearance.
“Jovy?” Alice mumbled.
When Tommy turned and saw her, his eyes widened in shock. And without thinking it through, he grabbed quickly the plastic made flower vase closest to him and threw it at Jovy who barely had enough time to dodge it.
“You Bitch!” Tommy yelled in horror almost stomping his feet in anger. “Where the hell have you been?!” He moved closer to her now.
Jovy took cautious steps backwards, ready to make a run for it when she gets the chance. Jovy looked back towards the door and she knew that was the end of the road when she saw Amelia by the door she came through. The witch was so quick to make a run at that direction to stop the idea in her head.
“Where the fuck have you been for days?!” Tommy bellowed. His anger radiated throughout the whole room.
Jovy looked around like a deer caught in the light and she locked eyes with Alice who gave her a disapproving look. Jovy had almost thought she would get a bit of a comfort from her friend but it’s certain now that she screwed it all up by herself for not confiding in Alice about her whereabouts. One look at her father and Jovy knows she would never escape what he has in plan for her. Tommy Finlay is one who does whatever he set his mind on.
Jovy had tried to think of a way of saying she got kidnapped or something to drive home pity but from their vicious looks, it was obvious they knew where she was at the night she didn’t return. In a split second, Tommy had his five fingers marking Jovy across the face.
“I heard you went away with a man?! You slutty bitch! I knew from the start that you are nothing to write home about! You whore!” He glared.
Jovy put her hand to her sore cheek as she looked towards Alice again and this time she had tears in her eyes and biting so hard on her lower her lips. Whatever the case may be, Jovy knew her father would do whatever to find her, although not because he care but because of what people would say. All through eighteen years of her life she had never for once being away without the consent of her father. And it is not like she had expected dust to be raised over her miss from home but she was expecting this sort of brutal and cold welcome.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” She tried to look innocent.
“Oh please!” Amelia interjected from behind. “It’s a known fact already that you sneaked out of the house to a frat party. Your friend already confessed on your behalf.”
Jovy felt the urge to glare at her best friend but she couldn’t. Alice didn’t have any choice since she was missing. Tommy stared at her face to see her reaction and he moved up close to her when he got a hint that she had tried to lie to him, then he made a hit on her face again.
“You slut! You did run off with a man! I will deal the hell out of you today!” Not waiting any longer, Tommy pulled her by the hair and dragged her along towards the basement.
Jovy fought hard trying to free herself, knowing what was in store for her there. “Dad! Wait! I can explain!” She begged.
“Mr Finlay…Hold up…it’s not what you think.” Alice trailed behind pleading for her friend’s release.
Still holding on to Jovy’s hair tightly, Tommy turned sharply towards Alice and pointed a finger at her. “Now, listen you bitch. I don’t want to see you anywhere near my home ever again! I am not playing! Don’t show your face to me again! I mean every word and don’t try to mess with me!” Tommy glared at her. When his words seem to register on Alice’s expression, he walked away dragging Jovy along by her hair. She was writhing in pain as her scalp burned so badly.
Amelia flicked her tongue at Alice as she let out an evil grin. “I told you she was going to get it real hard from her father. Serves her right!”
Alice balled her fists in anger as she looked around with the intention of reserving whatever she had to say till later. When Alice looked behind her, she saw Amelia’s mother, Ava standing on guard. It wouldn’t be nice for them to call the cops on her if she tried to pick a fight with Amelia at that point. If her parents ever find out they would be disappointed so she did what was appropriate which was backing out.
Amelia waved her hand in jest as her eyes danced in excitement. “Bye! Get your filthy ass moving out of here. Don’t worry, she would come running to you soon to help nurse her wounds and bruises.” She giggled.
Alice looked back after stepping out of the house and her heart melted at the kind of punishment Jovy would be subjected to this time. She wasn’t the type of girl to go beyond her rules and regret clinched at her heart. She blamed herself for getting Jovy involved in the frat party even when she had insistently told her she wasn’t interested out of fear that her father would kill her if he ever finds out.
The fear of what might become of Jovy if actions weren’t taken on time had prompted her to come down to the Finlay’s home. But instead, she only got her into more trouble and also enable stupid Amelia have something to gloat over. She wanted to beat the shit out of her, having someone like Amelia have liberty to say whatever she liked to someone like herself made her angrier. Before she could explain what the hell was going on, Amelia already did a great job at cooking up some shit which stupid ass Tommy had taken up with no affirmation. At that moment all she wanted to do was smack him to oblivion.
Her intention was to make them understand the intensity of what might go wrong if she doesn’t get found on time but Tommy had stared blankly at her without caring if his daughter had been lynched out in the cold. He only kept saying she needed to be found so people won’t call him a bad father for not looking over his child. They were just about to say whatever it is they think she should do, like go to hell, before Jovy had showcased herself.
Flipping her bag over her shoulder, Alice got into her car and drove off with a heavy heart. If Jovy had a big will to live, she would surely await her return in school in the next two to three days. Tommy Finlay wouldn’t be crazy enough to keep her locked up for too long. Or else he would have her to contend with.
Stepping on the pedals of her car, wheeling into the free road and Alice drove off in confused rage.