FOUR
2022 Words
When my father mentioned me being grounded, he made sure he monitored my every move. I can’t do anything without having the feeling of someone’s eyes boring into my back. It has been four weeks of staying indoors and doing house chores, which they may be forgot to remove from the list of to-do things.
I have learned my lesson and gotten over the fact that I will never matter to my father. Hell! I don’t even know why I am referring to him as my father. He ceased being my dad the moment he brought in Amber, barely a month after my mom’s demise.
Could they have known about my escape plan?
I have been asking myself that question, but I guess I will never get an answer to it because I can’t trust anybody in this, not even my shadow.
I haven’t even told Brandy about my pregnancy. I know it sounds weird given the fact that she is the only friend I have. It is not like I want to keep her in the dark; I am just not sure if she is ready to hear such big news from me.
Or maybe I should stop finding excuses for lying to my best friend. She is my friend and the only person I can count on.
Maybe I should look for Alessandro and just tell him the truth.
What if he doesn’t believe me and thinks I only slept with him so I could trap him with my pregnancy? What if he doesn’t want to see me again? What if he doesn’t even remember my face or being with me that night?
Maybe I should just risk it and ask Brandy for help. I know she can reach him. Whatever the outcome, I just want him to know that I am not denying him the right to fatherhood over this growing baby in my stomach.
"We need to talk," I say to Brandy the moment she answers her phone.
"Yes, sure, we do. What happened to you? And don’t tell me your wicked stepmother has something to do with you going missing for a couple of weeks."
"No…eh… I mean, she is somehow involved, but that is not the reason why I called. I need your help."
I know I sound desperate right now, but beggars are not choosers, and I don’t have a choice right now.
"Hmm… I knew you called because you needed my help. Wow, Riley, is that what you have reduced me to?" She asks, and I sigh deeply. Honestly, I didn’t even think I would be asking Brandy for help, but right now I don’t have a lot of options, do I?
"That is not the only reason I called. "I was grounded forever by my father, courtesy of my stepmother and her two evil bastards, but let us not dwell on that."
"Oh, I want to hear it all." What happened? You see why I urge you to move in with me, but you are still stuck with that i***t of a father. I mean, after ten years of treating you like a stranger, do you think he will wake up one day, chase Amber away, and embrace you back into his life? "You are better than this, Riley Anderson."
"I know, I know, but let us not dwell on that. I am pregnant, Brandy, and I need your help locating that handsome devil. I don’t want him to feel like I have forced this on him; I just don’t want him to feel like I denied him the chance of being with his child."
"You are what?" You can’t be pregnant right now. You still haven’t figured your life out, and you are already pregnant. "Please tell me this is sick witticism, and you better stop pranking me."
"I am not playing jokes on you; I am serious about this. I am pregnant, Brandy, and I need your help locating my future child’s father."
"I am not believing any of this unless I see your pregnancy bump." She argues back, and I exhale sharply before I switch to FaceTime and show her the small bump. She gawks at me for a few seconds before I can find her voice.
"Are you f*****g crazy?" Do you know who Alessandro is? "Or do you think he is just a billionaire you would pin down with your pregnancy scheme?" She asks, and I scoff. Of course, she would say that.
"Well, I thought I had my friend right there, but I guess I was wrong. I am not asking for any support; I just want you to find him for me. "If possible, arrange a meeting with him. I just want him to know that I am carrying his child; he deserves to know." I urge her, and she shakes her head, then exhales sharply before turning to look at me keenly.
"I know I am not supposed to say this, but Alessandro Ricco is not just any ordinary man; he is not only a billionaire but also a mafia lord." She intones, and I face-palm myself.
How could I not know that he was a mafia lord and not just an ordinary celebrity billionaire? But he was also the most feared man in our city; how could that have escaped my thin mind? Don’t get me wrong, but I have heard about Alessandro Ricco a few times due to his celebrity nature, but I never bothered to follow up. I mean, he was none of my concerns, not until he approached me at the club.
I know I am screwed, but I still want him to know, and if he wants me to keep the baby, then well and good, and if he doesn’t want any babies, then sorry for him because I am keeping this baby whether they like it or not.
"I don’t care if he is a god or a mafia gang leader or drug dealer; I just want him to know that I am paged and it’s his baby. Can you do that for me? I swear, this is the last favor I am asking. I know I have been on your neck for favors, and it is weighing you down, but this is the last one, I swear." I promise, and she smiles.
"You are funny; why would I be weighed down? You are my friend, and that is what friends are for. Anyway, I am not sure I can get hold of your prince charming since he is a busy man. This might turn out positive or negative, so just brace yourself."
"I know, and I am not expecting anything from him. Can you please do that for me?"
"Yes, I will, and what plan do you have for yourself and that baby? And please don’t tell me you want to be grounded forever in that shithole you call home."
"I am not dumb, Brandy. I am twenty-four and not sixteen. Of course, I have a plan, but I am still working on it."
"Tell me in case of any developments; don’t hide things from me. "I am your only friend, and you know the vice versa is true."
"Okay, I get you," I affirm, and she nods. There is a sound of shuffling feet outside my door, so I muffle my voice and stop talking. "I think someone is at the door; call me when you get something." I half-whisper before I hang up.
"Who is there?" I ask a few seconds later, and when I don’t get any response, I decide to go and check, but there is no one at the door.
Maybe I am hearing my things, or maybe someone was listening in on my conversation, or maybe I am just paranoid.
Two days later, I am still waiting for my friend Brandy to tell me some good news. I mean, that is the only thing standing in my way of moving out of my father’s house. I know this might sound rushed, but I need to find my own life far away from the toxicity, mistreatment, and endless bullying from my family, and this blessing in disguise is a fresh start for me.
"I know you are planning to escape, but your father and I spoke about your well-being, and we will be taking care of you until you give birth; you will go to school." "We are giving your child out for adoption. Amber spills the beans, and I am shocked beyond words.
I can’t believe my father would plot something so sinister behind my back; this is another good reason to move far away from them.
"Wow, I knew you were wicked, but not to this extent. "I am not giving my child up for adoption, and I’m sure as hell not letting you two psychos next to my child; you’re delusional."
"No, we are not. Your father and I are just looking out for you. You are confused right now, and you need the right people beside you."
"And you are the right person?"
"Come on, I am the only close person you have for a mother. "Who is your baby’s father, by the way?"
"That is none of your business, Amber. I am not telling you my business, but I will. "What do you take me for, a fool?"
"No, an i***t who doesn’t know the importance of condoms and practicing safe s*x. "If you were so horny, then you should have at least prevented this one.
"You know, no matter how hard you try to mince your words to make sure they hurt me, I will not cry. I am no longer sixteen, Amber. I am not the teenage daughter who would cry in my room for days after being called names by you and your daughters. I have seen pain, I have grown through pain, I have matured through pain, and I am as sure as hell numb to any pain you want to cause. This child is mine, and I will do whatever I want with it. It doesn’t matter how I got pregnant; what matters is my health and his. You and your husband can kiss my ass, but I am not giving my child up for adoption; that is final!" I shout, and she scoffs softly.
"You will have to bend to my rules, young girl. You should have used a condom or something, but since you were too dumb, I am about to rock your world."
"So, rock it!"
"Oh, I will, honey, and I will make sure your father doesn’t change his mind on this. I will make it my mission to make sure that your life is agonizing; you will have no choice but to abort that baby, keep it and give it up for adoption when the time is right, or move out of this house and give us some peace."
"I know what to do, Amber," I reply with a nifty smile on my face, and I walk out on her.
It is time for you and me to find somewhere safe to live, somewhere peaceful, and somewhere we are wanted. I know I am not prepared for this, but you are the reason I want to walk out of my comfort zone and find a life of my own—my life with you. That is why we have to go as far as we can from this house, this town, and these people. This is for you, Mi Amor.
I mumble as I throw only the things I need in my suitcase; my decision is final, and I am not backing down. As I pack everything I need in my suitcase, I hold onto the picture album with memories of my mom and me.
"Mom, I don’t know if you can hear me, but please watch over us as we walk through this journey." I love you, Mom; I always will." I whisper and kiss her photo, then place the album in the inner pocket and exhale sharply before quietly dragging my suitcase out of my room.
- Writer
