The Missing One (Lost Series Book 2) (3 page)

Abby

Sitting in Melodi’s room like a ball of nerves is wreaking havoc with my stomach. All I can hear is a bunch of loud girls, and can only hope that none of them come barging into the room needing something. I begin to pace around the room glancing down at Katie sitting on the floor playing with her raggy doll she carries everywhere. She’s had that thing since she was born and won’t go anywhere without it. There have been many tears, on occasion, over leaving her doll at home. There’s tension rolling off Blake as he’s in protection mode ready to pounce if the need arises. I love him for his protective streak and his watchful eye over Katie and me.

Walking over to him by the door, he waits and listens not noticing me approach. When I reach out and lightly touch his arm he turns so fast, he frightens me a little and I jump back a step. Quickly, he wraps me in his arms and immediately I’m in the one place where I feel calmness, serenity and security.

“Sorry, Abs. I’m a little on edge. Just the thought of that deluded man hanging around, the thought of you hurt…” He stops; the emotion in his words causes a lump to form in my throat.

“It’s okay, Blake. I know you’ll protect us,” I assure him, lightly pressing my lips to his cheek. He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, relishing in the small gesture of my soft kiss.

“I’m sorry I let you down before, and now Melodi is in danger. I don’t know what I’ll do if anything happens to you, Katie, Melodi, or her babies.”

So much weight is in those words. It shatters my heart to think he’s carrying that guilt around and that he thinks he’s let me down. He tried so hard, he put his job on the line, and he was ready to give everything up for me.

Our very first meeting comes to my mind bringing a smile to my face…

Jacob and I had been together for six months. I had bruises up my arms, and I ached all over. Last night was the worst he’d been in the last few months. I should have listened to those damn alarm bells that had rung three months ago. Where did things go so wrong?

Sitting on the bench at my favourite park across the road from the dress shop I worked in, I was draped in clothing from head to toe, feeling saddened by the fact that I could hardly wear the type of clothes I wanted to lately. I had to always choose wisely the kinds of clothes I wore when out and about, mainly because of the dark purple and yellow marks that stained my skin. Even the bright round hickeys that he forced on my neck were on show for all to see if I didn’t cover them up. In the middle of summer, I still found myself having to wear a scarf to hide them, along with long sleeved shirts that caused me to overheat. I didn’t know or understand, why he felt the need to do this to me. Every time I’d say I’m leaving, he stopped and showed me his kind side. The one I fell for in the first place. Then, of course, I believed him. However, he would revert back to his old ways and I’d always ended up back at square one.

Abused. Hurt. Unloved.

I looked out across the park watching the old couples walking their dogs, holding hands, and I began to seriously wonder if I’d ever get that with Jacob. Was he my happily ever after? He always told me that no one would ever love me or care for me like he did. I felt the warmth of my tears as they slid down my face, pooling at my chin.

“Excuse me, Miss?” A warm, inviting voice that sent a shiver down my spine pulled me from my deepest darkest thoughts. Quickly wiping those tears away, I looked up into the most vibrant green eyes. Eyes you could easily get lost in. I took in the rest of this man’s features. He had black hair and a fit looking body I could easily wrap myself around. Then I took in his appearance, he was a police officer.

“Can I help you?” I queried quickly wrapping my coat around me to hide the marks up my arms, but I thought perhaps it was too late for that. I could already see the concern etched in his eyes.

“Are you all right?” he asked as he took a seat on the bench beside me. I moved away slightly, feeling rather exposed all of a sudden.

“Yes, thank you. It’s just one of those days,” I nervously giggled.

He didn’t look convinced.

“You know you don’t need to deal with that abuse.” He nodded toward me, gesturing at my arms.

I crossed them over my chest wishing I could crawl away and hide. “It’s not any of your business,” I snapped at him.

“Whoa, easy. I’m only giving you some advice. I’ve seen you here before and noticed how things have slowly begun to change.”

He noticed me?

I didn’t speak. I don’t know why this man, whom I didn’t even know, was paying attention to me.

He continued, “I know I sound like a crazy stalker, but I do my rounds in here at least once a day when I’m working day shift. I saw you about two or three months ago and you were happy. You had lunch with your friend’s right here on this bench.” He looked out onto the park as if he was thinking about what to say next. “Then it all stopped, and you began to come here on your own. Not long after, I noticed the marks appearing on your arms had started to increase—”

“Why are you paying attention to me? I’m nobody. No one will love me like he does,” I cut him off. I even heard the lie, the quivering in my own voice. Could someone else love me differently?

He paled, raising a hand to cover his gasp. His eyes went wide scowling.

“Is that what he tells you?” he asked gently. He was trying to mask the anger that had crept into his features, but I could hear the strain in his words as he shook his head.

I averted my eyes from his piercing gaze. There was an awkward silence between us for a few moments before he slid closer and whispered, “Please give another guy a chance to show you what love is meant to be like.”

My heart raced at his statement. I met his eyes again, so gentle and inviting. I smiled since I was unsure what to say.

“I…I can’t. I’m sorry, it’s wrong,” I stammered out.

“Please, let me show you. We can just be friends spending time together, get to know each other.”

“I’m not allowed male friends, he becomes jealous, and that’s when this stuff happens,” I gesture to my arms. “I can’t even open up to my sister, my twin sister, someone who I know I’m hurting by shutting her out, but I don’t know what else to do.” My voice caught and tears sprung to my eyes. Why was I telling this stranger my life story?

His hand reached out, wrapping around mine, spreading a fuzzy feeling of warmth throughout me. I used to get this feeling with Jacob at the beginning of our relationship, but now I cower in fear of him or put on a fake smile that keeps him happy. He even forced himself on me when it was our first time, not something I wanted to live through again. It hurt majorly like he was ripping a part of me away, a part that no other man can take now.

The stranger watched me carefully. I didn’t even know his name. Yet, I felt the most comfortable I’d been in a long time in the company of a man that was not my own boyfriend. I knew I needed to break ties with Jacob, but how could I do that?

“Let me take you out this weekend? As friends?” he asked. Before I realised what I was doing, I nodded my head. I already knew that Jacob was going away for work, so perhaps this was what I needed.

“What’s your name?” I figured I’d better find that out first.

“I’m Blake…Blake Johnson, and you are?”

“Abby White. Pleased to meet you, Blake.” As crazy is it seemed considering I’d only just met this man, he’d shown me so much more kindness in the last few moments than what Jacob had shown me in the last six months.

We sat there for another half an hour looking out over the park and talking about our lives. I told him about Melodi and I found myself relaxing a bit, even laughing with Blake. He sent feelings through me, magical feelings. He didn’t bring up my bruises again, but anytime I mentioned Jacob his face became hard and he quickly changed the subject. I found it funny that he could dislike someone so much and not even know them. Just the mention of Jacob’s name made him look uneasy.

That afternoon was the start of something I never saw coming, and that is still present to this day, three years later. Something I held onto so tightly was the hope that I would see him again and he would be able to meet his daughter. Our daughter.

Standing here in his embrace brings me such relief and comfort. I release him, taking his hand as I sit on the bed and pull him down beside me to try and help him to relax a little. I know Melodi wouldn’t allow one of those people to come into her room unannounced.

“I know you feel as though you let me down, but you didn’t.” I draw a deep breath before continuing, “I didn’t tell you I was leaving because I knew you’d come and I couldn’t pull you out of the life you were living. You helped me enough to disappear and I didn’t want you to come after me in case he was watching you.” He glides his thumb over my sensitive skin which causes a swirling sensation in my chest.

I give him a comforting smile which he only half-heartedly returns. “But I should’ve known you wouldn’t give up.” I reach up running my fingers through his hair, then rest my palm against his cheek.

“I never gave up on you or us after you’d gone. And knowing the fact that you had to go back to see
him
on your own, I was so sure he’d killed you. There was so much blood, it crushed me. Everything within me died that day, even though I knew what was going on,” he chokes on his last few words. Taking a deep breath, he continues, “Then I found your necklace. I remember you told me it would never leave your neck unless it was ripped away from you. When I inspected it, I concluded that it wasn’t broken at all, but undone and left. Once I saw that I’d never been so relieved.”

I’d been planning my escape in case Jacob decided he wouldn’t let me go. Blake had helped me in more ways than one. I’d been seeing Blake for about two months behind Jacob’s back. I know it’s cheating, but how can it be wrong when your boyfriend treats you no better than the dirt he walks on and makes you feel like there’s nothing in the world for you except to be his punching bag. The abuse never ceased, it only increased over time. Blake begged me every day to leave Jacob, but I couldn’t. I was too afraid. Afraid for my life, but more importantly afraid for the lives of those around me, especially Melodi and my parents.

And now, by coming out of hiding, I’ve put everyone in danger. I should have remained hidden, that way I could keep Katie safe. A comfortable silence falls between us, our hands still connected.

“I knew you would get it,” I whispered as I shift closer to him. “I did it because I honestly think Jacob knew about us.” The pain of leaving him all those years ago is still fresh in my mind, and the wounds wearing away on my already battered heart. They say a broken heart takes the longest to heal and mine still is still repairing.

His eyes shot up to meet mine, the sadness that was once there is now gone and a wave of panic evident.

“What did he say?”

“Only that he—”

“Sorry to interrupt, guys.” Melodi walks into the room and we both look at her. Blake quickly stands to compose himself. Katie continues to sit on the floor looking between everyone. All these new faces must be so confusing for her.

“Who was out there?” Blake asks.

“It was Flick, Rachel, and Athena, but Athena has left.” She looks down fidgeting her fingers around as though she wants to ask something more.

“What is it, Mel?” I ask softly. She glances up, her eyes meet mine.

“You always knew when I was going to say something.” She smiles. “I was going to see if you would like to meet my best friend, Flick, and Corban’s sis—”

“No!” Blake interjects, shocking both Melodi and myself.

“Excuse me?” Melodi jumps in with her guard up, ready to take on the bull, horns and all. She was always the defensive one. Going to bat for anyone close to her.

“No, she can’t. Don’t you realise the danger this poses to her and you?”

“Don’t start that crap with me, Blake. I lost my sister three years ago, made to believe that she was dead. I know these two girls out there; they are the closest thing to family I have left since I lost Abby.” She’s becoming riled up and doesn’t look like she will back down.

I hop up and move to her side before she majorly stresses herself and her babies out.

“Calm down, Mel,” I whisper so only she can hear me, closing Blake out. She suddenly breaks down, her knees giving out from under her as she sobs. I’m glad I’m close enough to catch her.