Chapter Twenty-Six
Ten (and a bit) Years Ago - Ryder
“RYDER.”
I’ll never admit that I flinched. Turning my head toward the door, the pig stands there looking expectantly. “There’s some people here to see you.”
He’d probably be purple already if it was the police, so I guess I don’t have to worry about that. Yet.
I don’t make him wait, getting up to follow him out the door. The corner of my mouth tips up as we pass by Evie’s room and I hear her singing as she works on her homework. She’s been obsessing over Taylor Swift recently, spending every spare second decoding the lyrics in her songs.
My face falls again as Cyrus’s heaping back reminds me of what happened in the TV room the other day. Evie thought he’d stopped her to ask about the makeup, catch her in a lie, but I saw it for what it was: desire.
I’d kill him with my bare hands if he ever touched her; in fact, I’ve been wondering the last couple weeks whether I should go ahead and do it as a preventive measure. But then I’d probably get caught, tried as an adult, and thrown in jail. Who would watch over her then?
Clenching my fists, I remain quiet as Cyrus leads me into the living room that has been cleaned up since the last time I saw it. A couple sits on one of the couches, obviously loaded, looking at us expectantly. They don’t seem like the sort of people who come around to houses like this very often, and what would it have to do with me anyway? I don’t think I’ve stolen from either of them.
The lady stands first, smoothing her skirt nervously. “You must be Ryder.”
“Who are you?”
Cyrus chuckles at my side before clasping me on the shoulder and giving it a little squeeze, as if we have that kind of relationship. “I told you he was willful.”
“Exactly what we need, then.” The man stands up and buttons his suit jacket before offering a hand to me. “I’m Ted and this is my wife, Kellin.”
I take his hand hesitantly, but not weakly. “Ryder.”
“You’ve got a good handshake, son.”
Son? I keep my mouth shut.
“Would you sit with us for a minute?” Kellin asks softly.
“Sure.” Warily, I take a seat across from them as Ted unbuttons his suit jacket and sits, taking his wife’s hand in his. “What is this about?”
“Well, this may seem unorthodox, but we are looking to adopt.”
I’m rarely shocked by anything this world throws at me anymore, but that was the last fucking thing I expected to leave this woman’s mouth.
“Ted and I have been trying to have children for a long time now, but recently we realized that God may have another plan for us.” They smile warmly at each other. It seems genuine enough. “We’re getting older, and our life has been built in a way that having a baby or small child may not be the best for all involved anymore. So, after a lot of discussion, we’ve decided to adopt a teenager, one who has lived in foster care long enough and deserves a real home.”
“You’re looking for a charity case.” And I’m it. The charity cases of all charity cases. The kid with no home, no future and no hope.
“Well, we wouldn’t put it like that –”
As quickly and violently as a strike of lightning, it hits me.
I take a good fucking look at the couple in front of me. If the jewelry and watches weren’t indication enough of their financial stability, their clothes made of creams and thick materials confirm it. Kellin leans into Ted, seeking a sense of comfort. A good man, then.
Maybe these two aren’t too far off on the whole God’s plan thing. They want a teenager, and I need a home for one. There’s only one way to secure it for her.
I have to make sure they’d never want me.
“But that’s the truth, isn’t it? You’ve got nothing better to do with all your time and money, so you just figured you’d try playing hero.”
Kellin looks to her husband for help, and he clears his throat. “I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been through, Ryder and this may seem like another trick, but our intention is to build a family and a safe space where our child feels loved.”
I believe him, which makes what I’m about to do even harder.
“You really think I’d want to play house like some little girl?” Ted and Kellin are stunned into silence and I take advantage. “You walk in here with your clean clothes and shiny jewelry, thinking that’s all it’d take for me to put on a pretty polo and call you Mommy and Daddy. You’re pathetic.”
“That’s enough.” Cyrus’s meaty hand comes around the back of neck, squeezing only as hard as what could be deemed appropriate by the guests. He gives me a shove toward the entryway, a promise for what’s to come in his purpling face. “Go back to your room.”
Risking one more glance at the nice couple, I watch as Kellin tips her face into Ted’s chest. Unable to face the devastation I caused, I disappear around the corner and put my back against the wall, listening. My chest pangs with guilt, regret, and the realization that if my plan works, Evie will be gone. Taken out of my life as quickly as she was delivered into it.
“I’m sorry for his behavior. He’s often the most difficult.”
Sniffle. “It’s okay, some people just won’t be helped.”
“But there is a girl who’s been here almost as long as Ryder. Evelyn gets good grades, and I’ve never had a complaint about her behavior. She could be molded into whatever you want.”
My lip curls at his words, at the thought of changing anything about her.
“We want to give a child a second chance at family and welcome them into a business that will be theirs one day, nothing more.”
“I’ll go get her.”
Fuck . Sprinting around the corner, I leap into the laundry room just in time.
Cyrus makes his way up to Evie’s room, stairs creaking the entire way. A wave of darkness falls over me, transforming the world into varying shades of black and gray. Sickness hits my gut with the firsthand knowledge of what life will look like without her.
I’m not sure that I can survive it.
A few minutes go by before a bright “Hello!” chirps from the living room, followed by, “I’m Evelyn.”
“What a pretty name,” Kellin offers sweetly.
Pause. “You really think so?”
I know what that meant to her. According to a tiny girl in dirty pink sneakers, it all starts with a pretty name and a family for destiny to follow. It’s everything she deserves, and a lot more than I can offer.
Sliding down the wall, I drop my head into my hands and listen to the rest of the exchange. Evie can’t help but to win them over. By the end of it, I know Kellin and Ted will do everything in their power to give her a home.
My job is done. I’ll be haunted forever for treating those people worse than trash. They’ll never know that what I did was for Evie, and I’ll never get the chance to explain because I’ll never see them again. I’ll never see her again.
But she’ll have that life she’s always wanted.
And she can never know what I did for her.