27. Kerry
Kerry
Ifollow closely behind Amy and keep a close eye on her face. Jack leads the way, looking over his shoulder at us as he walks. “Should I radio them to let her in through the gate?”
“No,” I say immediately, making Amy turn to raise her eyebrows at me. “We need to verify it’s actually your mother first, and that she doesn’t have any gifts from your grandfather with her. And I want to verify that she’s going to behave appropriately.”
Amy nods at that. “All right. Makes sense.”
It takes us a few minutes to walk to the front gate.
One of the guards opens it enough to let us through.
A woman I’ve only seen in pictures is on the other side, stomping her feet like a petulant child.
Her car sits in the driveway, the driver’s side door thrown open like she jumped out of it to start throwing a fit immediately.
Other than the horrific behavior, I can see the physical similarities between her and Amy. There’s definitely family resemblance.
This is her mother, not just someone posing as her. I’m not sure how to feel about that, and based on Amy’s face, it seems like she doesn’t, either.
“Amy! Oh, thank goodness! These dirt bags have been trying to keep you from me! Even though I told them who I was. They don’t seem to understand that of course you would want your mother at your wedding.
” In her mother’s defense, there are tears pooling in her eyes.
She’s not faking some level of her sadness, or she’s an excellent actress.
Neither would be that surprising to me at this point.
Not after what Amy’s told me or what I’ve seen for myself with this family.
Amy rubs her arm nervously as she approaches her mother. “Hi, Mom. How did you get here?”
Her mother huffs in annoyance. “A plane, obviously, Amy.” Anger heats my chest, and I have to control myself from snarling at the woman and standing between her and my wife. “You’d know I was coming if you looked at my texts or answered any of my calls. We’ve been trying to reach you for weeks!”
Amy winces. We knew this would be an uncomfortable conversation at best, but that doesn’t make enduring it any easier. I rest my hand on the small of her back, wanting her to know that I wasn’t going to leave her side. We’re in this together.
Her mother seems to focus on the movement of my hand. Her eyes narrow as she looks at me. “Of course you have to be here, too. Do you have no shame? Kidnapping a young girl? Forcing her to come to another country? Making her marry you, isolating her from her family? You’re a disgusting beast.”
I grin at the woman. “Oh, yes. I am quite the beast, you’re right.
And I’m more than willing to fight for my wife.
” I clench my jaw from saying anything further, not wanting to make this any harder on Amy than it already is.
But I’ll be damned if I let her manipulate my sweet leannán.
I’ll gladly take all of the woman’s ire if it means protecting Amy. Her barbed words mean nothing to me.
Amy’s mother raises her eyebrows and she huffs. “You’re worse than they said. And she’s not your wife yet, you bastard. And, if I have it my way, she never will be.”
“Mom…” Amy starts and then sighs, fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweater. I haven’t seen her do that in months, and I nearly forgot it was a nervous habit of hers. My irritation with her mother swells at the realization. “Why do you think the wedding is about to happen?”
Her mother rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Your grandfather is a problematic man, yes. I won’t deny it. But he is resourceful, and he knows there’s a big event here this weekend. There’s big talk about it all over the world.”
Amy chews on her bottom lip. “What makes you so sure it’s a wedding, though?”
“Amy. Come on. Don’t be silly. We know.” Her mother puts her hands on her hips.
The guards who man the front gate shift awkwardly as they watch the exchange.
I clench my jaw. It's clear her family still believes they have a hold on her. This woman doesn’t know that her daughter blocked her phone number, but instead, she thinks she’s just been ignoring her.
Or maybe she thinks that I took away her phone, who knows.
Amy sucks in a breath, obviously getting frustrated. “Okay. So, you need to listen, Mom. Because you don’t know what’s going on. You make your assumptions and believe what you want to believe, even if it’s not factual.”
“Amy, you’re being silly again—”
“No, Mom. You’re being self-absorbed and careless again.”
“This man has clearly brainwashed you—”
“No, he hasn’t. He’s finally given me space to be free.”
“Stockholm Syndrome is a very real and scary thing, Amy.” Her mother is crying now, big fat tears rolling down her cheeks.
“You need to come home to us. This is serious. I had to get a return flight in order to be allowed in the country, but it’s in a week.
We can get you on that flight, too. You can come home with me and be safe. ”
Amy pauses, her breath hitching. I can see the flicker of hesitation in her eyes as she considers her mother’s words. Fear spikes through me. What if she believes her mother’s words? Do I let her go? Do I try to convince her it isn’t true? I haven’t done that to her, have I?
Just as panic begins to build up my throat, making my entire chest feel tight, Amy narrows her eyes and steps up to her mother. “I blocked your number. Even if we were getting married this weekend, I wouldn’t want you there.”
Her mother gasps and steps back. “Amy! What has possessed you to say such a cruel thing! I am your mother, I have loved and cared for you your entire life, just come home to our little apartment—”
“Why? So you guys can sell me off to the next highest bidder? So you can hide wealth from me and lie more? So you can tell me how awful my grandparents are all while working for them and making more money than you ever let me believe we had?” Amy’s tone is colder than I’ve ever heard it.
Pride fills me and relieves the pressure in my chest.
Her mother blanches and she dashes the tears away on her cheeks. “Is that what he told you?”
Amy arches a brow. “Are you denying it? You told me you knew about the arranged marriage yourself. You’re the one who left me out to dry when my grandparents decided my life would be a good pawn in their little game.”
A muscle in her mother’s jaw ticks. “Things are more complicated than that, Amy—”
“So you’re not denying it.”
“Well, no, but it’s just black and white like that, it’s always been in your best interest.”
Amy laughs. It’s mirthless and bitter, and I can see tears are forming in the corner of her eyes.
I’m about ready to force this woman out of here.
My eyes remain locked on Amy’s face, just looking for the slightest signal that she’s done.
I’ll drag the woman off of my property if I have to, since she’s on my driveway outside of my gate.
“You are such a liar. I can’t believe how much I didn’t see it before.
In my best interest? As fucking if. Get out. ”
Her mother’s face turns red with anger, and she steps towards Amy.
I don’t hesitate to pull the gun from its holster under my sweater, making the woman’s face drain of all color.
She steps back and holds up her hands as she realizes that she’s surrounded by not just me, but Jack and two other guards, too, who are now all pulling their guns out.
What she doesn’t know is that there’s numerous other armed personnel in various positions with heavy firearms trained on her, too.
I put my gun away when she steps back, but that doesn’t mean I’m not watching her closely. “Please. Amy. Did you see that reaction? That’s kidnapping! They’re guarding you!”
Amy scoffs and shakes her head. “Yes, they’re guarding me. From an angry woman who just stepped threateningly towards me right after I told her to get out. They’re just doing their jobs. Now, I told you to get out. Don’t bother trying to contact me, I blocked your numbers. All of you.”
Her mother’s lip wobbles. “Y-You’re not even going to let us be at your wedding?”
Amy holds up her hand, showing the beautiful wedding set I got her, sapphire dazzling on her hand. “Too late, Mom. We’re already happily married and have been. I guess my grandfather doesn’t hear about everything, does he? The event that’s coming up has nothing to do with me.”
Her mother gawks at her in shock, and then stumbles back towards her car, as if it’s finally sinking in that Amy isn’t going to put up with her bullshit anymore.
She drives off without even a goodbye. As soon as she realized she wasn’t able to get what she wanted, she didn’t even try to pretend to be a good mother anymore.
Amy’s whole posture deflates as soon as her mother’s car is out of sight.
I wrap my arm around her, and she practically sags into me.
I lead her back behind the gate and towards the house.
It clearly took everything within her to do that, and I couldn’t be prouder.
I kiss her hair gently. “You did good. You handled that so well,” I whisper to her.
She turns her head into my shoulder and a sob rips through her.
My hold on her tightens as I wave off the guards and Jack, wanting her to have privacy for the outpouring of her emotions.
I guide her up to our room and close the door, helping her slip off her shoes before tucking her into bed and crawling in beside her.
I’m not sure how long I hold her. It could be around an hour, but her weeping ebbs and flows, and I don’t mind being able to just be here for her.
At some point, I text Marjorie to give her an update. I know her and Amy have become close over the past few weeks. Maybe a sense of family and having an emotional support dog in Bunny, Marjorie’s pet, would be beneficial.
As my aunt always does, she shows up thirty minutes after I text her. I’m downstairs with food and Bunny. Take your time.