Sophie
It broke my heart when we got to Amber's house unannounced. It was pretty cold out and looked a bit cloudy, giving us the impression that it may rain again. Amber's dad was just getting home. Instead of resting, he got to work on the yard. He apologized to us because he had been so busy that he had had very little time to work on the yard.
Logan being Logan, took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and took the mowing machine away from Mr. Deveroux, getting to work on cutting the grass. It wasn't a big front yard, so he was probably going to get it done quickly. Amber was busy in the kitchen fixing dinner. Her mom sat in a wheelchair with a warm blanket, watching tv. Part of her face still looked droopy from the facial paralysis that her stroke had caused her. She slowly turned, smiling and waving at us. Even that little gesture took strength in her to move, I went over and gave her a warm hug, getting a smile in return.
It broke my heart seeing her like this, but Amber was still lucky...she still had her mom. It's been four long years since I last saw mine. Believe me... Amber is the lucky one. I wish I could see my mom at least for a few seconds. I miss her terribly.
"How is she?" I asked, concerned with Kenzie's well-being. She smiles apologetically, sighing and looking towards her room. "You shouldn't have bothered coming, Sophie. She'll be fine by Monday when she returns to school." her tone told me something was not ok. I tilt my head and looked at Nate who looked up and smiled. I squeezed his little hand that I was holding. He and I both knew the hesitation in her tone.
She was hiding something, and he and I both knew what was going on. "Amber, tell me what's going on? Why did Kenzie come home early?" she turns away, looking towards her daughter's room. "Does this seem fair to you, Sophie? I was such a horrible person to you when we were young, that karma has to repay me by hurting my daughter. Is that fair to her? She shouldn't be accountable for my wrongdoing, should she?" she sighs, quivering her voice as she takes a seat on the small lazy-boy chair behind her and wipes away a stray tear. "I'm trying to change, Sophie. I work hard, I try and do my best in everything I do. I don't like selling houses, to be honest. But it pays the bills and the mortgage. I have tried so hard to make amends with you and Logan, and everyone I have wronged, but things just keep getting worse." she says, wiping away another tear.
It was hard for me to see her break down in front of me. She had done so much damage to Logan, to my son...to me. But, I somehow find myself feeling pity towards her. No matter how hard I try... I just can't find myself hating her. "Amber, I don't hate you. I forgive you for everything you did in the past. But you will never prosper until you decide to stand up for yourself and your daughter. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Apologizing to the people you wrong is good for healing. That's what you truly need...to heal. Before you can ask others for forgiveness, you first need to forgive yourself. Be at peace with yourself and don't be afraid to stand up for your daughter. She deserves a happy and safe environment. But it all starts with you." we sat for a while to talk. I could tell she was going through a lot, and she was very hurt inside. I was becoming soft with her, to be honest.
"Would you mind if I go say bye to McKenzie before we leave?" I asked Amber, pointing towards Kenzie's room. "Ah, of course not, please...go ahead. It will make her day to see you guys." Amber responded. I took Nathan's hand and made my way towards her room, knocking softly as I entered.
"Hello....hi, Kenzie," I said as I saw her on her bed. She sat, leaning against the headboard reading a book. My eyes went wide as she tucked her hands inside her blanket. But I was still able to get a glimpse of her bandaged hands. "Aunt Sophie. Nathan!" she was happy to see us. Nate ran to hug her, getting a big smile in return. "Kenzie, what happened to your hands, honey?" I asked her getting a sad expression on her little face.
I was so mad when I found about what had happened to her from the other little girl, Zoe. She had told me the true, but it looked worse than I thought. "Sweetie...Zoe mentioned to me something that you got hurt at school. I was hoping you could tell me if what Zoe was telling me was true, were you and Kaitlyn best friends before?" she lowered her head and nodded softly. "What happened?"
She shrugged her shoulders and sniffled. "She said she didn't want to be my friend anymore, because I don't have a daddy. That I was ugly, and that's why my dad doesn't want me." she broke as she uttered the last words. My heart broke seeing her like this. I hugged her tightly, allowing her to get it all out as she cried in my arms.
"Sweetheart, look at me. Don't you ever believe those words, ok? You are beautiful, inside...and out. You're smart and funny, strong, and above all...you are brave. She only said those things because she is scared and insecure about what she must be going through as well. It's never ok to hate someone...even when they do bad things to you, and you know why?" she looks at me with sad puppy eyes, my son hugs her around her shoulders, making her lean her head on his shoulder.
"Because hate is toxic. It makes you bitter inside and turns you ugly inside. You are too beautiful inside to let hate turn you ugly. Forgive her, time....and time again if you have to. But... Don't forget that you still have the right to stand up for yourself. Ok? Don't let her push you around. Stand up for yourself and your rights." I had a little talk to them about what they should do about being bullied and made them promise not only to look after each other, but to always speak up. To never be afraid to tell someone when something is wrong, and never hide from us when they are going through something that's bothering them.
Knowing Kenzie was going through this made me so upset. This surely was going to drag my butt to the district's office tomorrow to have a good talk with the superintendent.
"Sophie, can Nate have a sleepover with me?" I looked at them intensely. Nate had never slept anywhere without me, other than Mrs. Clark, and Ashley a few weeks ago. "Please, mom?" he asked, giving me his big puppy eyes.
"Baby, we need to ask Amber first." "I'm ok with it. If...that's ok with you and Logan. I already asked for the day off tomorrow since I'll have Kenzie home. I can drive Nate to school, unless...." Amber said as she walked into the room, she paused looking at me. "Unless I have your permission and Logan's to take off with them for this weekend to a cabin I was planning to go with my parents? We'll be back by Sunday afternoon." Nate and Kenzie jumped up and down at the idea, though...I was fairly nervous about this.
"It's a great idea, Amber. Sophie and I are going to be busy with the gala anyway, and Nate is probably going to get bored at the party, so why not, babe?" Logan added as he stood by the door, making us turn towards him. I wasn't fond of not having my baby for three days, but I knew this trip would help them forget this mess the week has brought us. I sighed, looking at Nate who continued to give me his big sad puppy eyes, "Fine. But... You have the call me if anything happens." Nate and Kenzie jumped with joy, "thank you, mommy." he said hugging me tightly.
We worked on emergency details and promised to come back with clothes for him. My heart ached as I thought of sleeping in the house without my baby. We said goodbye, leaving my son, as they played in her living room, and made our way to the house.
*******
When we got to the house, Troy was already there waiting for us. He looked like he was pretty upset, and his eyes were puffy. If I didn't know any better, he was probably crying for a while before we got here. "Hey, handsome... what's going on?" I asked him as he pulls me in for a big bear hug. His voice quivers as he sighs deeply. "T, what's up, bud? What's going on?" Logan says, giving him a squeeze on his shoulder.
"Could we talk inside? Maybe over a nice hard drink?" he suggested. We made our way inside, both boys went straight to the bar in the family room by the kitchen. Logan prepared two cups of whiskey, handing one to Troy. I, on the other hand turned on the kettle and waited for the water to heat so I could make myself a hot chocolate.
"So, what's happening? Everything ok?" Logan asked as T downed his drink and snatched Logan's away, downing it as well. "No...not at all. The wedding is off," he says making my eyes go wide. "What?...but...why, T? You and Dylan were so excited about getting married, what happened?" I asked, taking a seat next to him. "What happened? A stupid girl with no scruples and venom in her blood happened. God, I wish I could strangle her right now." he sat there, explaining to us what had happened. My heart ached for him.
He was so in love with Dylan, I couldn't believe he had been unfaithful to him. Troy was right to be mad, but I also know how much they love each other, and the last thing I wanted...was for him to make the same mistake I did with Logan and run away.
"T, are you sure this is what you want?" he looks at me with a confusing stare. "What do you mean, if that's what I want? Of course not, baby girl...I love him. A part of me wants to beat him, and another part wishes it was all a dream. That, I'd wake up and he'd be next to me, and I'd learn that it was just a lie." he runs his hands across his face frustratingly. "God, this is all my fault. I should have never gone on that business trip. I should have asked him to go along with me, or something."
"T, I know you're upset. You have all the right to be...but..." Logan says, looking at Troy. "You have to calm down, talk to Dylan. Man, I know you two care about each other, he loves you. Give him a chance to explain. Don't lose him just like that, don't give up so easily. True, he fucked up...but he's trying to make things right. Give him the benefit of explaining things to you, the least. Otherwise, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Logan suggested, making T look down with his eyes watery.
"Well, too late. I already canceled the wedding." he purses his lips, looking between us.
"How did you find out? Did he confess to you?" I asked, making him look at me. "No. Roxie told me. Casey was her brother. They moved here to our town during our high school senior year, he was older and was already in the military." I looked at him confused. Why don't I remember her at all?
"Was she in our high school? I don't remember her." I asked making both boys turn to me. "She was, but I didn't know about her until after high school. He looks towards us, "She lied to us, saying she had come to live here while attending college. She even sat in some of our classes. I had her for chemistry." Troy explained. My eyes went wide in shock at this news.
"What?" I added, "yeah, I was looking at old high school pictures in the yearbook, and she comes out in a few pictures, but...she was a big nerd too. She had the whole thing, the thick glasses, the braces, dressed nerdier than you used to, baby girl." Troy added, making Logan chuckle. I glanced at him, giving him a warning glare. "For all it matters. You were a hot nerd. Not those ugly nerds." Logan added making T chuckle and agree with him. "True, you were still hot...even as a nerd." T added making me roll my eyes.
"Huh?" this whole situation was too weird to me. I have no recollection of her at all. It was hard for me to believe because she looked naturally so pretty.
"T...all this sounds weird, honestly, it is. But, back on the subject... I'm with Logan. We will always be here for you to support your decision. But, I think you should talk to Dylan. You two obviously love each other. Logan and I missed out in seven years, because of my bad decisions. Don't do the same mistake. She's obviously trying to break you guys apart, don't let her get away with it. Don't give her the satisfaction of knowing she got to you and Dylan. You need to go and get things straight with your nan. And yes... Set some ground rules about cheating and being faithful, but work shit out." he stayed for a little longer while we had a chat. But in the end, he came to a decision...he would talk things out with Dylan and try to work things out.
While I don't approve of what Dylan did, (because I know the truth about Logan now) when I still had the idea of him being unfaithful, it was very painful. It hurt to think he was cheating on me. So to think that T is really going through this- breaks my heart. He has gone through so much with him. I know they both truly love each other, and they deserve to be happy. But Dylan better have a good explanation for his actions and convince T of his love and why he deserves to marry him.
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