Forsaken (9 page)

“Careful, I might come and find you later.”

“I’d like that.”

“I will make you come so many times your body will hate me.”

“I won’t let you.”

He growls, “You are driving me crazy.”

I kiss the side of his jaw, snakin
g my tongue out to lick his skin.

“Mmmmm
, ditto.”

“I have to go,
fuck; I want to slam you against this wall more than anything right now.”

“A
lright you two!” Nate laughs walking in with Jasmine close behind him.

“I have to go to work,
” Ryder grins, pressing my lips to his and kissing me long and hard.

“I said alright…”

Ryder pulls back and gives me a saucy grin.

“Behave.”

“Always,” I grin.

When he is gone, I say goodbye to Nate and head over to my parents house. When they see me, I am dragged into a mass of hugs and kisses
from my Mother and sister. They inform me that my grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins will all be coming for lunch. Well, lucky I am not skittish or anything.

“That’s good,
” I say, my heart pounding.

“It will be so g
reat, they are thrilled,” My Mother smiles.

“I can’t wait.”

When Mark comes in with a young girl wrapped around him, he gives me a horrible glare. Wow, what is his problem?

“Here again,
”

I
cross my arms and stare at him, “Problem?”

“Yeah, you,” h
e snaps, walking up the stairs, “go back to where you fucking came from.”

I
gape at him, horrified that he is so angry towards me. I just can’t figure out what I have done wrong. My Mother squeezes my hand and pulls me into the kitchen.

“Mark had a hard time, he was born right after you and…he always felt left out.”

“That isn’t my fault.”

“No, it isn’t. Would you like to go and find your
Father?”

I smile,
“Sure.”

I walk around the large house, looking at the pictures and ornaments. It is so homely, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I find my
Father in the shed down the back; he is staring at a work book and a large piece of leather.

“Mind if I join you?”

He spins around and a huge grin spreads across his face. I can’t help but smile back.

“Of course, that would make me real happy.”

I slide onto the desk and stare down at the papers and scattered tools.

“Do you like to work with leather?”

He smiles, “I certainly do.”

“What do you make?”

He shrugs, “Mostly belts, but sometimes I do more complicated things.”

“Sounds interesting,
”

He puts the leather down and looks up at
me; he has a handsome face and is the sort of man most girls would want as their Father. I smile back and cross my legs.

“I was meant to come and find you.”

He laughs, “Yeah well you found me, you know Maya, it’s real nice having you here…”

“How did it feel?” I ask, suddenly serious.

“What’s that?”

“When you found out I was gone.”

He stiffens, “Nothing in this world can ever describe the pain of losing a child. Death is one thing, and it’s awful but you have closure, we never knew if you were alive or dead. We didn’t know if you were spending your years with an abusive family who locked you in an attic. I will never, ever forget the pain and constant sickness.”

I fe
el a tear trickle down my face, “I can’t image how that must have felt and I know this won’t make it any better but they were ok to us…they were good parents from what I can remember and I never got hurt. The foster family we got put into were amazing too.”

“We?” h
e asks.

“Me and my sister Sandy, she…got taken too.”

“The other girl? I know her parents.”

“What?” I cry, leaping up.

“We banded together when their baby was taken…it was by the same person?” he whispers, harshly.

“Yes. Do they still live here?”

“Yes.”

“Oh
God, Sandy has been trying to locate them. Will they want to see her?”

He smiles,
“Oh yes.”

“I need to call her, she will be so thrilled.”

He nods and I pull out my phone, dialing Sandy’s number.

“Hey Maya, what’s up?”

“I know where your parents are.”

She goes silent,
“What?”

“My parents know yours, they met after you were taken and supported each other.”

“Are they…here in LA?”

“
Yes and my parents have their address. My dad said they will be thrilled to see you Sandy.”

“I feel sick,” s
he murmurs.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“Please, oh please do.”

“Come to this address and I will take you over.”

“We can invite them over, if it would be easier?” My Father suggests.

“Did you hear that Sandy?”

“I would prefer that.”

“Hey, come around and I will be with you the entire time. It’s going to be ok.”

“Ok, ok…I am on my way.”

I
hang up and beam at my Father, “Please tell me they are lovely people?”

He grins,
“They are.”

“She is so nervous.”

“They are going to crumble when they find out. They don’t even know we found you yet, it’s going to be a long, beautiful day all round.”

“Can you call them?”

“On it,”

We walk inside and my
Father tells my Mother all about Sandy and how she was the other child taken. My Mother starts sobbing again, and clings to me.

“This is going to make their day, their year…everything.”

“Does she have siblings?” I ask.

“She has a brother, he is older than her.”

“She’ll love that.”

“So you two grew up as sisters?”

“Yes, Sandy will always be considered my sister.”

“That’s lovely. What a happy ending.”

My Father walks out red eyed and shaking his head.

“Wow, I know how they feel and it still overwhelms me. Monica screamed for ten good minutes and Jack just went silent.”

“Are they coming?” I ask, desperately.

“Yes, they will be here any moment.”

I hear the doorbell ring and I rush over, Sandy is waiting outside. I grip her into my arms and crush her close to me.

“They are so happy
Sandy; this is the best thing…”

“I am so nervous
, Maya.”

“It’
ll be ok.”

“Hello, you must be Sandy.”

We turn and Sandy gets an eyeful of my parents. She smiles.

“Oh Maya, they do look just like you.”

They laugh and extend their hands.

“I’m Will and this is my wife
, Amy.”

Sandy smiles and shakes their hands.

“She looks just like Monica.” My Mother whispers.

“I am so
nervous; forgive me if I sound off,” Sandy whispers.

“Oh honey, don’t be sorry. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.”

We all sit down for a coffee and wait. When the doorbell rings, Sandy grips my hand so hard my bones crunch together. I watch as a couple walk through the door. I gape, wow; Sandy does look like her Mother. They have the same golden blonde hair, blue eyes and petite frame. Sandy’s Father is tall, dark and handsome but I can see the similarities.

“Oh…
God…” They choke.

Sandy stands, and I can see her body shaking. I know how she feels, I felt this way only days ago.

“It can’t be real…” her Mother breathes.

“All these years, our baby is alive?”

I watch it all unfold before my eyes, and I imagine this is how my family must have looked. They hug and cry, and ramble confusing words. I smile and watch as my sister slowly melts and begins smiling, just like I did. My Mother grips my hand and we stand gathering warmth by watching the reunion.

When everything has settled down, we all prepare for lunch. That is when I get to meet my entire family. I have lovely grandparents, who are sweet as pie. My aunties, uncles and cousins are all kind and warm towards me, but I can’t remember their names. It is a little overwhelming and I find myself in the kitchen alone within an hour, trying to catch a breath.

A moment later,
Mark walks in. He stops when he sees me and glares. His honey colored hair is disheveled and he is shirtless. My brother is built like a linebacker and his chest has one dark lettered tattoo saying “Heaven.” I stare at it a long moment, then I meet his eyes again. He didn’t come down for lunch, because clearly he was up in his room having one off with Barbie. Why don’t my parents stop him?

“Why do you insist on glaring at me like that?” I snap.

He leans his hips against the bench and narrows his eyes.

“Because, I can’t stand you
,”

“I didn’t do anything to you!” I hiss, folding my arms.

“Didn’t you?”

“What is your damned problem Mark, seriously?”

“You don’t feel it do you?”

“Feel what?”

He snorts and shakes his head.

“Why don’t you ask the
Brady bunch in there what I am talking about? I am sure they would love to explain.”

“Why don’t you explain?”

“I have no reason to continue a conversation with you, nor do I have any interest in it.”

“Whatever.”

I turn and storm out of the room, it is raining hard and heavy outside and I suddenly miss Ryder and Nate. I wish they were here with me right now. I open my phone and
text Ryder.

M:
I wish u were here x

R:
Is everything ok?

M:
Turns out my parents knew Sandy’s parents. It was a very emotional reunion.

R:
That’s good right?

M:
My brother hates me.

R:
What? Why? Want me to come punch him?

M:
I wish. I don’t know why.

R:
I can come home from work?

M:
No, it’s ok. I am just overwhelmed. I am going home soon.

R:
I will see you tonight, ok?

M:
Ok. I love you GI Joe.

R:
Hate that. Love you.

M
:


I sit another hour listening to Sarah talking about her boyfriend and how I just have to meet him. When my
Mother begins clearing up, I stand and help her. With a huff, Sarah follows. When we are in the kitchen, I decide it is a good time to ask the question that has been bugging me all afternoon.

“Mom?”
I ask.

“Yes A
ngel.”

“Why does Mark hate me?”

She drops the dish she was holding and turns.

“He doesn’t hate you…”

“He asked me why I don’t feel it, what is he talking about? Please don’t lie to me.”

“Oh silly, Mark is your twin!” Sarah cries, rolling her eyes.

I feel the blood drain from my face. I hear my Mother tell Sarah off and to leave the room. She grips my arms, but I am numb. Twin? Mark is my twin?

“I wanted to tell you, but he never dealt with it well and…I thought it was something he should explain.”

“Twin?” I whisper.

“Yes, I am so sorry.”

“All his life, he has known about me, known I am his twin and known he was the child that didn’t get taken.”

“We never treated him badly, we loved him but…we suffered for so long when they took you, I guess Mark missed out.”

“What is my real name?” I whisper.

“Pardon?”

“What did you name me?”

She sucks in a breath.

“We didn’t for a long time, but we finally got around to filling out the papers and called you…”

“Heaven,
”

She nods and tears tumble down her cheeks.

“I need a moment.”

I turn and rush out of the
house; Mark is just coming down the stairs and his eyes narrow when he sees me.

“I did feel it,” I yell at him,
“I just didn’t know what it was.”