The Family (29 page)

They pulled up to Gran’s house.

“I can get that, Daniel,” Twig said as Daniel reached for her suitcase in the backseat.

Then they both smelled it at the same time.

Smoke.

39

Without a word, Twig and Daniel started to run.

The suitcase bobbed heavily on Twig’s thigh. She didn’t even think to drop it.

As they came through the clearing, it took her a moment to make sense out of what was happening. Both the house and the studio were in tact, but the smell of smoke was thick and strong.

Daniel realized what had happened first.

“
Ay dios mío
,” Daniel muttered sadly.

A split second later, Twig understood.

Her artwork. It was burning in a big pile outside of the studio. She put her hands to her mouth and gasped.

Adam.

He came out of the studio and dropped another canvas on the pile before he noticed her. Gran was following him. Her eyes were rimmed with red; she was crying. Her arms were crossed protectively over her body. They were arguing, and it was escalating. Twig put her hand out to stop Daniel. She wanted to hear what they were saying.

“We had a deal. You do not interfere. You were to have no contact with my people,” Adam seethed.

“Your people?” Gran muttered, incredulous. “I told you, you could come live on my land with your family. With your wife and my granddaughter.”

“And you have just been hanging in the shadows ever since, hoping that someday I would forgive you.”

“Of course I have always hoped that, Adam,” Gran said. Twig gasped. What did this mean? How did they know each other? Her granddaughter? That would mean…

“Well, it is never going to happen,” Adam said, his voice steely. “You sealed the fate of our relationship when you decided to marry my prince of a stepfather, may he rest in peace.”

“After all these years, Adam? Can’t you let go of the hatred? I was a different person then. I was wrong, I’ve apologized, I—”

“I was just a boy. It was your responsibility to protect me.”

Gran walked closer to Adam, sensing some sort of opportunity. “I am so sorry, my dear, dear, Adam. Can you forgive me?” Adam stared at her for a moment in response. As if for just one moment, he was considering what she was asking of him.

Twig watched them. Why hadn’t she seen it before? Their eyes. Those big, black eyes.

He was her son.

Twig watched Adam swallow hard, his throat moving up and down with the force of it. Whatever opportunity had opened, even for just a moment, was now shut again. “You’re going to need to leave.”

“Leave?” Gran laughed. “This is my land. You can’t tell me to leave. I came here for peace. To live out my days. I’m not leaving, dear.”

“No. You will leave. You’ll see. I’ll make your life a living hell until you—” He stopped. He had noticed her. Twig took a step backwards. She bumped into Daniel.

“You’re back,” Adam said coolly.

“Adam,” she answered, confused. She was trying to make sense of seeing him here with Gran. She was trying to make sense of what she’d just heard.

“Oh, honey,” Gran said, holding her arms out to Twig. Twig paused, just staring at Gran in response.

“What’s happened?” Twig asked. She was beginning to shake. She felt disoriented.

“I’ll tell you what’s happened, Twig.” Adam’s voice resounded with anger. “You betrayed me.”

What does he know? Does he know about Leo? Did Gran tell him? Did she set her up?

“Daniel, you had better go home,” Gran said.

“I can’t leave her like—”

“GO!” Adam thundered at Daniel.

Twig flinched at Adam’s tone, wanting to protect Daniel. She shot Daniel a look of apology. Daniel looked at her, waiting to go until she said it was okay. Adam seemed in such a state that she worried for Daniel’s safety. Twig nodded softly. Daniel walked away slowly, his posture heavy with hesitation and worry.

“Twig, get over here.” Adam motioned to the pile of burning canvas. The smoke was starting to sting her eyes.

Twig looked at Gran.

“Don’t look to her for help,” Adam ordered.

“You two know each other?” Twig asked, needing to hear it from one of them.

“We do!” Adam said jovially, feigning lightness. “Why don’t you tell Twig how we
know each other
?”

“Take it easy, Adam,” Gran said quietly.

“I’ve
been
taking it easy, and look what’s happened here,” Adam shouted.

“What exactly has happened?” Gran asked, anger brimming in her voice. “You have decided you are God? That you can do whatever you want? Including marrying underage young women? Listen to me, Adam. You need a reality check.”

Adam rushed toward Gran, pointing his finger at her like a gun. Twig ran between them, instinctually wanting to protect Gran.

“How dare you tell me what I need? Here’s your reality check. We had an agreement,
Clare
, and you’ve broken it. Any hopes you had of having a relationship with your granddaughter just vanished.”

“You’re his mother,” Twig confirmed quietly.

“I’m his mother,” Gran said more to Adam than to Twig.

“Did you tell him I was away?” Twig asked, feeling more and more disoriented.

“No, no. Of course not.”

“Then how?”

“
How
?” Adam asked cruelly. “I came back from my trip and wanted to see you. I wanted to see my fiancé.”

Twig couldn’t help but cringe.

“Imagine my surprise when I went to your cottage and you weren’t under the weather like everyone seemed to think you were. Quite the vulnerable position you left you mother in.”

“Mom.”

“Yes, your
mom
. You need to realize that you are part of a Family and that your actions affect everyone in it.”

“Adam, she’s a child,” Gran objected.

“And as we have established, you know a lot about what’s good for children, right Clare?”

“Adam, please. We can work out what’s between us—”

“Like I said, it’s a little late for that.” Adam grabbed Twig by the hand and pulled her along roughly. “Come on, Twig. We are going home.”

“Tell me where my mom is,” Twig said, planting her feet firmly where she stood.

“The more you resist, the worse it’s going to get for the people you love,” he said, ignoring her question. “Now come on, you can change when we get back. You look like a whore.”

“Jesus,” Twig heard Gran say quietly.

“Your clothes,” Twig started to say.

Gran waved her hand, indicating she didn’t care about them.

“Does my mom know who you are?” Twig asked Gran, looking over her shoulder as she began to follow Adam.

Gran simply nodded, her arms still crossed, shaking her head bitterly. “If I had ever thought—I’ll call the local authorities, Adam. You are out of control.”

“Call them,” Adam called back over his shoulder. “Be my guest.”

Twig looked back at Gran as Adam pulled her along. She remembered Gran saying there were two sides to every story. That being a mother—being a woman—was a complicated thing. She hoped one day she would have a chance to hear Gran’s story.

Gran started to say something but thought better of it. She put her hand to her heart and looked pleadingly at Twig. Twig nodded and put her own hand on her heart.

Twig turned and stumbled after Adam as he dragged her toward the road. She didn’t feel like she had any other choice. A thought flickered through her mind as she glanced back at the pile of ash that was once her work.

The painting in back of the studio. The one she’d hidden before she knew the truth of her life before the Family.

He probably hadn’t gotten that.

And he hadn’t gotten the gifts she had given the Cohen family.

It wasn’t much, but it was a small piece of resistance.

40

The van was somewhat hidden.

Twig could see why she and Daniel hadn’t seen it when they’d pulled up.

They weren’t meant to.

“When the time comes, you will account for every minute of your absence,” Adam spit at Twig, dragging her toward the van.

Twig didn’t respond. She saw that Thomas and Doc were both waiting in the van. Thomas looked horrible. His eyes were dark with fear.

“What’s going on here?” Twig looked at Adam. “Thomas, what’s wrong?”

“Did I tell you it was okay to speak? Get in,” Adam ordered.

Doc sat in the driver’s seat. Twig stepped into the back of the van and sat beside Thomas, who seemed to be trembling. Twig looked at Adam.

“Whatever’s going on, Thomas had nothing to do with my absence.” Twig tried to keep her voice calm.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Adam said grimly. “I’d say he’s been plenty complicit.”

Twig began to protest again, but Adam held up his hand to stop her.

“See that blindfold beside you? You’re going to use it on Thomas. Tie it really tight. Make sure he can’t see anything.”

“Adam, please,” Twig started to plead. “Please, I am sorry. Thomas did nothing. I will make it up to you. I—”

“Tie it. Now!” he barked.

Twig looked at Thomas. “You’d better do it, Twig,” he whispered. “I don’t want them doing anything to Rose.”

“What are you going to do?” Twig asked while she tied the blindfold around Thomas’ head. She was so scared she was shaking. Her mother. What had he done to Avery?

“Twig,” Adam held up a hand, his voice suddenly gentle. “Don’t be afraid. Yes, I am angry. You have betrayed me, but I am still your Adam. We are going to go work this out, just the four of us.” Adam came into the van. “I want both of you blindfolded. It pains me that you both have seen more sin than you ever should have. That is my fault. I should never have sent either of you into town.” Adam smiled that fake, angry smile of his, the one he had used with the doctor at the hospital.

He blindfolded Twig and then sat between the two of them. He held Twig’s hand, caressing her and running his fingers up and down her arm. “My beautiful bride,” he whispered. “We’re going to work this out, my children,” he soothed.

“Please, Father. Please just tell me where my mother is.”

“You’re really worried about her, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Father,” Twig said, trying to sound humble.

“She’s at your cottage, waiting for your return.” Twig wanted to ask more, but Adam’s voice sounded final. She knew she would be pushing it to ask more. Twig wondered what he was up to now. He had been furious at Gran’s. Now he was trying to hide that fury, but Twig could feel it in his touch, hear it in his voice.

How stupid she had been. How stupid to think she could have gotten away with the trip. Gotten away with her time with Leo. She’d even gone as far as picturing herself and her mother having a completely different life. She had let herself hope.

Twig searched her mind for some way to stop this. Some lie about where she was. She came up empty. She was so terrified she couldn’t even think straight. She wondered if she could seduce him in some way, charm her way out of this.

She heard Adam laugh. “Just stop it, Twig. I feel your little brain working. You really underestimate me. Don’t even waste your time.”

It was exactly what Avery had warned her not to do: underestimate him.

Adam addressed Doc. “Drive.” Doc started the engine and shoved the gears into drive.

Doc. She went away on his watch, and in doing so, had made a fool of him. Twig knew he would never forget that.

Twig sat quietly while they drove. Hoping that if she was silent, Adam would stop. Maybe he just wanted to scare her. They drove for a while. Twig tried to count seconds in her mind, tracking the minutes. Suddenly she heard rocks and branches crunch beneath the van’s tires. She made a note to herself. They had pulled off of the main road.

“This is it,” Doc said simply, cutting the engine. How Twig hated him. From the sound of his voice, he seemed to be enjoying this.

“Come on, my dear ones.” Adam took off their blindfolds and led them out of the van. They were in the middle of the rainforest. The foliage was so thick that they were surrounded in darkness. Twig heard the eerie sound of howler monkeys in the trees above them.

“Let’s start with a hug.”

The four of them embraced awkwardly, obediently.

“Twig, can you admit your sins and ask for my forgiveness?”

Twig looked at him. She was skeptical. Was he really going to forgive her after all this?

“Of course,” she answered. “Father, I have sinned. I am a sinner. I have been corrupted by the evil of the outside world, but I come to you now for forgiveness. I come to you to wash away my sins.”

“You know you are dirty now.”

“Yes.”

“Say it.” Some of the edge he seemed to be trying to hide came out in Adam’s voice.

“I am dirty,” Twig said through gritted teeth.

“Good. Yes. You are.”

“Thomas.”

Thomas fell to his knees at Adam’s feet. He was weeping. “Forgive me, Father. I should have been more careful. Smarter. I was lazy. I was so, so very wrong. I am full of sin. I am nothing without you. Please, Father. Find it in your heart to have mercy on me. I am so, so sorry.” Thomas sobbed, grabbing Adam’s knees.

How Twig wished she could stop this.

“It’s okay.” Adam picked Thomas up and embraced him. “It is okay, my dear, dear son. I forgive you. Twig, come here.” Twig approached them. “Both of you kneel. I will wash your sins away. I will wash you and make you as clean as the day you were born.” He laid his hands on the tops of their heads. “I grant you forgiveness. You are washed clean of sin and evil. You have strayed, but I have brought you back. Now, Thomas, remove your clothing.”

Twig and Thomas looked up in surprise. “I’m sorry, Father?” Thomas looked at Adam as if he hadn’t heard him correctly.

“Remove your clothes. Twig seems to like clothes. Hand them to her.”

Thomas began to unbutton his shirt.

Twig looked to Adam. What was he doing?

When Thomas had stripped down to his underwear, he folded his clothes into a rough pile and handed them to Twig. Twig accepted them, her eyes desperate to convey to him how sorry she was for causing him this humiliation.