CAPTER 1
Our New Beginning
“He doesn’t want us you know.” Nicius whispered from his window seat.
“Don’t be stupid” I snapped. I didn’t mean to really but ever since the plane took off he had been voicing my worst fears.
What if he didn't? Would he keep his promise? He would meet us at the airport right? He wouldn’t abandon us. . . would he? All these question spun in my head leaving me dizzy.
“Do you think he’s going to be there?” Nic turned his puppy dog eyes on me. “He never has before.”
He had no idea how true that was. Dad had never been there for either of us.
Well, he had for me when I was still a kid, but never after I turned nine. Once he eloped with his nurse and current wife that had been it. He had left us without a second thought, and as far as Nic and I knew he never looked back. That had been eight years ago.
If I had to face rejection I would have rather faced it alone. I've never been good under pressure either and when people were counting on me, well, that just made everything so much worse. It was like the universe was determined I fail and those who believed in me go down because of their faith... That's the reason I was sitting here on this non-stop plane to Texas with my little brother in tow. Because I had failed and he had believed I could get us out safely. That was okay though; I preferred him being with me than the woman who called herself our mother.
“Trista doesn’t want us there.” he said solemnly, his big grey eyes were still peering up at me. I knew that he wanted me to lie to him. He wanted me to tell him our step mother adored us and wanted us to come stay with them but I couldn’t lie to him. Our situation was the exact opposite.
The woman hated us. She didn’t like Nic because he was a boy and her husbands' only son. She hated me for being his first child, a constant reminder of his first marriage and what they both had done. I remembered it all.
“She’ll get over it.” I lied, at the same time wrapping my arm around Nicius. He leaned his head on my shoulder again letting me stroke his black curls. Something he hadn’t let me do a lot lately. He was scared. “You should sleep, we both should.” I insisted. We both needed to sleep, neither of us had been able to fall asleep last night in the airport terminal mom had left us in. Our plane tickets had been for 6 o’clock this morning. We were both excited but just for different reasons.
Nic press the call button because I knew he loved to do it while I asked for two pillows and blankets. Nic was asleep instantly, leaning his pillow on my shoulder. It was harder for me.
Other thoughts spun in my head. Like the fact that nothing would be the same anymore. I could feel that deep in my bones. I was happy to leave my old life. I was more than happy to leave Steve. Thrilled I wouldn’t have to feel his fist on my skin anymore. Happy to leave our small three bedroom house in Nebraska. I was happy with and better off without those things.
Now mom could be happy with Steve; he loved, like everyone seemed too. He just didn’t like Nicius and me. The feeling was mutual. I wasn’t worried about Mom, Steve would make her happy.
He had always been able to do that better than Nic and I could ever hope to. It was Nic I was worried about. He was only eight and our mother had just dumped us like hot potatoes for a donkey when he was two years old. Not to mention, Nic had been abused by Steve as much as I if not more in his own way.
I shuddered, drawing the blanket closer around me. My fingers picked at the stitches on my neck.
Never again would another person hurt Nic. Ever. I vowed this one thing to myself. No one would hurt him the way they had. No one would hurt him the way I had. With that promise heavy on my heart I finally drifted.
A flight attendant woke us. She was nice enough waking us with a smile and warm southern voice. While I was instantly alert looking about the plane, Nic was slow to wake and “muddled brain” as I called him. He grumbled to himself as I handed him his carry-on before grabbing mine. We were guided off the plane by the same attendant who woke us.
“Good luck.” she told us before flouncing off.
“She must be reading my thoughts?” I mumbled, guiding Nic to pick up our luggage. Good Luck indeed we would need it.
The only thing I would remember about Hobby Airport, was its crowd. Other than that, the airport was unbearably cold. Close enough in temperature to rival the winters back home.
“It’s freezing in here.” Nic at my side chattered as we waited for our luggage. I threw my sweatshirt at him which he snatched gratefully. He shrugged into it looking like a little beggar child when he was done. Thee sweat shirt was several sizes to big; even for me it could have been a short dress. On Nic it was huge, he had to roll the sleeves several times before he could grab his bags.
“Is Dad picking us up here?”
“He was suppose to meet us at the gate.” that’s what Mom had said at least.
Nic looked about nervously while I grabbed the last bag. We’d come with four pieces of luggage between us the rest Mom said she’d send when we were settled, we would never see that stuff again. The more important stuff we had sent ahead.
“I don’t see him.” Nic complained his grey eyes scan the crowd.
I scan the horizon too. The crowded terminal gave no sign of him “I don’t see him either”
Nic looked about to panic.
“Don’t worry; its just the traffic here, see” I looked around the airport, Nic followed my gaze, his eyes growing big at the sight of all the people buzzing around him. “See how crowded it is in here, he’ll be here.”
It didn’t sound convincing even to my own ears. But Nicius nodded he still fidgeted at my side next to our luggage where we stood close to the terminal. His eyes scan the crowd for Dad, though I’m quiet sure he hadn’t seen dad except in old photos I had of him.
Snap Crackle and Pop, I thought, Nic hadn’t even been born when Dad walked out on us. This would be the first time he ever met our father. I sent a prayer that our father showed up. If he didn't I had three thousand in my pack; a gift from Ashton and some of it I had saved from work. We would stay up in a motel, I could work until I had the money for a car and some saved up. Nic could even go to school. . .
"But they don't let you check into those things till your eighteen" a minor set back. I brushed that thought to the back of my head. I would cross that bridge when it came.
If Dad didn't show, we would make our own way. We were free and that's all that mattered. There was no way we were going back north to Mom and Steve. A sharp prod in my ribs pulled me out of my reverie. I looked down at Nic who was nudging me hurriedly; I caught his hand before he could bruise me again.
"What?"
"That man is looking at us" Nic pointed across the near empty terminal, indeed there was a man looking at us. He stood off the wall, in gray slacks and white shirt tucked in nice, his hands in his pockets. He was to far away to see his facial features.
"Is it Dad?" Nic asked anxious "He's coming over, he's coming over!" the squirt nearly jump out his seat. "see it's Dad! that’s Dad!" he yelled, I had to shush him but he still looked like a bobble head at shaking in his chair.
Craning my neck, I got a look at the stranger in question. Indeed, he was coming over. Oh Damn.
The closer he got the more I could make out his features; they were keen and sharp, set grim from what I could see from my perch. "he doesn't want us." I thought in dismay when he stopped about a foot from us his grey eyes were stern but not unkind.
"Are you Autumn and Nicius?" he turn to both of us in term putting name with face, staying on me the longest.
I simply nodded, Nic was frozen. This was the man who left mom, he was the one who sent Christmas and birthday cards in the same package at the beginning of every school year, I could imagine the thoughts running through Nic's head because I was thinking them too.
I stood hoping to give Nic a moment. "You're our dad?" didn't hurt to check.
"That's what Alison told me," our dad said grimly, but for a moment he smiled and his eyes held humor. Then smile left quickly but the humor remain. He must not have been sure what to make of us, the feeling was indeed mutual.
Without any warning or preparation, on our parts, Nic jump up throwing himself at Dad. It seem everyone froze, the near empty terminal seem to tense; I know I did out of fear for my brother if Dad rejected us he would try not to act like it didn't matter but we both knew the rejection of both parents would cut him deep. For all his bravery he was only eight. As for Dad his grey eyes were shocked and a little scared, he was scared by Nic's reaction, so I thought till his grim set mouth turn up. His laugh caught me more off guard than anything. It boomed with delight. Putting his arm around Nic he said "Defiantly Alison's child." He saw me watching over the top of Nic's head and added "Both of you."
I nodded but frown and had to look away. We were Alison's children. We looked like our mom but we were his too. This was something he apparently didn't get yet.
"Come on, it's an hour drive home and we really need to beat the traffic" He grimaced "wouldn't want to traumatize you you're first time in rush hour" I was puzzled.
I had been in traffic before, cars were slow and piled up but we eventually got to our destination if a little late. What was so terrible about a little traffic?
He had let go of Nic's shoulder's but still held his hand. Nic was ecstatic, while I retrieved a luggage cart and pack our things on it. Silently, I thanked God, Dad seem to want us or a least wanted to get to know us. Following them out the crowded airport into he hectic dark damp garage where his Lexus waited.
Nic's eyes bulged to saucer proportions as we loaded up. As for me, I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped cracking when it hit the cemented ground. By Dad's chuckles I knew we both looked ridiculous. Shaking back to myself I finish up loading our luggage and climbed in shot gun.
Houston was huge. I know it won't mean much. Since I never left our small of Strange town, Nebraska since I was nine. With its small population of two-thousand residence. Strange wasn't anything compared to this. So, Houston was huge, freeways with in all directions with enough turns to make you dizzy. In Strange there was one freeway that circle the whole town and not near as many stores, the main hangout was the gas station or if we were really in a celebratory mood; the movies. We had a small quaint one nothing as grand as the ones we kept passing. This was madness never had I seen so many stores.
The sun was shinning bright it reflected off Dad's black paint with a brilliance to make me squint. What I saw had me cringing in horror. Cars swerved past us so many car. I'd never seen- Cars, SUVs and trucks; in different colors ; blue red white and black. I was bewildered to see a pink truck race past us only to hop back in front of us into an impossibly small opening.
Dad swore, slamming his breaks to avoid the collision. As a result we received angry honks behind and in front of us. Nic who was seated in the back slam into the back of my seat so hard my head jerk with the impact.
"put on your seat belt!" I yelled behind me.
"Nic you ok?" Both of them were clearly upset. Dad looked in the rearview mirror at Nic who nodded, as he fasten his seat belt.
"Do they always drive like this?" he asked looking out his window.
"Like bats out of hell?" he asked, his grin back "I'm afraid so, I suppose that doesn't happen very happen in Strange town."
"Never, we mostly ride bikes. Only the rich kids had good cars" Nic explained
"you had a car?" his question was directed at me.
I shook my head "Mom did, but she only let me drive on errands that I would need it." I didn't tell him that when Steve moved in I used the car even less. Steve was lazy and made us pay for it. He could drive to the bar but I had to walk to work to work on swollen feet to pay for a car that I never use.
I had my license but I never use it. It sat in my wallet collecting dust.
"We'll have to get you a car then. you can't ride around here on a bike." he laugh "we'll find you a car, one good on gas" he winked I just stared at him. "Have I grown two heads?" he teased
"Kinda." I said turning to look out my window a again.
Gratefully, Dad didn't ask me to explain. He wouldn't like the answer.
I listened as he asked Nic questions about how he was. Anyone could tell that he was pleased. As I watch, we left Houston city limits. We passed Missouri City. We made in to Rosharon within the next hour.
Looking out the window watching the outside; slowly the stores became less, there weren't as many houses and they were spread apart. I watched the urbanization desterilize and watched as pastures, cattle, and country took its place. This was something I knew.
"Are we close?" Nic whined in an "are we there yet" voice I had never heard from him.
"In the next ten minutes you should see the house."
After the first three minutes he ask. "What does it look like?"
"Large white stone and wood house; with a wrap around porch. . . " He went into a full description off his house he'd had it built when he marry Trista.
"I see it!" Nic jumped up excited "I see it!"
I felt Dad beside me grin. I was scanning out the window looking for what Nic was seeing. It didn't take long; I know my mouth was open again. Dad was chuckling but I couldn't help it nor did I care. His house was amazing.
A three story, from the look built with white stone and a wood porch that disappear around the bend. . . . so many windows. It was gorgeous.
"that’s your house?" He turned into a subdivision called Sun Creek.
"Yep, yours too as long as you'll stay."
I couldn't help it , that was so surprising I had to look at him. He was sincere; you couldn't fake that. Quickly, I turn away before he changed his mind. "thank you."
We turn off on the street Horseshoe lane. We were further from the main road than I'd thought. We could see it but the cars looked like dots flying by. Something wasn't right, I waited for him to pass by all the cars that were blocking a house, but when he turned into the driveway.
"Dad-" horror climbed. "Who are all those cars?"
"Friends, they wanted to come and meet you two," he was very pleased and cheerful.
"A lot of people?" Nic asked from the back seat, I could feel him shooting worried glances into my already sweating back.
"Not many, just close friends and neighbors, we decided to just make a barbeque out of it, as a welcome."
"Dad, Autumn doesn't eat meat." Nic murmured
"Really, Alison said-" a troubled look passed over his face but was quickly gone.
"It's okay Dad, I'm not hungry." Just looking at all the cars and thinking about all the people waiting had my stomach churning and knotting up. I would never eat again.
"Well come on." He climbed out the car, Nic hurrying after him. I was last to climb out; outside the sounds of chatter and laughter filled the air. A shiver ran down my back. "You okay Lady bug?" a hand landed on my shoulder.
"Yeah," I lied ducking under his hand and grabbing my bag to get away from his touch. "I'm fine."
He led the way to the house, up the wooden steps onto the wide porch. His hand never touched the knob before the door swung open. There was a streak of blonde and a smack of two bodies colliding. Swiftly followed by the whoosh of air leaving the body. "Alli!" Dad wheezed clutching the figure to his torso.
"Are they here?" she jumped and jumped again.
"Yes," Dad turned the two of them toward our direction. "This is your sister Autumn, and your brother Nicius.
"Nicius?" Her nose crinkled. "Why is your name so funny?" asked the blonde pixie darling.
Uh oh, I winced snatching for Nic before his tongue got the better of him.
“Nicius sounds like. . . well it sounds weird.”
She turned to me. “isn’t Autumn a season? That's what my teacher said.” she looked between me and Nic “your mama named you funny."
and your mom’s a- "Alli!" Dad started but Nic cut him off
“no more then Alanna.” Nic grumbled beside me. I could already tell he didn’t care for our half sister. She hadn't grown on me yet either... she must take after her mother.
“What?” she stepped away from Dad’s side, her face indigent and huffy. She looked on the verge of a tantrum. I clamping my hand over Nic’s mouth “He means we seem to all live up to our names; Alanna means happy cheerful." I shifted my hand because Nic squirmed under it trying to get free. I held fast. “you certainly seem that way- don‘t you dare." I hissed angrily at Nic. Under my hand he had pucker his lips in the promise of a huge spit bomb in my palm.
He wiggled again and I released the little ungrateful bugger, pinching him once warningly to be quiet. He did as bid, for now.
“Everyone is waiting to meet you.” Alanna announced not as cheerful as before.
“So we’ve been told.” Nic rocked back on heels.
“I’m going to go tell them that you’re here-”
“Tell them I’m going to get them settled in before they come and meet everyone.” Dad interjected but the little blonde was already down the hall and into the house before Dad finished his sentence.
“Wow.” Nic watched his half sister skitter down the hall and disappear. I knew exactly how he felt. I knew of her, Diane had told me that she existed because Dad had thought it a concern when out living arrangements had come up. I had been told about Alanna Scotts but it was a whole different thing to see her in person. I agreed with Nic. Whoa.
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