Thank you for all the follows. This chapter explains the extremes some religions go, to hurt and divide our families. It could be triggering, so just to be on the safe side. Please read and review!
Chapter 7
Regina had been hurt by Emma's disappearance, shortly after their graduation. She wanted to know why? Why she stayed away and how she could stay away, without a call or a letter? What had she done to Emma for her to treat her that way? Regina felt she deserved at least a good-bye.
When Regina called Emma's dorm and her roommate told her she moved out, she called Emma's parents. Emma's mother was anything but helpful. They told her; "She was no longer their problem and if Regina had any sense she would stay away from Emma."
Regina was horrified by what Emma's parents had said. She was panic stricken and went straight to Ingrid in hysterics. An hour later, Ingrid was able to get the story from Regina and immediately called her sister.
Ingrid recieved the same answer as Regina, but she continued to question her sister about Emma's further where abouts further.
"Where is my niece?" Ingrid rose her voice.
"I assume she's back at school, but I don't know or care." Cindy stated coldly.
"Why are you acting this way? Did you two have a fight?"
"No, your niece has decided to take the path of Satan!" She spat out, "and I told her that she was no longer a member of this family."
"What? Are you feeling ok, Cindy?" Ingrid asked, thinking her sister was sick, combined the wrong medications, or was out of her mind. She was not making any sense at all.
"Don't you act like I'm crazy. I'm not and I did not raise her to be like that."
"Cindy, what did she do?" Ingrid asked, tiring of the dramatics.
"She's a GAY! She is dating a woman! I won't have that in my family. I have two other kids..."
Ingrid didn't hear or want to hear the rest of her sister's rant. She felt like someone had kicked her in the stomach. The air was completely sucked out of her and she wanted to throw up. She never thought, or maybe hoped that Emma wouldn't be gay. Ingrid knew how her sister felt about homosexuals.
When Ingrid and Cindy were girls, their parents were members of a very strict Evangelical church. Every Sunday they sat in those wooden pews listening to a man, who only God spoke to, preach. He would preach about how the man was the master of the house and the woman was to serve him. He said woman were the godly property of the man.
The preacher would preach about gayness and how, "homosexuals," were afflicted with the disease of the devil. One Sunday, the entire congregation had to take an, "Oath of Love" The oath stated that if they ever came in contact with a gay, they were to turn there back to them. They were not to have any further contact or relations with that person whether friend or family member. The reason behind the oath was the evil would creep into the believers soul and damn them both to hell.
Ingrid couldn't believe this was happening. She knew Cindy was a big believer in the church when they were younger, but Emma was her own child. Her first born child, the most gentle, loving, who never argued, and always wanted to please everyone in her life. How could anyone do this to their baby?
Ingrid was struck with terror. She was worried at how all this was affecting Emma and how she was coping. She knew how sensitive Emma is and with the disappointment of her mother, Ingrid hoped she would not do anything dangerous. She placed the phone back on the cradle and turned to Regina.
"We'll find her, ok?"
Ingrid and Regina spent the next few years looking for Emma. They called the school, but were given excuses about how they could not give out personal information. They tried internet searches, hired a lousy P.I. and came up empty. It was as if Emma fell off the face of the planet. Ingrid decided to just give Emma time and eventually she would come back.
Regina stayed quiet a few minutes while she worked up the nerve to ask Emma the questions she had.
"Emma, where did you go?"
Emma looked at Regina and smiled, "I just went to get some breakfast."
"Emma, I'm being serious."
Emma took a deep breath and knew it was time to answer about her where abouts.
"Well, after I went back to school, I found out that my parents weren't kidding about wanting nothing to do with me. They cut off all funding, so I lost my dorm and any financial help with school. I got a couple of jobs and moved from one roach infested room to another. I applied for financial aid, but was denied because my parents made to much. So, I continued to work and then moved into a little studio above a Thai restaurant."
"We tried to find you, but would run into a roadblock and be right back at square one. Ingrid was sure you would just show up, but you never did." Regina finshed softly.
Emma folded her arms and stared out the window letting herself go back into the past.
"After I made it through college with scholarships and loans, I started to keep in touch with August, only because he tract me down in New York. He said he missed me and was tired of all the rules my parents placed on the relationship. He also told me he would never tell my parents that he was speaking to me."
Emma felt Regina's hand on her shoulder. Emma let herself feel the warmth and weight of her friends hand, before pulling away to continue. She needed space to be able to feel that part of her life that she locked away.
"August, told me about Ingrid's fall and that she tried to find me, but my parents. I almost came back on several occasions, but every time I started to book plane tickets, I couldn't." Emma looked at Regina waiting to see the judgment in her eyes.
She did not see judgment, but instead warmth and patience. Emma could tell Regina wanted to understand, begged for more explanation, but no, Emma wanted to leave the past and move on.
"Emma I have missed you, worried, and wandered about you so often that I still can't believe you are here. I am terrified of leaving you, because I don't know if you will disappear." Regina said, hating the amount of vunerability in her voice and waver in her body.
Emma felt horrible, she never thought about how her staying away would hurt people. She assumed no one would want anything to do with her and she was just protecting them. Emma could see how badly her actions hurt Regina and it was killing her.
"I am really sorry that I stayed away far so long and I promise I will not do anything like that again."
The emotions in Reginas' eyes broke Emma's heart. She couldn't keep the distance between them and needed to hold Regina. Emma reached for her and Regina fell against her. The dam broke for both women.
The front door opened and Killian came in carrying a new electrical panel box and parts for it. He could sense there was an emotional upheaval taking place. He was a joker and felt the need to lighten the mood.
"Ladies, there is no need to cry, Killian is back!" He said running over for a group hug.
"Nice try Killian." Regina said pushing out of the embrace. She dried her tears and gave Killian a glare.
"What? You can't blame a guy for trying, love." He smirked. "I think Emma might have been down."
"With kicking your ass, sure!" Emma said playfully.
Regina looked at her watch and realized it was getting late. Her Granny was expecting them at 6:30 and she did not like company being late. She helped get the materials down in the basement and tossed Killian her keys.
"I'm gonna ride in with Emma, will you take the truck?"
"Sure, I love driving the beast." He said heading out the front door.
Regina helped Emma get her laundry and the bottles of wine down to the car. They were both emotionally tired and hyper aware of each other. The drive was very peaceful, with the windows down and the hillsides changing from winter brown to spring green.
