Chapter 10

Chloe

The room is engulfed in silence after Lillian's question. I grab onto Chris's hand as he shakes in anger. Beca remains frozen, just staring at her mom. I can see tears forming in her eyes, confirming her answer. Suddenly, Beca just starts laughing hysterically. Tears stream down her face and I expect her to start bawling but instead she just smiles sadly at Lillian.

"I have lived in the same place for 7 years,"Beca starts and I'm not sure where she's going with this. "I knew all the neighbors, even hung out with them. I didn't work and instead did all the stuff around the house. But still, I had friends. 7 years and nobody noticed. I've been here what, a week and you already guessed the secret that I've been hiding all this time."

"I'm so sorry,"Lillian says, her voice cracking. "I should've been there for you. I..I don't even know what to say."

"Jesse has been abusing you this whole time?"Chris yells and Beca flinches a little. Chris notices and quiets down.

"Can you start from the beginning?"I ask her, trying not to let my anger at Jesse show. "What all did he do to you and when did it start?"

"Yeah,"Beca says and I can see how hard this is for her. I know how hard it was for me to open up to Lillian and Chris about my father. Maybe I'll tell Beca about that someday.

"It was a couple of months after I left and real life was harder than we both thought. Jesse was struggling to do law school and have a job. I had a pretty good job at a daycare. It wasn't a lot of money but I didn't care. I loved it. Jesse wasn't happy that I was having an easier time than he was and a side of him starting showing. A side I knew he had but I just didn't want to admit it. It started small. A few bruises from him clamping down too hard. A bruised or broken toe from where he had 'accidently' stepped on it. Making me pull away from you guys and anybody I called a friend. Then, we got married. I kept my last name because I didn't want him to take that away from me. He wasn't very happy about it but let it go. Our wedding night was supposed to be perfect. Instead, it ended up with me in a hospital and Jesse telling everybody that I had gotten tispy and fell down the stairs. They had no reason to doubt him. Especially, since I was too drugged to set the story straight. It was our wedding night and to them, we were just a reckless, newlywed couple. It wouldn't have mattered if I told them what really happened anyway. I had no memory of what occured after we arrived back home. I just remember us fighting and then nothing." Beca stops talking for a minute and just stares at her hands. More specifically, her left hand where I can see a ring indentation.

"What happened after that?"I ask softly. Beca looks up at me, misery and torment raging in her eyes.

"We left the hospital and he apologized. I was so in love with him that I forgave him and we went on with our lives. Things weren't the same though. Anything that I did or said could set him off. It was like walking on eggshells. He made me quit my job for fear that I would tell somebody. Since I had nothing to do around the house, he made me do his school work. I-"

"Wait,"Chris interrupts. "You had to do his law school work? So technically, you could be a lawyer."

"I guess,"Beca shrugs. "I would have to do the courses myself since you have to have a degree, but I know everything. I'm not a big fan of lawyers though so I don't think I want to do that. Why?"

"It's just, you never did your homework in high school so I was just surprised." Beca laughs, a genuine laugh that brings a smile to my face.

"Oh, I did my homework. I just never turned it in. I also got paid to do other people's homework. How did you think I was I able to buy all that stuff?"

"We thought you were stealing,"Lillian says and I can tell that she's also glad that Beca is laughing and smiling.

"Well, there was some of that too," Beca states with a wink in my direction. My heart flutters and I find it hard to look away.

"So what are you doing now?"Lillian asks her. "Have you found a job?"

"Not yet. I got some applications but most of the people hate me for leaving you guys. Which is okay because I understand why, but I have responsibilities and I need a job, just like everybody else. A few of them were nice to me though so I should have a job soon."

"You should go to college and find something to major in." Beca laughs at Lillian's statement.

"I don't even have my high school diploma, mom." Beca looks surprised at how shocked we are. "Did you think that I went to back to high school? There was no way that I could've done that."

"Sorry, I didn't think about that."

"It's okay. I used to be upset about it but I learned to deal with it. Too many other things to do."

"Have you thought about trying to get it now? I'm sure that there's some kind of way you can do that." Chris offers but Beca just gazes at him sadly.

"No, first I need to get a job and get my own place. Then, I'll think about doing that."

"Why don't you stay here?"Lillian asks and I swear, Beca stops breathing. "I mean, you don't have too but maybe your dad could help you get your diploma and move on to college. You could also find some work close to the house."

"I-I don't want to be a burden a-and it wouldn't feel right,"Beca stutters, making me frown. It's obvious she's hiding something.

"It would be perfectly fine,"Chris booms excitedly. "I would love to help you finish school and it would be great having you around again." Beca gets up fast, her chair scraping against the ground.

"I'm sorry. I-I can't."

"Why?"Lillian asks, hope fading from her voice. "We just want to get to know you again. If you don't want to come live here, than that's fine. Just at least let us know what's going on." Beca hangs her head.

"I don't want you to hate me or be ashamed of me. I love her so much but I don't know if you guys will."

"Who? Stacie?"Chris asks and my heart falls. "We know that you've dated girls before. That isn't a problem with us at all. If you really do love this girl, then we'll support you." Beca just stares at him for a second before laughing.

"You think I'm in love with Stacie? Oh this is hilarious. I'll have to tell her." Beca is doubled over, laughing before standing up and grabbing a photo out of her pocket. "I should've been clearer. I'm talking about Emily. My daughter."