Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Spencer's POV

I'm at the supermarket with my overbearing mother, Paula. We are supposed to be shopping for groceries for the barbeque we are having over at my brother Glen's house today.

I'm always exceedingly happy when it comes to the weekends because it's the only time I can relax and have fun with my family without Aiden breathing down my neck the entire time. When I say family I mainly mean my boys, Glen, and my brother's wife Madison. I could honestly care less what my mother, dad, husband, and little sister's family does on our weekly outings.

"Spencer, are you even listening to me?" My mother asks with an impatient cross of her arms.

"Of course Mother." I lie nervously, not even able to look her in her stony blue eyes.

She huffs and crosses her arms more tightly over her chest and gives me a condescending look. "Really now? What was I just talking about?"

My eyes widen and I swallow fearfully. "You were talking about Samantha." I guess while crossing my fingers behind my back. God forbid if I don't listen to every patronizing word that comes out of this woman's mouth.

Paula looks unimpressed. "Yes. What about your sister?" She asks and looks at me expectantly.

I sigh in defeat and shrug my shoulders hopelessly. "I don't know Mom."

The blonde stares at me and rolls her eyes. "No wonder Aiden has so many problems with you. You don't listen to a word that is said to you."

My eyes widen in anger, that woman always defends him. "What if I don't want to listen to him? I don't love him. I don't want him!" I cringe at my own words. Where did that come from? It's true but I never spoke it out loud, especially to my mother.

Before I could blink a hand collides with my face, snapping my head to the side. "How dare you speak that way to me. How dare you talk like that about your husband." She says in a deadly calm and low voice. She emphases the sentence with a hard jab to my chest.

I take a step away from her and rub my stinging cheek. "Mother, I-"

"No!" She hisses quietly, "You don't speak. After all your father and I did to find you a man like Aiden: handsome, successfully, strong; you go and say such horrible things about him. You should be ashamed… and lucky that I don't say anything to Aiden about this conversation."

"I am sorry Mother." I say quietly and dip my head with distress. She can't tell Aiden what I said. There is no telling what he would do if he found out.

"You should be." She snarls and continues down the empty aisle.

I have always been the less loved of my siblings. My brother is the oldest and was a popular jock in school, he also always had decent grades and friends that my parents approved of. Now he has a great job has an airplane pilot and has an awesome wife.

My sister Sammy is the same way; she had the perfect friends, was involved in just about every school club, she was a cheerleader, and again she had good grades. Now she is a big time lawyer with the perfect family. But unlike my big brother, she did all of this to stay in Mom and Dad's good graces and to soak up all the limelight.

It's not that I didn't do just as good- I was actually top of my class- it was just something about me that my parents, Paula in particular, detested about me. When I was in my early teens I would always catch her disgusted looks and displeased glares. I never knew why I was getting them; I just knew that something was wrong.

"Hey everybody!" My mom shouts happily as we walk into the house. Of course she leaves me to carry all of the bags.

As Paula gets greeted with hugs, I stumble into the door with my arms full. As I'm trying to make my way to the kitchen I trip over something, a shoe I think, and topple into Aiden. The force and unexpectedness of the clash sends us both dropping floor, me landing on my back and Aiden on his stomach beside me. I groan and cradle my arm I landed on. Not but four hours early had Aiden abrasively bruised it. When I was cooking breakfast this morning I failed to keep the twins quiet and away from our room when he was trying to sleep.

"Are you alright?" My brother cries and quickly scrambles over to us. When Glen reaches us he extents his hand down and gently lifts me to my feet.

Despite my protests Glen proceeds to look me over for any bumps or scrapes. "Glen, I'm fine. It's not like I've never had worst." I discreetly glance at my husband who is getting helped up by my father.

Suddenly there is a loud growl in my ear and I'm ripped from brother's grasp. "What the hell was that?" Aiden yells in my face then harshly shoves me back into a wall.

"I- I - I'm-" I stutter out. I chance a look behind him and into the faces of my parents. Mom's expression is one of mild approval and my father's is as blank as a piece of paper, the emotion in his eyes is an unfamiliar one. Almost like anger or maybe even...pity.

"Your what? Sorry? Well sorry doesn't cut it Spencer!" He yells in my face. I again chance a look behind his huge form and spot my sons hiding behind Madison's legs with tears running down their cheeks.

I look back at Aiden just as he raises his hand. I close my eyes and wait for the blow. When it doesn't come I open my eyes to come to face my brother's back.

"Aiden it was an accident. She didn't mean to. So how about we all go outside and start the grill? Cool?" Glen suggests with underlining anger laced in his voice. If you didn't know Glen you wouldn't recognize his tone as resentment or fury.

Aiden fires a glare over my brother's shoulder that clearly said 'This isn't over' then spun on his heel and marched out the backdoor and out onto the patio. Mom gave Glen and I a disapproving glance and followed the rest of the family out the door. The only ones left in the house were me, Glen, Madi, and the twins.

Glen slowly turns around and faces me, his eyes full of concern. "Are you okay Spencer?" He asks and tries to brush some of my blonde hair out of my face but I flinch and yank away from the consoling hand.

He gets a wretched look on his face but starts to back away to give me space.

Before he gets too far I grab his hand squeeze it tightly in mine. "I'm sorry. I'm fine. Really." I try to assure him. If it weren't for him Aiden would have hauled off and hit me.

He looks at me with dejected blue eyes and suddenly pulls me into a tight heartfelt hug. "Love you Spence." He whispers into my shoulder.

I close my eyes and hug him back just as tight. "I love you Glen...you too Madi." I say and look at the Latino woman watching us.

"Love ya too Spencer."

I pull away from my brother's arms and turn to my toddlers who are still hiding behind their aunt. I crouch down and open my arms to them. "Come give Mommy a hug." I say with a forced smile.

Scotty runs at me first and pulls me into a hug that could be considered a choke hold. I look up at Skylar and widen my arms for him. He looks up at me with sensitive baby blues that are filled with tears before launching himself at me in the same fashion as his brother.

I cradle them in my arms and slowly stand up and face my brother who had gone and joined his wife with a loving arm wrapped around her waist.

I can't help the tears threating to fall at the show of affection so I turn away and quickly walk out back and to the sand box that Glen had set up for all his nieces and nephews. Once I get settled on the ground with all the kids the boys quickly talk me into building a castle with them. In no time at all I have a child-like Glen lying on the ground at my side helping me and the rest of the kids make the world's highest palace.

I can't help but smile over at my big brother. When the kids are here he quickly goes from Glen the Serious Pilot to Glen the four- year- old.

If he's playing trucks with the boys he start making the vrooming noises and race around on his knees for hours on end. Or if he is playing Barbie's with the girls he'll sit on the floor and play dress up, tea party, or anything else the girls want. He really would make a great father but unfortunately it doesn't seem that Madison can carry a baby full term. It breaks their hearts every time she miscarries.

Glen, Madi, and I sit with the kids for a while until my sister walks over and stands over us and nudges me with her foot 'til I look up at her. "Spencer, Dad needs your help in the kitchen." She informs me while picking up Jamie, her daughter, and rejoining Aiden, her husband Richie, and Paula on the deck.

I take a deep breath and head back to the house brushing the sand off my pants as I went. I walk into the kitchen to find Arthur with his "I'm Cookin' with Her" apron that has a aero pointing to the right. When he notices me he walks over and puts a matching "I'm Cookin' with Him" apron on me.

"Alright Spencer, you know your way around the kitchen. How about you make the Ol' Carlin secret barbeque sauce?" He says gruffly with a blank look as always. Sometimes I wonder if he's hiding something more under that guarded and blank exterior.

I nod my head and force a uneasy smile onto my lips. "Sure Dad." I whisper. I walk over to the cabinets and star yanking down ingredients as my father chops up onions behind me.

This is how Arthur and I always worked. We would quietly and peacefully cook side by side. Every once in a while he would quietly ask me about the boys or something unimportant but other than that it was completely silent except for the sounds of knives hitting cutting boards or the boiling of water.

Once I get the sauce done Arthur takes the bowl from me and takes is out to the grill and I get started on making Glen's favorite, twice baked potatoes.

Quite soon I find myself sitting between Skylar and Scotty with Aiden glaring at me from across the table because I chose to sit with our kids rather than him. That left my husband sitting beside my brother who he hates with a passion.

As I'm eating and talking to the boys I hear Sammy say, "Yay. I was heading home yesterday and was driving down 8th street when I come across a traffic jam. Nothing unusual right?" The adults nod their heads, "Well, when I ask a guy on the side of the road what the holdup was he told me that a bunch of gays and lesbians were protesting a school for apparently throwing out a kid who was making out with some other boy in the restroom. The kid who he was kissing said that the other boy jumped him."

Richie snorts and rolls his eyes in revulsion. "I'm glad they kicked the kid out. He's nasty and shouldn't be around the other children."

My mother and Aiden nod in agreement. I don't know why but for some reason this subject bothered me. Not because of the gays but because of the way they treated the poor boy.

Before I could stop myself I turn to my sister and brother-in-law with a frown. "What's wrong with being gay?" The entire table looks at me in disgust, besides my brother and Madi who are looking at me in surprise.

Aiden glares at me but before he can open his mouth Glen burst out laughing. "That's a good one Spence! I could have sworn you were serious!" He fakes chuckles with a light of panic in his eyes.

I furrow my brows. "I wasn't-" I start but Madi's laugh cuts me off.

"Yeah. Good one Spencer!" She giggles with the same panic as my brother.

Confused, I start laughing with them. Soon enough the rest of the table starts giggling besides Paula and Aiden who are both glaring at me. After the laughter dies down the conversation starts back up and I easily keep myself out of it. Aiden continues to glare at me throughout dinner causing a bubble of dread to hit my stomach.

After dinner and the dishes, with the help of Madi, I was getting the twins' shoes on so we could leave when Glen walks up and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Hey Spence. Don't worry about the shoes. You're staying with us tonight."

Before I could respond Aiden grabs my shoulder and roughly pulls me into his side. "Sorry but she has to come home." He growls.

Glen glares slightly. "Why?" He demands.

Aiden glares back and tightens his grip causing me to wince. "We have to…talk."

Glen's face darkens more. "Well, I want to spend some time with my sister before I have to leave for the next two weeks." He argues. Glen goes to pull me away from Aiden's death grip but Aiden takes a quick step back, dragging me with him.

"Why spend time with her then. Why not with your wife." Aiden snaps.

"Because," Madi steps in and grabs Glen's hand, "I want to spend the night playing games with my husband, Spencer, and the boys."

Glen and Aiden have a face off. Suddenly Aiden shoves me forward and into the arms of my brother. "Fine! I'm out of here!" He storms out the front door. Glen smiles in triumph and hugs me to him.

Before I could relax in his arms the door flies back open. "Oh and Spencer," Aiden says sweetly, "We will have that talk when I get back from work tomorrow." With that he was back out the door.

I release the breath I don't even realize I was holding when I hear Aiden's car pull at of the driveway and into the LA traffic.

I look down at the twins. "Well guys, it looks like we are staying to play with Uncle Glen and Aunt Madison!" I say excitedly. The two toddler's faces light up and the launch forward to hug my legs. When I thoroughly hugged they run over to Madi and Glen to give them their hugs.

Scotty turns towards me and smiles. "Wets pay Mommy!" He squealed and took off in the direction of the living room. I share smiles with my two companions and follow the little boys into the other room. We romp and play around the house until the twins were so tired that were falling asleep while sitting up.

When I came back down from putting the boys to bed in the guestroom Glen and Madi are sitting on the living room with the TV off while quietly talking to each other. Once they spot me they look at me with sad smiles.

"What's up guys?" I ask standing in front of them. Glen points to the recliner and gestures for me to sit. I quickly sit down and wait for them to speak up. When they don't I once again ask them what was wrong.

"Spencer what are your thoughts on Arkansas?" Glen asks with a half-smile.

His question confuses me but I answer anyway. "I like it just fine. The trees, rivers, fields it's very pretty down there."

"I'm happy you think so." Madi says with a smile.

I furrow my eyebrows. "Why is that?" I ask curiously.

They two of them trade a glance and look back over at me. "I have a friend down there." Glen starts, "His name is Clay Lewis, he is a realtor for his area."

I watch him curiously waiting for him to continue. "What does a realtor have to do with me?"

"He has a small house for sell down there. It's small and a bit of a fixer upper but it would be perfect." Madi says slowly.

"Perfect?" I question.

"Spencer." Glen says seriously and looks me hard in the eyes. "I want you to move down there with the boys."

I sit in shock for a split second before jumping up out of my seat. "Are you crazy?" I yell. "I can't just move! What the hell Glen?"

"Spencer calm down." Madison commands and helps me back into my seat. "We want you to be safe."

"And the only way that's possible is if your away from Aiden." Glen continues for his wife.

I sigh and sag in my seat. They're right but I can't just leave. "I can't just leave guys. It's not that bad. I can take it."

"No!" Glen explodes from his seat. "No you can't Spencer! Even if you could what would you do if he gets tired of hitting you and starts putting his slimy hands on the twins."

I'm frozen from his outburst. My hands start shaking without my consent. "I don't know. I worry about that all the time but what can I do?" I whimper and hug my knees to my chest.

"You can move Spencer." Madison says gently.

I frown and shake my head at them. "I can't leave you. The both of you are the only real family I have."

Madi sighs. "We know but you can't stay here. It would be so much better for the three of you if you left... It would also make us feel better."

"I can't guys… Can I?" I whisper the last part to myself quietly.

Glen relaxes his muscles and sighs. Running his hands through his hair, he slowly kneels down and front of me and takes my hands in his. "Move Spencer. Please just think about it."

Later that night I lay awake thinking about what they had said. Glens right; I can't let anything happen to my boys and the only way to protect them and save myself is to leave. I need a place where I can raise my children without constant fear. A place where they can grow up in a peaceful and loving home.

Maybe, just maybe, Arkansas can be that place.

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