FINAL CHAPTER GUYS! THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT!
Chapter 23-
We turned on the lights and started searching for the pictures and journal entries. Joy and I were rummaging through dusty boxes when we heard Mara yell.
Mara: Mom!
Caroline: What is it Mara?
Mara: In the living room! Come quick!
We looked at each other and nodded. Step one is complete. We need to hurry. We continue shuffling through boxes. I felt my hand graze over a familiar leather cover. I pulled it out.
Nina: I found the journal.
I opened it to the last page and started reading my father's hand writing.
July 23
I'm finally leaving to find Harriet. The divorce with Caroline finally went through, thank goodness. She's been nothing but a pain since Nina came to live with us. I'm glad the divorce went through and while Joy and Mara are both wonderful girls, I've noticed them being distant from Nina. I don't know what happened, but I get the feeling that Caroline is involved. After all, I've seen her glare at my baby girl from afar. I don't like the idea of leaving Nina alone with Caroline, but I've hired Trudy and she's bringing her niece to the house as well. The little girl has a strange name. I believe it was Kara Tatianna, but I'd much rather call her KT.
I miss Harriet so much. I've always loved her, even after I married her sister. That marriage to Caroline was just because I had lost hope. That was before I had the dream where Harriet was alive and at war, waiting for me. I knew that I had to go find her, but I decided to hold out for a few years. I thought Caroline could fill her sister's hole, but I was wrong. Now, I'm going to fix this mess once and for all. Forgive me, Nina, for leaving you with this wretched woman, but I'm coming back. I'm coming home and I'm bringing your mother with me. I love you, my little Ninsy-kins.
I smiled at the sight of my nickname before putting the journal on the floor. A loud clang was heard and screams were muted out by what sounded like rushing water. Step two is complete. We don't have much time. We searched for the pictures
Joy: I think I found them.
I went over and, sure enough, Joy was holding a small stack of pictures. I went through them until I found the two pictures I needed. Suddenly, we heard a knock on the front door. Stage three is set. I looked at Joy.
Nina: It's show time.
We climbed up the stairs to the cupboard door that was on the side of the stairs. I peeked out slightly and saw Alfie, Eddie, and Patricia slowly creeping down the stairs. Then KT and Trudy slowly came out of the kitchen. Caroline opened the door and brought Fabian and Mick into the living room while Jerome hung around the front and summoned Amber and Willow. All at once we all came out in to the living room and surrounded Caroline. She turned around in shock.
Caroline: What is going on here?!
Nina: You should know, Caroline.
I entered the circle with Caroline and everyone shifted to close the gap. Caroline glared at me.
Caroline: You filthy little-
Nina: Save your breath. Your days of mistreating me and playing us like puppets are over.
Caroline: I don't know what you're talking about.
Nina: Yes you do. You hated your sister, didn't you?
She remained silent and came closer to me, but I stood my ground.
Nina: You hated her because Robert loved her. You knew that he never loved you. When I moved in, you hated me. You hated me because I reminded you of your sister. You hated me because-
Caroline: I hated you because your father loved you more than he ever loved me.
Nina: That's because he didn't love you at all.
She became furious and slapped me across the cheek. I felt my body freeze as my cheek pulsed from pain. Then, I started laughing.
Nina: Did you slap me because you don't want to believe it or because you know it's true?
Caroline: How dare you talk to me like that, you little scrub!
Nina: I know everything you've been hiding.
I pulled out the photos and Caroline backed away.
Caroline: Where did you…how?!
Nina: You know exactly what these are. You know exactly where this is going. You know that Robert wrote on the back of both of his wedding pictures. On Harriet's, he wrote "The Love of My Life, Harriet" and on yours-
Caroline: Shut up, you little squib!
Nina: He wrote "Harriet". He wrote your sister's name on the back of your wedding picture. He wrote the name of his ex-wife on the back of the wedding picture. He-
I didn't get to finish because she pushed me to the ground. I saw Joy holding Fabian back and I saw Mara and Joy glaring at their mother.
Nina: One more thing.
I got up and pulled out my father's journal. She looked genuinely puzzled. She must have not known about this. I flipped to the last journal entry and read it out loud.
Nina: July 23rd. I'm finally leaving to find Harriet. The divorce with Caroline finally went through, thank goodness. She's been nothing but a pain since Nina came to live with us. I'm glad the divorce went through and while Joy and Mara are both wonderful girls, I've noticed them being distant from Nina. I don't know what happened, but I get the feeling that Caroline is involved. After all, I've seen her glare at my baby girl from afar. I don't like the idea of leaving Nina alone with Caroline, but I've hired Trudy and she's bringing her niece to the house as well. The little girl has a strange name. I believe it was Kara Tatianna, but I'd much rather call her KT-
Caroline: Stop or I swear, I'll-
Nina: I miss Harriet so much. I've always loved her, even after I married her sister. That marriage to Caroline was just because I had lost hope. That was before I had the dream where Harriet was alive and at war, waiting for me. I knew that I had to go find her, but I decided to hold out for a few years. I thought Caroline could fill her sister's hole, but I was wrong. Now, I'm going to fix this mess once and for all. Forgive me, Nina, for leaving you with this wretched woman, but I'm coming back. I'm coming home and I'm bringing your mother with me. I love you, my little Ninsy-kins.
I heard to door open, but Caroline was too fuming with anger to notice. She lunged at me and pinned me to the floor. She had her hands wrapped around my neck and I was starting to suffocate.
Harriet: Caroline, get your disgusting ass off of my daughter!
Caroline looked up and looked as though she had seen a ghost. She released me and backed away.
Caroline: H-Harriet?
I breathed just to have my heart stop. Harriet? I sit up and slowly look behind me. There, standing in her army uniform, was my mother.
Nina: M-Mom?
She smiled and crouched down beside me.
Harriet: Hello, Nina. How's my Ninsy-kins doing?
Mom.
Nina: Mom!
I threw myself in her arms and held on for dear life. Mom. I released her and she smiled at me.
Harriet: I'll catch up with you later. Join your friends. I have to do something.
I nodded and scrambled to my feet. Fabian pulled me in to his arms and held me tight.
Fabian: Are you ok?
Nina: I'm fine.
He nods and pulls me into a kiss. When we pull away, we watch my mother cornering Caroline.
Caroline: This isn't possible. You're…you're dead!
Harriet: Do I look dead to you?
Caroline was shaking uncontrollably. My mother crouched down to her level on the floor.
Harriet: I want you to get out. This house belongs to me and you have no rights to it.
Caroline: But…I'm your sister! Surely you care about what happens to me.
Harriet: You are no sister to me. Now get out.
Caroline scrambled to her feet and looked around at the people surrounding her. She looks straight at Mara.
Caroline: Mara, sweetheart, come here.
Mara: No.
Caroline: N-No? What-
Mara: I'm not your toy anymore. I'm not even your daughter anymore.
She backed away slowly and I understood why. The people she thought could never leave her have left her all alone. Caroline spun to face Joy with a pleading face.
Caroline: Joy, please. Surely you still love your dear mother, right?
Joy came out of the circle and moved towards her smiling mother. What is she doing? Caroline extended her arms to Joy, but she just pushed the embrace away. Caroline's smile fell.
Caroline: I-I don't understand. What-
Slap. Caroline just stood there in shock, absorbing the pain. We were all taken aback by the sudden movement.
Joy: That was for the knife incident.
Slap.
Joy: That was for all these years of pain.
Slap.
Joy: And that was for everything you done to Nina and all the horrible things you made me do to her.
The door opened and we all looked at who it was. Fabian, Eddie, Mick, and Jerome were all surprised.
Fabian: Victor? What are you doing here?
Victor: My job. Boys, in here.
Suddenly, a squad of police came in to the house from behind him.
Victor: Cuff her.
Within seconds, Caroline was handcuffed in the center of the room.
Victor: Caroline Denby, you are being charged with two counts of child abuse and one count of attempted premeditated murder.
That last claim caught my attention.
Nina: Wait. Murder?
Victor: Yes. A few years ago, she planned and attempted to murder an 11-year-old girl. Your father stopped her. He was the one who first called us to investigate and when you called again a few months ago, we reopened the case. Take her away.
The police took her away. I walked towards Victor.
Nina: Murder? I don't understand. Who was she trying to murder?
He looked at me and for the first time ever, I saw his cruel eyes soften slightly. He turned away and walked over to my mother.
Victor: Who are you?
She smiled.
Harriet: I'm Harriet Denby, Caroline's sister and….Robert's first wife.
Her smile suddenly became forced at the mention of dad. Victor nodded.
Victor: So you're the famous Harriet. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Robert and I, we were old friends. He told me quite a bit about you. All good things, I assure you…he really did love you. Did you know that?
She stopped smiling and sighed sadly.
Harriet: I know. I returned his feelings but….
Victor: ….Did you at least see him again before he-
Harriet: I did.
Victor nodded and left the conversation right there. Victor turned to me.
Victor: Considering the will leaves everything to your mother anyways, you can stay here without involving any foster care.
Nina: Wait. You're saying….I can stay?
Victor nodded and I saw Fabian smile as he came closer. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.
Fabian: So….you're staying?
I smiled and nodded my head vigorously. He let one of his hands crept up to hold my cheek before slowly leaning in to kiss me. Before our lips could touch, we were interrupted by an awkward cough. It had been my mother. I pulled away quickly and cleared my throat.
Nina: Right. Fabian, this is my mom. Mom, this is Fabian, my….
I looked at him for support and he smiled at me.
Fabian: Boyfriend. I'm her boyfriend, ma'am.
Mom just looked at me.
Harriet: How old are you now?
Nina: Mom, I'm 16.
She looks at him and looks back at me immediately when I say 16.
Harriet: 16?
I nodded. My mother held a hand over her mouth and it was obvious she was trying to hold back the tears.
Harriet: My baby….16?
Nina: I know, mom. I know.
With that, I extended my arms to her and hugged her tightly. Six years didn't change the fact that she's my mom. She released me and dried her eyes before looking at Fabian.
Harriet: He's been treating you well?
Nina: He treats me like a princess.
Harriet: Do you love my daughter?
She stared directing into Fabian's soul and he looked back into hers.
Fabian: With every fiber of my being, ma'am. I love your daughter more than anything in the world.
Her stare softened slightly.
Harriet: Don't hurt her.
Fabian: I won't. She's my everything.
Mom nodded and put a hand on his shoulder.
Harriet: Thank you for taking care of her when I wasn't here.
Fabian nodded and they both looked at me.
Harriet: Well, it seems like things have changed around here. Would you mind if I joined you?
I thought for a moment.
Nina: Fabian, can I borrow your pen?
He nodded and handed it to me. I took the pen and instead of lifting my sleeve to write on my skin like I normally do, I took a piece of paper off the dining room table. I lifted the paper up to Fabian and my mom.
Welcome home, mom.