Southern Minnesota, 2001…
"Girls! Come on now, I need to get lunch ready," I ordered. The three girls I was in charge of probably would have listened better if I hadn't been laughing so hard. I just couldn't help myself. Under Lydia's command, the other two tickle attacked me as I tried to decide what to prepare for lunch. Lydia was eleven; double digits were impressive to her younger sisters. Daisy was almost there at the age of nine, but poor Greta was only four.
"Girls, I'm serious!" I shouted between bouts of laughter. "I'll tell your mother!" Joanne was a truly amazing woman. She had been raising these three lovely, yet rather rambunctious girls since her fail of an ex-husband abandoned them.
Lydia laughed and replied, "Yeah, sure Nora…Mom will probably join in!" I sighed as much as I could as they tickled me mercilessly. They were right. Joanne was the type of mother who would choose to play with her children over telling them what to do. And it was all in good fun.
"You had better surrender or else this will only get worse for you!" cried Daisy.
"Yeah!" agreed Greta.
Giving in to the game, I cried out, "You'll never take me alive!" With that I made a grab for Greta and ran from the two older girls. She screamed in joy as she squirmed.
As we ran around and around the kitchen and living room with Greta thrown over my back, the doorbell rang. Lydia immediately stopped and screamed, "I've got it! "
I stopped running and Daisy immediately grabbed onto my leg and sat on my foot. "Lydia, no! You know the rules…I'll get the door." I wobbled over to her. After setting down Greta, she quickly followed her sister's lead and sat onto my other foot while holding that leg. I heard the door open, and I said once more, "Lydia, no!"
I finally reached the now open door, and after trying desperately to pry off my two leg weights I looked up. "I'm sorry, what can I-" I stopped. I remember the terror that ripped through my body as if it were a lightning bolt. I could hardly believe the man standing in front of me was there, actually standing in front of me. I didn't know what to do. What did he want? How did he find me? And more importantly, who would follow his lead?
"Hey, "Logan said. He spoke as if we were neighbors and he needed a cup of sugar. I couldn't believe it.
"Lydia, take your sisters downstairs," I ordered. The tone in my voice caused the two younger girls to finally let go.
"But, Nora, we-"
"What did I just say?" I asked coldly, never taking my eyes from Logan's face. "I will not tell you twice." I heard all three grumbling, but they finally headed down to the basement.
I continued staring at Logan, until he spoke again. "Nora? What's that about?" he chuckled.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked softly. He opened his mouth to answer, but I quickly cut him off. "No, I don't even want to know. I want you to leave. Now." I glared at him, tears forming in my eyes. I couldn't believe he would jeopardize me and this family I had come to adore, by tracking me down.
"Nadya, I need to talk-," he pushed. But I stopped him again.
"No!" I exclaimed. "Are you mad? You need to leave. Don't come back, don't contact me, don't even think about me. God damn it, Logan…"
He stared at me for a few moments. I opened my mouth to tell him once more to leave, but he spoke over me. "Nadya, you can send me away, but know this, I will not leave until you talk to me. That's a promise." I glared at him, hurt that we would put me in this position. I tried to shut the door, but he moved his foot into the way. I felt a tear run down my cheek. I could hear the girls coming back up the stairs, regrouped and ready to argue with me. I gave Logan a pleading look, but he remained unwavering.
I glanced back toward the stairs and turned toward Logan. "Fine…come back tomorrow after dark. Come through the back patio." And with that I slammed the door shut on my once closest friend.