Beyond the mountains

The beginning of a new life

We arrive at the child welfare building to talk with Mrs. Thompson and my grandparents about our future. The court proceedings are about to take place in a few days and I want all the answers I can possibly get at this point.

We waited for about 30 minutes before a lady stepped into the room and ask us to follow her. Mrs. Thompson met us at the end of the hallway and ask me if I was ready to see my grandparents.

When I seen them setting there they looked a lot older than the last time I’d seen them, but still that same smile I always remembered on my granny’s face, my grandpa was still a tall man with a very big personality about him, he was a friendly guy, always telling jokes..but this time he had a concerned look in his eyes as they both made their way toward me to give me a long hug, tears rolling down all our faces.

I turned and ask where the kids where, as they was walking into the room before I could get the whole sentence out..the run up and hugged me.

We were interrupted by a lady that poked her head into the room and ask Mrs. Thompson she needed to speak to her about Rachel.

I couldn’t hear anything they were talking about over my grandparents talking to the kids, I was really trying to be involved in their conversation while they was comforting them, and reassuring them that it was going to be alright if they was able to come live with them permanently.

I just wanted to hear what was being said in the hallway, I thought I heard them say something about her turning herself in.

A few minutes later she returned into the room and ask the kids to go down the hall into the toy room...it had a bunch of toys, and a tv with cartoons to keep them occupied for a while.

She had also ask me to leave the room, but I refused..how dare her to act like I had no say in any of this.

My grandfather told her it was alright for me to stay.

Laura stood up and put her arms on my shoulder to comfort me, she could tell I was uneasy.

She agreed to let me stay, she told us that Rachel had turned herself in a hour ago, and she had given a statement and was trying to lay the blame on me....I could feel my blood pressure getting high as she continued to tell the horrible things Rachel had said about me, all I could do was cry.

Mrs. Thompson told me that the truth would come out in court and that she didn’t believe a word of her accusations.

My Granny ask if they had locked her up for a few days, we were told that she was trying to make sure they kept her until Friday, it would be up to the judge.

There was papers and legal stuff we all had to go over before they let us leave.

My Grandparents took my siblings with them to a hotel until the court date Friday, and Laura still had temporary custody of me until then. My grandpa ask if I wanted to stay with them, but I told him I wanted to stay with Laura, so I could keep up with my homework from school and take care of some things before graduation.

I told the children I would stay in touch everyday as we all said our goodbyes. I told them to relax and enjoy the next few days, and that everything would work out.

I watched them as they pulled out of the parking lot, their little faces had a scared look on them. Travis just put his hand on the window, looking at me as the drive off.

When we got to Melissa’s house it was late evening, and I was feeling down, I just couldn’t get it out of my all the lies that witch Rachel had said about me.

I also think I felt guilty for not staying with the kids their first night with grandpa and granny.

Melissa ask me if I needed to talk, all I could do was cry on her shoulder.

She took my hands and said something to me that made a lot of sense...

Bethy you don’t need to feel guilty for wanting to be a kid, you and I are just kids!

It’s time you start being a big sister and stop being their mother, you deserve to be able to go to college, find out who you are, fall in love...whatever you want to do.

No more responsibilities for the kids, you can have a life, they can finally have a good life..grow up in a decent home, not sneaking around in a shed trying to eat canned food and cold sandwiches before you get caught and beat for it.

I laid there that night thinking about what she had told me..I did understand what she meant, I did want a decent life for us.

Is this it? The start of new beginnings for us? Could I make it through the lies that Rachel is telling? My head was spinning with thoughts.

Ben kept coming in my thoughts also, how was I going to explain all this to him, when it was printed in the news papers after Friday.

It was around 8:00am when Melissa started shaking me awake, as I opened my eyes, she was standing there holding my phone while it was ringing...”Ben! I jumped up and took the phone..”Hello” he said did I wake you? “Nope” I tried to sound as if I had been up for a while..he laughed, he knew I was lying..are you ready for our date today, he ask...I sure am, I could hardly contain my excitement.

We talked s few more minutes, and he said, I’ll see you in a few short hours..My heart just skipped a beat.

I told Melissa I had better call Amy Beth and check on Wrangler.

Amy told me that everything was fine with him, I ask again if he needed food or treats, she told me once again he had everything he needed.

She told me she needed to talk to me today about something important. I ask if it could wait till tomorrow, she said No, it couldn’t wait, she was going to drive over here.

What could be so important that it couldn’t wait till tomorrow I thought.

Amy Beth was my mothers best friend growing up, they were thick as thieves.

My mothers disappearance was hard on her, and she always tried to help us and do everything she could. It wasn’t easy with my father though, he would have killed any of us kids if he caught us around her.

I decided to go ahead and get my shower over with and start getting ready.

Melissa was in her closet looking over and clothes items we may have looked over as we was picking out our outfits for today, I looked in the mirror and my eyes was so puffy from all the crying and lack of sleep...my gosh Melissa! I look awful, Bens going to take one look at me and run.

She laughed and said, it’s nothing a little ice and cream won’t take care of.

I got out of the shower and we started getting ready.. makeup on point.. hair is great...I couldn’t believe how hot we looked..I was going to make myself enjoy this day, with makeup and hair like this, I sure wasn’t going to waist it feeling down today.

Laura opened the door and said “wow” girls, you two look amazing! Amy Beth was behind her and she looked at us with big eyes, she said look at you two.. you look beautiful. It made me feel so good.

Amy Beth ask if we could have a private moment while she talked with me. Laura and Melissa went into the living room so we could chat.

She set down beside me on the bed.

Bethy, She said with long sigh that followed..I have something to tell you that I should have told you years ago, now that all this is going on with the court, and you kids being removed from your fathers home it’s time you found out..the night Tammy..your mom, disappeared, she had called me and told me to meet her at the spot where her and I use to play when we was kids

“The water falls” I ask,...yes, the water falls, she said.

Your mom knew she was in a bad situation with your dad, she knew she had to get you, Mark, Jenny, and Travis out of there and the situation she was in.

Your father is a dangerous man Bethy, the only way out was for her to take you kids and run, go into hiding for a while.

She wanted the time to be right, so her and I came up with a plan.

Your dad was cheating on her with Rachel.

Your mother had known for some time that the affair was going on between them.

We started hiding money away in a savings account in my name. We had even found a little house in a little town in Florida to rent, and I was going to go with you guys to help you mom till she was back on her feet and safe.

Tears started streaming down her face..I could also feel a lump forming in my throat as I was trying to hold back the tears...she laughed through her tears as if she was remembering back... we had even found jobs through a cousin of mine that owns a hotel in the area...as hotel maids.

It was going to be her new start at a decent life for you kids and herself.

Something must have happen that made your mom want to go that night, instead of waiting like we had planned.

I had went to the store and when I returned home my front door was unlocked, so when I went in I could see that there was a message on my answering machine, it was your mom, she told me that she needed the bank card and that box She kept it in. I had it locked in my safe, so I ran to my room and the safe was open..your mother had took it and my pistol... Your mother knew the combination to the safe.

I could also tell from her message she was in a panic.

So I hurried up and grabbed a few things and left as fast as I could to the water falls in hopes that she was still there waiting for me to pick her up. When I arrived there wasn’t any sign of your mom, I waited there for a couple of hours, when I got back to my car there was a note on my windshield.

It read...Amy Beth, I’m sorry! But I’ve decided to go without you and the children. I need to find myself, I hope you understand.

Bethy...she said as she was crying.

That wasn’t your mothers hand writing, and I took it to the cops.. they just dismissed it as a run away wife who abandoned her husband and children.

I have searched for her for years, I even went to Florida to look for her.

She never touched the money we had in the bank.

A few years ago, I hired a private investigator, but everything leads to dead ends. I have even kept the savings account open and left the money in it.. in hopes that she would need money and at least I would know she was alive..but nothing!

A couple of years ago, Rachel threatened me, she told me to stop searching before I found something I didn’t want to find.

I want you to know all this because I don’t want anything to come out in court and take you be surprise.

I set there in shock..I didn’t know how to wrap my head around everything Amy Beth had just told me.

I ask her what Rachel meant when she made that threat.

She told me that the only thing she could think of, was Rachel didn’t want didn’t want her finding out anything, like she was definitely hiding something she didn’t want Amy Beth to know.

What though? Could she be responsible for my mothers disappearance?

As Any Beth stood up to leave, she hugged me and told me she would never give up until she found her or what happened to her that night.

I could only set there for a few minutes after she left thinking about what all of this meant, I felt so different about things now.

How much more could I handle?

Melissa came back in and ask me if I was alright. I told her what Amy Beth had told me. We both just sit there looking at each other in a way I can’t explain..could this mean something more was about to happen.

Melissa jumped to her feet and ran to the window and said John is here..are you going to be alright?

I told her yes, that I need this day.

We both took a deep breathe and walked out side to greet John.

He ask if we was ready to go meet Ben, I could feel my excitement growing at the thought of seeing him.

We drove into town to the local home town diner as we got closer I pulled out my makeup to give a fresh coat and quick glance at my hair, as we pulled up beside Ben’s truck. I could see him from his window with his dark shaggy hair, his beautiful green eyes, and that big friendly smile..I could feel a nervous feeling in my stomach as he opened his truck door and walked to the back door to open it up for me to get out.

He gave me a big tight hug, stepped back and told me I looked beautiful. I could feel my face turn red as I just stared into his eyes, with a shy smile that I couldn’t hold back, I told him thanks and I complimented him on how good he smelled. He smelled and looked amazing to me.

I still couldn’t believe this was happening to me, going on my first date with such an amazing guy.

He told Melissa and John that he wanted to drive down to the lake so we could have a picnic, he had went into the diner and him and John had bought us fried chicken with the works, and apple pie.

I was so excited, I had never been on a picnic...John said they wanted to surprise us with a nice lunch and after they had rented a pontoon for a couple of hours.

We put to food into the truck and he opened my door for me to get into his truck, as I climbed in and set down he reached up and pulled my seatbelt down and put it around me and as he was leaning in to buckle it in, he kissed me, he said Bethy I feel so lucky that I have met you..I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I told him I felt the same way about him.

I knew that I had to tell him about what was going on, I just didn’t want anything to ruin this wonderful day.

We arrived at the lake,we all four walked to the park where the picnic tables where in a private part of the park, there was a table set up with two beautiful vases of roses set on top of the table, Melissa and I just stood there looking at each other.

Ben took my hand and we walked closer, as he helped me set down he ask me if I liked red roses, I felt like I could melt.

I smelled them and they smelt so good, I truly felt like I was falling in love with him already, ..like nothing else that was going on in my life mattered at this very moment. The food was great.

We set there for about an hour talking and laughing.

John ask if we was ready to take the pontoon out for a couple of hours.

We cleaned our mess, and took our roses to the boat rental building for the manager to place them in their bait cooler for safe keeping.

We had a wonder day on the lake as Ben and I talked and got to know more things about one another.

It was around 4:00pm when we parked the pontoon back to the dock, grabbed our roses and walked back to the parking lot.

Ben ask if Melissa and I would like to go back to her house and get cleaned up and a change of clothes and go out to the movies and maybe a late dinner to end a perfect day.

They guys drove us back to the house and we invited them in while we was getting dressed.

Laura was waiting for me as we walked in and said she needed to speak with me, after I introduced her to Ben, I ask him to excuse me for a moment.

Melissa and I followed her into the kitchen. She told us to set down.

Bethy, I hate to tell you this on your date night, but the Cps worker called and the court date has been moved up for tomorrow morning.

I felt sick to my stomach. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.

My hands started shaking out of my control.. Melissa threw her arms around me and hugged me so tight I could hardly breath. What was I going to do, I don’t know how to tell Ben. I’m so scared, what’s going to become of us.

Melissa told me it was time I told Ben.

She’s right, I have to tell him, I don’t want to keep hiding who I really am from him any longer.

Bethy, she said..if he truly likes you, he will understand and he won’t let that come between you two...I really think he cares for you, it’s time to tell him. I’ll be with you and help you talk to him.

I agreed with her as we made our way to the living room where Ben and John was waiting.

Ben stood up and I could tell he knew something was wrong, it had to be obvious, I’m sure I looked a mess to him as tears was still streaming down my face.

With wide eyes,he grabbed my hand and ask if I was alright.

I just stood there, trying to find the words, to say...I could only stand there.

Melissa said why don’t we go into the kitchen and get something to drink, Bethy and I need to explain a few things to you.

I took a deep breathe as I looked at Ben sitting there with a concerned look on his face. I took a sip out of the can of pop in front of me and started to speak.

Ben, I’ll understand if you get up and leave after I tell you this...but her goes.

I told him everything. From day one, about my mother’s disappearance, the abuse, about me being a mother to my siblings, I even told him what Amy Beth had told me this morning.

He sit there just looking at me in shock, as if he didn’t know how to respond.

He stood up, walked over to the kitchen window and looked out into the back yard, he turned around and walked over to me and just hugged me. Bethy, he said...I’m so sorry you have went through all of this, I only wish I had met you sooner, I could have at least tried to get you away from them.

I want you know, that if you’ll have me, I’ll never leave your side through all of this, I’ll do everything I can for you.

I know we’ve just met and we are young, but; I truly think I’m falling in love with you already, I hope you feel the same about me.

Ben! I do, I do feel the same way, as I through myself into his chest, I just wanted to stand there forever, with my arms around him.

Laura let the guys stay a couple more hours as we all just sit there watching a movie on tv.

Ben promised he would be there in the morning to support me on what seems like the hardest thing I’ll ever go through.

That night seemed like the longest night of my life as I laid there, not know what was about to happen to us.