Broken

Chapter One: New Beginnings

When Lana and Danny were little, their father Richard lost his job as a lawyer after losing one of the biggest cases at the firm. 

Their mother Sandy decided it was time to move after Richard lost his job as a lawyer. Sandy tried to keep up with paying the bills on her own with her part-time job but couldn't manage anymore after her oh so loving boss cut her hours. 

If that isn't stressful enough, they were constantly getting prank calls, people vandalizing their property, and Sandy couldn't work with all the customers coming in to harass her because of that stupid case. 

Their two children Danny and Lana started getting bullied at school. This was just way too much to deal with. 

After selling all of their property and belongings to get enough money to buy a house in the country, it was time to move. 

"Do you have everything ready love"? Richard called from the kitchen. 

"Yeah. I'm just grabbing some of Lanas' favorite toys," I called back.

"Honey you know we're not supposed to take anything from the house," Richard cuts the corner as he continues, "Everything belongs to the Sallsmans now," He finished as he crossed his arms, leaning against the door.

I gave him a knowing look before continuing, "And you also know that Lana can't sleep unless she has her stuffed unicorn and her star blanket you bought her for Christmas. She's already throwing a fit in the car because she wants her blanket."

"Okay. Okay. I get it. Just hurry up. The SUV is almost full and I'd like to get on the road before next Tuesday."

"Yeah. Yeah..." Richard laughed as he started down the hallway. He knows how stubborn and complicated I can be but he still loves me. 

I smile knowing I have the best husband in the world. 

After zipping up the carry on bag, I stand up and look around the apartment. Tears well up in my eyes but I wipe them away before they fall. This is a good thing. We're moving to give our kids a better life. I won't allow these monsters to hurt my family. I just hope Danny and Lana won't remember this life of constant harassment. With Lana being five I think she'll be okay. But with Danny being Seven, I'm sure he'll remember some of this. 

_______

After a long drive and Richard falling asleep on the road twice, we decide to spend the night in a motel not too far from the town we will be living in. The house will not be ready to move into until Friday morning so we'll have two days to kill before we move in. Then the real work will begin. 

With that thought in mind, a yawn slowly creeps up on me as we pull into the motel parking lot. 

"You stay here with the kids. I'll go get us a room." I nod and I climb out of the SUV. Opening the back car door I get Lana out of the car and wrap her blanket around her. I close the door and go over to Dannys' side, opening the door carefully as he has a tendency to lean on the door. 

"Danny sweetheart. It's time to wake up." 

Nothing.

"Danny," I say as I lightly shake him.

His face scrunches up as he moves away from me. I let out a defeated sigh as the door to the motel lobby opens, the familiar bell jingling and Richard humming to a song that was playing on the radio earlier makes me sigh again but this time it's a sigh of relief. 

"Can't get him up I see," He laughs seeing my defeated form.

"Oh shut up Richard and get your son so we can go to our room."

Richard unbuckles Dannys' seatbelt and carefully lifts him out of the car. Together we walk up the staircase to room 306. 

As we push our way into the room I look around to see he got a room with two beds. One for the kids and one for us. The room has tan paint on the walls with white trimming. The bedspread is white with big fluffy tan pillows. There is a little round table with two chairs under a small tv mounted on the wall. 

Over in the corner of the room is a counter with a little black bucket for ice and a sink. Next to the sink is a door to what I assume goes to the bathroom. 

With my surrounding taken in, I walk over to the bed farthest away from the door and lay Lana down on the bed. Her face scrunches up as she balls herself up into a tight little ball of Lana. I pull the covers over and walk around to pull back the covers for Danny. 

"Babe, I'm sorry for getting us in this situation," Richard says as he plops down on the cair at the table. 

"Oh stop it, Richard. It wasn't your fault your boss decided to pull you out of the case and put that new lawyer Higgins in your place. Everyone thought you blew it because you 'left' the case and let it fall into the wrong hands. You were about to win that case and everyone got scared. That's why everything happened. Not because of you so stop pretending it was," I sat down in his lap as his arms automatically wrapped around me, pulling me closer.

"I know. But.." 

I quickly cut him off, "No Buts Richard. You know I've wanted to get out of the city since Danny was born. I don't want that life for our kids. They could easily fall into the wrong crowd," I tried to reason with him.

"So you are one-hundred percent okay with all of this? The house? The town? The school the kids are enrolling in? Everything?"

"Yes, honey. I'm glad we moved. Now let's stop thinking about the past and start thinking about the future."

"You're right. I guess I can start by looking for a job tomorrow. I know You've worked hard trying to support us and I need to help out more than what I am now."

"Okay. I'll take the kids with me tomorrow to get some supplies and groceries then."

"No, I'll take Danny with me. You can take Lana. That'll make it easier on you."

I hug him tightly as I say, "Okay let's go to bed. I'm getting too tired to hold up a conversation."

At some point in the middle of the night, Lana and Danny both climb into bed with us. I wake up with Lanas' arm and leg draped over me while Danny snores. I love these kids so much. 

Since Richard decided he's going to take Danny with him while he goes job hunting and I'll be taking Lana with me to the supermarket, we get ready at different times. Richard and Danny are gone by the time Lana wakes me up. Yeah, I know. I should be the one waking her up. 

"MOOOOOMMMYYYYY! GET UUUP!" I hear her sweet voice call as she shakes my body with all of her five-year-old strength. I laugh as I jump and grab her, causing a squeal to course through her body. 

"Mommy stop it," Lana giggles out as I tickle her sides. 

"Alright girly. Let's get you into a nice warm bath and then we'll head on out."

Lana climbs off the bed and runs into the bathroom. I shake my head. That girl of mine has so much spunk. 

"Purse, check. Room key, check. Lana, check." I say to myself as I walk out of the motel room. 

Richard left me the SUV for grocery shopping. Plus this is a small town so the walk around will not be too hard on him. Danny has always loved to walk around so it was completely fine with him to walk around the block. I buckle Lana in and get in, starting the SUV. 

It's only a two-minute drive to the store. 

I buckle up and turn the radio on. The song 'Call Me Maybe' comes on. I hear Lanas' voice singing and feel her feet digging in the back seat to the rhythm of the song. She doesn't know all the words not she knows 'This is crazy' and 'Heres my number so call me maybe'. 

The song lasted the ride to the grocery store. We pull up to a*****e with the sign 'BerryMart' written in bold white letters.

"Come on girly," I say as I turn off the ignition.

As I grab my keys and purse, Lana already has her seatbelt off and is climbing up to the passenger seat. 

"Okay, little monkey. Are you ready to go?" I say as I get out of the car, checking to make sure my debit card is in my wallet. 

"I'm always ready mommy," With a big grin on her face she jumps right into my arms. I barely had time to turn around to catch her. 

"The real question is, are you ready mommy?" Lana laughs as I lower her down until her feet touch the ground. 

And there she goes, zooming around me with her arms out like an airplane while making engine sounds.

"Okay. Okay. Come on. We have to get some stuff for us to eat," Using my 'mom voice' Lana stops and makes her way to my side. We walk into BerryMart, Lana grabs a cart like she always does and starts down one of the aisles. 

Hardly anyone is in the store which gives me a little relief. Being new in a small town like this causes too much attention. I know I'm outgoing on the outside but on the inside, I get so nervous to be around people. 

Watching Lana picking out her favorite candy brings a smile to my face. My baby girl is lost in her own little world. Obvious to the dangers and realness the world is. 

I've always put on a strong front for my family. If I were to lose one of them, I'd go crazy. I'd stop at nothing until they've safe by my side. 

"Mom?" 

Lanas voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I give her a sweet smile as I push her hair out of her face.

"Are you okay mommy?" The concern is written all over her face. 

"I'm okay. Just thinking that's all."

"What are you thinking about?" She asks as she grabs the cart again.

"You. And Danny." I say as we walk further down the aisle. 

"What about me and bubby?" Lana says as she grabs more candy from the shelf.

"How I'll always be there to protect you guys. You know that right? That I'll always be there for you?"

"I know mommy. What about daddy? Are you going to pro-pro- be there for daddy too?" 

"Of course I will. And... Your daddy will protect all of us too," I say as I give her a reassuring smile. 

Her smile grows wider and wider, "Love you, mommy," She says as she gives me a big hug. I squeeze her tight in my arms as I kiss the top of her head. 

"I love you too, monkey." 

After picking out a couple of things to make sandwiches with and grabbing some milk and cereal, we head to the front of the store to check out. 

As Lana helps me put the items on the belt, the cashier starts the signature greeting, "Welcome to BarryMart where your heart and your stomach live. Did you find everything you were looking for today?" The cashier says cheerfully.  

"Yeah, I did." I softly reply. 

"Oh, I've never seen you here before. Are you passing by or did you move here?" She asks, her tone more interested to know who I am.

"Um, we just moved here," I reply just as we finish unloading the cart, Turning to look at the cashier for the first time. 

She looks around the age of sixteen or seventeen. Her dark brown hair is loosely curled, framing her beautiful flawless face. She has on some mascara that really makes her green eyes pop out at you. Her smile is bright and contagious. I can't help but smile back. She has something shiny on her lips, possibly some lip balm but other than that, that's the only makeup she has on. I'm glad because she shouldn't hide her natural beauty. She's wearing a green flannel top with faded ripped blue jeans. 

I look at her nametag and see her name is Bethany. 

"Oh, well you'll love it here. It's so beautiful and peaceful here," 

Before I can say anything back to Bethany, I hear someone say behind me, "Omg. What is she wearing?" Followed by a bunch of not so quiet giggles. 

I turn to the source and see three girls around Bethany's age giggling away as they look at Bethany. 

The one that must be the ring leader of the group stands there with her smug face all smirky. She has her bleach blonde hair tightly pulled back into a high ponytail. Her bronzer and concealer aren't blended in properly. 

"She is such a loser," As she talks, I can see cheap red lipstick sticking on her teeth. This girl needs some serious help. The other girls laugh again as they look at Bethany and start loudly whispering again. 

When I look back at Bethany she continues to scan our things with her head down. That beautiful smile is now gone. Her eyes are teared up as she tries to hold back the tears. 

As I start to say something to Bethany, Lana cuts me off.

"Hi. My name is Lana," She stretches out her arm to shake Bethany's hand.

"Hi. My name is Bethany but you can call me Beth," She says as she shakes Lana's hand. 

"You shouldn't listen to those mean girls. They're just mad that they're not as pretty as you," Lana says as she puts the bags in the cart. Bethany smiles again.

"You know, kids are known for being brutally honest," I say as I smile, "No matter how much makeup they wear or how many times they bleach their hair, they'll never have a natural beauty as you have."

"Thank you... Thank you both for being so kind to me," Bethany's voice is sincere.

_____

After we paid for our stuff and walk out of the grocery store I felt better about the situation that took place. 

Lana surely showed her personality in there. She's so caring and thoughtful. 

Even though Bethany is having to ring those girls up, she's still smiling away. As we pulled out of the parking lot. I look over to see a waving Bethany. 

One day that girl will understand her true beauty and never let some stupid girls put her down. 

I just want to thank you all for reading.