Rose with a Thorn

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I knew I was dreaming. I wouldn’t even call it a dream, more like a nightmare. I was thrashing in my bindings, screaming for someone to let me out. There was a blindfold covering my eyes and there was so much pain in my head, it felt like someone was squeezing it tight. I couldn’t stop the pressure, or the screaming.

Suddenly I jerked up into a sitting position, trying to catch my breath. I was no longer tied up, the room I was in was bright, with all the windows left open and a soft breeze coming through. The door was wide open, probably so I didn’t feel claustrophobic.

“Hello?” I called out, not wanting to leave the bed I was in.

After a few seconds, a woman walked into the room carrying a covered tray. “You must be Rose, it’s so nice to meet you finally.”

“Who are you?” I demanded, looking around. “Where’s Michael?”

“Mike went out to handle some business, but I promise you’re safe with me. If he didn’t show up for this meeting, Keith would’ve been suspicious.”

I was suspicious. Why would he leave me with this random woman? How long had I been asleep for? My head was hurting from all the questions running through it. And why do I keep hearing ‘my daughter’ playing in my head. It had been stuck on repeat since I opened my eyes.

“You must be so confused. I’m sorry it’s taken us so long. I’m sorry things had to be this way.”

“Who are you?” I asked again with a little less malice.

“You don’t recognize me... No, of course not. You were taken so young. Oh, my dear sweet Rose. I promised Mike I'd wait until he got home to tell you, but I just can’t take it.” She had tears in her eyes as she kept rambling on.

“Can you please just tell me who you are? What is going on?” I couldn’t take the suspense anymore.

“Rose, honey, I’m your mom...”

Wait... what! I looked at this beautiful, tall, woman in absolute shock. “No... no. You can’t be! My parents abandoned me! Get out! Just get out!”

I knew I was being irrational screaming at this woman who was willingly helping me, but this was too much. She couldn’t be my mother. It didn’t make any sense. My mother and father abandoned me in a forest. They left me. For all I knew, they were dead. They were dead to me.

I didn’t realize I had started crying until I felt her hand wipe my tears. I jerked away from her. “Don’t touch me! Just get out!”

She slowly backed away towards the door, silent tears falling from her own eyes. She was covering her mouth with her hands, trying to hold back her sobs. I didn’t care. I couldn’t think straight.

She was closing the door but stopped with a c***k left open. “I know this is a shock to you. It was to me too when Mike told me he had finally found you. But it doesn’t change the facts. You're my daughter, and I'm your mother. You don’t have to call me that until you’re ready, but for now you can call me Rachelle.”

She closed the door and left. I quickly got up, running over to the door. I noticed there was a lock on it, so I flicked it and dragged one of the chairs in the room to put under the door handle. I sank to the floor and burst into tears. This couldn’t be real. She couldn’t really be my mother, could she? And that would make Michael… my father.

Part of me wanted to believe my line of thinking was correct, while the other part of me was screaming to get as far away from these people as possible. If they really were my parents, I had so many questions they needed to answer before I could even begin to wrap my head around this or accept them as such. As far as I was been concerned, my parents were dead.

My body started to tremble. Slowly at first, and then it hit like waves of a tsunami. My vision was getting blurry, all I could do was succumb to what was happening. I was sucked like a vacuum into the future.

I was standing around a corner with my back plastered to the wall.

“No, she didn’t go this way, she went that way!”

“I swear if you don’t find her Michael, I will make you watch me torture her, before I make her watch me kill you.”

I gulped. Did I save Michael or save myself?

“You didn’t think I'd find out, did you? Well, let me tell you, I knew. I knew the whole time. How else was I supposed to keep you in line?”

The vision ended and I was sitting on the floor, crying. So, it’s true then, they really were my parents. I needed to get myself together. I couldn’t remember ever crying this much or being so weak before. I stood up and noticed the bathroom off to the side for the first time. I walked over and flicked the light on. Did I ever look like trash?

I took in the inventory of the room and found a towel. I decided to take a shower and wash all the mud and dirt off me. I turned the water on hot, knowing I'd probably regret scalding my skin. I had every intention of washing off the last few days.

I scrubbed my hair with shampoo twice just to help me feel a little normal again. I continued standing under the water until it started to turn cold. I couldn’t stop thinking about the vision I had. Keith knew Michael was my father. He must’ve known that Michael was going to eventually give himself away eventually. Or maybe that was his intended plan.

I got out and dried myself off. As I was looking through the closet for something clean to wear, there was a knock on the door.

“Rose... honey... can you hear me? Is everything alright? The shower was running for quite some time.” I heard Rachelle faintly say through the door.

“I’m fine.” I called back. I got dressed and towel dried my hair. It felt so good to pretend everything was back to normal for once. Even for a few seconds.

It was an exhausting day and I wanted to go back to sleep for a while. I climbed back in bed, thinking I'd lay down for a few minutes and then maybe I’d feel up to asking Rachelle if I could have some food.

I must have completely dozed off. I was suddenly woken up by a loud bang on the door. “Open the door right now before I break it in.” Michael was back.

“Coming!” I yelled as I sleepily walked over to the door. I moved the chair out from under the handle and flicked the switch open. The door burst open 2 seconds later, and I was engulfed in a tight hug.

“I’m so glad you’re safe. I didn’t want to leave but Keith called everyone in to start a search for you, and I knew if I didn’t go, he’d think I was a part of your escape.”

I didn’t know why but his embrace was like something I had never experienced before. It was full of warmth and... love. I couldn’t stop myself from sinking into him and wrapping my arms behind his back. He held me even tighter.

We stayed like that for several minutes in silence, until Rachelle cleared her throat. “I think we need to sit down and talk. Rose, why don’t you come have some food and a warm drink, and we will tell you everything.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to hear about being abandoned yet. But I am rather hungry, so I'll at least come and eat.”

Michael and Rachelle looked at each other, before looking back at me. “That sounds very reasonable, doesn’t it Rachelle?”

I could see her eyes fill with tears again at my hostility towards her. Regardless, she nodded her head and turned around, walking toward what I presumed to be the kitchen.

“Try not to be so hard on us, Rose.” Michael whispered. “The day you went missing was one of the hardest days of our lives.”

Michael walked away, leaving me standing in the room alone. Slowly I walked out following him, and I was met with the most gorgeous house I think I had ever seen. I was admiring everything from the tall ceilings to the warmth of the decorations all over. I turned to my left and I was speechless at how beautiful their kitchen was!

The counters were white with specs of black here and there, black cupboards from the ground up! They had a farmhouse sink in stainless steel and all stainless-steel appliances. I was in utter awe. It looked exactly like the dream kitchen I had always wanted!

Michael laughed at my expression as he stood behind Rachelle. He linked his arms around her stomach and rested his chin on her shoulder. “I take it you like what you see.”

“This is beautiful. Truly, this is the most amazing kitchen I have ever seen. Please tell me you cook in here all the time?”

“We do. Every day I'm not running errands for Keith, I cook for Rachelle. When I'm not home, we usually have a chef come in and cook for her.”

“I’m not a great cook, but I can make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. Would you like one?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Sure, why not.”

She seemed a little deflated at my response. Michael motioned me toward the couch to take a seat. “Would you like to watch tv?” he said.

“I guess so. I could use the distraction.”

“Okay, great. While you’re eating your grilled cheese, Rachelle and I would like to talk to you a little if that’s okay?”

I didn’t really know what to say, so I turned away to go sit on the couch. I heard Michael sigh before he came to sit next to me.

“We just want to get to know you, Rose. Your likes and dislikes, your favorite subject in school. Little things so we know the kind of woman you’re growing into.”

“I’d rather not talk about anything yet. Can we just sit here silently and watch tv? That's all I want right now. I don’t want to talk anymore.” I turned back to the tv, but I knew they were both disappointed that I didn’t want to share anything about myself yet.

Rachelle brought over my grilled cheese, and we put on a movie while I ate. After I finished, I tucked my feet under me on the couch and rested my hand on my fist. What a long, exhausting few days it’s been. I must’ve fallen asleep again. I vaguely felt strong arms pick me up to carry me. I slightly opened my eyes when I was gently laid on the bed. “Get some rest. The next few days are going to be long too.”

I closed my eyes and welcomed the darkness.