AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Everest
“Everie…”Waltknocksand calls from the other side of the door.
“I’ll be out soon. I need this, please. Don’t rush me out.” I say.
Walt doesn’t say anything for a bit, and then I hear shuffling through the door. “Talk to me, Everie. Talk to me.” There’s a tone in his voice that I trust.
Something that I don’t do easily.
“Describe to me what you’re doing right now.” I say to him.
“It’s me, Walton Cambridge,” that makes me smile. “I’m sitting on the floor with my back against the door, petting Coco, who’s just as worried about you. She wants to see you just as much as I do, Everie, but I understand you need this, so I’ll give it to you.”
“There are things about me you don’t know. Things that I didn’t think I’d ever have to face again. I’ve worked so hard to be better. To not be triggered and now I’m embarrassed. People are going to know me because of this again, as the poor little Bautista child that was kidnapped. The one that it was her fault that her dad died trying to save her. He didn’t have to die. He shouldn’t have tried to save me.” I wipe at the tears coming down my face.
“Somehow, I don’t believe that it’s your fault that your father tried to save you. Any sane parent would save their child from that kind of shit. You’re all they care about.”
“No.”
“No, what?” Walt asks.
“That I’m all they care about. The only one that cared about me was Abuelita. I know she loved me in her way and I’ll always love her just as much.”
“Can I ask you something?” Walt asks.
“Yeah?”
“Your attack six weeks ago…” he pauses and I know he thinks he’s going to set me off somehow.
“Yeah?” I encourage him.
“Was that someone you knew?”
“Yeah, it was my family.” I answer, honestly. “Well, let me be specific. I know it was my mother because I testified against her brother. He killed someone, and I witnessed it. She didn’t want me to be honest, but our maid didn’t deserve to die because he was cheating on his wife.”
“When did this happen?” Walt asks. “When did you testify?”
“I heard a noise, and I followed. My uncle didn’t know I saw him and I didn’t tell Hunter because at that time, he was overseas since he’s in the special forces. I was 16.”
“Are you fucking kidding me!” Walt says louder and I pull my knees closer to my chest, whimpering as I cover my ears for a second before shaking myself out of that stupor.
“Don’t yell, please. Not right now. Maybe later.” I offer.
“I’m sorry.” Walt sighs. “I wasn’t yelling at you.”
“I know. I really do. I just… I need a second to ease back into it.” I say honestly. “But don’t feel like you can’t express yourself around me. I won’t always be this sensitive to noise or loud expressions. I just need a second to adjust and tell myself that I’m somewhere where none of you will hurt me or trap me.”
“Everie…” Walt calls my name out, and it reminds me of Abuelita. She called my name like that and it was just as soothing as it is now.
Clearing my throat, I try not to think about her.
“The rest of my family, especially mom and her side, want me gone so they can get the inheritance, or rather what I’ve inherited since both Papi and Abuelita are gone. Hunter has his inheritance, but he made sure Papi’s and Abuelita’s inheritance went to me instead.” I say, changing the subject.
“What do you mean? They get nothing?”
“Yeah. Mom didn’t come from money, but dad did. He’s a Bautista and when he married her, she was going to have it all, but then she had my brother, Hunter. She was fine with just him, but she had an unplanned pregnancy when my brother was 15. Mami was good to me once. She loved me before… before everything.”
“She didn’t speak to you when you were found? How were you found?” Walt asks.
