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Maw-Maw really went all out getting everything set up for us, which isn’t super surprising since Emmalynn Claire Aaron doesn’t do anything half ass. I’m sitting by the pool just watching the kids play and have a good time, when Maw-Maw walks up to the patio table I’m at with a stack of papers.
“What’s all that for?”
“Take a look,” she replies as she hands me the stack.
Glancing at each page as I flip through, it looks like bank information with my name on it. WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING? “Does this say I have a bank account with almost three million dollars in it? Did you rob a bank, or something? Oh my god, these have the kids’ names and they have over one hundred fifty thousand dollars EACH?! I think I’m going to pass out.’’
She grabs a bottle of water out of the mini fridge beside us and hands it to me. “Well, sweetheart, your parents were pretty well off. Your dad was a lawyer and your mom had her own obstetrics practice. They were both really good with their money, and set up bank accounts for you and your sister as soon as y'all were born. They added to it from every paycheck, and any birthday money anyone put in cards was also added. I added money weekly as well. Then when they died, their life insurance and all the money from their assets was divided between you and Saige.
“I included a percentage of the money I received from my family’s trust as well, and the kids’ accounts have been interest bearing since the day they were born. I didn’t tell you about it sooner because you met that asswipe in high school and I knew you’d want to spend it all to start a life with him. I paid for your college anyway, then when you chose to marry him right out of high school I didn’t want him to spend it all. I knew he wasn’t great to you. Granted, I didn’t know how bad it would get. I’m so sorry, baby. If I would have given it to you sooner, you may have gotten out before it got to that point. Do you think you could ever forgive me?’’
I wipe my eyes and get up to wrap my arms around my now crying grandmother. “There is absolutely nothing to forgive. We both know he would have taken every bit of that money and I would have never gotten a dime. Besides, no one knew how bad it got, so you can’t blame yourself. Honestly, if the nurse wouldn’t have called you that night, I probably wouldn’t have said anything.”
“Why? I could have helped you, Isla, you know I would do anything for you.”
I sigh, knowing I need to tell her the full truth. “You should probably sit down, Maw-Maw.” After she sits and gets a drink, I start from the beginning.
“He wasn’t always physically abusive, that didn’t start until we got married. I took too long to finish dinner, clean, or I looked at another man too long, or I talked to some guy in class. It got worse after I found out I was pregnant the first time… we didn’t know at the time and he got mad about something and pushed me down the stairs. I thought my leg was broken so I talked him into taking me to the hospital, but he made me swear I would tell them I fell. I also had really painful cramps, so they did a routine pregnancy test and that’s when I found out I was pregnant. When they did the ultrasound, it turned out I was fourteen weeks along. It was a girl, but she had no heartbeat. I had already lost her, because he killed our baby when he pushed me. When we got back home he said he was glad the baby died, because he didn’t want a girl. He already had one useless woman to deal with, he didn't need another,’’ I finish, sobbing. I glance over at the kids to make sure they are okay and not paying attention.
“Oh my sweet girl.”
“I’m not done Maw-Maw. Sadly, that’s not all. I buried her in the back yard under a rose bush, and I named her Willow. He decided about a week later he wanted to actually try for a boy, that it was time for me to be useful. He didn’t care if I didn’t want to, or that I wasn’t healed. He raped me almost every night for almost nine months until I got pregnant again. He tracked my cycle, knew when I could take a test, and every time the test was negative he beat me. I finally got pregnant again but about three weeks later I was bleeding and hurting really bad. He eventually took me to the hospital after me begging and telling him something was wrong with the baby.” I have to take a deep breath before I continue.
“When I got there, they said I was having an ectopic pregnancy, so I was rushed into emergency surgery. As soon as we got home he beat me again, saying it was my fault. That pattern kept going until I got pregnant with Arden. While I was pregnant he never laid a hand on me, but he would still yell, cuss, and throw things. However, once we found out it was a boy, Corin started acting like the man I fell in love with. Until I got pregnant with Lochlan. He was pissed, said he wasn’t ready for another baby, then he beat the crap out of me until the neighbors called the cops. They couldn’t do anything of course, not with his dad being the Chief of Police. There was an older officer who responded and told him if he ever found out Corin put his hands on me again, he would kill him himself.
“He didn’t hit me again for two and half years. He was still cruel, but I ignored him. Once I got pregnant with Vivi, and we found out she was a girl, it was like a switch flipped. He beat me so badly I almost lost her. The officer from before found out, and he and some of his friends jumped Corin leaving the hospital and told him next time he’d die. So he learned to hide the abuse, and he’d rape me hoping that would work. That’s why Vivi was born early. One night while I was sitting in the hospital, Corin had just taken the boys home, and that officer, Mark, came in. He gave me $500 and told me to take my kids and run. He said he had lost his daughter to the same kind of situation and didn’t want to see that happen to someone else.” I pause for a moment as I think back to that night and all that happened after.
“So I spent the next year and half planning, and the officer made sure Corin kept his hands off me by blackmailing the police chief. The night Corin died, Mark’s buddy had overheard Corin and his dad talking about getting rid of me and Vivian. They said they were going to make it look like an accident. Mark called and told me he couldn’t let that happen, and what he planned to do to stop them.
“He followed Corin and his dad from the station for a few blocks before he recognized where they were headed. Once he realized their destination, he took side streets to meet them further down the road. When he got to the intersection, he hit the gas pedal and turned the wheel toward them just enough to lose traction on the asphalt that was still wet from the rain earlier that day. They were killed instantly when their 2014 Dodge Viper SRT hit the side of his older Chevy 3500 dually. However, the impact didn’t set his airbags off and he was sent forward into his steering wheel, crushing his ribcage, and killing him as well. A few days before he died, Mark had sent every bit of evidence he gathered to the mayor, every top brass in the police department, and even the local news. He made a deal with the news station for them just to run with the corruption but to leave me and the kids out of it.” I sigh sadly.
“The reason it took so long for me to be able to move was because Corin’s mom was trying to get custody of the kids. The DA finally put a stop to it, and the day she called and told me I could leave, I hauled ass. I had everything packed and ready. Unfortunately, I doubt it’s over, since that bitch is just as crazy as her husband and son were.” When I finally look up, I see so many emotions on my grandmother’s face.
“Isla Claire you should have called me! I could have helped you!” She exclaimed.
“I was scared they would try to kill you too, even though I never brought you up to Corin or his family. I let them think you passed, and with Saige in jail, I knew y’all were safe,’’ I tell her tearfully.
Wrapping me up in a hug, she says “Well baby you’re safe now, and I’ll never be able to put into words how thankful I am for Mark. Did he have any family we could send money to?”
“Sadly, no. His wife died six years ago from cancer and his daughter was killed four years ago. I want to make a donation in his name to a domestic violence shelter though.”
“Okay love, I’ll set it up,” she replies, patting my hands.
After I compose myself, we decide it’s time to get the kids out of the pool. Later that night, we eat an amazing dinner of chicken and dumplings, followed by baths and a movie. Once I tuck the kids in, I fall into bed, knowing the nightmares will come.
