It’s been so long since I’ve had sex, that it hurts a little. He moves faster and faster which makes the slight sting fade.
Claiming my mouth, he devours me. As he breaks the kiss, he thrusts deeper into me, and it hits the spot. Pleasure ripples through me, and Kyle follows right after me.
Pulling out of me, Kyle’s eyes lock on mine with an intense look. “I knew we would be good together. You’re mine now, Evie.”
∞∞∞
I stare at the modest house with the dilapidated white picket fence, trying to imagine what it would’ve been like growing up here.
I picture a little girl with red pigtails, running around the yard, laughing as her daddy scoops her up and places her on his shoulders. She’s on top of the world.
I finally got some information on my mother. Josephine Bailey. As scared as I am about what else I might learn, I know I’ll always wonder if I don’t go through with this.
Straightening my spine, I walk up the path. I hesitate for a second before I push through my fear and nerves, and I knock on the door.
An elderly lady opens the door, and my first thought is; could she be my grandma?
“Hi.” My voice is shaky from the fear that my parents still won’t want me. “I’m looking for Josephine Bailey.”
The woman furrows her brow as she tries to recall the name.
“The name doesn’t ring a bell. I’ve only lived here four years.” She stabs a thumb in the direction of the neighbor’s house. “If the person you’re looking for lived here before me, then Maggie will know them. Best you go ask her.”
The door closes in my face before I can thank her.
I glance over at the neighboring house. It doesn’t look much better. It’s clear that the neighborhood has fallen on hard times.
I make my way over to Maggie’s house and knock. This time I’m not feeling nervous at all. I feel a sense of dread that I’ll never find my parents.
A woman opens the door, and my eyes widen as I take in her appearance. Her purple hair is full of curlers, and a cigarette is dangling from her bottom lip. It looks like it’s about to drop any second. A thin flannel robe covers her skinny body, and worn slippers are on her feet.
I clear my throat when she raises an eyebrow at me.
“Hi, Maggie,” I say, forcing a smile to my face.
“Do I know you?” she says, her voice gruff from years of smoking. She squints her eyes as she looks at me as if she’s seen me before but can’t quite place where.
“Uhm… no. I’m looking for Josephine Bailey. I was wondering if you knew her?”
Her mouth gapes open, and the cigarette falls to the floor. Slapping her hand over her heart, her eyes grow wide as a saucer.
“Can it be?” With trembling fingers, she grabs the spectacles hanging around her neck and shoves them onto her nose. “As I live and breathe,” she whispers. “I thought he’d thrown you in the river.”
Confused and shocked by her words, I can only stare at her.
She reaches a wrinkly hand out to me, and her touch is unbelieving as she caresses my face.
“My God, you’re the spitting image of Joey,” she breathes.
The next second she grabs hold of my arm and yanks me into the house.
Keeping hold of my arms, she continues to stare at me for a long while.
I swallow hard, and ask the one question I fear most, “Did you know my mom?”
She starts to nod her head as her face fills with sadness, and it makes my heart sink into the floorboards beneath my feet.
“Let’s have some tea.”