Ripple Effect (Effect 1)

Adam sat down on the chair and gave a pouting huff. I knew what he wanted. I wanted it, too, but I had to finish studying.

“I promise that you can have your wicked way with me after I’m done. You know, you’ve been having your way with me all week since I’ve been staying with you.”

He gave me a cocky grin. “I know. Those damn books might as well be called cockblockers.”

I giggled. “Well, you’ve successfully been evading the cockblockers all week. My assignments are due tomorrow. The cockblockers demand their time.”

“I’d rather you suck my cock.”

I looked up from my book. The last few days, he had successfully distracted me from my studies. Dinner tonight at my mom’s would be stressful, and I wouldn’t want to finish my homework prior to class tomorrow.

“Adam, you’re not winning this round.” I gave a no-nonsense look. “I have to get this done before we go to my mom’s. Tomorrow’s my last day of classes before finals. I promise, I want nothing more than to be wrapped around you.”

He stood and gave me a kiss. “Well, at least the cockblockers don’t hold your interest.”

I pushed him away as I laughed. “No, they don’t. Go feed Lindy.”

He winked at me and walked toward the kitchen as he said, “Come on, Lindy, let’s get you fed.”

Lindy stayed glued next to my side, and Adam gave her an incredulous look from the kitchen door. I pressed my lips together as I looked back down at my books. Nonchalantly, I patted Lindy’s head.

Adam went further into the kitchen and called, “You’ve turned my dog into a traitor.”

“She loves me.”

He mumbled something about mine and I giggled.

“Good girl,” I cooed lowly as Adam was pouring dog food. I gave Lindy a command, “Go eat, sweetie. I’ll still be here.”

Lindy took off toward the kitchen. I could hear Adam telling her what a good girl she was for staying loyal.

Well, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

I turned my attention back to my studies, trying to hurry.

Maybe there would be time to get a little action in prior to leaving.

We were in Adam’s car, headed to my mom’s for dinner. We were almost there, and my stomach was getting heavier with each passing block. Adam’s hand grazed my leg, and I jumped, letting out a little yelp.

I looked over at him and placed my hand on top of his to keep it from retreating. “Sorry. You startled me.”

Behind his shades, he glanced my way. “It’s going to be okay, Ainsley. I’ll be right there with you the entire time.”

“I know. I get this way every time. I’ll be okay. At least my mom doesn’t adhere to the exact same schedule that she used to when she was married to my dad. She hasn’t done that in years. It makes it bearable.”

Adam squeezed my hand. “We’ll make it through tonight, and then I’ll take you home and make love to you all night long.”

My teeth grazed my bottom lip. “I’d like that. I hate that we didn’t have time before we had to leave. If Mom wasn’t so persistent about being on time, then we—”

Adam interrupted me, “I want nothing more than to lose myself in you, but this is important. There’s no reason to stress your mom out.”

I squeezed his hand in response. The blinker turned on, and I noticed that we were turning into my old neighborhood filled with large homes in Buckhead. Adam didn’t say a word as the GPS took us closer to my childhood cage. Every time I entered the neighborhood, it felt as if the world was collapsing in on me, trying to suffocate me and eliminate me from existence. Adam slowed the car as we pulled up to the large red brick house with black shutters. The lawn was manicured perfectly.

“Is this it?” Adam’s voice seemed to echo through the car.

My mind felt like it was in a tunnel, trying to distance itself from all the memories invading my brain. I nodded. He parked the car, exited, and came to my door to let me out. I grabbed his hand, and we made it to the front door. I felt like a stranger here as I rang the doorbell.

The door opened, and my mom stood there with her hair perfectly pulled up while wearing her red apron that she had worn since I was a kid. My stomach knotted.

“Hey, sweetie. It’s good to see you, Adam. Dinner will be on the table in two minutes. Go ahead and take a seat.”

I walked in the door and gave my mom a hug. My voice was low as I said, “Hey, Mom.”

Adam spoke from behind me, “Thank you, Christine, for having me over.”

She gave me a pat on the back prior to quickly walking back toward the kitchen. “I’m so glad to have you. Hurry up and sit down. I don’t want dinner to be late.”

We followed her and I glanced up at Adam. He smiled, and I tried to return it, but something was up with my mom. She was acting like she used to when my dad lived here. Four places were set at the table.

I continued walking into the kitchen. “Hey, Mom. Are we expecting another guest?”

She pulled a salad out of the fridge. “Don’t be silly, Ainsley. Go ahead and take a seat. I’ll get the main course.”

We both sat down, and I felt for my ring that my grandmother had given me on my right hand.

Mom stopped, glanced at the clock, and then checked her phone. “Your father is working late tonight. I’ll make something else for when he gets home. Let’s go ahead and eat.”

“Mom, Dad doesn’t live—”

“Ainsley, why don’t you tell me about your day? How’s school?”

My mouth was dry as my mom opened the oven. This was a replica of what life had been like all those years ago. Mom went to the docking station and began playing “Requiem in D Minor” by Mozart. My heart thundered in my chest.

Something happened to Mom since I last saw her at the party.

I was speechless as I watched this scene unfold. I couldn’t say anything as she walked over with a loaf pan in her hands. Adam was saying something to me, but it sounded distant. My breaths were coming faster as I watched my mom put the loaf pan on the trivet in front of me. The smell permeated my nose, and my worst nightmare came to life as I stared at the meatloaf.

Meatloaf Wednesday.

My chest was heaving at this point as Adam put his hand on my shoulder.

I felt numb as I pictured my father walking in the door and throwing his stuff down at any moment. I had to keep blinking rapidly in order to know that the image wasn’t real.

Mom sat down and said, “Shall we say grace? Adam, you’re in for a treat. Ainsley and her father love my meatloaf.”

>

Mom began saying grace.

Adam leaned toward my ear. “Ainsley, baby, are you all right?”

I shook my head as my mom finished praying. The moment the knife cut into the meatloaf, I lost it, and tears started streaming down my face.

“Mom, Dad doesn’t—”

She cut me off again, “Ainsley, hand me Adam’s plate.”

Robotically, I reached for his plate, and Adam’s hand came on top of mine.

He whispered, “Do we need to leave?” The concern in his voice was evident.

Before I had a chance to process and respond, Mom grabbed my plate. The moment the meatloaf hit my plate, the smell became more pungent, and the bile started to rise in my throat.

I need air. I need to get out of this house.

My stomach was about to revolt on me if I didn’t get away. I pushed away from the table, causing my chair to make a terrible noise as it moved in protest. I ran to the door leading to the backyard, to my freedom. My fast pace brought me off the patio and into the grass. I took in cleansing deep breaths, trying to right the image that was inside those walls. Those walls held so many dark secrets.

I didn’t notice Adam until I felt his hand on the small of my back.

“I’m here. What do you need, baby?”

Tears started streaming down. “It’s just like when I was a child. Something happened to her. She needs help, Adam. I don’t know what to do.”

My mom’s voice called from the door, “Ainsley, Adam, dinner is getting cold. Come on back into the house. I’ll need to start cleaning up here shortly.”