River We are sitting in our home a couple hours later waiting for someone to tell us if they have found our little boy or not. I knew my father was a psycho and he would do anything to hurt my mother and me, but I never thought he would hurt my child. His grandchild. But I should have known he would do just about anything to hurt me, right? “River, honey, would you like a glass of tea or a cup of hot chocolate?” Mom comes into the living room from the kitchen and asks me. “Cup of hot chocolate would be great.” Mom smiles at me, then heads back into the kitchen to get my hot chocolate. Rock is pacing a hole in the floor and it’s just making me even more nervous. “Rock! Sit down, please.” I ask him, so he does. Then grabs my hand and squeezes it. “I’m sorry Riv.” He tells me. “What is there for you to be sorry about Rock?” I ask him. “Everything River. The way I treated you when
Rock We are walking around the streets of Mexico trying to find Liam. I’m about to lose my shit when we spot a woman holding a baby sitting at a fruit stand. We run over to the woman and River tells the woman to turn the baby around so we can see the baby’s face. The woman does as we ask, and River cries out in joy. She snatches Liam up in her arms and checks him over, making sure he doesn’t have any wounds on him. Jim is a really stupid fucking bad guy. This is his second kidnapping and demanding of things and the second time the fuck wad was arrested. I grab River and Liam up in my arms and hold them as tight as I can without hurting them. “Let’s go home, baby.” The officer that came with us escorts us back to the police station where they have Jim held. We are told since he was caught here in Mexico with Liam that he will await trial here and more than likely service his sentence out here. Hopefully, t
“Ha-pi-bird-day, ha-pi-bird-day to Liam. Ha-pi-bird-day to me.” Liam is singing the birthday song along with us. It’s so hard to believe my little tiny baby is 2 today. It’s been a good two years. Rock and I are in our third year of college and Rock got an offer to the NFL. He will be a Chicago Bears come September. I, on the other hand, will stay in college and moving on to my elective. I have decided I want to be a therapist. If I could help at least one person who has gone through the hell I have been through will make it all worth it. “It’s Wiams bird-day, isn’t it, ma-ma?” “It is Liam’s birthday. How old is Liam going to be?” I ask my little guy. “Wiam be 2. Ma-ma be 5,” Liam tells me, then giggles. “Who told you that?” I ask, laughing at him. “Da-da.” Liam tells me, pointing at Rock. I look over at Rock, and he laughs. “Who’s ready for cake?” Rock asks Liam. “Nice save.” I tell him and we cut Liam his cake, then I cut everyone their slice
River "Miss Stephenson, wake up!" Our math teacher, Ms. Davis, shouts at the girl sitting next to me. I give her a gentle shake to wake her up, but as always, I get yelled at for it. I've always been the odd one out, the outsider. I'm the water girl for the football team because I can't play any sports. My two left feet always hold me back. One of the popular girls on the team, Marie, insults me, calling me the "nasty girl" and saying she'll have to scrub her arm until it bleeds to get my "nastiness" off. I'm not sure how I got this reputation as the "nasty girl" in school, but it's been that way for a few years now. Thankfully, this is my last year here. I've already sent in all my college applications and I'm just waiting for the right one to accept me. I look over at my best friend, Sydney, as she defends me against Marie's insults. Sydney tells Marie to go eat pussy and leave me alone. "God, Sydney, do you have to be so vulgar?" I ask her. "Ah, River, d
Rock What the hell, Water Girl stole the show? I should be the one leaving right now, not her. “Amy, say your goodnights to my mom and Jim. We're leaving too.” “What no Rock? You should stay and let me treat you to a steak and a glass of wine. Besides, don't ruin this for your mom and the other kids like River just did.” I glance at my mom and see the sadness in her eyes, so I decide to stay. I mean, come on, Jim is offering steak and wine. Who can pass that up? “James, tell me how school is going, son. I feel like I never get to see you anymore since football season started.” “It's fine, Mom. We're kicking ass in football as usual.” I don't know why my mom thinks making small talk at the table is still a thing. Because it's definitely not. I endure the boring dinner with my mom and Jim. Once it's over, Amy and I head to a party at a friend's house. “Rock, my man, you made it.” Speedy says. “Of course, Speedy. It wouldn't be a party without me,” I tell my buddy. "Wow, such a bi
River It's Saturday morning, and unsurprisingly, my dad is not at home. I'm pretty sure he's at Martinez's place. Maybe he'll even move in with them and leave me here alone in this house. One can only hope. Suddenly, I hear a loud noise coming from downstairs, so I go out of my room to see what's happening. "What are you doing here?" I ask Rock when I reach the bottom of the stairs and see him and some of his football friends carrying a bed. "Hey sis, I'm home," he says. What the heck? "What do you mean you're home, Rock? Why are you bringing a bed into my house? Where is my dad?" "We're moving in, roomie... and your dad is at the other house helping my mom with her things." Oh my god, this can't be happening. "What room am I going into, River? This is getting a little heavy," Rock asks. "Um, take it back out the door and put it in the room it came from," I tell him, just as my dad walks through the door. "River Nichole Darby, that is no way to talk to your soon-to-be stepb
Rock "Are you all settled in, buddy?" Mom asks when she enters the room, which is now mine at the Darby's house. "Yeah, I still have a few things to unpack," I reply. I glance around the room and notice that all my posters are up on the wall. I've also replaced the old, stuffy sheets and comforter on the queen-size bed. The guys and I went out and bought some new ones. It's more my style, especially with the credit card Jim gave me. How cool is it that I have my own credit card while his own daughter has to work for her money, on top of school and everything she does for the team? "Loser!" I say jokingly. "That's good to know," Mom says. "Well, I'm going to head out. I have to work the night shift at the hospital tonight." "Hey Mom, do you still have to work two jobs now that you're marrying Jim?" I ask. "No, probably not, but I enjoy my jobs," she replies. "Okay, it's just that you work so hard." "I'm not marrying Jim for his money
River "Hey dad, how's your trip going?" "Don't 'hey dad' me, River. Why on earth did you think it was a good idea to throw a party? You've never done anything like this before. Is this your way of rebelling because Gab and the kids moved in?" "I didn't throw the party, dad. I was at work." "Oh, don't you dare try to blame Rock... River?" Of course, he doesn't believe a word I'm saying. I give up. "What do you want my punishment to be while you're gone for two weeks?" "Don't you dare talk back to me. Put Rock on the phone." "Why, dad?" "Do it, River, or this will be even more difficult for you." "Is this some kind of joke?" "Never mind, River, I will call his cell phone myself." "Oh, look, River, your dad's calling me," Rock says from the door. He must have followed me to my room. "Good evening, Mr. Darby, how's your trip going? I'm terribly sorry about the party. I was assured it would be okay." Rock listens to dad for a few minutes. "Yes, sir, we both can do that. We both