Page 55 of Range
Her silence was disruptive. Seconds passed and there was still nothing from her end. And, then, finally, a whale that ripped my chest open and pulled my heart from it.
“Siah– What is happening?”
“Where is Aubrey?”
Traumatizing my niece had never been and would never be my intention.
There weren’t words. Only whimpers. And, tears. And heavy, unsteady breathing.
“Jenny… Where is Aubrey?”
“A– A– Asleep,” she stuttered.
I tilted my head as my palm pressed against my chest and began rubbing in circles. Counterclockwise.
“Don’t cry,” I begged, unable to withstand her tears. “Don’t do that, Jenny.”
“I– Siah– What happens now? How am I supposed to go on? What am I supposed to tell Aubrey? She’s asking about you! She misses her father. She–”
I couldn’t hear Janeese tell me how much Aubrey missed or cared about a man who used her innocence for personal gain. Extensive research led me to unbelievable discoveries. Aubrey’s images were being sold all around the world, in the underbelly of the internet. The dark corners of the web. It wasn’t personal pleasure that forced Anthony to do the unthinkable. It was greed and gambling debt.
“You mourn, Janeese. Mourn what was. What could’ve been. What’ll never be. And, allow Aubrey to do the same.”
“She expects you, still.”
“Tell her not to wait up on me.”
“Siah–” Janeese whimpered.
“I’ll be a minute, but I’m coming. I’ll always come. She knows it and she’ll understand it.”
“I’ve lost two lives at once. My husband is dead and my brother is being framed for his murder. I’m drowning here.”
“You’ve always been a phenomenal swimmer.”
“I’m tired. My arms are tired. My legs are tired. My heart is tired.”
“But, you can’t give up. You have someone counting on you. She doesn’t have her dad. She doesn’t have her uncle. She has you. So, chin up, Janeese. Dry those pretty eyes when the crying is done and keep pushing.”
“Mommy.”
Aubrey’s voice stiffened my limbs. It halted my breath. It stopped my heart.
“Is that Uncle Siah?”
I released the breath I was holding.
“I– uh–”
“You’ve never lied to her before, Jenny. Don’t let tonight be the first time.”
“Yes, baby.”
“Can I talk to him?”
There was a long pause.
“Siah,” sse whispered.
