Our Family Adventure
The scenery flew by in a blur. The colors blending as one huge smear across the window. I didn't know if it was because of the speed, or because I had checked out. My mind reeling, my stomach in knots, my emotions all over the place, I was a complete mess.
Why! I wanted to scream. Why is this happening? Why us? Why now? Why, why, why? I know that sounded so selfish now considering Milla's life could literally be in danger but here I sat thinking of how this was just one more thing happening to me. I really was a terrible person.
"Sarah..."
It had not gotten by me that it seemed that since a week ago this past Friday that things had started happening. Now I'm not pushing the whole karma thing as a real thing or anything but was that what this was? Just bad karma. I know most people think that what my family is engaged in is not just illegally wrong but morally wrong as well. Incest. Such a little word for so many implications that could be had.
"Sarah..."
First John and now Milla. Bad karma went back as far as I could remember in this family. Martha's cancer. Floyd being killed, John's arrest and now accident. The list went on and on of things never even mentioned in these writings. And now Milla. She may not be biological family, but she did tell me that she had engaged in incest with her mother. And as far as I was concerned, I was her mom now. I..."
"SARAH! Are you even hearing me?"
The blur was fading as dusk settled in and all I could see now was the reflection of the lights from the dash in the window. I heard Kim talking but did I really want to answer? And how is she going to fit into what I knew was needing to be done. I at least owed her the respect of my attention.
"I'm sorry. Just thinking. What were you saying?"
"I asked if you were going to tell me what the hell is going on."
I nodded slowly as I was considering just how much she needed to know. In the end I decided to tell her everything and let her decide for herself how much she wanted to get involved, if any at all.
I explained to Kim how Milla came to live with us and the life she came from. I realized that I didn't even know all the details of that life, but I knew enough and read between the lines. It wasn't a pretty picture I painted, and Kim squirmed in her seat a little as I told her.
I also told her the fun parts as I was trying to relive the good to override the bad. I told Kim about the first time Milla, and I had sex. When John and she had sex, and even the day when Ashley and I had returned from being with her and Bian and what transpired when we got home. I was starting to feel more upbeat and surer of myself that all was going to be okay, then Kim said.
"May I be brutely honest with you?"
I looked at her now unsure of how I felt about anything again due to her tone. In my experience anytime someone starts a question with those words it's never going to be easy after that.
"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Okay. Well, a minute ago you were talking about what Milla had been living through before she came to live with you. Then you brought up the sex that you had together, not to mention now the sex that I have had with her..."
"Yeah, what's your point?"
"Well, did it not occur to you that considering the life she was being forced to lead there, that maybe she needed a break from any kind of sexual involvement? Maybe some therapy. Also, considering that life, that maybe she should have been tested for lord knows what she may have contracted from who knows who."
I knew Kim was right and now again I felt terrible. Not just as a mother but as a person as well. I had no idea how to respond.
"And if I may, and hopefully don't make you mad for saying this, but you said right off that Ashley was the one that was interested in Milla, correct?"
"Yeah. Ashley said she thought she may have had a crush on her from school, volleyball, it doesn't matter. Why?"
"Well, Ashley brings her out to meet you and John after a game. Clearly, she is interested in getting to know her better. You all go out and eat and then everything else happens and you bring her home with you. Then within that same night you had sex with her. Does Ashley know that? I know she knows that John had sex with Milla before her, but does she know you did as well and that very same night you brought her home, knowing that Ashley was interested in her. Possibly for more than just sex."
It hurt me hearing her say these things. At first my thoughts were defensive, trying to reconcile my actions but the more I heard I had to admit she was right. My tears began flowing freely down my cheeks and I turned away from her to stare out the window again.
Kim had stopped speaking. I don't know why. Maybe because she really was done speaking or maybe she realized her truth hurt me. We rode in silence for the next mile or two until she finally broke in and asked.
"So, what's the plan? How are we getting Milla back?"
I caught that she said 'we', but I wasn't ready to go there yet. I was still reeling from her words, and I needed to confront myself before I went any further.
"I don't know. Or I should say I'm not sure. Yes. No. I really don't know."
"What? What are you saying?" Kim asked.
"The answer to your question. 'Does Ashley know that I had sex with Milla before her and when'. I honestly can't remember if she knows or not. If she does, she hasn't said anything about it. Or at least not to me."
Kim nodded her head slowly in that 'I understand' way. I hated that she wasn't saying more. You can't argue or defend against silence. Damn she was good.
I hated to hear these things about myself but at the same time I respected Kim for being able to be completely honest with me and open. I knew if I was going to grow more as a person I needed to hear them. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Right now, I was feeling ugly with myself.
"Thank you." I said to her.
"For what?"
"For being you. For being honest with me. For calling me out on my bullshit. And for being willing to piss me off and maybe even risk our relationship over it. Thank you."
"Risk our relationship? How so?"
"Well, ya know. You had no idea how I would react to hearing such negative things about myself. You didn't know if I would want to end it with you or try and start a big fight or just what might have happened, but you were willing to risk it all anyways so that you could be honest with me, and I appreciate that."
I knew that didn't come out exactly as I wanted it to, and I had no 'want to' to continue trying to explain myself. I also knew we were getting close to home, and I had other things to say.
"Look, I know deep down I suck as a person. I'm not much of a mother and lord only knows why you or anyone else would be even slightly interested in getting to know me, let alone be willing to be in a relationship with me. If you only knew half of the things that go on in my head, you'd run for the hills, and I wouldn't blame you. And that's not me being passive aggressive or having self-pity and trying to make you feel sorry for me. It's a fact and I know it."
Kim looked over at me for a second then turned her eyes back to the road with a sly smile on her face.
"What?" I asked her.
"Nothing. I was just wondering what some of those thoughts might be that I'd run for the hills if I knew. Trust me, I have thoughts too. And wouldn't it be funny if we had some of the same thoughts? Couldn't that be fun."
I laughed at this and turned in my seat towards her more. Even in the low light of the dash her silhouette was sexy as hell to me. I couldn't help but want her.
WHAT? And that's exactly what I was just saying about myself ran through my head. I should be worrying about Milla and creating a plan. No sexual thoughts until she was safe. But noooo, here I am thinking and wanting sex from a person I had only known for a little over a week. What the fuck is wrong with me.
"So, out of all that I just said, all you took away from it was the fact that we may have the same bad thoughts?"
Kim smiled mischievously. "No, I heard everything you said it's just I don't agree with you about most of it."
"Which part?"
"That you are a bad person or mother. That's bullshit. You are one of the most loving and caring people I have ever met, and you are a great mother. Remember I told you that back at the mall. As far as bad thoughts go, we all have them. The trick is, do we act on them or not. Also, you made some bad choices or decisions. We all do that too. The trick there is what do you do about it now? Do you learn from them? Do you rectify any problems associated with them? Do you own them and correct them if you can."
Her words made sense and I knew she was right. I knew I needed to talk with Ashley and apologize for my disrespect. I also knew that I owed Milla even more right now. But first we had to get her back.