Promises Forgotten
Chapter 47

“So, Ron, Jacob, Ann, Elizabeth, David, his wife, your dude, probably.”

“Elliot wants to invite the girls over. So, add their parents if they want to come. Maybe Frank and his family?”

Mike nodded. “Scrolling through his phone. I’ll send out the invite. I already have the girls’ parents, too. Since the last family day.”

“Thanks.”

Another knock on the door and Mike went out. He came back, followed by Ron and Zach. Elliot didn’t acknowledge either of them. Ron ruffled his hair, but Zach looked upset.

“Hey kiddo, you alright?” Zach came up behind him and went to rub his back but Elliot moved away.

“El!”

He huffed and grabbed his book. “I’m going to read.” Jumping out of his seat, he stomped up the stairs.

I walked after him. “El, please…”

The door to the bedroom slammed shut and I winced. Going back into the kitchen, I took my cup of coffee in my hand. It started to shake, and I threw it against the cabinets, shattering. I squatted down and curled up into a ball.

“¿Mija…que esta pasando?” [Daughter, what is happening?]

“Las pesadillas no me dejarán ir. Lo asusté, Papá. Hago todo lo que puedo para ocultar ese lado. Pero jodidamente lo asusté.” [The nightmares won’t let me go. I scared him, Dad. I do everything I can to hide that side. But I f*****g scared him.]

I started to sob. The flashes of my nightmare, the look on Elliot’s face. His fear and tears. All of them because of me.

“Did you throw up? Is that why you haven’t had anything to eat?” Mike and Ron were both used to this. The two of them have been there for me this whole time.

Nodding, I curled up further.

“I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry. I’m sure he is just worried for you.”

“Thanks, Papá.”

Hearing Ron leave, I just stay curled up. Eyes closed, I tried to fight off the panic attack rising. Finally, my hands started to shake again.

“Mike, can you grab…”

“Yeah. I got it. 2 seconds.”

He left as well. I didn’t hear Zach and I wondered if he followed after Elliot. Mike came back and he stepped around me. Handing me a glass of water and my medication, I took two and handed the water back.

“Thanks. Give me like…5 minutes. I’ll be okay.”

“Ron is talking with El. He’ll be okay, Ev. You two have just been through a lot.”

He got up and left me in the kitchen. After a few minutes, I felt my heart rate slow to normal, my breathing became easier. The panic ebbed away into a dull numbness. Opening my eyes, I sighed, looking at the mess on the floor and cabinets. I shuffled forward in my squat, grabbing pieces of the mug off the ground. Standing up, I turned to grab the spray bottle and wipes when I saw Zach watching me from the corner. I jumped out of my skin, letting off a squeak.

“F*****g Christ, scare the shit out of me, why don’t you?”

I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t. He started to walk toward me when the kitchen door slammed open.

“Bitch! We are here!” Lizzy announced herself, but stopped as she looked at the wall. “What the hell happened?”

“Mike made coffee.”

She laughed and Mike came in behind her. “Excuse me! How dare you!”

Smiling, I walked over the mess and hugged Lizzy. Mike looked from me to Zach, who looked absolutely lost. Slapping him on the back, he said something too low for me to hear, but Zach nodded slowly.

“Let me clean this up and I’ll get some snacks started. I didn’t realize you knew what ‘before 1:00 in the afternoon’ was.”

“Ha ha. Very funny.”

Making quick work of the cleaning, I made sure to keep the smile plastered on my face. I chatted with Lizzy until Anne and Jacob came into the cafe. Elliot came running down and gave them hugs. Elliot walked into the kitchen after and up to me. His hand held mine and I went down on one knee.

“I’m sorry, Mommy.”

“Oh, sweetheart. You have nothing to apologize for. I love you very much and I’m sorry.”

“I love you, too.” I gave him k****s all over his face and he laughed before shooing me away.

Jacob, Lizzy, Mike, David, and Zach – stay in the kitchen while Ron, Anne, Elliot, and David’s wife stay in the cafe. I pulled out homemade chips and started making a dip.

“Alright. I gotta ask. Who is the hotty in the corner? He’s got this rich, dark, brooding type going on.”

I chuckled. Zach was talking with Mike and David. “Barking up the wrong tree, I’m telling you.”

“You wouldn’t know! You’re still stuck with that a*****e husband of yours.” I peaked at the guys, who are now all ears on Lizzy. “Honestly, girl. You need to just beat him up, leave him for dead. Give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“Lizzy….I’m warning you once…” I gave her the side-eye. She knew I didn’t tolerate that kind of talk when Elliot was within earshot.

Zach came up. though, and held out his hand. Lizzy smiled at me and took it. “I apologize, I didn’t introduce myself earlier. I’m Zach, the a*****e husband.”

His words sank in and the flirty smile on her face fell. Lizzy’s hand flew up and slapped Zach across his cheek. Everyone was shocked and silence hung in the air before Lizzy leaned forward.

“You’re a f*****g bastard. You don’t deserve to stand here.”

In less than a second, I was inches away from Lizzy’s face, between her and Zach. She was surprised but I kept my voice low and controlled.

“I f*****g warned you once, Elizabeth. I warned you and you just f*****g go off the handle.” My rage was making me shake, but she’s pissed as well.

“You shouldn’t be protecting him from the hurt he’s given you. Elliot deserves someone who doesn’t f*****g abandon you. You protect him from this pitiful excuse of a man…”

“When you get knocked up with your flavor of the month, Elizabeth, I’ll allow you to decide on how you tell your child why their father isn’t in the picture. But until then, don’t f*****g judge how I handle my family.”

The door swung open and Elliot was standing there, Ron right behind him. Ron read the room, but Elliot was smiling.

“The girls are here! Do we have chips and dips?”

Stepping out of Lizzy’s face, I smiled at him. “It’s right here. Aunt Liz will take it out for you.”

“I will not…”

My eyes whipped to her and I growled lowly. “You will get out of my kitchen, Elizabeth.”

Huffing, she grabbed the dip I finished as Ron grabbed the chips. Elliot skipped out and I looked at everyone.

“David, take a walk. Now.”

He started to object, but I tilted my head, glaring at him. Walking past, he shouldered Zach harshly. I grabbed David’s hand as he walked by. He looked down at me. I uncurled his fingers from the fist he was making and he sighed, nodding. David headed out the kitchen door. Leaving Mike, Jacob, Zach and I. Turning, my jaw was set and I walked up to Zach. I grabbed his hand, but I crushed his fingers together in a tight grip. His eyes widened and I felt his arm start to shake.

“You were looking for a rise out of her and you f*****g got one. I did not set up for you to have a place in Elliot’s heart, only for you to f**k with it. These are my friends, friends who have seen me through the worst of what you did to me. You will show them respect because I would not be here without them.” I glared and stepped closer, lowering my voice further. “You have taken advantage of that front door being open for you when you want to come in. That can change. The door can be slammed in your face and locked. You could have to wait for Elliot to reach out to you years down the line.”

I stepped back and let his hand go. “Don’t test me, Z. Now, go make sure your son is okay and get out of my f*****g kitchen.”

He swallowed and nodded, disappearing. I heard the door to the kitchen swing shut. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. Mike saw it and grabbed me before I collapsed on the floor. Jacob came over and pulled me into a hug.

“I don’t know if I’m going to survive this. I’m not strong enough.”

“You are. It’s just a simple test. You got this, Ev. It will work out. Just hang in there.” Jacob smiled.