Chapter 6 SKYLA'S POV

The trip to California was one long exhausting trip, with almost everyone and everything getting on my nerves. If there was anything that I was grateful for? It was that almost everyone minded their business, and they weren't all up in my business.

Which meant no prying eyes, no unnecessary conversations. Just me and my thoughts.

I was currently in back of one of the local taxis headed to my mom's bakery, the rickety car jolting me every now and then as the man blasted country music from his run-down radio.

A song I never thought I would hear again played loudly through the static radio, about a love that was never meant to be, a love scorned by society.

And just like that, my mind drifted to Xavier and the events that had led to the end of our relationship.

Cliché? Maybe, but that was the truth

"Here we are," the driver called out, his southern accent thick as he pulled into the driveway.

"That's five bucks."

I paid him quickly, grabbing my luggage from the trunk of his car with a little struggle. The old man didn't even offer to help.

I made my way hastily into the bakery that had transformed over the years. What used to be a small bakery had now branched out and now served as a small cosy cafe where you could have our pastries and coffee and a vast menu serving several deserts.

A Flicker of Pride stirred in my chest.

"Welcome to Macdees," a familiar voice sang immediately. I stepped inside, "Today's special is our crusted

"Buns with maple syrup?" I finished, my gaze locking onto the red-haired girl that had come to work and love the bakery more than I did. Lee

Her face Lit up. "Sky?"

"It's you, Sky....?"

Before I could respond, she rushed around the counter, engulfing me in a warm hug, the sweet smell of butter and cinnamon clinging onto her.

"We have lots of catching up to do," she muttered. Her words muffled against my shoulder.

Once we were seated on one of the couches, a cranberry milkshake in hand. I got straight to the point. "How's my mom Lee?"

The eatery smile on her face faltered. "She's seen better days." Her warm amber orbs flickering with concern. "Sky, everyone in town heard the news, "

"How did she take it? Besides, why isn't she here?" I asked, letting out a shaky breath

"She's resting. Sky, these past couple of days has been hectic, especially after Xavier's father came visiting," she whispered harshly, her voice sharp with unease. Her eyes darted around frantically as if making sure no one was listening.

Her words slapped me awake, my grip tightening around the milkshake.

"What do you mean by Mr Anderson came visiting?" My voice was even barely above a whisper, my heart thumping frantically against my rib cage. "What did they talk about?

"I have no idea, but whatever it was Sky, it was bad, I think he was blackmailing her? Lee replied, running her hands through her cropped hair, her expression grim.

I shot to my feet, fumbling for a dollar note in my wallet. "I need to go,"

"You know you don't have to, right? Lee says softly, her gaze landing softly on the dollar bill

"I insist...."

She sighed before tossing me a set of keys. " Here the car keys to the truck, it rained last night, so the floor is kind off slippery we wouldn't want you falling on your face."

"Thanks, Lee. I would have Bo return it," I replied, referring to the man who had worked for the bakery for years.

"No need," she calls out, waving at me energetically. " How's Ed? Is he seeing someone? She asked hopefully, but I was already halfway through the driveway. My mind was already far gone.

Clenching the steering wheel tightly, I started the engine, the truck coming alive underneath my trembling hands.

Thoughts raced through my head reasons why Mr Anderson would visit my mom fleeting through my mind.

I sped along the road, familiar houses greeting me as I turned along the corner that led to my home, the bowling alley, The diner and the corner shop where Xavier and I spent the most of our time still booming in business. Although the small town had changed a whole lot. It still felt like home.

The familiar streets that I had grew up in, unfolding before me, I felt a wave of nausea hot me, my hands trembling slightly on the wheel.

Children's laughter echoed from a nearby park, and I would have given anything to go back to when things hadn't gotten this messy.

I pulled into the driveway, my hands trembling as I stepped out of the truck. The familiar red door that had never worn out stood before me.

The house was exactly how I had imagined it to be, quaint, untouched, a stark contrast to the chaos my life had become.

For a fleeting second, I let myself believe my mom was safe, tucked away from the scheming plans of Xavier's, and away from the wrath of his father.

But I knew better

Pushing the door open, I braced myself for the worse.

"Skyla, is that you?" My mom called out hoarsely as she stepped into the hallway where I was hanging my coat.

The familiar smell of cinnamon and rosemary wafting into my nostrils.

The scent I had grown up to.

My stomach dropped when I saw her, my mom looked weak and exhausted, dark circles shadowed her eyes. She looked paler than I remembered.

I rushed into her awaiting arms, burying myself into her warmth. Her breathing was unsteady as she held me close. Lavender and rosemary clinging to her skin.

I let myself be eight again, crying into her embrace as she patted me across my back, slightly muttering comforting words.

"Shhh... it's okay, honey, " she cooed, as she lead me to the white chaise lounge that sat across the TV, different pills scattered across the centre table. I felt my stomach pool with dread.

"Mom?" I called out, my voice barely above a whisper. "Dad was murdered,"

She inhaled sharply but I pressed on, not deterred by her unease. " The Andersons, they did it...."

"I know, Sky" My breath hitched.

" I have always known." She exhaled slowly, staring at we with those warm honeyed eyes. "Because tell me Sky, what kind of accident leaves a grown man with severed fingers and a battered face hmmm?"

I felt air escape my lungs.

"I heard what happened, Sky.... I am so sorry, " she whispered, gently tucking a stray curl behind my ear.

"It's fine, mom... I would be fine." I straightened my spine gently picking at my nails. " What did Mr Anderson want?

I saw her jaw tick subtly, her hands dropping slowly beside her.

"So do you want Tea Sky? " She asked, standing abruptly, her eyes darting frantically round her old Victorian apartment.

"No mom" my voice firm. " What did he want?"

She busied herself in the kitchen, her hands trembling with fear as she put the kettle on for tea, short laboured breathes escaping her lips.

"Nothing baby, you have enough on your plate. I can handle this,"

I stared at her stilled spine, and half of me knew she was lying.

"And these?" I gestured towards the pills. " you're still taking them right?"

"Young lady, those pills were prescribed by my psychiatrist" she snapped back.

My mouth dropping open from shock.

"The same psychiatrist that had prescribed something else because you were getting addicted to it?" I yelled, swiping the pills into the trash can.

"Oh, I just had one yesterday," she yelled through gritted teeth.

But I knew that wasn't true.

I swallowed my frustration. " I am going to see Dad?

She hesitated "Let me come with you, Sky?

"You don't need too mom" I whispered shrugging on my coat.

"I insist" she replied in a quipped tone, fumbling around for the keys to her old beetle truck.

The short ride to the cemetery was filled with an awkward tension, both of us sulking over the previous incident. The blood of blood rushing into my ear prominent as I felt fear pooling in the pit of my stomach.

I allowed myself get lost in the scenery for a moment, what used to be a run down factory was now a movie room, and an arcade, the neon light casting a soft hue inside the arcade.

"San Diego has changed, mom" I said marvelling at how newer businesses had taken up half of our small town.

"Yes, Sky, but not the people. They are still as evil as I remember, especially the Andersons," she muttered, pulling into the corner that led up to the cemetery.

My father's grave sat at the far end, freshly picked tulips and white roses lined at the foot of his tombstone.

Tyrone Miller Jefferson

1989_ 2018

, a son, father, and a husband etched in big bold letters.

I dropped to my knees.

The tears that had become the new norm of life, spilled through my eyes, gut wrenching sounds tearing through my lips as I traced his name.

The image of him taking me to Chick A fil trickled into my mind. How he had thought me stand up for myself because a set of girls had bullied me.

The thought that he was no longer here sickening, and I let myself cry all over again, my mom's steady grip on me a reminder that I wasn't alone.

I had spent a long time there just on my knees crying my heart out, with my mom by my side, comforting me.

The cloud had started to darken when we made our way to where our car was parked.

And that was when I saw him

, Mr Anderson stood patiently by our truck of our. Although six years was a long time, he hadn't aged a bit, apart from the defined smile lines and the walking stick that was new to me.

"Had an accident at the factory years ago" he said when he caught me looking at it, my stomach lurching with fear. I felt my mom tense beside me with fear.

"Welcome Skyla." He said with an easy smile. "just wanted to be the first to do that" and with that he was gone, a wrapped box sitting pretty at the trunk of my mom's car, the colour a stark contrast to the car.

My fingers trembled as I lifted the lid, dread crawling through my spine, my mind racing with worse case scenarios . I released a breath I never knew I was holding .

No severed fingers, no dead rodents.

Just roses and a ring rested atop black velvet. The metal glinted across the dimming sky. An Eagle emblem staring right back at me like a veile