Abandoned but Not Alone (41 page)

“
You will not speak to me in that tone of
voice
…
do you hear me you
sniveling piece of shit. You think I don
’
t remember how you used to cry for your daddy when I took you
both away. Well you may be all grown up, but I still remember you pissing your
pants because you couldn
’
t get to
your brother and daddy didn
’
t come for
you both.
”
Diana
laughed in Jason
’
s face as
she strolled across the room, settling herself in a chair, crossing her shapely
legs; relaxed awaiting his next volley.

Disgusted,
Jason watched and listened as this beautiful woman spewed memories of the
mistreatment she had inflicted on the two little boys who were in her care.
Seeing a haze of red, Josh rushed her, intent on squeezing every last breath
from her body. How dare she come into his home, taunting his brother as though
she were not to blame for what Jake had suffered, using his protective
instincts towards his younger brother against him. Moving so quickly, Jason was
almost too late intercepting an enraged Josh from reaching Diana. It took all
of his considerable strength to hold him back. Wrapping him in a bear hug,
Jason repeatedly whispered soothing words in Josh
’
s ear as his big body rippled with fury.

Outwardly,
Diana didn
’
t flinch as
Josh had rushed towards her; inside she was quaking, unable to believe that
these two giant men had sprung from her body. Boys no longer, she realized they
were capable of doing her serious harm if she pushed them too far
–
but she couldn
’
t help herself. As much as they so obviously hated her she hated
them just as much. Loading her voice with as much scorn as she could manage,
Diana taunted the brothers.
“
Still the
protector I see, Jacob
–
no matter
how things change, they still somehow remain the same.
”

Unable to
stand Diana
’
s show of
contempt, Jake dashed into the room, hands clenched into fists, ready to defend
his brothers.
“
Shut your
mouth you filthy whore. If you have something to say, then you say it to me.
”

Seeing the
twins together in the same room, Jackson standing by the door looking far from
his death bed; Diana understood just how thoroughly she had been duped. 
Knowing she needed to get away before the shit really hit the fan, she sprung
to her feet intent on putting as much distance as possible between herself and
these enraged men. Jackson blocked her path, the only man she had ever truly
loved stood with a look of contempt emanating from his black eyes as they shot
daggers through her heart. Didn
’
t he know
she loved him, had always loved him, would do anything for him? How could he
love those sniveling boys more than he loved her?
“
Jackson, please let me explain. I
…”

“
You what, Diana
…
please do explain to my son how he ended up tossed away with the
trash, left for rodents to devour his flesh. Come along now Diana, we
’
re waiting for more of the lies and
deceits that surround your treacherous soul. What kind of being are you? God
knows you can
’
t be human.
I also want to know what you did to my sons who you lied and deceived to take
away from me. You will tell me; what did you do to my children?
”
Jackson demanded his rage almost
completely out of control.

It was at
that moment, Jason realized that in this whole twisted scenario that
represented his life, even with all that he had been through, he was fortunate
for not ever having had to call this warped woman his wife or mother.  Taking
control of the situation, Jason looked at a visibly shaken Diana, feeling no
sympathy for the position in which she found herself and demanded she take a
seat.

“
You have some questions to answer, Diana.
Why don
’
t we start with what
you did to my brothers?
”

Retaking
her vacated seat, before her quivering legs gave out, Diana stared into space,
her only response
–
silence. No
matter how many questions were asked of her, Diana remained determinedly mute.
Jason's anger was soon replaced with contempt. He shook his head as he taunted
the beautiful cold woman sitting as still as a statue before her accusers.

“
Seeing as how you have nothing to say, I
’
ll say my piece. You are the most
despicable example of a woman I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. You
are an abuser of helpless children, who when confronted by those you have
abused, retreat in silence like the coward you are. Creatures like you are the
dregs of the earth, believing they have the right to pass judgment on who
should live or die; treating children in their care with disdain, causing them
so much anguish it may never be banished. But I
’
m here to tell you something Lady, you lose.  As you can see,
against all the odds, you stacked against us, we found each other and together
we will expunge you from every fiber of our lives. Whether you live or die
means nothing to me.

I
’
ve got to say however, you wasted time high-tailing
it over here once you were convinced Jackson was dying and there was something
in it for you. Well you lose again. There is no money
–
for you. Oh don
’
t get me
wrong; between us we have plenty of money. You like the trappings of wealth don
’
t you Diana? Well you lose again, I think
I speak for all gathered here. We wouldn
’
t give you a cent if your very life depended on it.
”

“
By the way, what
’
s your name? On second thoughts, don
’
t tell me. I didn
’
t give you
one all those years ago and I can honestly say I
’
m still not interested. Yes, I dumped you with the trash, you
want to know why
–
if you
really want to know why, I
’
ll tell
you. You haven
’
t changed
from the day you were born. I dumped your ass because you wouldn
’
t shut the hell up!
”
Diana screamed at Jason.

“
Ah, at last a reaction from the ice
queen.
”
Jason laughed in her
face.
“
Lady, I already told
you, you mean nothing to me, what you have to say means nothing to me.
”

Turning to
his brothers, Jason raised his brow in inquiry.
“
Shall we?
”
Nodding their
heads, Jake and Josh walked towards the door.

“
What
’
s going on?
”
Jackson
asked, at a loss as to what was taking place.

Jake and
Josh looked back towards Jason who answered Jackson's question.
“
I think you
’
re going to like this
–
we
’
re about to put out the trash.
”
Striding towards Diana, Jason pulled her
from her seat and tossed her over his broad shoulder. Josh bowed them through
the open door with Jake leading the way followed closely by Jason carrying a
screaming and kicking Diana. Unwilling to suffer any bruises from Diana
’
s high heels, Jason clasped his arms
around her flaying legs to keep her still, never breaking his stride. Exiting
through the main door they all strolled leisurely around the side of the house,
down a winding pathway towards the back gate. Jake who was leading the way
opened the tall gate with the key he carried and waved them through. Halfway to
their destination Jackson understood what was taking place. Unable to contain
himself, he laughed out loud rubbing his hands together in amusement.

Jason
stepped through the gate and came to a sudden halt. Making sure Diana
’
s back was still facing the direction
from which they had traveled, he raised her above his head and threw her into
the industrial sized dumpster ordered especially for the occasion. Their
instructions had been followed, the dumpster was to be placed outside the gate
and be half filled with food waste and cooking oil. Jason now realized why Jake
had been so emphatic that the dumpster only be half filled with waste, Diana
was a small woman and with the dumpster only partially full she would have
difficulty extracting herself.  The oil was Josh
’
s idea and was just plain mean. The oil meant she would not only
slip and slide, hindering her exit; it would also embed the waste into her
clothing.

Standing
back the men watched as Diana
’
s head
popped over the rim of the dumpster, slime running down her face and old bits
of food embedded in her hair. As they continued to watch the heartless woman
struggle to gain her footing her head disappeared from sight as she slipped
down into the muck. Feeling slightly embarrassed at their actions the younger
men looked towards their father to gauge his reaction.

Amusement
still apparent on his face, Jackson turned towards his youngest son.
“
Joshua, the oil has you written all over
it. Go back to the house and get a stool for her; otherwise she
’
s never going to get out and call for a
car for her while you
’
re at it.
The rest of us will wait for you here.

Missing
Jackson's instructions, Diana made no further attempt to free herself from the
slimy depths of the dumpster. Rather, they could hear howls bouncing off the
inner walls of the dumpster that kept increasing in volume. Grimacing, the
younger men exchanged looks as they silently wondered what was taking Josh so
long to return. Jackson
’
s
expression didn
’
t change
throughout their wait. With Josh
’
s arrival,
Jackson took the stool from his youngest son and approached the side of the
dumpster. Once she stood beside it he lowered his voice.

“
Diana, I know you can hear me, so listen
carefully. I have a stool here that will help you get out; also a taxi has been
called to take you wherever you want to go. Both are at your disposal, my only
stipulation, you answer one question with total honesty.
”

Diana
’
s hands were the first thing to appear,
followed closely by the top of her head. Handing her the stool, Jackson waited
as she cautiously took possession of it and lowered it into the dumpster. He
heard movement as she positioned the stool; slowly her face, shoulders and
torso emerged from within he dumpster.

Turning,
Jackson stood face to face with the woman who had once been his wife, the
mother of his children. Taking shallow breaths, the stench emanating from the
filth covered woman almost more than he could stand. Looking directly into her
eyes, Jackson familiarized himself with her current expression and what it
meant. Satisfied, he asked Diana the question that, as a father he wanted to
know. The answer would make no difference to how he ultimately felt about his
children, not the ones he had nurtured to maturity or the one he had just
discovered.
“
The taxi is
waiting for you, as I promised. Now I would like for you to answer my question.
Which of the twins were born first?
”
Jackson
knew Diana well, so he watched her face unblinkingly, ready to detect any
semblance of a lie.

“
The one who never shuts up was born
first.
”
There it was, the
tell tail pulse, just one small spasm by the side of her left eye that denoted
a lie. Jackson had discovered this anomaly the first time he had caught her in
a lie, he had always kept its knowledge to himself, his safeguard, fully aware
of the depths this woman would sink to in order to get her way, to hurt others.
Jacob was his first born.

“
You just can
’
t help yourself can you Diana. Even covered in God knows what,
standing on a stool in a dumpster, you still feel the need to lie. So be it.
”
Walking towards the parked car, Jackson
bent as he spoke to the driver. Returning to his sons, he inclined his chin
towards the gate that would lead them back inside the property. Walking past
the dumpster he never once broke stride or glanced in Diana
’
s direction
–
she no longer mattered, those who mattered, kept pace with him.
They left behind the woman who should be the center of their world, standing on
a stool in a dumpster covered in muck.