The Missing One (Lost Series Book 2) (4 page)

Melodi

I don’t know what’s come over me. Before I realise it, my knees give out from under me and all I can hear is the pulsing in my ears before I fall into Abby’s arms. She carefully lays me on the floor, cradling my head to her chest. My eyes fall on her features. I still find it hard to believe that she’s here. I still think it all must be a dream that I’m unable to wake from.

“Corban!” she screams out, her voice panicked. “Melodi talk to me,” she whispers.

Before I can answer, I sense Corban pulling me into his strong arms. He lifts me up from the floor effortlessly and places me on the bed. Once Corban has placed me down, I see Abby wrapping a frightened Katie in her arms, whispering into her black locks of hair. She sets her gently down beside me. I instantly become protective of her as she moves towards me, curling up under my arm, her warmth calms my rapidly beating heart.

“What’s going on? Who is this?” Flick questions. I’m sure she’s aiming the question at Abby.

After a minute, the room stops spinning and my eyes focus again. I feel a small hand wrap around mine. Turning my head, Katie is there lying beside me, so I give her a weak smile.

“Mommy has nightmares, too.” My stomach clenches upon hearing the words that leave her innocent lips. Her little accent makes me smile.

“Oh, honey, that wasn’t a nightmare,” Abby reassures her.

“What happened?” Corban fires at Blake and Abby.

“Corban, it’s okay, I overreacted.” Reaching my casted hand out, I take his. His features are pained. I can’t begin to imagine how he’s feeling right now. I’ve brought all my family dramas into his life, and now things for him are about to change with the impending birth of our twins. “Handsome, look at me,” I plead, squeezing his hand. His penetrating blue eyes meet mine. “Sit down.”

He does as I ask. The room goes silent, all eyes on us, well except for Flick and Rachel whose eyes glare at Abby. I can see them assessing her, wondering who the hell she is to be causing all this commotion. Abby and I aren’t identical twins but fraternal so I could see the girls’ confusion over who she might be. Katie is still lying on the bed beside.

“Everyone, listen up!” my voice loud to ensure Flick and Rachel’s attention is squarely on me. Their faces turn toward me. “Well, you both know all the details about my sister.” They nod recalling the talks we’ve had about her in the previous months and the pain it has caused me on a daily basis. “Last night when we got home from the hospital, I walked in to discover my sister standing right in front of me.” I swallow the hard lump that’s formed in my throat. It still feels like a dream. I keep wanting to pinch myself until I wake up. I hear the girls suck in a breath, shock and confusion registering on their faces. I take another breath and keep going by gesturing to Abby. “This is my sister, Abby. Abby this is Flick and Rachel. Rachel is Corban’s sister and Flick is one of my best friends.”

Abby nods her head in greeting. “Hey, girls,” she whispers.

“Anyways…” I continue, “As you can see, she’s here with me. But the thing is, Jacob, her ex, is hanging around still. He’s a nasty piece of work, so just be careful. Right now all I ask is that this does not leave these four walls.”

They all nod in agreement, so I keep going because I’m really excited to share the next part with them.

“Now for some good news.” I look up at Corban and nod my head for him to tell them the rest. A giant smile spreads across his face before he speaks. His majestic smile melts my heart every single time.

“Well, we found out last night that we’re going to be parents an—” Before he can continue, screaming erupts in the room and I’m suffocated in hugs. Happiness fills me, as my heart swims.

“And it’s twins,” Corban adds casually.

“
What?
” Flick squeals.

I nod to answer her unasked question.

“I’m gonna be an aunty! It has to be girls!” she squeals, as Rachel gives my belly a small rub. I guess I’m going to have to get used to the belly rubs. “Do you hear that in there,
girls?”
Rachel laughs. “Wow! This is crazy,” she says, shaking her head and moving to Corban to give him a hug. “Congratulations, bro.”

“Thanks,” he laughs.

Our eyes meet and love fills them. I see a small tear escape from the corner of his which melts my insides causing them to bubble over with joy.

Flick releases me, holding me at arm’s length as she assesses me. “Are you okay?” The concern is evident in her voice.

“Yeah, I’m good. It’s just been a lot to take in over the last twenty-four hours.”
Way too much for one day.

“So, she’s really your sister?” her voice portraying her inability to believe just yet.

“Yeah.”

“Who’s the little girl?” She nods in Katie’s direction who still hasn’t released my other hand as she lies silently beside me.

“This is Katie. She’s my niece. Katie, this is my friend, Flick.”

Katie smiles brightly at Flick. I love the innocence of kids. Their smiles and giggles can brighten anyone’s day. My stomach flutters at the thought of having two little ones of my very own in a few months.

“Babe, do you need anything?” Corban is beside me once again. I love this man. His caring nature swells my heart immensely. I’m so lucky to have him in my life.

“I’m okay, just overwhelmed, but it’s all good now. Where’s Blake?” I look around the room noticing he’s disappeared.

“He went outside to calm down. He looked annoyed about something.”

“He’s probably annoyed at me. I wanted Flick and Rachel to meet Abby, and he got his back up over it. I could see where he was coming from, but I trust those two girls with my life and wanted them to meet another huge part of my existence. One that I was positive I’d lost for all eternity.” A look of empathy flashes over Corban’s face.

“He does seem to be all over the place,” Corban says.

“I think it must be hard for him having Abby and Katie in danger, and now placing us in the firing line. I think he’s feeling a lot of blame for this whole situation.”

“Yeah, not an easy thing to deal with. I might go find him and have a chat.”

I nod. He leans over placing a small delectable kiss upon my lips. No matter how many times I kiss those lips, he still makes me feel giddy. He hops up off the bed and walks out leaving me with the girls. It’s a little awkward as Flick and Rach are unsure how to take this turn of events, or even what to say at a time like this. They are a little lost for words.

“Flick and Rach, do you mind taking Katie into the living area so I can have a chat with Abby? If that’s okay with you?” I look to Abby, who nods.

“Sure, come on Katie. Can you draw me a picture?” Rachel coos at her. She’s going to be an amazing aunt.

Katie scrambles off the bed, taking Rachel’s hand, and they all walk out.

Now it’s time to talk.

Abby

I knew this moment was coming, but I didn’t expect it so soon. She wants answers. I should have reached out years ago to let her know I was all right. I wasn’t certain how she would take it, and I’m positive she would have come after me. Who knows if Jacob was watching her back then? It seems as though he’s never lost track of my family. Just waiting and watching his prey like a lion on the hunt to see if I show up, and I played right into his hands by coming out of my safe place. But when Blake told me Jacob had contacted Melodi, panic gripped my chest. I know what this devil incarnate is capable of and I didn’t want any harm to come to her. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to her.

“I need answers,” she states in a hard tone. She has a glint in her eye, I know that look means she won’t take no for an answer. I climb on the bed and lay beside her. We turn to each other, something we often did when we were kids, especially when we needed the other for comfort or to just hang out together. I honestly never thought I’d be able to come back to her. She’s my missing puzzle piece. Being twins, there’s always a connection that you never lose.

“Start from the beginning, from where you and Blake began,” she says.

I take a deep breath and prepare myself to give her my story.

To tell her about how Blake and I met on the park bench that day, and then dive into what comes next…

Abby

Three Years Ago

Date night had arrived with Blake, as
friends.
I still didn’t know how I felt about it. My head told me one thing, but my heart told me to take a leap towards Blake with everything I had. Jacob was away on business for the weekend, and none of my family knew who I was going out with. Glancing at my reflection in the full-length dress mirror, I’d opted for black skinny jeans and a pale pink long sleeved shirt. It was not cold out, still slightly warm, but because of those horrid marks on my arms I needed to cover them or people would begin to ask questions. Questions I really didn’t want to answer.

My family was oblivious to it all. Well, Mum and Dad were, Melodi not so much. She caught me changing clothes and asked me why, but I flat out refused to tell her and since then she’s never given Jacob the time of day. She despised him. I think she was even mad at me because she wanted me to leave him. I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, I wasn’t really sure. I guess I was afraid of what he’d do if I did leave.

I remembered the very first time he got abusive towards me—it was our three month anniversary. I should’ve left then before it became too much. After that night he began putting me down openly in front of his friends, at work functions, and they would all just laugh about it. I’d become numb to it, that was until he wanted something from me. His touch was like acid, not the gentle touch that would caress my skin and ignite my heart with a passion. Definitely not the touch he bequeathed upon me when we first started dating. He was everything to me and I thought I was to him. How very wrong I was—how very misguided I’d become in regards to him.

I continually asked myself what happened between us for him to turn on me. Was it just his nature to treat girls so poorly once he’d spun his web of deceit? He’d told me he had girlfriends previously, but he never loved them in the way he loved me. I honestly don’t think he loved me like he said he did. You don’t hurt the ones you love. It’s wrong on so many levels and in so many ways, it broke my heart if I dared to think about it for too long.

I couldn’t even kiss him without feeling the urge to pull away. He sensed it and that was what made him furious. When he caressed my body, my senses shut down and I went into robot mode. He wanted me to stop taking my pill so we could start a family, but I couldn’t bring a child into this world knowing that he or she would have a father like
him.
No child should be put through something like that.

A light knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I yelled just loud enough for them to hear. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Melodi peeking around the door.

“Hey, you going out?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“With Jacob?” I could hear the disdain in her voice. I straightened up trying to reassure myself that I was doing the right thing by going out with Blake even if it was just as friends.

“No, with a friend I met in the park the other day.” I smiled. Her smile reflected mine. Being my twin, although not identical, we still had lots of similarities—our eyes, smile, body shape, and even how we talked. She was usually the upfront, take no crap, girl. I was like that to before I met Jacob. Now the fight I had in me had fizzled away leaving only an empty shell. He somehow owned me completely—mind, body and soul. I’d allowed him to make my bed and now I had to lie in it. I was utterly broken.

“Oh, that’s cool,” Melodi said. “What are you doing?”

Why does she do this? She always tries to find everything out about me. I love her dearly, but I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me. I wanted her to be my sister and support me because that’s what family were supposed to do. I knew she had an idea of what might be going on in my life, but it was never voiced. It was an unspoken rule between the two of us. Mum and Dad had no idea, I made sure to wear my fake happy mask around them as much as humanly possible.

When we’d go over for dinner, Jacob was that sweet guy again, doting on me and kissing me lightly. I think that was the hope I was holding on to. Hoping that he’d revert back to how he used to treat me.

“Just out to dinner,” I answered with a clipped tone.

Her shoulders slumped as I applied a small amount of make-up. Her mouth opened to ask something, but soon closed as she stopped herself. Her mouth repeated her previous action, but this time she blurted out, “Why don’t you talk to me anymore?”

I could feel the overwhelming sadness in her question. Yes, I’d shut her out, but it was because I knew her well and she would want me to leave Jacob. It wasn’t that easy for me. She wouldn’t understand, she’d never had a boyfriend. So I decided to play the dumb game.

“What do you mean? We’re talking now,” I responded with a small nervous giggle.

“Yeah, but you don’t talk to me how you once did.” I could see she was fighting back anger, but she was also becoming emotional. “You’d always tell me about you and Jacob and how happy you were. Now you’re just shutting me out.” She took a deep breath and kept going, “I saw the marks and you won’t tell me about what’s happening. I’ve kept my mouth shut, Abby. and I’ve tried to be here for you, but no, you just keep shutting me out and it hurts…it hurts so bad that my twin sister can’t trust me enough to talk to me.” She’d worked herself up into such a frenzy.

“Look, Mel, I’m sorry you feel that way, but honestly there’s nothing wrong. You know how easily I bruise, it only takes a simple knock and I mark. Plus, working in my industry, I catch myself on the clothes racks all the time. I’m a klutz.” Dread filled my heart. I hated lying to her, it broke me up inside. Another piece of my crippling heart chipped off and fell away; joining the discarded parts that Jacob had taken from me.

I sat beside her on my bed.

“I don’t believe you,” she said.

“You believe what you want. But I know what’s happening, not you…” Taking a deep breath, the next words seared my throat as I said them, “Jacob loves me and treats me like a princess. Don’t worry.” I gave her a weak smile.

“Whatever ya reckon, Abs. I’m here when you’re ready to talk.” With those few words, she got up and proceeded to walk away, leaving me to my thoughts. My body slumped over in defeat. Now I’d resulted in pushing away my family. I could only hope that Blake would help me see the positive in things. I glanced at my watch and realised I was late.

Quickly gathering my bag, I headed out the door. Mum and Dad didn’t ask where I was going because my answer to them was always the same—Jacob’s place. I would’ve said that again tonight as well. I didn’t want my family finding out about Blake, they’d probably think the worst of me.

We decided to meet at the park. As I pulled up into a parking spot, I could just make out a person sitting on the bench. My heart rate kicked up a notch.
What am I doing?
I shouldn’t be here. I had a boyfriend, one who’d probably
kill
me if he ever found out I was here with another guy.

The day I first met Blake there was something there, a twinkle of sorts in his eyes that instantly drew me to him. He made me nervous and giddy all at the same time. I had no idea what it was about him. Perhaps it was the kindness he’d showed me that day when I really needed it.

Grabbing my bag, I slowly got out of the car and made my way over to where he was seated. As I approached, the figure stood to greet me. His brilliant white smile and shining emerald eyes instantly made my stomach a flurry of butterflies. I hadn’t had this sensation for such a long time. This could be the start of something amazing, I thought to myself.