It Started with a Glance

Part 6

I arrived around the corner seeing service had just ended and the congregation were already outside. I saw Nathaniel walking through the crowd with a purpose. Running to the gate I was too late hearing the screams from the ladies and men forming a circle where Nathaniel had an innocent Iakopo pinned to the ground slamming his fists into him....

My stomach dropped to the ground. This couldn't be happening. I didn't know how I was going to get Nathaniel off of Iakopo without getting myself knocked unconscious. Looking for a lee way, I ran through the crowd and threw myself on top of Iakopo to block Nathaniel's blows. Everyone was already pulling Nathaniel back, but it just wasn't working. I prayed that Niva and Noah were still in Sunday school practice. I would've done anything at this point to protect them from witnessing this. 

After gradually separating Iakopo and Nathaniel, I stood up and faced what I thought was the man I knew. He had a look of betrayal in his eyes.

"Figures.. Why am I not surprised to see you here protecting none other than band boy?"

"Stop it! It's not what you think. Iakopo is innocent in all this."

"Don't play coy with me. I'm not dumb Shaye."

"DUMB doesn't even begin to describe you right now. Why don't we throw in GULLIBLE? STUPID? BLIND? NAIVE?"

Not only had Nathaniel pummeled Iakopo to hell knows what, but he did it without knowing or bothering to ask the real side of it. Just then my parents walked out. They didn't take long to put two and two together, and could do no other than apologise on mine and Nathaniel's behalf. I'd never seen my parents so embarrassed before. This was going to be front news gossip for the next month. None of this would've happened if Livia hadn't opened her mouth. There was only one person to blame for this.. Shoving past the onlookers and church goers, I ran straight home to confront my sister.

"LIVIA!!"

I stormed my way to her room and threw her room door open. Surprisingly not she turned just as I walked in.

"To what do I owe this unpleasant surprise?"

"You f*en b*sh. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Why sister dearest I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't bulls*t me Livia. You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. The lies, the story you told Nathaniel about Iakopo and I. What the hell is your deal? Is getting drunk and slutting around not enough for you? You can't stand to see people happy can you? Well here's a news flash for you.. Just because you find you'd prefer to be bitter and lonely for the rest of your worthless life, don't mean that you gottah take the rest of us down with you."

Livia turned to me. Her eyes glazing over in rage. 

"B*sh please. What makes you think this is happiness? You're destined to be alone. Look at you? You have a sad life. If you think that adopting your best friends kids was going to fill that empty hole in your so called life, than you were sadly mistaken. Maybe you should let me have Nathaniel and we can show you what a REAL family would look like"

I wasn't going to let her get another word out. Before she could open her mouth again, I threw a hook, than another, than another. Grabbing her by the hair I started hanging the laundry with her face. Livia got free and tackled me to the ground all the while throwing punches of her own. To the outside world we looked like two grown woman rolling around the floor, but to me this was more than that. I was fighting for my kids. I was fighting for lost love. I was fighting for my parents, but more than that I was fighting to get even with this b*sh. She had done more damage than expected, I wasn't going to let her get away with it. Standing up I grabbed her by the shirt and kneed her in the face. Time seemed to stand still. Until I heard my parents screaming from the driveway at what probably looked like a warzone.

Livia getting free again taunted me

"Come at me again"

Moving towards me like a woman possessed. I met her halfway tackling her not knowing if I was punching her or the objects around her. Pent up years of hatred poured into every hit all the while yelling in her face.

"You hate this family so much that you'd never be satisfied until you've ruined everyone's happiness you junkie low life poor excuse of a mother!!!"

My parents yelling for us to stop were ignored. I vaguely heard Ria demanding Nathaniel to take the kids away from the scene.

It felt like we fought for an eternity. It took Nathaniel and my brother ripping us apart and my father slapping us both across the face to control the rage.

"Fa'amagalo a'u mum ma dad. (Forgive me mum and dad)"

The tears flowing freely down my bruised and battered face.

"Me and my kids are moving out."

I looked at Livia.

"You tried to break me and I nearly let you. But you forget I serve a mighty God. Nothing you say will ever affect me. I forgive you."

I went inside and begun packing my and my kids belongings. Leaving my distraught parents to deal with their daughter. Nathaniel walked into the room grabbing the bags.

"What are you doing?"

"You're moving in with me. Don't worry, we're going to have this out and you can yell at me all you like. I know I deserve everything that's coming to me but just so you know Shaye...I don't regret my actions."

With those parting words he walked out to take my stuff to his car. Pausing in front of Livia he stared her down.

"I know I shouldn't say this but if you weren't a girl....this is the first and last time I'll ever let you manipulate me or my little family."

Walking to the car to wait I slowly dropped to the ground and let myself cry asking God to forgive me for my actions.....