Part 5
"Ma! You’re okay!" greeted Scott hugging his mother as she entered their secret hiding place.
"Of course, I’m okay," smiled Sarah. Looking at her oldest son, she saw the man she’d just left. In fact, when she looked at all four of her sons, she saw their fathers as they were when they were boys. "Your father isn’t going to let anything happen to me."
James hugged Sarah from the other side. "Brian is REALLY mad."
Dwaine looked up at his mother with his chocolate brown eyes and asked softly, "Ma, are they back…for us?"
"Yes, they are. Come on. It’s almost time for dinner," answered Sarah.
"Where are they, Ma?" asked Scott.
"At our spot, by the river. After dinner, you three can sneak out and go see them."
All four heard Brian’s bellows and the boys cowered against Sarah.
"Mama, do we have to go to dinner?" whimpered Dwaine.
Of the three boys with her now, Dwaine was the most sensitive to Brian’s ranting and raving. Ever since Brian had brought them to Thomasville, it has been Dwaine that had received the brunt of Brian’s hatred, primarily because Dwaine was Howie’s son…the one man who stood in the way of him having Sarah’s complete devotion. She did her best to protect the boy. Now, looking into his eyes, she saw his fear.
Brushing his curly brown hair out of his eyes, she said, "Son, we need to go up. Brian…" Sarah hesitated as she realized that the boys didn’t have to face Brian if they went out to where their fathers were camped. Kevin had promised it would be over tomorrow. They would be safe with Kevin, Alex, and Howie.
"Mama? What is it?" asked Scott.
"Nothing. Dwaine, you and your brothers don’t EVER have to worry about Brian again. I want you three to go on out to your fathers."
As protective of Sarah as his father, Scott said, "I’m not leaving you alone with Brian."
"Scott, that’s sweet but no, go with James and Dwaine. You haven’t seen your father in two years and this is EXACTLY what we’ve prayed for. Tomorrow, we’ll be a family again. Now go on. Tell your father that I sent you out there to stay with them."
"Are you sure, Mama?" asked James.
"I’m positive. Go and have fun!"
All three boys hugged their mother and scurried out of their hiding place. Sarah watched to make sure they got out safe and then headed to her room to get ready for dinner.
Outside, the three boys made their way to the edge of the yard before Scott stopped them. "You two go on. I’m going back and keep an eye on Mama."
Dwaine protested, "Mama told you to go to Kevin. She’s gonna be mad if you don’t listen."
"I know what she said but Brian hates our fathers and if he finds out Mama saw them today, he’s gonna hurt her. I’ve seen him hit her before and I KNOW he’ll do it again now."
"What are you going to do to stop him?" asked James.
"I can go get Pa!"
The youngest two looked at each other and James said, "Then we’ll stay here too. That way, Dwaine and I can go get Kevin, Howie, and Pa and you can stay with Mama if he hurts her."
The three boys made their way back to the house where they found a place to hide and keep and eye on their mother.
*********
In her room, Sarah dug through her stuff to find the right dress. Shedding the ‘frilly stuff’ as Howie had put it, she pulled on a dress that she’d had before Howie had left the last time. Then she searched her jewelry box to find her wedding band, the one Howie had given her. It was a simple gold band…nothing ornate like Brian had given her…and she slipped it back into place on her finger where it belonged. She placed the rings Brian had given her on the dresser.
She stood staring at herself in the mirror now remembering the afternoon with her husband. It had felt so right to be in his arms again. Two years was a long time but it was finally over.
An irritating yapping at her door interrupted her thoughts. Opening the door, Little Tyke scampered in and started growling at Sarah.
"Oh shut up, you bug-eyed little rat," hissed Sarah at the dog. She hated the dog but it was the one thing Brian loved more than himself.
The dog tucked his tail and scurried away only to have Brian return in his place. Looking Sarah over, he said sarcastically, "A bit over-dressed for dinner, aren’t you?"
