I fire a couple of shots into the sky just to make sure they don’t come back. I look at the person in the backseat of the car again. Wait a minute… this IS my mother! It was hard to recognize her at first because she was beaten up and looked very much  under the weather. She had a black eye and blood was running down her chin. Some of her hair had been yanked out of her head. My mouth felt  bone dry. How am I going to get my mom to safety?

All I knew for sure was that come hell or high water, I needed to help her. Why did this have to happen tonight, on Christmas Eve, of all nights? It’s the dead of winter and neither of us is dressed for this kind of cold. I was also concerned that the guys in the house  got wind of  what was currently going on with their hostage. I unbuckle her seat belt and she stirs quietly. “Mom, it’s me. You need to wake up so that we can get you to safety.” She opened her eyes wider and shook her head to see more clearly. “Are you OK?” I ask. She nods slowly and gets out of the car with my help. She must have a concussion or something. “I’m right as rain,” she suddenly said. Then she giggled. Yup, she has a concussion. Great.

“Mom, we are  on thin ice right now. The situation is dangerous. I know you are confused but you need to help me here. Did the men in the car say anything to help us understand what is going on here?” I plead. Her eyes rolled back in her head and I thought she might pass out. Then she focused on my face. “I know who they are and why they came for me. But you are wrong if you think I can explain everything right now. Basically, my past has come back to haunt me.”

“What are you talking about? What could you possibly have done to be kidnapped and beaten up like this?” I ask. “This is not the first time I’ve been kidnapped and beaten up, my child. I had another life before I married your dad and had kids,” she replied. I was stunned. “Even if this is a total  bolt from the blue, tell me who they are and what they want, please!” I begged. “It’s a long story, one that I cannot tell you now. Your grandpa is also involved, but to a lesser extent than I am. How is the rest of the family, are any of them hurt?” she asked. “Louis is fine, he went back into the house to see if he could remedy the situation. I don’t know about the rest,” I shudder. My mom looked back up the road. “Let’s make our way to the house and help Louis. I’m glad you are armed, give me that gun.” I gasp. “Do you even know how to use one of these, Mom?”

“Honey, there is a lot you don’t know about me. You’ve been  in the dark  all your life. Give me the weapon, stay behind me, and follow me through the meadow back to the house. We are not taking the road. Don’t argue with me.” By now I was completely  in a fog. Who is this woman that raised me and Betty? Something in my mind clicked. Betty takes after Mom, not Grandpa. We climbed over the fence quietly and began making our way back to the house. I am so confused!

TO BE CONTINUED

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