Chapter 239: Time to Run
*I am trying to help you, Donna Leigh. You have to take your medicine. – Anthony*
RYE’S MEMORIES
Leigh Anne was spooned around Rye in the twin bed. They shared the room with two twin beds with their mother. Her cousin had offered a place to stay under two conditions.
No more drugs.
Donna Leigh had to take her medication.
Anthony thought that it was simple and straightforward. He even arranged for rehab. Paid for it out of his own pocket. Thirty days in patient. The rest of the program was outpatient.
Both girls were doing good in school. Not only was Leigh Anne going to school, but she was also passing all her classes. With all the classes that she had missed, and without any transcripts, they had tested her and placed her in eleventh grade. They did the same with her younger sister who was also placed in the eleventh grade, in all honors classes.
Honestly, Anthony had been surprised that Ryanne had remained on track with her classes. He knew that she had skipped a grade putting her only a grade behind her sister. He had enrolled them both in the same school that his youngest son was attending.
The older two were attending the University of South Florida. They always joked that it was hard for them to truly have the ‘college experience’ with their father being a professor at their college. But since he was a psychologist, he understood that they needed to be able to spread their wings.
That also meant that when they got in trouble with other professors or their football coaches, they were on their own. His instinct as a father was to defend his children. His knowledge and experience as a psychologist, and professor, had them defending themselves. And keeping his wife, Tilly, from interfering too much also.
Tony and Scott instantly became the protective big brothers. Geo was a year younger than Leigh Anne. He and Ryanne bonded quickly. At the time, Geo was the smallest of the boys at six feet even. But just like his brothers, he played football.
When they had gone to get the girls and their mother, all three brothers protected the two sisters. From the men closely watching them. And their abusive mother who attacked Ryanne several times.
Tilly was thrilled to finally have a daughter. Even if they weren’t hers and they knew that the girls would not stay long. Tilly was going to enjoy having girls in her house.
Donna Leigh completed the thirty days and remained clean for nearly four months. Then Anthony noticed that she wasn’t taking her medicine. He started handing her the pills and not leaving her alone until she took the pill. He had been doing that for three weeks.
“Mom’s flushing the pills.” Rye had said one day not knowing that the pills were supposed to keep her bipolar under control.
“Do you know why?” Anthony had asked as he drove them home from the store.
“She said that she doesn’t like the way they make her feel. Why does she take them?”
“She’s bipolar. You’re a smart girl, you know what that means, don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s hereditary.” She said quietly, her voice full of fear.
“You won’t get it, Stripes.” He tugged on her gray patch as he called her by her nickname that he had given her. “You are not her biological child. You are the result of a surrogate.”
“Why?”
“Donna Leigh couldn’t have children after Leigh Anne. They found a surrogate that looked like her. Don’t say anything, I don't think they ever wanted you to know.”
“I’m scared she’s going to get lost for good. That’s what dad called it. She would lose herself.”
“So am I.” He admitted.
“No matter what, Stripes, we’re always here for you.”
A week later, with the two teens asleep in the twin bed, their mother woke them up.
“Come on girls,” Donna Leigh whispered, “we’ve got to go.”
“What’s wrong?” Leigh Anne asked. She sat up trying not to disturb her sister.
“Get your sister up.” She hissed at her oldest daughter.
“Why?” Leigh Anne demanded.
Donna Leigh slapped her across the face. “Do what I say.”
As she watched her mother go into the closet, Leigh Anne shook her sister. “Rye, wake up. Mom is off her meds, and we’ve got to go. Come on, get up.”
Rye sat up and looked at her sister. “Is it because I told Anthony that mom was flushing the pills?”
“Why would you tell him that? Don’t ever tell anyone anything!” Donna Leigh grabbed Rye by hair and tossed her roughly on the floor. Instinctively, Rye covered her head and face as her mother straddled her and began punching her.
Leigh Anne pulled their mother off her little sister. Standing between them, she pushed the older woman to the ground.
“Hurt her again and I will go wake-up Anthony. I’ll do anything you want but leave her alone.”
“Get your shit together. I want to leave in ten minutes.”
“Let’s leave Rye here. She’s not like us.”
Leigh Anne had promised to protect her sister. And she knew that Ryanne would be better off with Anthony and his family. She could probably even attend college and make something of her life. Something better than sleeping in cars and running from town to town.
“I can take care of my girls. I promised I would.” Donna Leigh fought back tears as she felt defeated.
“We all promised.” Leigh Anne whispered as she turned back to her sister. “I promised daddy that I would keep you safe. I’m going to keep you safe.”
“We’ll keep each other safe.” Rye whispered as they hugged each other.
They shoved clothes into duffle bags. Hidden away in Rye’s bag was a teddy bear holding a heart shaped picture of a soldier. The fight about the bear had been the first time that Donna Leigh had hit Rye. She hardly ever hit Leigh Anne because she would do whatever she needed to so that Rye would be safe.
By the next move, the bear had disappeared. Just like everything that Donna Leigh stole from her cousin. He never reported anything missing. Never pressed charges. And whenever Donna Leigh called, he sent her money.
Over the next few years, Rye learned to live with only the absolute basic necessities. No valuables. Nothing that couldn’t fit in a backpack.
Many nights Leigh Anne and Rye snuggled together in the back of a car or closet for warmth. There were no blankets to cover up with. Jackets became a luxury during cold weather.
During times that Donna Leigh was doing well, or had a man to take care of them, she would have a floor to sleep on. Blankets to hide under. Enough clothes to wear something while doing laundry. A place to do laundry. A place to take a shower that was not at school.
In an effort to protect her little sister, Leigh Anne slid further down the road of addiction with her mother. Soon, Rye was the one protecting her mother and sister. When she was unable to save her sister after their mother’s death, Rye felt as though she had failed.
Failed her sister. Failed her mother. Failed her father.
Failed in everything.
