Diane's Remembrance (Second Chance #4) by Christina Escue Read Free Book Online

her bunk.
     
    “Thanks.” Diane said and rolled over and faced the wall.
     
    “Mom, I have to tell you something. Garrett had a woman here last night. They..umm…did it on your bed and then she left.”
     
    Karla tells me while looking at the floor. I know she’s telling the truth, but I can’t let Garrett know that I know. “You stupid little liar. How dare you tell me this crap when you know good and well that Garrett didn’t do anything.”
     
    “But he did, Mom. She had blonde hair and really big boobs. She was as tall as Garrett and had a tattoo of a snake on her butt.”
     
    “You stupid little liar.” Garrett says as he comes up behind her and smacks her on the back of the head. “You didn’t see anything. You just don’t want your Mama to be happy.”
     
    Garrett smacks her again and I turn my back on them. As Karla tries to crawl away from him I walk out of the apartment. I can’t stand to hear my baby girl being hurt, but I can’t bring myself to stop it either.
     
    When I return a little while later Karla is huddled on her thin blanket in the corner and Garrett is passed out on the bed. I look at her for a minute and see that she is still breathing before I crawl into bed beside him. When he rolls over and wraps his arms around me I can see the bruises on his knuckles and realize he’d used his fists this time. Silent tears roll down my face as I think of the life Karla should have had. The life I would never be able to give her.
     
    Diane woke with tears running down her cheeks. In just a few hours Karla’s life would be changed for the better. In just a few hours her girl would never know that kind of pain again.
     
    “Carol, are you awake?” Diane asked and when Carol didn’t answer Diane knew she was sound asleep.
     
    Diane dropped to her knees and folded her hands and prayed like she had ever prayed before.
     
    “Dear Lord, I know I have absolutely no right to ask this, but I want you to watch over my girl. She has been put through hell by me, but I have always loved her the only way I have known how. She deserves the best out of life and she deserves to be happy. Keep her safe like I never did and please guide those who are caring for her. She is theirs now and I know she’ll never want for anything ever again. Thank you for keeping guiding her down the road you have. I know I will never get to meet you, but I know my sweet girl will. Thank you for everything. Amen.”
     
    When she was finished Diane rose to her feet and sat on her bed. “Tomorrow it’ll all be over.”
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
     
    “Garrett, stop!” I yell as he punches me repeatedly in the side.
     
    “Tell me the truth.” He yells again as he punches my side hard.
     
    “Stop!!” I hear Karla yell as she jumps on Garrett’s back, trying to get him to leave me alone. “I took it.”
     
    “You little brat.” Garrett yells as he slings Karla against the wall. “How dare you steal from me.”
     
    “I took it to get the food you just ate.” Karla tells him as she wraps her arms around herself.
     
    “You liar. Your Mama brought that food home from the bar.” He slaps her hard across the face and she screams in pain. “I knew you were going to be trouble from the moment I saw you in the back seat of that car. Now your lies have caused us more trouble.” He pushes her down onto her blanket and turns toward the door.
     
    “Garrett, don’t leave.” I beg as he opens the door and walks out. He turns to look at me for a second then walks out. Tears fill my eyes as I watch him leave. Once he’s gone I turn to where Karla is huddled in the corner. “You and your lies are always messing things up for me.”
     
    Karla just sits there with her face buried in her knees as I rant at her. When I’m finished yelling I walk out the door and head to the bar where Garrett and I both work.
     
    Diane opened her eyes and looked out the window of the cell. The sky was just starting to lighten and she