Read Autum's Lost (A letting go series) for Free Online

confused?”
    “I’m conflicted, not confused. God, I want to go! But my house would be burned down to the ground, children would be missing, while Skylar is in the fetal position out on the front lawn.”
    I laugh, “He can’t be that bad with the kids.”
    “No? He put water on a grease fire Addy, need I remind you his dad is a retired fire fighter?”
    “Oh ,” I mouth, smiling and looking away
    “Yes, oh . I rest my case.”

Chapter 10
     
    The rest of that weekend and the following week I was up to my ears in tags and boxes to get ready for the garage sale. I walked down to the basement to retrieve more tags and it was like walking into 1996. All of Autum’s baby clothes and toys were in boxes against the wall. Her crib was full of all the stuffed animals she collected over the years, and put down here because she didn’t want her friends to find them when she turned fourteen; handmade posters of her girls club with her and Clarissa both as presidents because, according to Auty, they had to share duties of keeping the boys out.
    I sat down on the couch and took everything in; I could see her playing with Jess’s old prom dresses so she could be a princess, hear her laughing hysterically when she dressed our beloved Black Labrador, Floyd, in a pink T-shirt, and remembered watching her heart break and her sobbing the day we put him down because the cancer had taken over his body.
    I lay on the couch and softly wept, tears for my beautiful Autum, and tears for my wasted time with Curt. What kind of woman had I turned into all these years; weak, pathetic? What kind of woman allows her husband to walk all over her and make a mockery of their marriage? Obviously, me. I allowed this. My crying has weakened my mind for the moment, and enough for my body to relax, so the world that is sleep will encase me.
    It was dark when I finally awoke groggy and disoriented; I pulled myself out of the basement and decided that task was for another day. As I was walking into the kitchen to make a sandwich, a soft knock was at the front door. I turned on the porch light, and when I opened the door, the sight of Curt was a shock to say the least. He was completely disheveled, dirt and what I assumed was vomit covered his shirt and jeans, his once Chestnut hair was greasy and looked like a comb hadn’t touched it in days and his facial hair was starting to look like a birds nest.
    “Curt, why do you look and smell like a hobo?”
    “Can I come in Addy? I need to talk to you. Please, I am begging you, just listen to me?”
    I step aside, and the smell hits me as soon as he walks by. “Oh. My. God Curt! If you plan on talking to me go clean up. The smell coming from your body is making me want to puke.”
    He lowers his head and quietly speaks, “I’m so sorry Addy, I never meant to hurt you, if me being here upsets you I can leave.”
    I sigh “No, Curt, I can handle a conversation, it’s the smell that I am not dealing with. Your clothes are still in the bedroom and the bathroom has your stuff as well. Go clean up, and brush your teeth. Then we can discuss our situation. I am making B.LT’s, do you want one?”
    Curt looks up at me solemnly and nods once. “Thanks, Addy, I appreciate this.”
    Twenty minutes later a normal pretty boy looking Curt emerged from the bedroom. I gave him his plate and we sat down at the table. “Do you want some water?” I asked.
    “Yes, please, I’m done drinking, probably for the rest of my life.” He shakes his head.
    I retrieve two bottles of water from the fridge, and place one in front of him. Sitting back down I look up at him and tilt my head. “Why are you here Curt? I mean, I know you have been staying with your folks, but, by the look of you tonight, I would have guessed you are living under a bridge.”
    Curt looks away his jaw tightens and he swallows hard, before turning back to look at me, but his usual green eyes are now grey looking. “Mom and Dad kicked me out, the day we