Beth was almost in a panic when she opened the door to the room where her kids were supposed to be. She was not as worried about the boys, but the girls were more than enough to worry about. When she got to the door, she heard nothing, the room was silent. At first not hearing the kids fighting was a blessing but the fear of them not being in there or something happening to them after what Rodger had said started to get to her. The fact that she was not hearing anything was getting to the point that it was making it hard for her to get the key to slide in the hole to open the door.
Sweat started running down her face and as the key finally found its way into the hole, she was ready to scream as the door opened.
Beth stepped in to see that they were all just sitting around the bed, the oldest of them had taken a little of the money that they had earned and brought back food for them all. Beth breathed out a sigh of relief seeing them all just sitting there eating and talking quietly. She was delighted to see them there that way, but a little puzzled at the same time. She knew that they were always quieter when they were eating most of the time. There were only a couple of fights over who gets what, or their share was bigger. She knew that they were growing up, and the fact that the older ones were actually helping. The smaller ones knew that the food was coming from the money that the older kids were making. It had an effect on them, and they were not complaining about who got what or the size of their portions and made it so that they never asked for more.
Beth let a tear slip out before she could stop it, seeing them that way. She had never wanted the eldest ones to have to sacrifice their childhood to take care of their siblings, but she was trapped in letting them help.
As she entered the room, they all looked up at her and started scooting over so that she could sit with them and eat. Even though she could feel her stomach grumbling she just couldn't take away from the small portions that they already had. She knew that they all were hungry, and she could handle the hunger a while longer. Until she could come up with a way for them all to eat. Allen made sure that there was plenty of room for Mommy to come sit next to him.
Beth said, "You children go ahead and eat I am not hungry now I will get something to eat later."
Tina said, "Mom you didn't eat last night."
Tommy said, "Come on Mom, I made sure that I got enough for everyone."
Beth saw tears starting in Sadie's eyes and heard her say, "There is more than enough Mom. Come sit with us."
Beth almost refused, trying to make them all eat their fill but when she saw that Lina couldn't even look up at her without crying, she just didn't have the heart to turn them down. Beth said, "Things will get better kids. I promise."
Beth's heart was just overwhelmed by the way that they were all acting and pulling together.
As soon as she took a seat on the floor with them Allen climbed into her lap. He could feel that she was hurting but didn't know why or what he could do to help.
Tommy had left her a plate of food that she could tell was more than any of them had eaten. As she looked at them, she could easily see that they were all losing weight and there was just no way that she could eat, knowing how hungry they all were.
Beth took her plate and put a couple of spoons on each of the kids' plates even though they objected to her doing it. Beth said, "You kids just go ahead and eat; I told you that I am not all that hungry."
Beth gave them a smile as she told them to finish what was on their plates and not talk back. The thought of her kids starving really did make her lose her appetite, she knew that they were in danger, and she needed to figure out something fast. At this point, she regretted bringing Tommy and Sadie because they could have kept working and at least made enough to feed themselves.
She knew that with them all here. It was more likely that anyone who would be trying Rodger and seeing them all together like this would have to have more compassion toward him. Knowing that they all were relying on him to take care of them.
Beth felt Allen cuddle into her, and she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight as he ate there in her lap.
Tommy looked up at the two of them and asked, "What are we going to do Mom? We don't have that much money left it cost so much for the trip over and then the room."
Beth said, "Don't worry I will think of something. I thank you both for giving up the little that you had to help, but there has to be something that will save us. We need to show them how much we need him back."
Sadie knew that it was all just a waste no one had ever gotten mercy just because their family had needed them to be there for them. She was about to say it out loud then she saw how much Beth needed to be able to believe that it was going to make a difference. Sadie didn't believe that anything was going to change, but she knew that her mom needed her. So did the others and they would even more if things went bad and her dad was left in prison. This is what she had been expecting ever since Katie took off with Gina. Sadie was now wishing that they had not treated them both so badly, making them run off like they did.
Beth knew that the room was paid for till the trial started as long as it didn't take too long, they would have a place to stay, but the food was not included. She knew that she could have the kids help her cook or clean or something to get the money or food that they were going to need. But that was part of it two she knew that they were going to have to be right there with her, especially the girls. All the men that she had seen looked far too dangerous, and too hungry just to see girls. She didn't think that the fact that they were young would stop many of them from doing something. Beth quivered at the thoughts and knew that it might not just be for Stan that someone would grab the girls. Thinking about some of the things that she had seen on the way to Rodger. She was not sure that the boys were completely safe either.
Beth looked at the three girls sitting there and knew that Sadie at this point was so independent that she was lucky that she was still doing what she was being told. She looked like she was a full-grown woman, and she really was, but that meant that she would have to watch her most of all.
Beth knew that there were men out there just looking for a girl who thought that she knew everything just to put them in their place. They would love to show them just how the world really works. If Rodger was right Sadie would be the one that the attorneys would be looking to get because she was not like the others who were apprehensive of strangers coming up to them. Tommy would look after Allen whenever he was around because Allen looked up to him so much that he stuck to him like glue. And that just left Tina and Lina who were always together doing something, but they hardly ever talked to strangers or anyone else for that matter she would not have to worry about them wandering off with anyone.
Beth looked at Sadie with her long brown hair that came down to her waist. It was so straight and shiny and the girl knew how much attention she got from the boys when she would whip it. Her hair just accentuated the curves of her body. Sadie had penetrating green eyes, and she would just make the boys melt when she would give them the look. Beth was so shocked when she watched her do it right in front of the boys and then their reactions to her. She knew that it would not be that long till she would be looking for a husband and to start a family of her own. Beth was just hoping that she would pick someone better than she did. As Beth thought about it, she hoped that she wouldn't look for anyone here even though they were in a new place with lots of new guys. Beth didn't think that she would be able to find anyone here that would be that good for her to be with.
Beth thought about the best way to approach the topic of them all staying close. So that they would not be grabbed and used to hurt the court case that their dad was in or for any other reason that they might want them for. But she didn't want to scare them so much that they would think that everyone was out to get them. Beth knew that everyone was not trying to get them but as she looked in the faces of the guys, she knew that there was enough of them that might want to snatch one of the kids enough that she was almost going to want them all holding hands when they went anywhere. Knowing that she was going to have to warn them at least Beth said, "Your dad told me that Stan was going to be having his attorneys here. It is possible that they might try and get one of you so that they could force your father to say the things that they want. So, if you go out from now on make sure that you stick close to one another and no one goes out alone.
They all looked at each other and then back at her. Beth could tell just from the looks that the only one that she was going to have difficulties with was going to be Sadie as she rolled her eyes, but she knew that she wouldn't do anything that was going to hurt the family.
Beth thought about telling them that he didn't want them at the trial, but that the whole reason that she had brought them was to induce mercy in anyone who was seeing how desperately they all needed him.
Beth started thinking that it would be better if they were looking slightly younger, at least Tommy and Sadie if they looked young enough that they couldn't work it would make the whole situation look even more desperate. Tommy was going to be easy he had a baby face and had not started growing any facial hair yet. He was short for his age and now that the food had gotten tight, he had slimmed down more than he was before. Beth took a look at him as if she was someone who didn't know him and saw that if she didn't know him, he would look 13 or less. The one that looked the most mature was Sadie, especially when she was trying to look older.
Beth had caught her getting ready to go out with her friends and she looked like she was in her mid-twenties. Of course, she made her change, there was no need to look that old, but her attitude was not getting better. At least it wasn't until Rodger took off after the girls. That instantly pulled the kids together and made them all pitch in and help.
Beth thought about the outfits that they had and if she made her look plain, she was not going to pass as too young. Sadie's chest had filled out way too much for that, but with the right look, it would not be as noticeable. Especially if she wore something that was more revealing, making her chest stick out more would make Sadie's not show as much, but a little shabby-looking at the same time. She didn't want to look unkempt, but she knew that she wanted them all to show that the money was tight or just not there at all.
Beth had a thought at that point she knew that Stan was going to be there. What if he offered her money to take care of the kids if she would turn on Rodger? Her face flushed after all he had not been doing that good of a job taking care of her or the kids. Beth knew in her youth that there was no way that she would ever go for some crazy idea like that, but now with the way he had been treating her for years. It was possible that with the right offer, the kids and she could start over. Beth shook her head and thought there was no way that he was going to do that, and she would never go looking for it.
Allen asked, "What's wrong mommy?" As he looked up at her.
Beth said, "Nothing to worry about little one." As she patted his head.
Beth said, "I was thinking of going back to see your father, but he wanted me to stay away and just watch you kids."
Beth saw the looks on their faces, each one was hoping to get to see him. Beth said, "I checked out the prison and I can say that I don't want any of you going there, and seeing just what goes on in there. Beth suddenly flashed on an image of the large guard standing close and she felt a small twinge inside her that was something that she had not felt all that much in the past or something she had not felt in years. Just then Allen shifted in her lap intensifying the feeling. She bit her lip and pushed the feeling out of her mind. She knew that if she kept feeling things like that, she was going to have to have Allen sit somewhere else. She knew that she could just tell him that he was getting too heavy for her right now.
Beth took another bite of the food that she had and to her surprise even though she knew deep down she was really hungry she was not able to eat it was making her nauseous just thinking about it. Beth knew that if she would eat any more, she was just going to through it back up. She divided up what she had left and scraped it onto the plates of the kids which each tried to stop her.
Beth told them all to just eat it, she was just not feeling well and there was no point in letting the food go to waste. The children were concerned but they did as they were asked.
Beth looked around now that everything had settled down and she was glad to see that it had a stove a tiny one and a little fridge not that it was really big enough to keep any real food in it but would keep leftovers from spoiling if they would ever get such a thing. There were enough hungry mouths there that it seemed no matter how much was made it was always consumed and now that they were not getting as much, she knew that it was never going to be enough. Beth knew that it was not going to hurt her that much to miss a few meals, but it was only a matter of time before she was going to have to eat.
The rest of the room was bare except for a footlocker that contained an extra blanket and the large bed. The bed was not going to be big enough for them to all sleep in. So, she had asked them to bring in a couple of cots for some of the kids to sleep in. She saw that they had put them in the corner to give them room to move around while everyone was up.
Beth looked around, she was hoping that the room would at least have a bathroom in it but when Tommy saw her looking around, he said, "The bathroom is at the end of the hall we have to share it with everyone."
Beth was not surprised when she found the hotel that was the cheapest that they were going to have to endure some hardships. She had been hoping that the bathroom was at least in the room considering that she had both boys and girls that were going to need it. She guessed that she was expecting too much at that point, but at least it did have a little sink so that they could wash off the dishes.
After the meal was eaten, they quickly cleaned up and washed off the dishes and they all climbed up on the bed. Beth sat there lost in her own little world trying to come up with an idea that would save them all, but as hard as she thought nothing seemed to work out in their favor. Beth was glad that the kids were all finding things to play with to keep them from fighting.
Beth found that she was close to tears because no answers were coming to her, and it felt like her whole world was coming crashing down around her. It was leaving her feeling completely helpless. She knew that she could not start crying in front of the kids as much as she needed to.
Beth sat there only half listening to them play and thought that she was so glad that at least the young ones were staying happy with everything going on, but that was because they didn't know what was ahead of them.
There was a sudden knock at the door that made Beth jump. She was ready to let out a scream from the thoughts, but she was able to hold it back.