Withering Ivy: Chapter Twenty Eight

I refused to acknowledge her or give any sort of satisfaction that she won. It was a new day and new opportunities, she didn't find it annoying as much as I tried, however. She was unbearably patient and spent most of the morning cooking. I had slept in after the eventful night and was awakened to lunch being almost ready. I was guided to my chair where she locked me in but I never talked to her or even looked her in the eyes if she tried moving to meet my gaze I would turn the other way. She would only pat my cheek and continue with her tasks. It was so annoying.

She spoke to me quite a bit as well. She asked questions about how I liked certain things cooked and if I was doing ok but I didn't reply. I only crossed my arms and stared into the hallway. It wasn't until she sat down at the table with our plates that a question finally popped into my head. From the high chair to the sippy cups I realized most of the things she used for me were not new. "What happened to the girls before me?"

Olivia thought that question was funny she chuckled to herself lightly and kept cutting the chicken on my plate into smaller pieces. "Didn't you hear? I killed them." She stabbed the food with the sparkly plastic fork and held it up to her lips to blow the steam away. "Their bodies are under the floorboard."

I sighed to show how unfunny I thought she was. And refused the bite that was offered. She seemed to expect it though. She used her own fork to grab some of the vegetables and take a bite herself. "I don't understand," I whispered. My fingers wrapped around one another. "I've never heard of you. I know nothing about you and they just put me in your care."

She took a drink of her water. "I know Amelia and Grace from way back. We grew up together. As for the girls before you..." she shrugged. "As much as you think so negatively of me I'm not a monster. It just didn't work out."

"And what... you let them go? I didn't think they would let that happen so easily."

"Sweetheart, when we buy someone we own them. They don't give a shit what we do with them."

My eyes thinned and my face scrunched as I tried to think. That seemed so different than what Ms. Winslet had told me.

"There were a few girls that grew into their own. There was one who wasn't submissive and found herself to be more dominating. There was even one girl who just wasn't a match. They move on and so do I." She retook my fork and offered it to me. This time my stunned silence was enough for her to slip the food into my mouth without much fight from me. "In all honesty, I was having a hard time with the latter. I think the older I get the more I realize how lonely I am. Amelia offered me you in exchange for your safety."

Finally, I let my eyes find hers but she wasn't worried she only took another bite herself and crossed her legs to get more comfortable. When I wouldn't take another bite she put a few pieces on my tray so she wouldn't have to keep offering. "How long did they plan this?"

She shrugged. "Long enough for me to go shopping for you. You are so tiny it took me forever to find the right shoes."

"What about the organization? I thought that-"

"They don't care. They just wanted you away from the owner's daughter. They think Amelia sent you away because she was tired of you. That's the story she gave anyway."

Her eyes met mine and I probably had the most pitiful look in existence because she only tilted her head with a sorry look. "But she still owns me..."

"She does until Saturday. Then you and I are visiting a traveling convention where I formally buy you." When I said nothing she tried to make it sound a little better. "I need the legal claim or anyone could come try and take you."

I ignored her, I couldn't tell if anything she said was a lie or if I had been lied to. "I can feed myself."

She scooped up the little that was left on her plate and scoffed. "From what I can remember half of your food yesterday ended up on the floor." She watched me sigh and lean on my hands, my fingers flicking the chicken around the white tray leaving some of the seasoning behind. "What can I do to make this easier for you?" She seemed sincere but I could only shrug. "Maybe we can make a deal hm?"

She only used one finger to raise my head to meet her eyes. She studied me a moment before continuing. "You let me know some things I can get you, you don't break any of those things, and I'll make sure it gets here by tomorrow."

"I miss the chickens."

Olivia raised her eyebrows at first. "Chickens?"

"They were my chore at home. And I liked taking care of them."

She nodded.

"And I like playing video games and watching movies."

"Ok." She waited knowing there was something else on my tongue.

"I want to be able to go around the house on my own."

Her eyes got wide but she didn't say anything for a moment. I assumed it was to make sure she said the right thing. "Perhaps that's something we can work towards."

I finally took a bite of my food. "You don't trust me?"

Olivia smiled.

"Can we at least go on walks?"

She rubbed her hands together and nodded. "We can make that happen." I was about to take another bite but paused as she continued. "But I have one condition." When I didn't say anything she bit her bottom lip. I never noticed how expressive she was. "You have to drink two bottles of milk a day."

It felt like there was something more to that so I didn't agree I only stared at the tray.

"Two bottles. That's it."

"Why?"

"Because I want you to." She stared me down and I felt my cheeks blush so I only nodded as if a crowd waited for my response. I jumped hearing a branch hit the window. The wind picked up outside and I noticed for the rest time how yellow everything was. I didn't even notice the season change to autumn, in my defense, Olivia had been keeping the blinds and curtains closed to probably keep my mischievous mind at bay. "How about this afternoon I set you up a comfortable spot so I can order your wishes."

Her offer sounded nice and even though I didn't give her any sort of positive emotions I figured my obedience to her directions was hint enough that I was tired and not ready to fight...for at least the afternoon. She cleaned up my hands and led me to the living room where my playpen still was. She moved it to the side and brought in a giant beanbag that looked so inviting I didn't wait for her ok. I laid down in it and giggled at how hard it was to move around on. She tucked me in with a blanket and put some pillows around my head to keep me in place before handing a remote over. My surprise made her smile. I looked through the endless rows of movies and shows amazed at the quantity. I wasn't even mad she had a parental code. Because even with only child content there was still miles of entertainment. When I had picked something interesting and nostalgic I decided not to argue with her as she handed me a warm bottle.

I held the plastic rim a few times waiting for her to walk away before I peeked behind me to see her getting out her laptop and sitting at the kitchen table. When I thought she wasn't looking I started drinking, I didn't want her to even have a clue that I had been craving it. I used both hands to raise it even higher and I sunk into my chair with bliss. Until I noticed something in the top corner of the room. A baby monitor just like the one Grace had for me. My cheeks reddened once again and I looked behind me to see a small wave from Olivia one of those knowing ones where every finger takes its turn to be in the air. I only turned back to the TV as the intro music played. There was no hiding how red my face got. The only thing I could think of was holding my hand out with the bottle tilted and looking back at the woman like I wasn't bothered. "How expensive is this rug?"

Her head still lay in her hand as she looked at her laptop screen. Her hand that once waved brought up the wooden spoon she had used on me the night before. "I don't usually look at prices." She casually let it scratch her head and her brown wavy hair mocked me as I turned back around and brought my drink back to my chest. I wanted to get on her nerves, yes, but being punished like that again was not in my goals. I unconsciously raised my butt to feel the soreness.

The movie was entertaining, I had seen it before which allowed me to doze off a couple of times. I'm sure the stress of everything made me a bit more tired than I was used to but I had never been one to sleep SO much. Even before, at home, Grace had me take a nap during the afternoon and I had grown used to that but usually, I laid awake at night thinking. Longer than she probably wanted me to. Now I didn't think much, I only slept.

At some point during the movie, Olivia had continued with her hobbies. She had fabric and thread laying out on the table where her laptop once was and at some point set up her sewing machine. Every once in a while I would peek back to see her eyes watching her work at the machine whirled and her lips held the pointy metal. She had told me when she noticed me staring that she had a friend coming over for dinner but she didn't bother getting us dressed up or preparing a three-course meal so I wasn't sure how to feel about it. Even when I flipped through movie titles I couldn't make myself anxious as the doorbell rang and Olivia left her work. All I felt was curiosity especially when she waved me over before she opened the door.