by Vicki Green
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
I can’t help the sadness in my heart and continue cleaning her sweet face. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry for, Peaches. Does it hurt much?” I carefully clean around her bruised eye and she flinches.
“No,” she says, a small smile appears as she winces and I let out a chuckle.
“Liar.” That gets a little laugh from her. As I finish cleaning I notice her eyes filling up with tears. “What happened?”
Her eyes close expelling a couple of drops and then they reopen. “Don’t worry. I’m not with him anymore.”
I shake my head quickly. “I mean with Celia. How did she die?” She moves to sit up but winces, so I put my hands under her arms and help her until she’s siting back against the headboard. My anger rears up, and I can’t hold it back. “What the fuck else did he do to you?” Her eyes close and she jumps a little at my voice. Closing my eyes, I try to calm my breathing and my heart then when I open them, her arms are hugging her middle, and she’s turned her head towards the window. Again, she startles when I touch her arm but her head turns to me, her tears now dripping down her face, and I sigh. “I’m sorry. I know now’s not the time for me to get my anger up, but I do want to know where else you’re hurt. Please tell me. I promise to try to keep my anger in check.” My mouth turns into a smile but inside, I’m still fuming. If I ever get my hands on who hurt her, there’ll be fucking hell to pay.
“My ribs are a little sore, that’s all. I swear.” Her eyebrows crease and her chin quivers slightly.
As my hand moves from her arm to her face, I rub a couple of tears away, gently and my smile begins to feel more real. “I’ll have Dad call Dr. Phillip.” She begins to protest, but I cover her mouth with my finger quickly. “No, buts.” I cup her face, my thumb stroking her cheek and her eyes close. “Let me take care of you. Let me be here for you. We’re your family now.”
She takes my hand and pulls herself up, throwing her arms around my neck and mine fold around her quickly, her face burrowing into my neck. “Can he do it tomorrow? I’m really tired.” I only nod as I hold her tighter but when she starts to move back I release her, and she takes my hand as she lays down, moving over and pulls me down with her. I lay behind her. My arm wrapped around her side. Our hands clasped together with our fingers intertwined, and as we lay in the moonlight from the window, all that comes into my head is how her hair doesn’t have the familiar smell of peaches, how she feels smaller than the last time we were together and how I’ve continually let her down when she needed me the most. Right then I make a decision. A decision that will change my life forever but one that must be done. I’ll never leave her again.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I close my eyes, but sleep evades me. With Bo’s arms around me, the soft skin of his hand in mine, I’m lost in him again and don’t want to be found. I begin softly rubbing his arm with my other hand and stare out through the blinds on the window, thinking about all the times I’ve messed up my life. All the times that my mom had to get me out of trouble, leave work early to take me to the hospital to get stitched up, a broken bone set or x-rays on parts of me that were feared to be broken. I feel a tear drop off my face and onto the pillow as I think about how hard she worked, never tiring to make money to keep food on our table or to buy me clothes, and all I did was find trouble and cause her worry and heartache.
“You should try to sleep, Peaches,” Bo whispers in my ear. His breath blowing my dirty hair a little, and I snuggle back into him closer.
“I can’t sleep,” I whisper back.
He leans his head up, and I turn mine to him. “Why?” he sighs, closing his eyes. “I’m an insensitive fool.”
I turn over, carefully, the pain in my ribs causing me to wince with my movement, and lay my hand on his face. “No, you’re anything but insensitive. You’ve had to run to my aid more times than I can count.” His eyes open and my heart hurts with the look in his pale blue eyes that are full of concern and worry. Something I always seem to cause for him.
“Not enough times. I should have never left you. I promised….” This time I stop him and place two fingers over his full lips.
“We were young, just children and made promises that we couldn’t possibly keep. You have a great career ahead of you. I would never stop you from following your dreams. You mean too much to me.” I move closer, my arm moving around his waist and his around my shoulder as I lay my head on his warm chest. His head rests against the top of mine, and I feel so safe, so comforted that I might just be able to get a little sleep.
“You deserve to follow your dreams too you know.” His arm tightens, and I nestle into him more. “Everything will change now for the better. I’m going to make sure of it.”
I want to ask him what he means, but I’m too tired and can feel it will lead into an argument, something we seem to do whenever we talk anymore. Closing my eyes, my body relaxes, and I fade away as I listen to his heartbeat and feel blanketed in his warmth.
The sun is shining bright when I open my eyes. My body is stiff and sore as I move my legs over the side of the bed and stand in front of the window. My fingers push between the blinds opening them enough that I can look out. The ocean is beautiful, the sun causing spots of sparkles in the ever moving water. I think about all the times we played in the ocean growing up. The many sand castles we built on their private beach and the stories his mom told me about how she and his dad used to do the same thing in a park’s sandbox when they were little. How they found each other again as adults and fell in love all over again. Envy swells inside me as I think of how lucky Bo and his older sister Pearl were to grow up in a loving family with both a mom and dad but then my heart stops when I think of my mom.
“Stormy?” My head snaps at the sound of Bo’s moms voice, and I smile when I turn and walk around the bed, across the room and into her arms. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry about your mom. She was a great woman and she loved you so much.” The comfort of her hand rubbing my back causes my fresh tears to unleash, and I shudder as I cry on her shoulder. “There. Let it go, sweetheart. It’s good to cleanse ourselves when we feel loss.” I don’t know how long we stayed like this but finally, my tears begin to stop, and I look up at her beautiful face and smile. “Why don’t you go and take a nice hot shower and I’ll fix you up something wonderful to eat.” I only nod as I step out of her embrace and head into the bathroom, looking back at her caring face and smile as she closes the door.
The shower is just what I needed, the water as hot as I can stand it, and it feels so good to get clean finally. After washing my hair, I’m careful of my bruised eye as I wash my face and then pour some of the peach scented body wash, always left in this bathroom for my visits, into my hands and wash over my body. Taking my old razor from the shelf, I shave my legs, under my arms and then let the water wash everything away. I only wish it could wash away the horrible parts of my life. When I finish brushing my teeth and my long snarled hair, I walk into the bedroom to find a pair of his mom’s yoga pants and a tank top folded on the bed. She was also so kind as to leave me a clean pair of panties and bra. Good thing we are both the same size. I open the door and walk downstairs, through the enormous house and into the kitchen and stop when I hear voices coming from out on the deck. I stand there for a few minutes listening to their laughter, and I smile.
“Why don’t you go out and join them?” Bo’s mom’s voice sounds from behind me. I turn and see her beautiful smile.
“I will in a few minutes. I think I’d rather stay in here for just a bit.” I walk over and wince a little as I sit down at the kitchen table, still looking outside and longing for Bo to hold me again.
She brings me over a cup of coffee and sits across from me. “It’s so great to see you again. I wish it was under better circumstances. How are you this morning?”
I take a sip of my coffee and relish in
the taste. She remembered exactly how I like it. Setting my cup down, I place my hands over it, loving the feeling of the warmth. “You’re so sweet, Mrs. Dunway. I’m a little sore but feeling a little better. Thank you.”
She smiles again. “Oh, my. It’s Jade, you know that. You haven’t called me Mrs. Dunway since you were a little girl. Knox called Phillip this morning and he said he would be here in a couple of hours to take a look at you. I hope you don’t mind. We just want to make sure you aren’t hurt more than you’re telling us.” My smile is beaming at her caring words. She takes a drink and sets her cup back down then reaches across the table and places a hand on top of mine. “I would like to help with the arrangements for Celia’s service, if you don’t mind. In fact, if it’s too hard on you I would be happy to take care of it all for you. She was a great and caring friend.”
I swore I was not going to cry this morning but can’t help the wetness now forming in my eyes. I shake my head and take a deep breath and give her a small smile. “Thank you. I would love your help but I need to do some of it on my own. I also need to go over to the apartment and pack up our things. I’ve been gone for so long and I know it will be hard but I need to do it myself.” I look at her and see her eyes full of kindness and I am overwhelmed. “I should have made breakfast for you all this morning. Lord knows I haven’t done that in a long time and could use the practice.”
She smiles and lets out a small laugh. “True. I know you’re a much better cook than I could ever be. You should really be a cook for a living. Your food is amazing.” I begin to speak but stop when the guys walk in.
“Hey, what’s going on in here? No lovin’ for the men in the house with breakfast?” Knox and Bo walk in through the French doors from the deck, smiling, but then I look at Bo, and his smile instantly turns into a frown. I watch as his eyes look at my bruised eye, and his lips curl up into a snarl.
Jade rises and walks over to Knox, kissing him on the lips and smacks his bottom, playfully. I wish I could have that with someone. I always thought it would be Bo. We had sworn our love to each other so long ago but then both our lives changed. His for the better and mine for the worse.
“Come, darling. Let’s take our plates outside and give the kids a little time alone. They haven’t seen each other in such a long time and need to catch up,” Jade says as she hands Knox a plate and starts to walk towards the doors.
“But I….” Knox takes the plate and begins to complain then Jade takes his free hand, winks and smiles at him as she starts pulling him out to the deck.
I look over as Bo walks to the counter, retrieving two plates full of food. He brings them over, setting one down in front of me and sits in the chair next to me. He looks down and dives into his food but looks at me with his eyes. I’ve just lost my appetite. “You should eat. You’ve lost a ton of weight since I’ve seen you last.”
Looking down I stare at my plate, pick up my fork and then set it down. “You’re upset with me.” It’s not a question.
His head turns towards me, his chewing slows, and he sets his fork down on his plate. “Peaches. I can never be upset with you. I’d think you’d know that by now. But the asshole who gave you that black eye….” His eyes travel down my body and then back up to my eyes. “And who knows what else, that’s the person I’m pissed off at. When are you going to stop doing this to yourself? When is the self-destruct life going to end?” His voice rises as he continues to speak and my eyes flinch.
With wide eyes and a pounding heart, my face turns angry. “Sometimes we don’t have a choice, Bo. Sometimes we have to do things we may not like.” I stand, pushing my chair back loudly and take a step back. “I think I should leave. Please thank your parents for me. I need…. I need to go.” I begin to turn when he stops me with his hand on my upper arm.
I look down at his face, so much hurt, so much concern and worry and so much anger. “It’s so easy for you to just walk away, isn’t it? So easy when things get rough that you can just leave.”
I pull my arm away angrily and try to stop my tears from falling. Lifting my chin up, I back away another step. “You think it’s easy, Mr. I have everything I ever could want. Mr. I’ve never had to find where my next meal will come from or I don’t have to worry about what I want out of life,” I spit. I turn and walk out of the kitchen, wiping my tears away forcefully and grimace when I rub too hard on my bruised eye. My body is turned abruptly, his arms both on my shoulders, shaking me.
“You can have anything! Anything your heart desires. You’re just as stubborn as my mom, I fucking swear! You never had to do the things you’ve done. I’ve always tried to help you, take care of you. What the fuck, Stormy!” He yells, his chest rising and falling quickly with his anger.
“Fuck you! You’ve always been there? Ha! Really? That’s why I haven’t seen you for over a year, barely heard from you while my mom and I struggled every day to make ends meet, to put food on our table, to pay the bills so our electricity wasn’t shut off, again and to just live a halfway decent life. Yes, I’m sure I could have just anything I wanted.”
“God dammit! I’m sorry that I left for college. I’m sorry that you’ve had struggles but shit…. You could have done things a different way to get money, Stormy! Not everyone with money problems hooks to get things they need. There are respectable ways to earn a living!” He shouts causing my head to snap back as if he’d slapped me, and it felt like he had. My chin quivers but I refuse to shed another tear. I try to break free from his hold and begin to struggle when he pulls me into his arms, holding me so tightly that I can barely move or breathe. “Fuck! I’m so sorry, Peaches. I’m so sorry! It’s not your fault. None of it is your fault.”
Finally giving in to his hold, I relax and put my arms around his back, holding him just as tight. I take in his smell, the smell I’ve missed and longed for, for so long. I breathe him in and tighten my arms. “You’re right, you know. I’ve never been one to do things the easy way, like everyone else. But…. I think you have the corner on stubbornness, like your mom, more than me.” He laughs, his hand covering the back of my head and the other threading through my long hair over and over.
He finally releases me but takes my hand and begins leading me back into the kitchen. “Come. Let’s get you fed before Dr. Phillip arrives. Lord knows you need it.” My smile is wide and relief fills me as I look over at his gorgeous face. God, how I’ve missed him.
Chapter Two
Fuck! I almost blew it right off the bat this morning with Peaches. Dammit! I seriously need to keep my anger in check around her. Dr. Phillip arrived a few minutes ago and is upstairs with her, in her room, and I’m pacing the floor in the living room, praying she isn’t hurt too badly. My fingers run through my hair as I contemplate the best way to tell my parents that I’m not returning to school, that I have to stay here and try to help Stormy. I need to get her to fall back in love with me and take care of her. She needs me, more now than ever before, and I’ll be damned if I’ll leave her again. I won’t let her continue her path to self-destruction. I’m not making that mistake twice. I can’t do that to her. I won’t.
I stop my pacing abruptly when Dad walks into the room. He hands me a bottled water and I chug half of it. “So, Stormy’s pretty messed up again, huh?”
I lower the bottle and watch as he sits down, concern and worry on his face. He’s always had a soft spot for Peaches, just like me. I lean against the corner bar counter, setting my bottle down and my eyebrows crease with worry. “Yeah, I guess. Dad?”
He looks up at me, rubbing his own bottle back and forth in his hands. “Yes, son? What’s on your mind?”
I sigh, taking a deep breath. This is gonna be harder than I thought, and I know he’s gonna freak out. Finally, I stand up straight, square my shoulders and get ready for the lashing he’ll give me. “I’ve decided I’m going to finish out the last few months of school at
the junior college.” I watch as his body stiffens. “Stormy needs me, Dad. She needs to get her life on the right track and now with Celia gone…. I have to help her, Dad. I need to make things right with her, for her, and I’m the only one she has now.” Closing my eyes, I try to prepare myself for the blow.
“I think that’s very admirable, son. I’ll send Ralph over to pack up your things and I’ll call the administrator myself today.” Huh? My eyes open into a slit and see him relaxed and sitting back against the couch. My heart rate begins to decrease in relief. “But know that you still need to maintain your grade average and continue your studies as you have before. No slacking off. You know your mother and I will do what we can for Stormy as well. We talked last night and your mother wants to talk with her today and see if she can convince her into moving in here with us, until she can get on her feet.” He rises from his seat and walks over to me, laying his hand on my shoulder. “You know Stormy is more stubborn than your mom and I didn’t think that could be possible.”
My laugh escapes me and he starts laughing too. “I love you, Dad. You and Mom are the best! I do agree though, I didn’t think anyone could ever be more stubborn and pigheaded then Mom.”
“Watch it! Only I can say that about your mother,” he continues laughing again and we both turn quickly when Mom walks into the room.
“What’s so funny? Care to share?” Her smile is huge, her face so beautiful. I’m so lucky to have the best parents in the world.
