Beautiful Ties (14 page)

Before I could form a careful response, Pearl jumped up from the table. “Excuse me,” she nearly cried before running in the direction of my bedroom.

I watched her until she disappeared around the corner, knowing she had been back there before while helping me make scrapbooks during happier times. I felt like the room was spinning, and I lowered my head while forcing myself to breathe in and out as my blood pumped harshly inside of me. That poor girl was experiencing something no child should ever have to bear. There seemed to be so many missing parts from her story.

A warm hand enclosed over mine, gently squeezing. “Are you okay?” Jason asked quietly.

I met his stare, overwhelmed with so many emotions. His body was as tense as mine, yet his eyes were filled with compassion and sympathy.

“Yes,” I lied, trying to keep my voice strong, not wanting him to see my weakness. I was lost, and I had no idea how to help Pearl, but I wanted to anyway. I wanted to help her find her way—and it wasn’t fair to drag Jason through this. “I never should have asked her that,” I murmured more to myself than him. I rose to my feet, breaking our hands apart. “I think you should go,” I whispered.

I didn’t want him to leave, but I knew it was for the best. Pearl needed me, and it was my fault that she was so upset.

“Abbey…” Jason countered. His tone didn’t sound like he accepted my request.

I knew it wasn’t a solution, but it was all I had right now.

I turned on my heels, not able to look at him again or I’d cave. A new set of tears filled my eyes. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” I replied, striding toward my room without a backward glance.

I reached my bedroom, but the door was shut. I gently knocked. It was time for Pearl and I to have one of those heart-to-heart talks. I prayed I wasn’t overstepping any invisible boundaries, but at this point, my heart was in too deep, and I had no other option. I could not walk away from her.

“Pearl, sweetie, can I come in?” I asked tenderly.

I could hear her sniffle through the closed door.

“Yes,” she replied.

I turned the knob and opened the door to see Pearl curled up in a ball on my bed, her face buried in my pillow. I strolled over to the bed and sat down next to her. Emotions clogged my throat as I cautiously lifted my hand and started stroking her back.

“I’m so very sorry, Pearl,” I said, shaking my head. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s okay,” she said, keeping her face concealed from me.

“I just…” I hesitated, trying to process my thoughts. “I care so much about you, and I worry about you. I never meant to hurt your feelings.”

She rotated her head, so I could see her face. I inhaled sharply, seeing her tear-stained cheeks. It made my chest clench all over again.

“You didn’t hurt my feelings,” she said, releasing a small smile. “But every other grown-up always seems to though.”

“What do you mean by that, Pearl?” I asked carefully, wanting to finally understand.

For such a young age, she was far beyond her years.

I lay down on my side next to her, placing my elbow on the mattress and propping my head up with my hand. “I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”

She bit her lip, pondering. “Diane is my aunt. My adopted mom, Christine, went to heaven a few months ago, so I had to move in with her sister since she was the only family member that would take me.”

“What about your adopted dad?” I asked, trying to understand what she was telling me.

She shook her head. “They weren’t together anymore. He didn’t want me.” She paused. “And I don’t remember my real parents. Christine told me they were in a car crash when I was only two years old.”

I exhaled soundlessly at the anguish in her voice. It was breaking me in two. From what I could gather, it sounded like this little girl had endured more heartache than anyone should ever experience in a lifetime.

“I’m so sorry, Pearl,” I responded, reaching forward to brush her blonde strands over to the side of her face while wishing I could give her some kind of solace.

After a long silence, she cried, “Diane doesn’t want me either. She only took me because I had nowhere to go…but she doesn’t love me.”

I lifted my hand to wipe away her tears, and then I pulled her into my arms to hug her affectionately. “I’m sure she does, sweetie.” I willed myself to believe my words for her sake and my own, unable to bear otherwise. “Things will get better,” I murmured, stroking her long blonde curls down the length of her back. “I promise you, I’ll do anything in my power to make things better.”

Now, I just had to figure out how I could keep my promise.

After another hour of sitting on my bed with Pearl—talking about happier things in her life, such as school and grades—we walked out of my room together, planning to make popcorn and watch
Cinderella
. I came to an abrupt halt when I saw Jason shifting to an upright position on my couch. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.

He stayed.

“Hey,” he said.

His considerate, warm smile melted my heart into a heaping puddle. His eyes darted back and forth between Pearl and me.

“Hi, Jason!” Pearl squealed with joy, happy to see him. She bounced her way over to him and plopped on the couch at his left side. “We are going to watch a princess movie and eat lots of popcorn. Do you want to join us?”

He looked up at me, and I smiled affectionately at him. Then, he brought his attention back to the seven-year-old seated beside him. “Sure. Who is your favorite princess?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Cinderella, of course.”

Jason and I chuckled at her.

He raised his brow at me. “Do you even have that movie?”

“Of course I do. It’s a classic!” I playfully rolled my eyes at him, too.

Pearl giggled, and I was elated to see her in better spirits.

I gestured to the enclosed entertainment center. “It should be in there.”

“Alrighty”—Jason laughed—“
Cinderella
it is.” He winked in my direction and rose to find the film.

Eyes beaming, I watched him as he opened the cabinet and began his search. I couldn’t believe he was going to sit and watch a girlie Disney movie with us. He could have taken the easy way out, but he hadn’t. He was here, and my heart pulled him in a little more.

“I’ll start the popcorn,” I said, heading to the kitchen. I opened the upper cabinet, pulled out a bag of extra butter popcorn, and set the microwave timer before hitting Start.

“Okay,” Jason called out after a minute, “I found the movie. Ready when you are.”

When the popcorn was done, I pulled it out and divided it into three bowls. I strolled over to the couch. Jason scooted to the right, so I could sit down in between him and Pearl.

I handed each of them their bowl of popcorn.

“Now, no pillow fights until
after
the movie,” Jason teased before hitting play.

Pearl and I looked at one another and giggled quietly.

As the opening credits started to play, Pearl glanced back to the TV.

My eyes remained focused on Pearl, taking in her youthful beauty, while I reminisced over all the fond memories we had shared in the months I’d known her. Pearl’s eyes and smile appeared to brighten whenever she was here with me. And now, she was quickly taking a liking to Jason, too.

Jason draped his arm over my shoulder. I shifted my gaze over to meet his eyes, and I smiled at him.

When the movie finally started, we both shifted our attention to the television.

I could not imagine a better way to spend a Sunday than curled up on a couch, watching
Cinderella
with Pearl and Jason, each of who brought so much laughter and joy into my life.

It was nearly six in the evening by the time Pearl left, saying she should get home in case Diane arrived.

After watching
Cinderella
and
Beauty and the Beast
, Jason had started a pillow fight. I’d watched in awe as he let a seven-year-old jump on him and repeatedly hit him with the pillow as he’d playfully surrendered to her. I couldn’t help but join in at that point.

After I shut the door, I leaned against the back of it. My house was instantly quieter without her here. Over the last several months, my visits with her had become more frequent. I was nervous that my heart was emotionally bound to hers.

But how could I just walk away?

I couldn’t.

I tipped my head up to see Jason propped against my kitchen counter, his left leg crossed over his right. He regarded me while seeming to be deep in thought, too. The silence was thick between us.

“You stayed,” I murmured, stating the obvious.

“Of course I stayed,” Jason replied. He gracefully pushed off the counter and slowly began striding toward me. One of his hands came to my waist as he rested his other arm on the door above my head, caging me in. “Did you really think that I would just leave after what happened this morning?” he asked, sounding hurt. He shook his head. “I’m not the type of man to walk away when the going gets rough, Abbey.”

“I’m sorry. I panicked. I just didn’t know what else to do,” I said sincerely, gathering my arms around his shoulders.

His expression softened. “It’s okay, Abbey. Next time though, please trust in me enough to know that I wouldn’t just leave you when you need me.”

I melted into him and nodded. “Okay,” I said, smiling up at him. Reaching on my toes, I kissed him tenderly. It was then that I realized I had this gorgeous man all to myself once again.

Within seconds, our passionate embrace escalated, and another minute later, I was in his arms as he swiftly carried me to my bedroom. I only had one hour until Gail arrived for our girls’ night, and I planned to spend every minute of it in Jason’s arms.

Wine glasses in our hands and knee-deep in girl talk, Gail and I were at opposite ends of my love seat, sharing my favorite large navy blue blanket that I’d had for as long as I could remember.

“So, the last few weeks of dating hot and buff football star, Zach, were a total bust,” Gail sighed heavily.

My eyes widened as I nearly choked on my wine. “Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed.

She had seemed to be so into him. The look on her face told me this story was going to have a bad ending.

“What happened?”

“I was just there to warm his bedsheets.” She shrugged and polished off the wine in her glass. “When I asked him if he ever saw things getting serious between us in the future, he ran for the hills.”

I frowned at seeing the hurt in her eyes. I wanted to reach over and hug her, but Gail wasn’t one of those touchy-feely types. She was so strong and independent, and I admired her.

“I’m sorry, Gail. That sucks.”

“It’s all right. Can’t force something that isn’t meant to be, but it was good while it lasted. And I’d rather know now than later on down the road.”

“True,” I agreed. “So, how’s work going?”

“Dreamy as always,” she responded. Her eyes twinkled with humor and a little mischief.

“I can only imagine since you work with gorgeous football players all day.” I smirked at her.

She grinned at me. “My favorite part is when I get to do examinations, and I glide my hands across their lovely thick muscles. As for dating any of them, I’m done with that.”