low tone that makes his voice rumble. When he uses that tone on me I know he’s about to get serious.
I turn back to Adam. “Then tell me the answer!”
He gets up and comes to stand in front of me. “It’s not wrong for two people to enjoy each other if they both want to. I think you want Jack to kiss you, but you’re scared.”
Anger bubbles up inside of me, hot and fast. “I’m not scared of Jack! He will never hurt me.”
“I didn’t say you were scared of Jack. You’re scared of what he means to you.”
I frown, not following Adam at all.
He shoves a hand through his hair and then his grey eyes pin mine. “You want to kiss him. You want to be with him, but then you’ll have to admit that your whole life has been a lie. You say you hate sex and I understand where you’re coming from with that, but I think you’re hiding behind your past and refusing sex because you’re scared you’ll turn out to be just like your father.”
I only realize I’ve slapped Adam when his head turns to the side and the sharp sound penetrates the rage in me.
His face is carved of stone when his eyes meet mine. “Don’t ever hit me again.” He walks away leaving me with my fast growing guilt.
How can things go wrong so fast?
I flee down to the river, needing the calm of nature around me. Is Adam right? Am I scared that I’ll turn out like my father?
~*~
I spend the morning with the girls, picking fruit. I tell myself it’s to make sure they’re all okay after Beverly’s sudden departure.
Okay, fine! So I’m hiding. So I’m a coward.
“River, those aren’t ripe yet,” Jamie says, and she takes the rock hard pear from me. “Are you worried about what happened yesterday?”
She looks really concerned so I force a smile to my face. “No, Lovely. I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep well.”
“Go back to the house.” She gives me a quick hug. “We’ll be okay without Beverly, it’s not like she actually worked.”
“Why didn’t you tell me she wasn’t working?” Have I been so caught up in Jack that I’ve failed to see what was happening under my own nose?
“She wasn’t hurting anyone by not working. I love it here, River. I didn’t want to upset anyone, so I let it go. But, yesterday … she shouldn’t have done that.”
“You were right to tell me. I want everyone to feel safe here.”
I give Jamie another hug and then walk in the direction of the house. I’ll go see what Miss Ella is cooking. Maybe I can help her and Sophia.
When I walk into the kitchen I find Miss Ella, Sophia and Jack sitting at the table and eating pie.
They don’t see me and I take the opportunity to look at Jack. His scars have healed nicely. The remaining ones only make him look rugged and handsome.
“Miss Ella,” Jack says with that innocent tone which means he’s about to ask a big question. “What is love?”
I place my hand over my aching heart. He’s so confused and I only made it worse.
“Son,” Miss Ella pats her mouth with a napkin and then looks him square in the eye. “Love is like a car accident.” I pull a face. That’s not what I’d compare it to. I listen as she continues to share her wisdom. “It hits you hard and out of the blue. By the time you realize that you’re in love it’s too late to run for the hills. When it’s done with your poor heart; you’re either in a world of pain, or you’re one of the lucky ones who has a great story to tell. Love will either break you or make you.”
Jack stares at her with wide eyes. I think she’s just managed to kill the idea of love for him.
I walk closer and take a seat with them. “What Miss Ella is trying to say is that love can hurt if it’s not returned by the other person, and love can be a beautiful thing if both parties feel the same way.”
Jack’s eyes are filled with accusations as he says, “You said you love me.”
I can feel Miss Ella and Sophia’s eyes swing from me to Jack, as if they’re watching a tennis
I turn back to Adam. “Then tell me the answer!”
He gets up and comes to stand in front of me. “It’s not wrong for two people to enjoy each other if they both want to. I think you want Jack to kiss you, but you’re scared.”
Anger bubbles up inside of me, hot and fast. “I’m not scared of Jack! He will never hurt me.”
“I didn’t say you were scared of Jack. You’re scared of what he means to you.”
I frown, not following Adam at all.
He shoves a hand through his hair and then his grey eyes pin mine. “You want to kiss him. You want to be with him, but then you’ll have to admit that your whole life has been a lie. You say you hate sex and I understand where you’re coming from with that, but I think you’re hiding behind your past and refusing sex because you’re scared you’ll turn out to be just like your father.”
I only realize I’ve slapped Adam when his head turns to the side and the sharp sound penetrates the rage in me.
His face is carved of stone when his eyes meet mine. “Don’t ever hit me again.” He walks away leaving me with my fast growing guilt.
How can things go wrong so fast?
I flee down to the river, needing the calm of nature around me. Is Adam right? Am I scared that I’ll turn out like my father?
~*~
I spend the morning with the girls, picking fruit. I tell myself it’s to make sure they’re all okay after Beverly’s sudden departure.
Okay, fine! So I’m hiding. So I’m a coward.
“River, those aren’t ripe yet,” Jamie says, and she takes the rock hard pear from me. “Are you worried about what happened yesterday?”
She looks really concerned so I force a smile to my face. “No, Lovely. I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep well.”
“Go back to the house.” She gives me a quick hug. “We’ll be okay without Beverly, it’s not like she actually worked.”
“Why didn’t you tell me she wasn’t working?” Have I been so caught up in Jack that I’ve failed to see what was happening under my own nose?
“She wasn’t hurting anyone by not working. I love it here, River. I didn’t want to upset anyone, so I let it go. But, yesterday … she shouldn’t have done that.”
“You were right to tell me. I want everyone to feel safe here.”
I give Jamie another hug and then walk in the direction of the house. I’ll go see what Miss Ella is cooking. Maybe I can help her and Sophia.
When I walk into the kitchen I find Miss Ella, Sophia and Jack sitting at the table and eating pie.
They don’t see me and I take the opportunity to look at Jack. His scars have healed nicely. The remaining ones only make him look rugged and handsome.
“Miss Ella,” Jack says with that innocent tone which means he’s about to ask a big question. “What is love?”
I place my hand over my aching heart. He’s so confused and I only made it worse.
“Son,” Miss Ella pats her mouth with a napkin and then looks him square in the eye. “Love is like a car accident.” I pull a face. That’s not what I’d compare it to. I listen as she continues to share her wisdom. “It hits you hard and out of the blue. By the time you realize that you’re in love it’s too late to run for the hills. When it’s done with your poor heart; you’re either in a world of pain, or you’re one of the lucky ones who has a great story to tell. Love will either break you or make you.”
Jack stares at her with wide eyes. I think she’s just managed to kill the idea of love for him.
I walk closer and take a seat with them. “What Miss Ella is trying to say is that love can hurt if it’s not returned by the other person, and love can be a beautiful thing if both parties feel the same way.”
Jack’s eyes are filled with accusations as he says, “You said you love me.”
I can feel Miss Ella and Sophia’s eyes swing from me to Jack, as if they’re watching a tennis
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