Grace’s shins.
The child fought like a raged, wounded animal. Maintaining her hold, Grace fought the panic rising in her throat. She freed her right hand and repeatedly signed the letter G, her own sign name, in front of Cherry. After an eternal minute of thrashing the possessed child released her fit of anger with a long, exaggerated breath and fell limp in Grace’s arms. Astonished and shaken by Cherry’s strength, Grace worked on calming her own breath. When she did, she noticed her eyes had filled. What in this child’s life causes her to have to fight so violently?
Lowering herself to the floor, she pulled Cherry onto her lap, started a slow-paced rocking motion and stroked the child’s tangled hair. Cherry never shed tears with her outbursts, only bone-chilling hostile glares. The world? Her enemy.
Since the episode, Cherry glued herself to Grace during all the daily activities. For whatever reason, Cherry calmed in her presence. From that day on, the staff had nicknamed her The Cherry-Whisperer.
~~~
“God. What’s her life really like?” Grace turned the square to start the last row of stitches. Unlike Hannah, who had been showered with unconditional love and devotion her entire life, Cherry seemed to lack positive attention of any kind.
Grace finished off the nine-by-seven square and dropped her hands to her lap. “I’ve got one more week with her. Then what?”
Her thoughts switched to Adam, who had been gone four days. And with another woman. Jared had gone, but still: Who was Lindsay Durham? Was she a Melissa McCarthy (cute as a button, but over-sized) or Jennifer Aniston (perfect in every way) contract specialist? Grace shrugged. Adam had never given her anything to worry about before. But then again, she’d been a more-than-usual-pain-in-the-ass lately.
“Adam wouldn’t.” Would he? “Nah.” She scratched him off the disturbance list. The chili cheese-dog agony had subsided with a Prilosec. That left Cherry.
CHAPTER 15
GRACE
Three more days of volunteering. Because of heading to Branson on Friday she’d miss the last day of the summer program, which she regretted. Did she actually say that? Yes, and she knew why. Cherry shadowed her every move since the being-tossed-into-the-file-cabinet episode, and having the child close, Grace felt she could protect her…although from what, she didn’t know. Jill had been less than thrilled about Grace missing the last day, but leaving on Friday would get them to Branson for the end of Josh’s camp. And hand’s down, closing ceremonies for Josh trumped the last day of the summer program.
During the entire, agonizing month, Josh had sent only two letters, with the exception of the mandatory Sunday chicken-letter. The letters arrived the same day. Grace could only imagine the mailman’s relief to drop off not one, but two letters stamped Branson, Missouri.
As if run off on a copier, the letters were identical. He did, however, take time to address one to Adam and Grace, the other to Hannah.
Dear Mom and Dad/Hannah,
Camp is great. I’m in cabin 12 and it’s
the best. I’m having fun. My counselors
are Jordan and David. They are cool. I
caught a fish today.
Love, Josh
Adam and Hannah hooted and hollered over the letters at the dinner table.
Grace did not. “ This doesn’t say anything! ”
“ He’s having a good time ,” Adam signed, a tight grin on his lips.
Through his smile Grace noticed circles under his eyes and an unrecognizable tenseness in his voice. Probably those ungodly hours he’s been working , she thought, and then switched back to Josh’s non-letter. “ How can you tell he’s having a good time? ” she scanned the spattering of words, thinking she’d missed something.
Adam imitated writing a letter. “ No time .”
Hannah banged the table with the palm of her hand, interrupting the parental banter. “ Astros game .” Her eyes bright. “ Next Tuesday. Can I go? ”
“ With who? ” Grace
The child fought like a raged, wounded animal. Maintaining her hold, Grace fought the panic rising in her throat. She freed her right hand and repeatedly signed the letter G, her own sign name, in front of Cherry. After an eternal minute of thrashing the possessed child released her fit of anger with a long, exaggerated breath and fell limp in Grace’s arms. Astonished and shaken by Cherry’s strength, Grace worked on calming her own breath. When she did, she noticed her eyes had filled. What in this child’s life causes her to have to fight so violently?
Lowering herself to the floor, she pulled Cherry onto her lap, started a slow-paced rocking motion and stroked the child’s tangled hair. Cherry never shed tears with her outbursts, only bone-chilling hostile glares. The world? Her enemy.
Since the episode, Cherry glued herself to Grace during all the daily activities. For whatever reason, Cherry calmed in her presence. From that day on, the staff had nicknamed her The Cherry-Whisperer.
~~~
“God. What’s her life really like?” Grace turned the square to start the last row of stitches. Unlike Hannah, who had been showered with unconditional love and devotion her entire life, Cherry seemed to lack positive attention of any kind.
Grace finished off the nine-by-seven square and dropped her hands to her lap. “I’ve got one more week with her. Then what?”
Her thoughts switched to Adam, who had been gone four days. And with another woman. Jared had gone, but still: Who was Lindsay Durham? Was she a Melissa McCarthy (cute as a button, but over-sized) or Jennifer Aniston (perfect in every way) contract specialist? Grace shrugged. Adam had never given her anything to worry about before. But then again, she’d been a more-than-usual-pain-in-the-ass lately.
“Adam wouldn’t.” Would he? “Nah.” She scratched him off the disturbance list. The chili cheese-dog agony had subsided with a Prilosec. That left Cherry.
CHAPTER 15
GRACE
Three more days of volunteering. Because of heading to Branson on Friday she’d miss the last day of the summer program, which she regretted. Did she actually say that? Yes, and she knew why. Cherry shadowed her every move since the being-tossed-into-the-file-cabinet episode, and having the child close, Grace felt she could protect her…although from what, she didn’t know. Jill had been less than thrilled about Grace missing the last day, but leaving on Friday would get them to Branson for the end of Josh’s camp. And hand’s down, closing ceremonies for Josh trumped the last day of the summer program.
During the entire, agonizing month, Josh had sent only two letters, with the exception of the mandatory Sunday chicken-letter. The letters arrived the same day. Grace could only imagine the mailman’s relief to drop off not one, but two letters stamped Branson, Missouri.
As if run off on a copier, the letters were identical. He did, however, take time to address one to Adam and Grace, the other to Hannah.
Dear Mom and Dad/Hannah,
Camp is great. I’m in cabin 12 and it’s
the best. I’m having fun. My counselors
are Jordan and David. They are cool. I
caught a fish today.
Love, Josh
Adam and Hannah hooted and hollered over the letters at the dinner table.
Grace did not. “ This doesn’t say anything! ”
“ He’s having a good time ,” Adam signed, a tight grin on his lips.
Through his smile Grace noticed circles under his eyes and an unrecognizable tenseness in his voice. Probably those ungodly hours he’s been working , she thought, and then switched back to Josh’s non-letter. “ How can you tell he’s having a good time? ” she scanned the spattering of words, thinking she’d missed something.
Adam imitated writing a letter. “ No time .”
Hannah banged the table with the palm of her hand, interrupting the parental banter. “ Astros game .” Her eyes bright. “ Next Tuesday. Can I go? ”
“ With who? ” Grace
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