Harley (West Coast Rock Star #1)(10)

 

Harley's eyes brightened. "Do you believe that?"

 

Cade tilted her head to the side. "Believe what? That I was once a fish?" She laughed.

 

"No," Harley began shyly. "Do you believe in life after death?"

 

Cade should have been surprised at the very serious question, but not after reading the rest of the information Juliette had given her the previous night. Harley had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital heart defect. The girl had been in and out of surgeries, even in infancy, and would always be monitored and medicated for the rest of her life. The condition was not cured by the surgical procedures, and there were high chances that Harley could suffer fatal side effects on any given day. Could Cade give her hope that she wasn't even sure she believed herself?

 

Before she could answer, they arrived in a darkened area where the jellyfish tanks were located. Harley was immediately mesmerized. "Look at them, Cade." Harley stepped closer to the spherical tank that enclosed hundreds of the umbrella-shaped invertebrates. She placed a hand over the glass, wanting to connect closer to one of the nearer jellyfish swimming by.

 

Cade took this moment to take a photo of Harley with her own phone. She took another one when Harley turned her head, looking over her shoulder at Cade, with a warm smile on her face. Cade approached her. "There is one species of jellyfish that is believed to be somewhat immortal. Scientists and researchers have observed them to return to polyp stage, kind of like the infant stage, after the medusa, like the adult stage, which is what you see here now."

 

In the darkness, and with the help of the light emitted from the tank and perimeter of the aquarium floors, Cade witnessed a hopeful smile on Harley's face. It lit up her eyes, made them rounder.

 

Harley was about to reply when she felt the vibration of her phone in her jeans pocket. The smile that had brightened her face just moments before turned into a frown, and then to fear as Harley stared at her phone. With trembling hands, she answered the call.

 

"Hello," Harley's voice was barely audible.

 

The piercing voice on the other line was loud enough for Cade to hear. "Where is your jackass of a father? And why isn't he answering my fucking calls?"

 

"He's in LA to meet with Bruno, Fiona," Harley answered, her voice shaking.

 

Did Cade hear it right? How could a mother speak to her own child that way? She mouthed a few words to Harley, "Are you okay?"

 

Harley blinked then nodded as her mother continued the onslaught over the phone. "That ungrateful son of a bitch! I gave him what he wanted and he has the audacity to ignore me? Pack your damn bags, Harley. I've had enough of his bullshit!"

 

"I'm sure he didn't mean to ignore your calls. Maybe he's just busy-" Harley tried to explain.

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

"I don't care! You will do as I say!"

 

Cade watched as Harley's breathing quickened while she clasped a hand over her chest, still listening to her mother's screams. People stared at them with concern. "Harley, sweetie, give me the phone." Cade knelt in front of the little girl and stretched out a hand. Harley hesitated but eventually gave her the phone. Cade wasn't aware of any protocols for what happened, so she did what was automatic, what she thought was the right thing to do. She ended the call without saying a word, then turned off the phone and slipped it in her pocket.

 

She turned her focus on Harley, who continued to hyperventilate. Cade sat on her haunches, levelling her face with Harley's. The girl's eyes were full of panic. "Slow your breathing down, Harley." Cade placed a hand over Harley's stomach. "Breathe in through your nose, then out through your mouth. Look at me, Har-yes, that's good. In and out." Cade pushed with tenderness on Harley's stomach to help her exhale. "Do it again. Slowly … good. Again." She inhaled and exhaled with her.

 

Once Harley's breathing returned to normal, the fear escaped her eyes. "Thank you. I hate it when that happens. No matter how much I try not to panic, but I can't help it. " She wrapped her thin arms around Cade's neck, which took her bodyguard by surprise, but Cade returned the hug.

 

"Do you want to go home now?" Cade asked as she straightened. "Or if you want, we can continue the tour. The shows should be starting soon."

 

Harley shook her head. "No, thank you. I'm a bit tired now. Let's just go home."

 

Cade held onto Harley's hand as they walked out of the aquarium. The rain hadn't ceased. The large drops of water pelted the car, loud enough that they couldn't hear the music playing on the radio inside. Harley hadn't talked about her conversation with her mother, and Cade didn't ask. Cade made a mental note to ask Zee of the protocols if it ever happened again. She was sure hanging up on Fiona wouldn't be part of it. She silently hoped it wouldn't cost her this job.