“My man.” He gave me a high five before leaving the room, saying something about being away from his wife for too long already. I finally got it. That unerring devotion, that all consuming emotion that made everything else nonexistent. I was beginning to feel that way for her and I hadn’t even known her as long. We were starting in the dark but hopefully we’d reach the light before too long.
I slept fitfully that night because she wasn’t there; I’m not sure how old man Stan would react to the shit that was going through my head but I had to figure out a way to get her in my home where I could keep an eye on her myself. I was not willing to let even her father have that responsibility but I knew I had to take my time, couldn’t rush things. To everyone else it would appear that we’d just met and it would be too soon to do certain things, in my heart it was never too soon. She was mine, and she needed that security. I was the only one who could give her that.
“Dad?” I woke to find my father sitting next to my bed looking haggard.
“Morning son; your brother showed me the report you got from Stan, all the papers he kept. I have to tell you that as soon as I was finished reading I went to your sister’s room and looked in on her. I tried to imagine someone doing the same to her, my little girl. I remember how she’d drag me off to the doll store in the mall whenever we were there. Or the tea parties she’d make us have with her when she was eight remember?” I nodded my head yes.
“Or those infernal sleepovers she had as a teenager.” He grinned and I smiled fondly at the memory. It was true Nessa had a normal well rounded childhood full of love and light and laughter.
“I don’t think Kadyn had any of that dad; breaks my fucking heart.”
“I know son but we’ll fix it.”
“What do you mean we?” he looked at me without speaking for a while before clearing his throat.
“I wasn’t too involved with Josh and Carrie’s relationship in the beginning, didn’t know all that was going on there. She’s now my daughter and the thought of what had almost befallen her makes me nuts. I’m not going to be asleep at the wheel this time. Your mom and I talked and we decided that we’ll do whatever it takes to help this young girl get on with her life. We would’ve done it for anyone in the same situation but the fact that she’s yours makes it more personal. I know you and your criminal minded brother are up to something, all I’m asking is that you don’t do anything that would entail me looking at you through bars.”
“Not making any promises dad, all I know is that he’s not getting away with it and she’s not spending the rest of her life in fear. Speaking of which I have to get a move on I’m brining her home today. Just for a visit for now, I want her to spend as much time here as possible. Get her used to another way of life. At least here she can move around outside freely instead of being cooped up in her father’s place over the diner.”
“Okay son, go get your girl.”
I called her first to let her know I was on my way after I’d taken care of my morning shower and shave. I said a few words to Stan before going up to get her. She looked sexy as hell in a little sundress and sandals, her hair falling down her back. She also looked scared which I knew was going to take time. I decided then and there we weren’t going to even touch on the trouble today, today was going to be all about making her happy.
“You ready baby?” she nodded yes and took my outstretched hand. She said a quick goodbye to her dad once we got downstairs and we were off.
“How did you sleep baby? I was going to call you last night before I fell asleep but I got caught up in something, that won’t happen again. From now on my voice will be the last thing you hear at night and the first in the morning. Well unless Stan is an early riser and he beats me to it.”
“I was about to say, he does get up at an unholy hour every morning and the first thing he does is wake me up. I don’t mind though, we have the most amazing talks then.” I wonder if she knew he was probably doing that to reassure himself that his kid had made it through the night safe under his roof? Not now Matt, remember? today is about the good only no dark clouds.
“Did you pack a swimsuit in that suitcase you’re carrying?” she looked down at her bag and I was pleasantly surprised when she swatted my arm for the insult. “It’s not that big come on, besides I can get lots of stuff in here. I didn’t know we were going swimming so I didn’t bring a suit sorry. We can turn back and get one…”
“No it’s fine I’m sure mom or one of the girls have one that you can use, don’t worry it won’t be worn, these women buy multiples of every damn thing. Do you do that too?”
“Um, not really, I’m not really big on shopping.” I gave her a disbelieving look. A female that wasn’t into shopping, an enigma for a Steele man. “Come again, you don’t like shopping?”
“Not that I don’t like shopping, mom usually bought my stuff or we’d get it online, it wasn’t always…safe to go to the mall.” her voice trailed off and I gritted my teeth. I guess I knew what we were doing today.
As soon as we got to the house mom ambushed us. You’d think she’d known Kadyn her whole damn life the way she carried on, but that’s what I wanted for her so it was all good. She gushed and crooned over how pretty my girl was before dragging her off to the back of the house for who knows what, her lips going a mile a minute.
I found Carrie and Nessa upstairs having some sort of wardrobe consult. “Girls I need your help.” They stopped mid sentence and turned their attention to me. “What do you need?”
“Kadyn’s never really been shopping before I want her to have a day at the mall doing all the shit you freaks do when you go there.” The squeals were loud enough to bust my eardrums. Josh came running when he heard his wife’s voice and I just rolled my eyes at his hyper ass. “What the fuck?”
“Calm down bro the girls are just a little over excited.”
“Why what’re you all up to?”
“I just asked them to take Kadyn shopping.”
“Shit bro, are you mental? Have you seen Carrie on a shopping spree? Fuck.” They started bickering about whether or not she was shopaholic and then the make up session started and it was time for me to go. “Be ready in ten minutes let me go rescue my girl from mom.”
Not a minute too soon I realized because I found them in the family room where mom had broken out the family albums and my ass was on display. “Mom geez.” She gave me her innocent ‘I’m not trying to embarrass my kids look’ my ass. I’m not sure who’s worst sometimes, her or dad. Speaking of which. “Where’s dad?”
“He was in his office doing something or the other.”
“Fine, we’re going shopping.”
“Ooh how fun let me get my purse.” She was off and running which was something I hadn’t expected, I might not have seen Carrie on a shopping spree but mom’s were legendary. “Mom I’m not sure, we don’t want to be there all year. I want Kadyn to hang out by the pool…” I was talking to the air because she was long gone yelling for dad as she went.
Chapter 15
My little experiment turned into a Steele family three-ring circus. Two cars and one hour later the whole damn family was headed to the mall. Kadyn rode up front with me our hands clasped while Josh and Carrie were in the backseat. Mom dad the douche and Nessa were in the car behind us. Dad had given me the stink eye for interrupting his day with what he calls my mother’s only vice. Whatever, my girl seemed excited at the prospect though her hand did tremble just a little in mine.
When we reached the mall it was like an unspoken rule or some shit, the boys and the girls in separate camps. Mom and Carrie were actually talking strategy like they were going into battle. They had a course mapped out of where to go first. Poor Kadyn looked bewildered until I squeezed her hand that I had yet to let go of and promised to stick to her like glue. Dad and Josh griped and mumbled the whole time while the douche acted like he was at an amusement park, fucker was almost as bad as the girls.
The first hurdle was getting her to accept my credit card to buy whatever she wanted, she seemed to think that was breaking some sort of etiquette or some shit. “Babe remember what I told you? We’re a couple now, this is what a man does for his woman if he can. Don’t think about what shit cost I can afford it just buy what you want.” That didn’t do the trick either, so I gave Carrie a secret nod to enlist her help and she took it from there.
I won’t say she ever seemed completely comfortable with things but the pile of bags kept growing because there was always something one of the others thought she just had to have. It helped that they got things for themselves as well and took some of the attention off of her, which went a long way to helping her relax.
“Matthew this is too much what’re you doing?”
“Are you having fun?” I didn’t need to ask because I could see the light shining in her eyes, she’d forgotten to be afraid, surrounded by all of us it was easy to let herself go and be a teenager just having fun at the mall.