Rescue Me(54)

“I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon, sis, so why don’t you give it a try and just give in and go out with him?”

“Ah, hell to the no I am not going out with him. And why are you two pushing me at him, anyway?”

Adam shrugs. “I think you two would be good for each other,” he remarks.

“Oh dear Lord, you have got to be joking. Good for each other? The only type of good that he is, is no good, so no thanks.” She moves to the cupboard and pulls down a glass then reaches into her purse and pulls out my prescription. She takes a deep breath and hands them to me along with the water.

“Here. Sorry about my rant, it’s just he gets under my skin. You don’t need to be hearing about it, though. So next subject, please. How are you feeling?”

My sister could seriously give me a case of whiplash if my neck wasn’t already a little tender.

“I’m doing okay.”

“You sure? Because when you first walked in here you looked a little, oh I don’t know...red in the face and your eyes are a little puffy. Have you been crying?” she asks tenderly.

“Just a little, but it’s not what you’re thinking.” I take the pills and down two of them after reading the bottle.

“Then what is it? Did something happen while I was gone?”

Adam and I fill her in on everything Luke told us and by the look on her face when we have finished our tale, I know that she is just as scared for Tonya as I am.



************



“Mommy!”

Sierra comes barreling into the bedroom where I had just woken up from my nap about a half hour before she got here. She comes to an abrupt halt when she looks at me.

“Your face is purple. Does it hurt?” She creeps slowly over to me as I sit on the edge of the bed and pull her into my arms.

“Just a little bit, sweet girl. Mommy is fine so don’t you worry about me, okay?”

“Okay, Mommy, but can I kiss it and make it feel better?” She looks up at me with tears in her eyes.

“I would love a kiss from you, baby girl. In fact, I would love to have lots of them and a big hug, too.”

Ever so gently she cups my face and places sweet little tender kisses on my bruises.

“Those are the best kisses ever, Sierra. See? I feel so much better already.” I smile at her as she pulls her hands away from my face.

“I don’t like to see you hurt, Mommy. You better remember to hold onto that hand rail from now on when you go down the stairs just like you told me to,” she frets and I wipe away the few tears that have leaked out.

“I will, Sierra. Don’t worry about mommy, okay? Now tell me about school today.”

She proceeds to tell me all about her spelling test and that she doesn’t have any homework tonight.

“Daddy said since I don’t have homework, we get to make your surprise tonight and then tomorrow we get to give it to you when I get home from school. He said we’re going to build a fort in the basement, too.”

I love listening to the sweet and innocent sounds of my daughter’s voice as she goes on and on about Adam and all the things he has planned for her. A man who can love someone else’s child as if they were their own like Adam does is a man who beyond a shadow of a doubt is as sincere as they come. I listen to my child talk about Adam and the mere fact that she calls him her dad makes me love him all the more.

“I can’t wait to see my surprise, sweetheart, and pizza sounds so good.”

“I have the best mommy and daddy in the world!” she screeches and lifts her hands into the air in affirmation.

“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Adam remarks as he stands in the doorway with his legs crossed at the ankles and his hands folded over his chest. He’s got one hell of a big grin on his face.

“Daddy? Can we go make Mommy’s surprise now? I kissed her owies and made them feel better just like you said I would.”

She jumps down off of my lap and runs into his arms where he lifts her up effortlessly.

“You bet we can, Butterfly.”

“Yay! Mommy, don’t come in my room.” Holding my hands up as if to say 'no, I won’t', I watch the two of them until they are out of my sight and I hear her door shut behind the sweet sound of her giggles.

I head for the kitchen, but as I approach I hear Shelby’s voice talking to someone. I am all of a sudden curious at the unusual tone in her voice. As she notices my entrance she places her hand over the receiver so whoever she is talking to can’t hear her and whispers, “Joel’s mother.”

I don’t know why I am shocked; I shouldn’t be. I really do not want to stand here and relive this nightmare all over again with Joel’s mother. I shake my head ‘no’ in regards to not wanting to talk to her; however, I can hear Emily carrying on in the background, so with resignation I reach for the phone and say hello.