Tom loved all three of his stepchildren, but he was closest to JC. They hit it off together from the first time Tess introduced him to her kids. Their personalities and temperament mimicked each other, creating a great father/daughter friendship.
JC startled when the plane landed on the tarmac. “I need Advil,” she protested in a hoarse groan.
Tom frowned. “I think you need more than Advil. You need to see a doctor.”
She slowly shook her head no and scowled at him. “You promised.”
“JC, you need pain meds and I think you might need a couple stitches in your lip. I don’t care if you get mad at me or not. If I don’t make you see a doctor now, your Mom will later. Then I’ll really be in trouble. I already made a call. The best doctor I know is about to make a house-call or I should say plane-call.”
Her brows tugged together before letting out a sarcastic huff. “You never get in trouble with her. She probably thinks you walk on water.”
His heart warmed at her attempted humor. He stood and kissed her softly on her good cheek. “Love you.”
While in flight, Tom had phoned his doctor in Italy and persuaded him lucratively to make the trip. The doctor was waiting when they landed. He examined JC, giving her a shot and three stitches in her lip, assuring there would be no scaring.
After watching the doctor stitch her up, Tom thought the worst was over, until the doctor asked if he needed to do a full exam.
When JC replied with a questioning frown, the doctor quietly asked if she’d been raped. Tom snapped his head around, glaring at the doctor.
JC responded quickly, “No.”
Uncertain if she meant, no she didn’t want the exam, or no she hadn’t been raped. “No means No JC. Did he rape you?” Tom questioned through gritted teeth.
“No, he did not.”
The doctor gave her a bottle of Vicodin informing she’d be better in about a week. JC choked down a pill as the doctor left the plane, “It takes longer than a week. More like a month.”
“How many times has this happened?” He bit off one word at a time.
JC’s chin quivered realizing what she confessed. “Christmas.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. She patted the seat next to her. “Can I ask you something, Tom?”
He settled in beside her. “You can ask me anything.”
The pain meds had already started to kick in and she rested her good cheek on his shoulder.
She mumbled through her numb, swollen lips. “You don’t think I flirt with you, do you? Or Benny either, right? I mean I love Benny, but people don’t think I—”
Tom’s body stiffened. “No, JC. No one thinks that. You are my daughter. Don’t ever think that. Benny loves you too. He’s part of your family. Believe me, blood doesn’t make a family, love does. Luca’s a fucking maggot. I never should’ve promised not to kill him.”
“I didn’t think so.”
“You are my daughter, JC. I love you.”
The tension slipped from the side of her body as they began to disembark the plane.
“Let’s get you to the car before you pass out.”
****
Tom was late.
As the car drove closer to Tom’s house on the outskirts of town, JC slumped next to him, sound asleep against his shoulder. Tom scrubbed his tired eyes with the pads of his hands. There was no way he could get her inside the house without someone’s help. Out of options, he phoned John and asked him to pull Tess’ car out of the garage and wait for him, threatening him not to tell Tess. John agreed, but Tom suspected he thought his Mom was getting a new car for her birthday.
The driver pulled into the garage. Tom exited the car giving John a brief warning of what he was about to see. Overcome with anger, fury, sorrow and every other emotion, John lurched for the door handle.
Tom gripped his arm. “She’s sound asleep. Let’s get her inside, then you can get mad, ask questions, and believe me, you’re gonna cry. So for right now, you need to pull it together. Let’s just get her into her room without getting caught. I don’t want your Mom to see her until after all these people leave.”
JC didn’t budge when John lifted her into his arms. Opening her good eye, she gave her brother a glazed over smile nuzzling into his neck, slurring, “Hi John.”
Tom opened the door, making sure the coast was clear leading into the hall. John followed behind him with JC cradled in his arms. Briskly making their way down the white hallway, Tom heard giggles coming around the corner. As he reached for JC’s bedroom doorknob, Tracy entered the hall with Shayla and the twins behind her.
Shocked horror sobered their smiles, realizing it was JC coddled like a ragdoll in John’s arms. Shayla hastily turned, leading the boys to the other room. Tracy’s hand covered her mouth as she ran to her sister. Tom ushered the small group into JC’s room, answering as many questions as they threw at him simultaneously. After repeating the short version of the day’s events, John left the room to find Shayla.