“We’ll take care of it.” Kid glanced at the tree and decorations. “Throw the tree out and put away the decorations. For heaven’s sake, get a grip on reality.”
“I don’t even know what that is anymore.”
“Cadde.”
He held up his hand. “Yes, I’m losing it if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Just leave me alone. And protect your investment in Shilah.”
Kid turned to leave.
“One more thing. Fire Chip the computer guy.”
Kid swung back. “Why?”
“He can be bought and someone like that shouldn’t be working for Shilah.” Cadde told his brother about Hooter and how he made it possible for Jessie to fly to Rome.
“That son of a bitch! I’ll take care of it, Cadde. You don’t have to worry.”
Kid walked out with murder in his eyes. Cadde ran his hands over his face. He didn’t want his brothers to lose what they’d invested in Shilah. Personally, he wasn’t worried about losing what he’d worked his whole life for. He only worried about Jessie.
JESSIE WOKE UP TO SOMEONE screaming. It was faint but she could hear it. She padded to the door and opened it. Teresa ran by.
“Teresa,” she called. “What’s happening?”
“Go back to bed, Jessie. A pregnant teenage girl came in and she’s giving birth. Sister Alice and Margaret are with her. I have to go.”
Jessie went back into her room but she didn’t sleep. She listened to the screams until they stopped and then she opened her door again, waiting for Teresa.
“Jessie, what are you doing still up?” Teresa asked when she saw her.
“Is everything okay?”
“Sì, mother and baby are fine. Sister Frances called the adoptive parents and they will be here in the morning for the baby girl.”
“The mother’s giving the baby up?”
“Sì. That’s why she came here. We don’t ask any questions. We protect the child. It gives young girls another choice instead of abortion. The church is against abortion.”
Teresa’s face changed and Jessie knew Teresa was thinking about her own mistakes. Jessie hugged her.
The next morning she saw a couple leave with the baby. Just like that, four lives were changed and it stayed with her for a long time. It was sad, but uplifting, too.
Couples came quite often to the orphanage looking for a child. It was a long interview process, Teresa had told her, which ensured the child and family were suited to each other. When Jessie noticed a child missing from the playground, she knew the child had finally found a real home. Again, it was sad, yet uplifting.
That evening as Jessie hurried from the laundry room to help with the meal, Margaret stopped her.
“Could we talk, Jessie?”
She followed her into the courtyard. Everything was quiet because the kids were inside. They sat side by side on the stone bench.
“You’ve been here for a while, child, and your bruises have healed.”
“Yes.” Jessie touched her face. “I’m better.”
“Are you strong enough to talk about what happened to you?”
“Uh…”
“The outward bruises have healed. Now you have to deal with the inner ones.”
“Uh…” Jessie stared at the clenched hands in her lap, and before she knew it the words came tumbling out. She told Margaret about her life, her animals, her counseling, Nina, Vernon and Cadde. “You see, I tricked him, I knew his weak spot and I played on that. I’m an awful person.”
Margaret patted her hands. “You’re a very caring person.”
“A caring person wouldn’t trick a man into marrying someone he doesn’t love.”
“Did he say this?”
“No, I didn’t give him time and I couldn’t stand to hear the truth after…”
“Say it,” Margaret urged.
“After losing the baby.” Her stomach cramped and she fought to breathe.
Margaret gave her a moment. “Tell me about your husband.”
“Oh, Cadde…he’s thoughtful and kind, very serious, businesslike but once you reach his soft side he’s like a big cuddle bear. He took excellent care of me after the Doberman attack. He started coming home earlier and earlier. He bought a special baby ornament and we were planning on putting up a tree when Vernon Lynch decided to take his frustrations out on me.”
“This doesn’t sound like a man who doesn’t love you. He would be distant and spending more and more time away from you, sì?”
“I suppose.” Jessie recalled how Cadde had torn up the baby agreement because he’d thought he’d hurt her. He’d told her he wasn’t good at expressing his feelings. Oh, no! In her grief, could she have forgotten his words and his concerns? His touch? His strong yet gentle embrace?