Page 36 of Harmony Island Gazette
I dropped down so I was at eye level to her, resting my elbows on my knees. “Really.” I reached over and unrolled some toilet paper. Then I reached forward and started to wipe some of the throw-up that had gotten in her hair.
Her gaze followed my movement, and she sucked her breath in before pulling the toilet paper from my hand and quickly taking care of the rest. “Stop being so nice,” she whispered as she leaned forward to throw away the toilet paper.
“Stop being nice?” I asked. I hadn’t moved, and now that she’d straightened, she was inches away from me.
“Yes. Stop being so nice to me. I just threw up on myself, and you’re taking care of me in a way Kevin never wo”—” Her voice broke, and she swallowed hard as tears filled her eyes.
I hated that that man hurt her like he did. She deserved so much better than what he was giving her.
“A way Kevin never would?” I finished for her.
She pinched her lips together and nodded. She looked so tired both emotionally and physically. I wanted to take care of her. I wanted her not to worry about her safety or the safety of the baby.
“Kevin’s an ass,” blurted from my lips.
Her eyes widened, and I wondered for a moment if I’d said the wrong thing—even if it was the truth. But I was right, and I was going to stick to it. I held up my hand to stop her protest. “You’re carrying his baby. He should treat you like a queen. Hold your hair back, cook you dinner, carry you to bed…” My voice drifted off as I stared at her. “You should be the most important person to him.”
Juniper was staring at me now. A tear slid down her cheek. I hated to see her cry. I reached forward and caught the tear with the tip of my finger. I brought my hand back, rubbing my thumb with my forefinger.
“I should shower,” she said as she moved to stand, only to stop and grab her head like she was dizzy.
“Whoa, whoa,” I said as I reached out to catch her if she needed it. “Just sit.”
She nodded, wrapping her arms around her stomach and closing her eyes. “I get nauseous when I stand.” She blew out her breath. “I’m looking forward to this going away in the second trimester. At least then I won’t go walking around with throw-up in my hair.”
Silence fell around us as Juniper kept her eyes closed. I glanced around, wondering if I should make the offer that lingered on the tip of my tongue. I used to wash my mom’s hair in the sink when she was too weak to stand in the shower…I could do the same for Juniper. Feeling frustrated with my indecision, I decided to act. After all, it was my job to protect and take care of her. She was my one and only focus.
“Come with me,” I whispered as I extended my hand for her to grab.
She eyed me before she slipped her hand in mine. “Okay,” she whispered.
I helped her to stand before I wrapped my arm around her back and swept her knees up. I pulled her to my chest. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”
“Hang on, I need some mouthwash,” she whispered as I passed by the sink. I set her feet down onto the ground but kept my hand around her back as she hurriedly tipped the bottle to her mouth, swished, and then spat it into the sink. She turned to me and smiled. “I’m ready.”
She didn’t ask questions as I carried her through the house and into the kitchen. I sat her down on a chair next to the table, then moved to take care of the egg in the bowl. I got a container for the chicken and put it in the fridge. I figured she wasn’t in the mood to eat quite yet.
After I cleaned the sink and cleared off the counter, I made my way back to her and offered my hand. She lifted her arm, and I picked her up once more and carried her to the sink.
I glanced down at her. “Do you trust me?” I asked, not sure if I wanted to hear the answer but praying that I hadn’t overestimated our relationship.
She eyed me before she nodded. “Yes.”
My heart surged, but I didn’t linger on her response. I pulled her closer to my chest and lifted her high enough to clear the counter.
She squeaked. “Boone, what are you doing?”
I glanced down to see her staring up at me. Her eyes were so wide and trusting that my heart swelled.
“I used to do this for Mom,” I said softly as I set her down on the counter next to the sink.
She drew her eyebrows together. “You used to do what?”
“My mom wasn’t the best at picking men. There were a few who would abuse her. Once they left, she would be too weak to stand for a shower, so I used to wash her hair in the sink.” I swallowed and closed my eyes as emotions rose in my stomach. “To get the blood from her hair.”
Juniper took my hands in hers. “Oh, Boone,” she whispered.
I opened my eyes to see her staring at me. I hated that she looked so sad when all I wanted was to see her smile. I reached out my free hand, and my fingers lingered next to her cheek before I mustered the courage to tuck her hair behind her ear. It may have been my imagination, but I swore she leaned into my touch.
