Page 15 of Stay With Me
EIGHT
Luna
Asenseofcalmwashes over me as Noah pulls into the long driveway that leads to Griffin Farm’s Bed-and-Breakfast.
When I called Farmer Joe and Ann yesterday morning to let them know what was happening, they didn’t hesitate to give me the day off.
This is not only where I work but also my home and the place I’ve felt the safest in the ten years since I left The Family. I was lucky I found them when I did.
I also wasn’t surprised to hear their excitement when I told them I was going to have to bring Jess to work with me.
I peek at Noah out of the corner of my eye. I don’t know how I would have made it through the first twenty-four hours if not for him. We went from store to store, buying things that Jess will need, from clothes to some board games, books, and some new bedding.
I’m thankful he thought about how she shouldn’t have processed food, and we stopped at the grocery store to stock up on anything we could think of.
I forgot that my first meal was a cheap hamburger, and I got so sick I couldn’t start my job hunt for three days when I first left.
I also can’t get what he said that first night in his kitchen out of my head.
We will figure “us” out.
What does that even mean?
I shake that thought from my head as we come to a stop, knowing I’ll drive myself crazy trying to figure that out along with everything else.
When I unbuckle and move to open the door, Noah touches my arm. I glance over at him, and he says, “Stay here. I’ll grab both of your doors.”
Looking out the front window again, I see Joe and Ann standing on the porch waiting for us, and nerves sit heavy in my stomach. I don’t want to disappoint them, and I feel that hiding my past is just as bad as lying to them.
“Take a breath, Luna,” Noah says softly when he opens my door. “If you’re nervous, Jess is going to be nervous. They love you, and they’ll love her. Everything will be okay.”
I’m shocked again that he knew exactly what I was thinking. “What if they think she’s rude because she isn’t talking much?” That’s one of my worries. Other than saying please or thank you, she’s barely spoken to us.
“She’s in a completely new world around people she doesn’t know. She needs time to decompress. Joe and Ann will help with that. If anyone can get her to warm up to them without them trying, it’s those two. Now let’s go so I can go to work because the sooner I go to work, the sooner I can come back to you two.” He holds out his hand to help me down.
I place my hand in his, and like every other time we’ve touched, my heart skips a beat. The rear passenger door closes behind me, and Jess takes in everything with wide eyes.
The Family lived in a commune that had a farm, but it was nothing like this. Griffin Farm’s Bed-and-Breakfast sits on about forty acres with five cottages, along with a main house that has eight bedrooms. Just past the cottages are a couple of silos and a large barn. While farm life isn’t far from what she knows, this is much different from what we saw every day.
We talked last night about Joe and Ann, along with the farm and what I do for work. She didn’t ask much other than if there were any rules. My heart broke, and I told her that, of course, there are rules, but they’re different from what she’s used to. As she started to fall asleep, I told her about some of the things I’ve learned outside of The Family. While my heart is broken that life will be hard for her to understand for a while, I’m so glad that she’s with me.
That was probably the most she’s spoken at one time so far, and I’m glad we reached out to a couple of the therapists from the list Melissa provided us with.
After filling the girls in, Amelia also sent me her therapist’s information for when I’m ready because the more I think about it, the more I realize I never truly processed what happened, and I’ve been in what I’m told is flight mode.
I feel a squeeze of my hand and look up to Noah. “It’s going to be okay. I’m going to follow up with some of the therapists today, and we can choose which one we think will be the best fit for her, and we’ll get her the help she needs.”
I take a deep breath, trying to stop myself from spiraling.
He looks over his shoulder at Jess. “Are you ready to eat the best food you’ll ever have, squirt?”
Jess just shrugs and looks down at the ground.
Stopping, I pull my hand from Noah’s and kneel in front of her. “I promise these will be the nicest people you will ever meet. They won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do, and you are safe with them.”
She meets my eyes and nods. It’s not much, but it will have to do.
I stand again and meet Joe and Ann on the porch.
