Page 3 of Cheer
Eva
Dance was Eva Hall’s life.
She used it as her escape from her problems. Or more specifically, her family's problems.
Her mom died when she was three years old. Eva hadn’t understood what happened, but had cried over and over for her mommy.
Her father didn’t have time for her or his first wife as he had been building his business from the ground up.
David Hall was a tech mogul.
He worked hard and earned his fortune at the expense of his first marriage and his wife’s life and especially didn’t have time for a little girl who mourned for her mom.
Her dad wanted to give her another one and instead of staying home to give her at least a father figure, he started dating.
He married Payslee Brunson barely four months after his wife died.
His new wife was way more demanding of his time than his first wife was, and she wasn’t afraid to voice her displeasure.
David wanted his new wife to be happy and did all he could to make her so, and to her, it meant that Eva was seen and not heard.
Her new step mom didn’t have the patience for a little girl that barely spoke and only wanted to be held and snuggled because she missed her mom.
Her dad barely knew his daughter and more often than not, gave her over to the care of a small army of nannies and staff.
He was running a business. He didn’t have time to be a father. And he just got remarried. His wife took precedence over his daughter every single time.
She was the wife David always wanted and didn’t hesitate to spend his money or throw lavish parties on a whim.
Which David knew only helped his business. So not only did he allow it, he encouraged it.
Payslee would barely give her the time of day if they were in the same room and her dad would pat her head and tell her what a good girl she was, and then go back to his reading the newspaper or looking at his tablet for the latest stock market raise.
They flew around the world to see the sights and to enjoy life and would leave Eva home, with the staff.
She was in their charge after all, and Eva used to be sad, but she knew she had the family that most people envied.
Eva was raised by nannies. At least two when she was younger, and then one when she got older.
They were all patient and kind, and loved her, showed her that there was such a thing even if it wasn’t from her actual family.
She knew that kind of love from being with her mom, but she was too young to understand why her daddy didn’t want to see her.
She was allowed around the grounds and she could often be found at the side of the gardener, learning about the plants there, or with the chef, being taught how to cook and bake.
She used to fight and be angry, just wanting her daddy, but soon learned that would get her nowhere.
She relied on getting the love she needed from the beloved staff that catered to her every whim.
The cook treated her with love and kindness, making her special treats and meals that were forbidden in normal circumstances.
The maids also loved her. She was taught to be kind and gentle by the small army of the employees they had.
And she took each lesson to heart. She knew what she didn’t want to be, Payslee or her dad. And learned that they weren’t the examples to look after.
She didn’t like being around anyone beside the family she made for herself. They made her uncomfortable. She didn’t know how to talk to anyone besides them.
Until one day, she got a new nanny. Brooke Peterson.
