Page 5 of Forever Yours
What the hell was that? What did she mean by it? My mind races and I try to dismiss her words as drunken ramblings. I can’t. What if she really feels that way? What if she wants me as much as I want her? My heart picks up speed at the thought.
I sigh and run my hand through my hair. I take one last look at Sophie snuggled up on her bed as I open the door. At last, she looks like the little girl I once knew.That girl deserves better than me. Since the day I met her, I’ve known she deserves the world.
Chapter Seven
I’ve never regretted falling for him, despite the unrequited part. -Sophie
Sophie, Ten Years Prior
The day is sticky hot, the kind of hot that only Southerners can understand and deal with. It’s the kind of day when popsicles are consumed in bulk, and gnats buzz around like annoying neighbors that don’t have a clue they aren’t welcome.
I’m dirty, as usual, caked in mud from making mud pies and my blonde unbrushed hair is sticking out of my head like a rooster’s comb. My mom sent us out of the trailer this morning with strict instructions to ‘play and get dirty’ so she can rest. She works nightshift as a housekeeper at a nearby hospital and she’s always tired. And I mean, always. I rarely see her awake at home, even though she tries her best to be a good mom. She’s an amazing mom, for what little time she gets to spend with us.
“Bri, I hear somethin’. Sounds like a whinin’.” My two front teeth are missing, and I speak with my usual slight lisp. My thick glasses don’t help my looks any, but they sure do help my eyesight. Up until Mama got them the year before, everyone thought I was an idiot. Turns out, I just couldn’t see anything. Right now, they’re smudged with dirt and blurry from my sticky hands touching them.
I hear the sound again and my brother, Brian, moves closer to me.
“I hear it too,” he whispers. My brother holds his finger up to his lips and I shut up real quick. He’s the man of the house, and bossy as can be. My dad took off when I was a baby so even though my brother is only a couple of years older, he takes care of me. His blue eyes are wide with curiosity. When we hear the whimper again, he throws his bike down and moves closer to the ditch where the sound is coming from.
“Stay back, Soph. I don’t know what’s down there.”
I jump up and down trying to get around him, but he peeks over the ditch and holds me back at the same time.
“It’s a dog. Man, it looks like he got run over good by a car. I think his leg is broke.”
I finally manage to get a look over his shoulder and see a small white puppy whimpering. His fur is bloody, and his leg is sticking out at an odd angle.
“Oh no, poor baby.” My heart breaks for the little guy and I start to climb down to see if I can help. My brother stops me with a tight grip on my upper arm.
“No, you don’t Soph. He’s hurtin’ and he might try to bite you.”
I hear a rustle in the trees next to us and then a voice. “Nah, he won’t bite. He’s scared, but he won’t bite.”
I watch in awe as a boy that looks to be about Brian’s age deftly hops down into the ditch to stand over the dog. The boy is tall and skinny, with black hair that flops over his eyes. I sigh a little on the inside. Those curls. He has black curls like one of my dolls back at the house.
He places his hands on his knees and looks the dog over. Brian and I watch in stunned silence as he reaches his hand out for the dog to sniff it. The sweet creature licks him back after a second and the boy glances up at us with a smile. Oh, my goodness, that smile. He has dimples and grey eyes that twinkle with mischief.
“Are you sure he won’t bite?” My brother still has his arm blocking me, but I’m trying desperately to get around him to the boy and the dog. If I’m honest, mostly to the boy.
“Nope, he’s a sweet puppy.” He reaches out to scratch the dog under the chin and the dog lets him. The animal then gives another whine, as if reminding us he’s in terrible pain.
“We need to get him out of here and to the vet clinic. We should take him to my mom. She’ll know what to do.” Brian fists his hands on his hips and speaks with authority.
“You sure your mom will take him to the vet? She won’t try to…” the boy clears his throat. “She won’t try to get rid of him or anything will she?” The expression on his face is full of skepticism.
I gasp in shock and the boy finally looks over at me. “My mama will take care of him.” I put my hands on my hips. “She’s good at taking care of animals and stuff. She’ll help, for sure.”
He smiles at me. “Didn’t mean to get you riled up, little one. I just wanted to make sure.”
That afternoon, we rescue the dog and make a new friend. It turns out Liam lives two trailers over and just moved to town. He insists on scooping the dog gently into his arms and bringing him to our trailer. He still doesn’t look like he trusts Mama, especially after she gets angry at us for waking her up. Her expression softens when she looks at the dog in Liam’s arms.
She takes us to the vet, and we spend hours at the clinic with that sweet dog. Dr. Tucker assures us she can fix Snowflake’s leg and Mama takes us all back to the trailer. (I know Snowflake is about the most generic name you can give an animal, but I have very little imagination when it came to names.) Mama asks Liam to stay for supper and the grateful expression that he gives her tears at my heart. He’s so skinny that he looks like a good wind could blow him over. He shovels his food in like someone’s going to take it away and looks around at us with those big grey eyes as we tease and laugh with each other. We manage to make him laugh too.
That night, as Mama is putting me to bed, she kisses me on the forehead.
She sighs. “I suppose y’all will be wanting to keep that dog.” She rubs her forehead and sends me a small smile. “I guess we can think about keepin’ him.”
I think of all that the day has brought me, a dog, and my new friend Liam. My heart is warm and full. I find myself picturing Liam when I say, “Yeah, I think we should keep him forever.”
