Page 16 of Sweetheart and the Grouch
“Me too, Ainsley. You deserve to be happy.”
“Good night,” I whisper, trying to keep my emotions in check as they suddenly well up and press the backs of my eyes.
Switching the light off, I pull her door closed then head back toward the living area, pausing at the end of the hall to take a deep breath to compose myself before I return to Ajax. Not that it made a difference, he clocked my demeanor shift right away.
“Is something wrong?” He rises from his seat and meets me where I stand, wrapping his arms around me and drawing me against his chest. It’s so warm and safe that I find myself leaning into him and letting go. All of the months—theyears—of feeling like I’ve been fighting just to exist get the better of me and I release a torrent, crying for everything I never had, everything I longed for, and crying in relief because it feels like it’s all behind me now. I feel… happy.
“Talk to me, sweetheart,” he says after a while, hooking his finger beneath my chin and lifting my face to meet his. “Why all the tears?”
“It’s silly. You’ll roll your eyes.”
“Try me.”
I press my lips together. “I feel safe here. With you.”
His mouth curves up slightly.
“Don’t you dare laugh,” I say, jabbing a finger into the center of his chest.
He catches it and presses his lips against the tip of it. “Oh, sweetheart. I wouldn’t dare laugh. What that was, was a smile because what you just said made me feel proud. I’ve never had someone as beautiful and as strong as you look into my eyes and tell me I make them feel safe.”
“I meant it.”
“I know you did. That’s what makes it so damn special,” he murmurs, bringing his mouth to mine and kissing me in a way that’s long, slow and sensual. It’s different from the clash of teeth and tongues that occurred last night. That was filled desperation and a lack of control. This one is like a promise to care for me and to be my person. It’s a promise I dearly hope he plans to keep.
AJAX
“Why don’t we take a seat on the couch, and you can tell me what made you seek out the solitude of the mountains of Whisper Valley?” I suggest, brushing the backs of my fingers against the side of her face. Her skin is so soft.
“I was hoping we could skip that part in favor of better things. But OK. A promise is a promise.”
Taking her by the hand, I lead her into the living room and hand her the mug of chamomile tea I’ve made for her. She thanks me and sips it timidly before cradling it between her hands and angling her body toward me.
“I don't know whether I should start at the very beginning or if I should just give you the cliffs notes version. But since it would probably take years of therapy to get through it all, I'll just stick to the main points. I've already told you that our mother wasn't really much of a mom. If I wanted to say something kind about her, I think it would be that she was free-spirited. She kind of just blew wherever the wind took her and sometimes that meant she'd be gone for days on end. Other times she had us living at the back of a car. But more often than not, she just had a constant flood of men coming in and out of the house. Neither of us knows who our dad is.”
My fists close in on themselves the moment she mentions the men, a flood of protectiveness for both her and her sister surging through me. I will never in all of my life understand how a woman can birth two beautiful children and then live her life as if their safety doesn't matter.
“Nothing happened,” she says quickly, obviously noting the way I've tensed up at her words. “It was probably the one thing she did right, but in an inadvertent way. She used to lock us in a room so we couldn't spoil her parties. I was only ten, and I had this baby I had to look after, but in a way, I was grateful because before Elena came along, I was in those rooms all by myself. She gave me purpose, you know? And out of necessity, I found a way to… I don’t know,endure.I made the most of what we had, did everything I could to make Ellie feel like she mattered, and when it finally came to an end when Mom died, I kind of just thought we’d keep going like that. But I thought it’d be easier, you know? No more parties.” She quickly wipes at her eye and offers me a downward smile. “But the authorities got involved. Due to my age, the nature of my work and the fact we’re only half sisters, they ordered I turn her over to child services.” Her voice cracks and she shakes her head. “But I couldn’t.” She wipes the back of her hand across her nose and sniffs. “I couldn’t do that to her. My job is to protect her. So… so we ran.”
“And that’s how you ended up here?”
She nods. “I always knew deep down that Ellie was my responsibility, and I wasn’t going to let her down the way I was. So, I sold everything I could, used all my savings and got us fake IDs so we could travel as mother and daughter. Then I found us a secluded cabin in a small town where they’re less likely to ask questions when I enroll her in school and…well…that’s where you come in.”
“What was the plan if the schooldidask questions?”
Rolling her lips together, she bounces her shoulders. “Pack up and try again somewhere else. Maybe homeschool her instead. Whatever it takes, because I’m not willing to let my sister go to a stranger. I’m all she’s ever had, Ajax, and I refuse to believe that taking her away was the wrong call. Surely, you’ve heard all the horror stories from foster kids? How could I walk away knowing those risks.”
The moment the tears start flowing again, I take the mug from her hand and set it aside, drawing her against my chest again and just letting her cry it out. She’s obviously been so strong for so long, and I hate that she’s had to go through all of that without someone by her side to look out for her. But all that’s going to change now. As God as my witness, I’m not letting this girl go. She came into my life for a reason, and I’m going to make damn sure I’m the man who gives her all that she needs.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I hate you had to go through any of that on your own. I couldn’t be there for you before now, but I can promise you this; I’m here now. You don’t have to do any of it alone anymore.”
“I can’t ask you to do that, Jax.” She looks up at me with wet eyes, and I lift my hands to swipe my thumbs across her cheeks. “You literally just met us yesterday.”
“You aren’t askin’. I’m choosing this all on my own, because while we might have only met yesterday, I know deep down in here”—I tap my fingers against my chest—“that you and that little girl in there turned up in my life when you did for a reason. I’m supposed to be the man who takes care of you. All you need now is to let me.”
AINSLEY
After wearing myself out emotionally, I must have fallen asleep at some point and Ajax carried me to bed. Because when I open my eyes, I’m no longer on the couch. Nor am I in his arms. Actually, I’m completely alone, and I sit up abruptly and call out to him. Silence.
