Page 13 of Property of BamBam
“Where do we start?” I question.
“Honestly, we can start wherever is easiest for you. Today’s more about getting to know you, but if you’d like, I can ask you questions to get the ball rolling,” Beth replies. “Let me tell you a little about Hope House first, okay?”
I nod because I have no clue what she’s talking about right now. I know I can’t stay here indefinitely. I’m sure there are rules about that as it is. “That works for me.”
“So, Hope House is a non-profit organization that was established by the parents of a woman whose significant other killed them due to domestic violence. She had tried all the legal things, the restraining order, pressing charges when he put her in the hospital, moving, getting a big dog who was trained for protection. Yet, the one thing that wasn’t available was a place for her or anyone else to get the therapy needed to heal from the abuse and understand that these men, and sometimes women, are systematic about how they break a person’s spirit. She thought she was safe, so she went back one more time to the house to get more of her things, thinking he was at work. Unfortunately, he wasn’t, and she paid for that with her life. Her parents, wanting to do something to honor her life, started the non-profit and at first, it was all about awareness and warning signs.”
“What is it now?” I ask, my mind trying to wrap around what this poor girl went through.
He’s almost killed you a few times now, Livy, my subconscious reminds me.
“Now, it’s so much more than that. We have a home, one purchased by the foundation, that houses up to fifteen women at a time including any children they might have, and provides on-site therapy, both individual and group, plus job training if needed. We’ll also assist those who possibly need to get their GED so they can pursue either college or a trade, so they’re no longer stuck going back.”
“Is there a place for me there? Will I ever feel like myself again?” I whisper, wanting to take control of my life back from a man who should’ve never been part of it. My parents saw the signs and that’s one of the reasons we broke up right before graduation. He talked a good game, but there were times he had a look in his eyes that scared me and when I told my mom, she and my daddy sat me down and talked. I just wish I hadn’t been so scared after they died that I forgot.
“There is,” Beth kindly says as tears stream down my face. “Rio has graciously said that I can come here while you’re healing, which gives us time to get your room ready for you and Theo.”
“H-h-how long?” I stammer out.
“The initial stay is thirty days and then we evaluate to see if you’re in a good place so you can continue your therapy on an outpatient basis.”
I can see a glimmer of hope from what she’s said. I’ll be able to unpack all the baggage that Jasper left me with so I can be the best possible mom to Theo. “Hope House sounds amazing,” I murmur, almost to myself.
“It truly is, Livy. In fact, it’s so successful that the foundation is currently working on a male oriented place that does the same thing, since we won’t house men and women in the same place. All of the caretakers at Hope House are females or female-owned businesses since the ultimate goal is for the inhabitants to feel safe.”
Ironically, I’m in essence living with a group of men and I’ve never felt more safe and secure, but I don’t think I would if it were anyone else besides the people I’m here with at the TripleR. A light knock at the door has me glancing in that direction to see Issy pop her head in, Theo in her arms.
“I’m sorry and don’t mean to interrupt, but your little guy needs a nap,” she says.
“No, it’s fine, I think we’ve covered a lot of ground today,” Beth replies. She looks at me and smiles before asking, “Same time tomorrow?”
I’m already off the bed and holding out my hands for Theo. “That sounds good to me. Thank you, Beth.”
“You’re welcome. Now, for your homework for tonight,” she teases. At my raised brows she says, “Get some rest because your physical healing is as important as the emotional and mental will be.”
Since I’m utterly exhausted and all I’ve really done is listen while saying a few things here and there, I’m perfectly fine with this assignment.
CHAPTER
NINE
BamBam
“That’s the last of it,” I state, dusting my hands as I glance around the room that Livy and Theo will be living in for the foreseeable future. It took a week before Doc would sign off on her leaving the ranch to move into Hope House. Every day, the therapist met with Livy, and I watched with great interest how she responded to whatever they discussed.
Some days, she had a haunted look in her eyes, as if the old demons had been reawakened. Others, there was a fierce light as though she was pulling on metaphorical armor in preparation to fight. Every day, though, she got up and showed up, and for that, I’m suitably impressed. It can’t be easy to drag your inner demons out to examine them so they can be slayed. Yet, she’s doing it.
“Thank you for helping, BamBam,” she says, looking around at her space.
“Proud of you, Pixie,” I reply. “I can’t say as I totally understand how just talking to someone is gonna help, but I respect thefact that you’re willing to try. Hell, you already look healthier so that’s gotta mean something, right?”
My gaze runs over her once again. While she still has a few lingering bruises from the beating she took, her eyes are now both open, she’s filled out slightly thanks to the filling food that Constance and Maria have fed her, and she’s got a little bit of color because some of the days, she and her therapist walked around the ranch while they talked.
Theo, the little chunk, doesn’t even seem to be as stressed as he initially was, and is now sleeping all night long, which means thatLivyis getting unbroken rest. The changes are subtle in some ways, dramatic in others, but I already can’t wait to see how she is after spending thirty days here.
“That means more than I can say,” she admits. “With me here, you’ll be able to actually do the stuff you’re supposed to instead of babysitting me.”
“Wasn’t babysitting anybody, Livy.” My tone is a bit gruff because I kind of was based on the fact that she wasn’t an ol’ lady or a club girl, so one of us had to be with her when she was out and about. Even during her therapy sessions, when she walked around, either myself or Mongrel followed at a discreet distance.
