Page 5 of Chelsea’s Knight

I think what hurt worse was not even a month ago, both NonniandPoppa had talked about the facts of life with me. Not together, of course, since Nonni told me about all the important things I’d need to know from a woman’s standpoint as I ‘became a woman’ then she took me shopping to ensure I had those feminine supplies and products in the house.

Poppa, however, took me out for ice cream, where we shared a banana split loaded down with candy morsels, and with a lot of hemming and hawing, he told me how boys thought when it came to girls and what they wanted or expected from us.

“Chelsea, there are girls you bed and girls you wed,” he’d stammered out his thought, his face deep red.

Taking a bite of my luscious, over-the-top part of the hot fudge, candy combo, I gave him a puzzled and bewildering look because I genuinely didn’t understand.

“What do you mean, Poppa?” I’d asked.

“Do you have any girls who have earned themselves a bad reputation at school? One that’s less than flattering?” he’d questioned.

I still didn’t fully grasp what he meant until I thought about Maria Posten and how all the girls talked about what she did behind the bleachers during physical education last month. People were saying some pretty mean things, things I didn’t spread of what I’d heard because I had never seen her go with anyone behind the bleachers with my own eyes and Nonni had taught me at an early age that unless I saw it personally, I shouldn’t believe everything I’d heard or spread shameful rumors.

Slowly, I nodded my head.

“Alright, well, in a lot of those instances, girls who are like that will always be like that, and their reputation will follow them for the rest of their lives. Even after school is over for them, it’ll be known in town that they aren’t pure because they gave that gift away to boys who didn’t deserve it. They’ll never meet someone good and decent who will marry them. Like finds like, Chelsea. Girls who wait for the right man to come along will be valued and treasured for doing so.”

I thought about that for a few minutes while slowly eating my side of our shared ice cream. “That’s not really fair, Poppa,” I finally said. Everybody deserves a second chance at redeeming themselves, especially for the mistakes they’ve made while being young, dumb, and insecure. “Boys aren’t treated like that.”

“No, it’s really not, sweet pea, but unfortunately, it’s the way of the world. So, what you want to remember is this, set boundaries that you can live with no matter what. If you don’t care about having that particular dream, then protect yourself and live your life that way. If you want that dream of a happily ever after, a husband, home, kids, then make sure you let any boys in your life know you’re not like that so you can have it.”

I nodded to let him know I understood because I did.

I wanted all of that; the handsome husband, the pretty little house, kids, and a plethora of pets to love on. So, I’d be a good girl from here on out and set my boundaries high so I could find my prince and live those dreams.

Chelsea, age 17

Walking across the stage at my high school graduation in front of my peers, I kept my head high and my chin tilted up with pride, just as I had the past five years, ignoring the malicious whispers I could hear coming from some of my classmates.

My boundaries were set so high, I likely had a moat complete with snapping alligators, a barbed wire fence, and guards protecting me on that mountain I’d placed myself atop of.

After that winter dance, I’d never gone to another school function because by the following Monday, my reputation had been decimated and my character had been slandered. Boys wanted to date me, even asked me out when I turned fifteen, but I always declined and said no regardless of how hard they pursued me.

Of course, that never stopped the rumor mill from churning.

If it was to be believed, I’d slept with every single boy in my class at this point, I’d had five pregnancy scares as well as one abortion that rendered me sterile, and I’d been treated for several sexually transmitted diseases.

I knew better.

My nonni and poppa did as well, once I finally broke down and came clean about what was being spread around the school about me. So, I focused solely on my schooling, made my education my number one top priority, and started working for the family as Miss Gianna’s personal maid.

And by the time I went to live with her and her husband, Lowell Jeffries, I finally had my first-ever trusted friend.

CHAPTERONE

Canyon

Ever since we talked previously, Specks’ advice has been in a constant loop in my head, repeating his words that were full of caution and information with regard to Chelsea. Every day, after work, I head up to the rehab facility that she’s now a patient at for recovery. She’s there for the dual purpose of helping her get physically and mentally stronger after our ordeal.

My hope is while visiting with her, something I say will spark something that’s been buried beneath the surface of her mind and trigger a memory consisting of the two of us. I mean, she knows my name when it’s mentioned and recognizes my face when I visit, but the interactions we had prior to those fuckers attacking us at the park were on a different scale than they are now.

We were connecting on a level that was leaning toward us building a bond and heading into a relationship—one we no longer have and that pisses me the fuck off.

Because despite my ingrained fears concerning me becoming a we, my gut tells me that despite those reservations, she’s the one.

Myone chance for redemption and love.

So far, I’m batting zero, but tonight, I’m going to shake things up and bring in the big guns.

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