After scraping the ice off the windshield, I cranked the engine and tapped my foot, waiting for the heat to kick in. As my seat warmed, I relaxed slightly and carefully pulled out of my parking space. I probably should have driven a little slower, but the anger boiling in my gut wouldn’t let me. ooooooooo
It didn’t take long to get to Emily’s House, and I parked right on the street out front. The porch was only lit by a single light, and the steps were shoveled off. I jogged up, and knocked on the door with more force than I should have.
“Just a minute,” came a voice from somewhere inside. Amy’s head peeked out around the door. “Oh, hey.” She opened the door wider. “Come in. It’s freezing out there.” She stepped back and let me pass.
As I stepped inside, I knocked my shoes on the threshold to bang off as much snow as possible. “Is Brooke here?” I glanced around.
“She’s in her room.” Amy motioned to the hallway. Donna was sitting in a chair reading, and smiled slightly as I made my way toward the hall.
“She’s not herself tonight,” Donna warned.
“Thanks.” I waved her off. I was half angry and half concerned. Why hadn’t she called me? Why was I finding this out from my brother? oooooooo
“Brooke?” I knocked on the half-closed door. I knew Ava would be in there, and I wasn’t sure if she was sleeping. “It’s Blake.” I waited for an answer, but nothing came. “I’m coming in,” I warned as I pushed the door open. As the door slowly creaked open, Brooke’s still form appeared on the bed. Ava was in her crib cooing at the mobile spinning above her. “Brooke?” I tried again as I stepped over the threshold. “Cal told me what happened.” The closer I moved to her, the more the anger I was feeling dissipated. I was more hurt now than anything. “Brooke?” She still wouldn’t acknowledge me as I carefully lowered myself onto the edge of her bed. There were no lights on in the room. The only light was coming from the street lights and the moon. Her face glistened in the street light from where tears had tracked down her cheeks.
“Brooke?” I placed my palm on her shoulder. “Talk to me,” I begged.
“Why?” It was the first word to fall from her lips, and as much as I knew whatever she was about to say would hurt, I couldn’t stop begging her to open up. “I’m broken, and hopeless, and not worth whatever this is.” She flicked her hand between us before rolling away from me.
“That’s not true,” I whispered. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I slipped out of my coat, and tossed it toward a chair in the corner. I toed off my boots and then scooted closer to her. “You are not broken. He didn’t break you. You’re strong. You’re stronger than you’ll ever know.”
“Sure, I am,” she muttered. “You’re wasting your time with me.” Her voice choked up as she curled into a tighter ball.
“No, I’m not. You’re a great person, Brooke, and a great mom. He can’t hurt you anymore.” I moved closer and attempted to pull her toward me. I just wanted to wrap her in my arms at this point.
I glanced over, and noticed Ava had fallen asleep. “I don’t want to wake Ava, but I want to hold you. I think you need that, and I think you need to let out whatever you’re holding in right now.” I moved closer, and laid down beside her. “Brooke?” I tugged her shoulders and this time she rolled toward me. Her tearstained face was shadowed by the darkness, but I could see the pain and uncertainty. “Come here.” I opened my arms, and she collapsed on my chest. Her face nuzzled into the crook of my neck, and her arms curled against my chest. Her body shuddered as her tears came back.
“I don’t know how to do this,” she whimpered as I stroked her back.
“Every day is a learning experience, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you. He took years to do this to you. You can’t expect to fix it in just a few weeks. It’s gonna take time.” I tightened my grip as she struggled to get closer.
“Please don’t let go.” Her voice sounded as if she was begging.
“I won’t. I won’t ever let go,” I promised, and it was the first time that all this felt real. I knew there was something here, but I don’t think I realized it went as deep as it does until this moment.
I laid there for hours, staring at the ceiling of her room while she slept against me. Ava never woke up, and Brooke seemed to finally get some peace. I think I might have drifted off sometime after midnight. I don’t really know. I do know that it was one of the best night’s sleep I’ve gotten in a long time.
I left Emily’s House around six the next morning. I awoke with the sunrise. Brooke and Ava were still fast asleep. I carefully slipped from her bed, grabbed my things, and tiptoed out to the living area. Donna was reading the morning paper and sipping coffee.
“I’ll tell her you had to leave.” Donna smirked as she took a sip from her mug.
“I’m coming back. We’re going to get a tree for in here today. I need to shower though. I worked a double before I came over here.” I yawned.
“Mmmhmm.” Donna nodded. “You don’t need to explain anything to me. I knew she was special the first night you treated her in the ER. You had that look.”
“I don’t have a look.” I scowled.
“You do with her. She’s gonna take a lot of time
