Justice for Breeze

by Melissa Kay Clarke

  Finch’s heart melted at this. Lolly hadn’t just remembered him when he found her, she’d never forgotten him. "I would go to the ends of the Earth for that girl." He felt tears in his eyes. "I would die for her."

  "I know," Breeze whispered with a short but meaningful nod, her eyes staring into his as she placed her hand on his arm.

  He turned away, wiping the tears away before they came in full force. He understood that nod, seen it from his brothers in the Navy. This strange woman he’d met only hours earlier, had gone past the ends of her world for the sake of his daughter. They were connected in purpose. Lolly, or Gaia, as she called her, was precious enough to die for.

  He was just building up the courage to look her in her pale aqua eyes when Lolly loudly proclaimed she was hungry and stood with her tiny fists curled against her hips.

  The moment was broken, so he pulled his daughter into his lap and tickled her gently. "Lolly has been chomping at the bit to go get pancakes. I told her we had to wait for you to get ready. There's a restaurant downstairs. My parents will meet us there along with Sarah's. I would appreciate it if you came along with us. I'm a little nervous how Lolly is going to handle meeting her grandparents. I don't want to put any pressure on you, though. If you rather stay here, that's fine."

  "I'll go." She picked up a couple of items folded on a chair, grabbed a plastic bag and headed to the bathroom.

  He saw her walk by out of the corner of his eye. She had a sway to her hips that Finch was pretty sure she wasn't aware of. It wasn't the exaggerated cadence of one of the barrack bunnies that tried to catch his eye on the few times he had gone out with the guys. It was natural and a hundred times more alluring.

  "Get your head out of the gutter, Finch," he muttered to himself as he finished tidying the room. "You got too much shit going on to think about this right now. You've got a daughter to take care of, Sarah's in a coma, not to mention your parents and hers are descending en masse today. Breeze saved their lives, but she doesn't understand your world. Keep it in your pants."

  "What, Daddy? What in your pants?"

  Finch laughed and swept Lolly up in his arms, rolling her up until he could nuzzle her soft cheek with his. "Little Miss Smarty-pants. You hear too much."

  She screeched and squirmed as he tickled her belly. "Stop! Daddy tickle!"

  "Tickle you? Sure thing, baby girl. Whatever you say." He renewed his efforts, goosing her sides as she howled in laughter.

  It felt so good to have his baby in his arms again. As she finished her laughing, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her gently. She was soft and smelled like the cotton candy bubbles she had played in last night during her bath. She leaned back and put her tiny hands on each side of his face and kissed him on his chin. With a giggle, she whispered, "You scratchy, Daddy."

  He chuckled and rubbed a hand on the scruff shadowing his face. "I guess I'm a little ragged. I'll get rid of it later. That work for you, Lolly-pop?"

  "Yush," she agreed then wiggled in his arms. "Down. I wanna get panny cakes."

  "We have to wait on Breeze. She's hungry, too."

  Lolly glanced at the still closed door then shrugged. "'k."

  Lord, how he loved that sweet innocence. Picking up a barrette, he gently pulled Lolly's hair back and fastened it to keep it out of her face. In the past, she fought them whenever they had put ribbons and bows in her hair. This time, she let him fasten it, but who knew how long it would stay?

  The door opened, and Breeze stepped out. She fidgeted with the bottom of her light green tee shirt, twisting it in her fingers. "I hope I look okay. I haven't worn clothes like this before."

  "You look amazing."

  Finch didn't mean to whisper the words, but it was loud enough for her to hear, judging by the shy smile she gave him. He wasn't kidding either. The shapeless tunic and knee-length pants she had worn yesterday had not given any hint about her form. He thought she had a nice body under the rough cloth, but seeing it now was confirmation. The light washed denim hugged her curves, accenting her petite figure as did the tee shirt she tugged at unconsciously.

  "I can fix the holes in them," she stuck a finger in the slashes that showed glimpses of skin. "I was going to put on a different pair, but the other ones have holes too. Maybe Hayden didn't realize they were old."

  Finch chuckled and shook his head slowly. "That's fashion, Breeze. People buy them with holes in them. Probably paid more because of them."

  "That's just silly," she huffed then sat on a chair to pull a pair of sneakers on. "We have a weaver back Home, but she couldn't keep up with the demand. So, every season, cloth is purchased from the Outside to make new clothes. Everyone gathers in the eating area to tell stories and sing songs while we sew. It becomes a... a..." She fished for the word.

  "A party?" Finch supplied.

  Breeze nodded. "Yes, a party. When we are finished, everyone has lots of new things to wear. Then we take the best of the old ones and refit them for the children. The rest is cut into rags or to make blankets for the goats." She wiggled her finger into the strategically frayed slit in the knee of the jeans. "Paying for rags to wear," she muttered to herself. "And people think the Family is strange?" Pulling her finger out, she tied the laces and stood. "I'm very grateful for them getting me some clothes. I shouldn't say bad things." She tied a hair band around her head to hold her hair back.

  "You look nice, Breeze. If the clothes make you uncomfortable, we can get you something else."

  She shook her head even as she tugged at the v-neck. "No, this is fine. I just have to get used to it."

  Lolly grabbed her hand and pulled. "Panny cakes, let's go." She frowned at Finch. "Daddy, I'm hungry."

  "The little one has spoken." He picked up his wallet and the door cards. He handed one over to Breeze. "Come on. She may pass out from starvation," he joked as they left the room and headed down to the restaurant.

  By nine-thirty, everyone was settled in the waiting room in anticipation of visiting hours. Lolly sat in Sarah's mother's lap, talking animatedly with her stuffed dog while Sarah's father spoke softly with Finch's dad. Finch's mother returned from the bathroom and sat beside Helen Nolan. Her eyes didn't leave her granddaughter as the two older women whispered together. TJ and the others were absent today, but he had assured Finch they were only a phone call away should he need anything.

  Railroad had left when they arrived. He wanted to get a shower and a couple of hours sleep horizontally. Finch couldn't blame him one bit, handing him the rental car keys along with his room card. Rail said his goodbyes and strolled out of the room, promising to come back in a few hours. Finch appreciated his friend's help. If it weren't for Lolly, he would have stayed at the hospital while Sarah was recuperating. He knew Rail would keep an eye on Sarah while he was taking care of their daughter. That was a huge load off his shoulders.

  "So, Breeze," Helen turned her attention to the small woman sitting alone in a corner. "How long have you known Sarah?"

  "Lil...I mean Sarah came to live with us last summer." Her eyes darted around the room and landed on Finch. He saw the tension in her shoulders lessen somewhat. It made Finch feel good that she looked to him for support. He smiled reassuringly at her.

  "Tell us again, how did she get hurt?" Steve Nolan asked pointedly.

  Breeze swallowed and kept her eyes down. "It happened the night we left. The woods were dark and Ga... Lolly was sleepy so Sarah was carrying her. There was something metal sticking out of the ground, and Sarah tripped over it. I tried to catch her, but she turned to keep Lolly from hitting the ground. I snatched her from Sarah as she landed on whatever it was."

  Breeze's eyes took on a faraway look as she remembered the incident. Slowly her fingers made knots in the fabric of her shirt. "We washed her hand and arm in some water we found, and I tied a piece of cloth around it to keep the dirt out. The next day it was red and looked bad. I begged her to go back Home, but she insisted on going on."

  "How many days did it take
you to get to that store?" Finch's father joined in the questioning.

  "Four. She didn't think it would take more than two, but by the next night, she was sick and was a lot slower. The food she had packed was gone, and the water was low. She refused to take any of it, saying she needed to save it for Lolly. The last day we were in the woods, I had almost to carry her out."

  Questions suddenly bombarded her from both sets of parents.

  "Why did she leave in the middle of the night?"

  "She..."

  "Why didn't you take a vehicle?"

  "We..."

  "Couldn't she call to let us know she was okay?"

  "I..."

  Where was she for so long?"

  "We..."

  "If she was sick, why didn't you take her to a doctor?"

  "She..."

  Finch saw Breeze's fingers tighten in her shirt as she became more frustrated. Stepping in, he diffused the situation. "Hey, hey, hey. There's time enough for questions later." Breeze gave him a grateful look, but her fingers still shook. He didn't like seeing her so upset, so made a mental note to talk to her later. When everyone turned to him, he pointed to the clock on the wall. "It's almost visiting time, and the doctor should be by in a few minutes. I'd rather Lolly wasn't involved - it gave her nightmares seeing Sarah with all those lines hooked up."

  His mother stood, lifting her granddaughter and settling her onto her hip. "Jake and I will take her back to the hotel and watch a movie." She smiled softly at Lolly. "We need to get acquainted with her, don't we?"

  "Uh - huh, Mamaw. We get a canketed."

  His father stood as they chuckled. "You're not alone, son. We're going to be here for as long as you need us."

  "Thanks, Dad. I'll follow you down and get the car seat out of the rental."

  "No need to. As soon as you called us to tell us Lolly was home, Alice went out and found the best one money could buy. You haven't seen the trunk of the car yet; it looks like a toy store has exploded." He winked at Lolly. "First grandchild. She won't have time to miss you, but if she does, we'll call you." Turning toward Steve, he stuck out his hand. "It was nice to meet you, although I hate it's under these circumstances. If you and Helen are up to it, we'd like to have dinner tonight. We understand if it's too much for you to do. Whatever makes you comfortable."

  "We'd like that, thank you, Jake."

  Finch watched them leave with his daughter swinging between them. Turning around, he sat down and glanced over at Breeze. She was knotting her fingers in her shirt bottom again as her eyes followed his parents toward the elevator. The four grandparents had agreed to take turns keeping Lolly, which suited Lolly fine. He, on the other hand, didn't like having her out of his sight, but he knew they needed time alone with her. That left him and Breeze, Lolly's silent little bodyguard.

  She was extremely protective over Lolly, and that made him feel a little better. The more people with eyes on his child, the less likely she would come up missing again.

  Chapter 9

  Shortly after Finch's parents left with Lolly, Sarah's doctor had gathered them into a small room to give an update to his charge's condition. It wasn't good. She was still in septic shock with her kidneys almost completely shut down, and her liver was showing signs of stress. They were dumping massive amounts of antibiotics into her, but they were having little if any effect. He felt there was a reason she was not responding to treatment and wanted to run a few tests to check for secondary causes. With the Nolans' agreement, the doctor left.

  Now, Breeze and Finch sat side by side in the waiting room while Sarah's parents visited with her. Glancing over at him, Breeze could see the stress on his face as he continued to stare at the floor and run his fingers through his hair.

  "I can't sit here anymore," he mumbled. Looking over at her, he nodded toward the door. "Let's go down to the cafeteria and get some coffee."

  Breeze kept the distaste off her face. She had tried coffee this morning but found it to be too bitter for her taste. However, Finch looked as if he needed a break from all the stress, so she nodded. "All right."

  On their way out the door, he stopped at the information desk and asked the attendant to give the Nolans a message that they would be back in a few minutes. Taking hold of Breeze's elbow, Finch gently guided her out of the waiting area and to the elevators. Within a few minutes they were sitting at a table with two cups of steaming drink before them - he with coffee and her, hot cocoa.

  "You told me some about where you're from. I'm not trying to be pushy or to upset you, I'm just concerned for what happened to Sarah and Lolly. I know you love my daughter and would do anything for her. So, can I ask you a few questions?"

  "Of course. You can ask me anything you like. I don't know how much I can tell you, though."

  "It's okay; just do what you can. We'll start with something easy. What's your last name?"

  She blinked at him in confusion. "My last name?"

  "Yeah. Mine is Finchly. Lolly, Sarah, and her parents are Nolan. It shows you're a part of a family. What's yours?"

  She lifted her shoulders. "I don't have one. My name is just Breeze."

  Finch blew out a breath. "What's your mother's name?"

  "Just Mother."

  "Okay. How about your father?"

  "Oh, I don't have one. I never have."

  "So it's just you and your mother, living on a farm together? Just the two of you alone?"

  "Oh, gracious no. There are a lot of people living there. At least thirty or so." Breeze gave him a dazzling smile. "The Family is very big but very close. We all work together for the betterment of the whole."

  They sat quietly, drinking from their cups. Breeze was still a bit unsteady in this world but she was adapting quickly. She knew how to use the dispensary machines and could make a drink as if she had been doing it all her life. It wasn't a major accomplishment, but considering how sheltered she had been in the Family, it gave her a sense of accomplishment. She didn't feel helpless.

  "You're out of ketchup packs."

  Breeze glanced up toward the front of the cafeteria where a man stood wearing the dark blue scrubs of a hospital worker with his back toward them. The woman handed him several packets and he hurried out the door without turning around. There was something familiar about his voice, like she had heard it before but she couldn't place it. Maybe he was one of the many helpers that worked on the floor where Sarah now lay. With a tiny nod, she agreed - that had to be it.

  She dismissed it from her thoughts as Finch continued his questions.

  "So, you're the nanny back home?"

  She took a sip of the hot drink and looked down into the cup. "I help with the small ones. Like Lolly. She's my responsibility."

  "But not Sarah."

  "No. The adults are responsible for themselves."

  It felt like an accusation, even though she knew he didn't mean it as one. Breeze was well, sitting with the father of her friend's child, sipping a hot drink while that friend lay sick upstairs. It felt like a betrayal of sort, to be basking in Finch's attention while Sarah fought for each breath. Breeze's fingers gripped the cup tighter until her knuckles were white.

  As she milled the thought around, Finch started again.

  "Tell me about your home."

  Breeze relaxed and cupped her hands around the hot chocolate. "Everyone works together to make sure everyone is happy. We grow food, take care of the animals and help wherever we're needed." She smiled at the memory. "I love taking care of the children. There are five in all - two boys and three girls. Every morning, we get them up and take them to breakfast. Afterward, we play games for a while and then have lessons. We teach them about nature and caring for others." She stared down into the cup. "Lolly loves to sing, did you know that? She makes up songs all the time about just about anything. Her favorite until we left was about a butterfly. I can't always understand everything she says, but you can see such joy in her heart."

  Finch's lips lifted into a smile. "I ca
n see that about her. When she came to visit before, she always wanted me to sing her songs. I tried to think of something with Lolly in it but could only think of two songs. One is a learning song about adverbs, and the other is about lollipops. So I sing that one to her. It's silly, but it means something to her, and because of that, it means something to me."

  "That sounds like her. She's such a beautiful little girl. I love her like she's my own." Breeze looked up at him. "I know you don't know me very well, but I made a promise to Sarah. I'll never let anyone hurt Lolly. I mean it."

  Finch's shoulders relaxed, and he rubbed his thumbnail over his bottom lip. Making up his mind, he reached over and touched her hand. "I've been thinking about after Sarah gets out of here. She's going to need time to recuperate, and even though her parents would insist on her going back to Spokane, I'm not sure she will want to do that. I was thinking, since you're so close to Lolly and she loves you so much, maybe I could hire you to be her nanny full time until you're ready to go home."

  Her eyes lifted sharply from the cup. "You want me to stay with her?"

  "It would make things a little easier for me. I'll be taking a leave for a while to get everything settled, and honestly, the thought of leaving either Sarah or Lolly alone doesn't sit well with me. I'd feel a bit more comfortable if I knew you were taking care of her so Sarah can concentrate on getting well. I have a condo in San Diego. It's only three bedrooms, but I'm sure we can make it work. I would pay you a salary plus room and board."

  "What does 'room and board' mean?"

  "I will provide you with a place to stay and food to eat. Your money would be yours to do with as you please." He turned and took her hands in his. "What do you say, Breeze? Will you help a guy out here?"

  She pulled her bottom lip into her teeth and nibbled. He was asking her to go to wherever San Diego was and stay with him and Lolly. It was exciting to think about going somewhere new and experiencing more of the amazing things she had just in the last few days. Things like chocolate and elevators, clothes that fit her and made her feel pretty.