“You see me,” she answered.
They talked for hours and Amelia climbed in her bed, pulled the blankets over her chilled body, and warmed up while the most important person in her life gave her attention he probably didn’t have time to spare.
Leo was her lightning bug.
* * *
The next morning, she struggled to get out of bed and get ready for school. Barely remembering her books, she was floored when she thought to grab a juice on her way out the door. Reopening the fridge door, she grabbed a second one for Leo.
Some of the flavors weren’t bad but a couple left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth.
In the back of Leo’s car, she handed it to him. She started to drink hers and he put his hand on her wrist. “I had Baylor stop for croissants and that yogurt you like. Save the shake for lunch?”
Grinning, she said, “Okay! I’m starving. I just realized I didn’t eat dinner last night. I must have forgot.”
“Here.” He held out the box of fresh pastry and she sighed as she bit into it. “I’ll drink my juice later, too.”
Leo was always taking such good care of her. She might be pretty but his soul was breathtaking.
* * *
Later that day, Amelia was called to the office. She was surprised when she entered to see her parents standing with the principal. Beside them was someone she didn’t know.
“Hi. Dad, is everything okay?”
As usual, her mother answered for a man who barely managed to utter a sentence in his home. “No, Amy! The school nurse said this juice fell out of your bag.”
“Oh, yeah. I didn’t get a chance to drink it this morning…” The principal watched Amelia’s face intently. “Why? I normally drink it before I get to school but…”
“Where did you get it, Amy?” the principal asked.
“Oh, I think my mom…”
“Who knows where she got it?” Augusta shouted over her. “Instead of harassing my daughter, why don’t you go catch the kids here dealing drugs to other students?”
Suddenly, Amelia realized something was very wrong. She looked at the juice bottle in the principal’s hand, up at his face, and then at her mother with a frown.
“What’s wrong with the juice?” she asked softly. “I’ve been drinking them for two weeks.”
Augusta’s face was red. “Nothing! I’m sure you just got confused, sweetheart.”
“I got confused…? What did I get confused about?” She looked at the principal. “What’s wrong with the juice?”
He turned the bottle around to the label. “These were ordered from a company in South America. They contain an ingredient that isn’t approved in the U.S.”
Eyes wide, Amelia asked, “W-what? Like a drug?”
“It’s considered a supplement but one that can have serious side effects to the heart, fertility, and nutrient levels in the body.” He paused and added, “It’s meant for weight loss but it’s a very dangerous way to accomplish that goal.”
Amelia processed the words for almost a minute and everyone else was silent. She took a second bottle from her backpack and handed it to the principal.
“I normally drink one for breakfast and sometimes, another for dinner. I’ve barely eaten anything in a week. I didn’t know.” She met her mother’s eyes and said in a low voice, “I don’t think I need to lose weight so I’m sorry if I had something I shouldn’t in school. It won’t happen again.”
Looking at her father, she murmured, “You need to understand what just happened here, Dad. You’re not paying attention to anything nearly as much as you should.”
He stared at the floor and shifted his weight to his other foot.
Frustrated, she asked, “Am I in trouble, Principal Fellman?”
“No, Amy. You can go back to class.”
“Thank you, sir. I apologize.”
In the hallway, she turned for Leo’s class instead of her own. Tapping on the door, he glanced up and frowned. Saying something to his teacher, he came out in the hall.
“What did you do with the juice I gave you, Leo?”
She watched him take a deep breath. “I took it to the chemistry teacher to confirm what I thought about a couple of the ingredients.”
“You suspected what they were?”
“I haven’t seen you eat in days. You’re losing so much weight that your body can’t regulate your temperature.”
“My parents are in the office. I thought I was in trouble. I worried they were going to expel me.”
“No. I made sure it wasn’t an illegal additive but your mom should be in trouble for giving those things to you.”
“I understand what you did and why, Leo. Next time talk to me first because I didn’t like walking into a situation like that. Protecting me doesn’t work like that. Understand?”
“I do. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you. I was worried.”
“Thank you.” She looked at the floor. “She was making me lose weight, Leo. Like I’m overweight or something. Giving me some terrible thing that could damage my heart so I’d drop pounds.”
“Amelia?” She raised her head. “We have to watch things more closely. Okay?” She nodded. “I won’t let her hurt you, Amelia.”
“I don’t think she’d ever intentionally hurt me. She just...I don’t know. This beauty thing is kind of her obsession. All she does is plan auditions and pageants. I-I’m trying to do what she wants but I keep wondering what will be enough.”
“I’m going to watch more closely.” He gave her a smile. “It takes a couple of days to work out of your system...but your appetite should be coming back. There’s burgers for lunch today…”
“My favorite.”
“See you in a couple of hours.” He stroked his palm over her hair and headed back to class.
She walked slower to her own and took her seat. Augusta’s focus on Amelia winning and being the most beautiful had been frustrating and exhausting for years.
Now, there was something almost sinister about it.
It made her stomach cramp.
Chapter Four
1994-1995 - Junior Year
At the start of the summer, Amelia answered her front door on a Saturday morning and released a soft gasp. “Mrs. De La Cruz. Is Leo alright?”
“He’s fine, darling. Of course, he is. I came to speak with your parents for a moment if they’re available.”
It was only then that Amelia noticed the way Leo’s mom was dressed. She looked ready to attend a function with the Queen Mother. Her red hair was coiled expertly at the base of her neck. She wore a crisp raw silk suit in a blue so dark it looked black, matching heels, and a little pillbox hat with a veil.
“I…” Amelia met the woman’s eyes. The lovely Scotswoman nodded with a secretive wink. “Of course, Mrs. De La Cruz. Won’t you please come in? I’ll get my parents.” She was confused for a moment about what to do next.
“I’ll wait here, darling.”
Amelia walked rapidly down the hall to her father’s den. “Dad? Can you come out for a minute? Leo’s mom is here.”
He stood immediately and came around his desk. Placing his arm around Amelia’s shoulders, he asked, “Is Leo alright?”
“Yes. She wants to talk to you...and Mom.”
“Hmm.” They returned to the foyer and her friendly father extended his hand. “Gil Whitehall. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Mrs. De La Cruz.”
“Likewise. Please, call me Sarabeth. I feel like I know you already from the many wonderful stories Amelia has shared with us.” Amelia could tell she was tightly controlling her accent so her dad could understand her. “I’m sorry you haven’t been able to attend the dinners we’ve invited you to but I truly hope you’ll accept in the future.”
Frowning, Gil started to reply and caught himself. It was clear he didn’t know what Mrs. De La Cruz was talking about.
“I-I hope we will, too. Leo treats Amy so well.”
“I’m glad you think so, Gil. May I call you Gil?” Stumbl
ing a bit, he nodded. “Our families - my husband’s and my own - we have certain traditions. They go back hundreds of years.” She smiled at Amelia. “Your daughter has become part of our family and we’d like to include her, with your permission.”
Amelia’s dad smiled broadly. “That sounds lovely.”
“Now that our children are almost seventeen, dating for two years, and mature well beyond their years, we’d like to take Amelia with us when we travel to see our family.”
Amelia was stunned. She admired Leo’s parents but she never imagined they’d invite her to visit their extended family.
“We spend two weeks in Madrid in the summer and two weeks of early December in Edinburgh. Naturally, we’d have her back to celebrate Christmas with you and her mother. Amelia will have a personal assistant who acts as her chaperone and bodyguard. You can trust her safety in our hands.”
Reaching out to take Amelia’s hand, her dad smiled. “Spain and Scotland, Amy! Won’t that be nice?” He added shyly, “I haven’t traveled much myself but love the photos I’ve seen in National Geographic.”
“They’re even more beautiful in person, Gil. Perhaps you’ll consider joining us for a getaway. We have plenty of room and you’d be most welcome. And your wife, of course.”
“Oh, Augusta refuses to leave the United States. Sh-she worries about being robbed and murdered.” He sighed. “I’ve tried to tell her we can take tourist trips to work her way into it but…”
His voice trailed away and Amelia was relieved he didn’t repeat some of her mother’s other reasons for refusing to travel.
“That’s too bad. I think you’d love the history of my family estate in Scotland and the views from the castle passed down through generations of my husband’s family would take your breath away.” She smiled gently. “The invitation is open.” Reaching out, she handed Amelia an envelope. “All the details of the trip - where we’ll be and when. There’s also a passport form and we’ll need to get that back quickly.”
Behind them, the front door slammed open. Amelia’s mother stood in the entry staring between the three of them.
“What’s going on?” she asked too loudly.
“Mom, this is Sarabeth De La Cruz. Leo’s mom. She came to meet you and Dad.”
Mrs. De La Cruz turned and said crisply, “Mrs. Whitehall. You’ve raised an exemplary young woman.”
“I know,” Augusta said suspiciously.
“I wish to take Amelia with us to Madrid for two weeks…”
“Absolutely not. Amy isn’t leaving the country. Everything she needs is here.”
“Hmm.” Sarabeth tightened her posture. “It’s critical for the matriarch of the De La Cruz royal line to meet Amelia if she’s to be approved. After all, everyone wishes to be a member of royalty.” She turned to Amelia and said in a voice that didn’t match the expression on her face, “I’m sorry, Amelia. This is one tradition that cannot be dismissed.”
Augusta’s eyes were huge. “What do you mean royalty?”
Sarabeth stared into Amelia’s eyes for a long moment before giving a wink only she could see and turning back to Augusta.
“Certainly, you know?” Augusta shook her head. “I believe Leo mentioned the first day you met that he was descended from royalty.”
“I thought he was lying.”
“He was not, Mrs. Whitehall. The De La Cruz family has been part of the royal family for almost six hundred years. My father is the fourteenth generation Highland Chief of our clan.” Augusta looked confused and skeptical. Sarabeth folded her hands in front of her. “We own castles in two countries, Mrs. Whitehall.”
“Oh...castles.”
“Yes. It seems Leo - our only child and heir - has his heart set on Amelia. I know they’re young but...if there is even the slightest chance, she must be vetted well in advance. It’s critical that every pairing be of the highest quality. While Amelia is neither Scottish nor Spanish, I believe she will impress with her poise and beauty.”
Augusta drew herself up and stuck out her chin. “Of course Amelia will impress.”
“I’m so glad you agree. We’ve set the itinerary and I’ve given copies to Amelia. There are several outfits she’ll need for specific events and the criteria is stringent. I’ll send my dressmaker over to assist. She knows the colors and styles that must be followed.”
Without giving the other woman a chance to respond, Sarabeth turned to Amelia. “I’d love to take you to lunch if you have a couple of hours free.”
“I’m not really dressed…” She was wearing jean shorts and a t-shirt with flip flops.
“I’ll wait in the car and give you time to change. Casual is fine.” Leaning forward, she kissed both Amelia’s cheeks. Then she held out her hand to Gil. “It was truly a pleasure, Gil. Remember, you and your lovely wife are welcome to join us should the spirit of adventure strike.” She quickly shook Augusta’s hand. “Amelia will be guarded every moment.”
“I would hope so. There’s no telling…”
“I’ll be right down, Mrs. De La Cruz. I just need five minutes.” She raced to her room and quickly pulled on a sundress, leather sandals, and grabbed her purse.
Her mother waited in the foyer. “I don’t like that woman. She’s full of herself.”
Amelia shrugged. “She’s basically a princess. Isn’t that how you’d expect them to be?”
“I guess you’re right. Hurry back and practice your...Amy! You can’t leave. You have so much to do.”
“I’m going. There will be other pageants and I don’t care about the ones I’ll miss. See you in a few hours.” She hurried out the door and into the back of the waiting limo. Leo sat on the opposite side. “Wow. You guys busted out the big guns.”
In her normal thick accent, Sarabeth said, “Aye. Wanted te be sure there was no doubt ye’d be goin’ along with us.”
She pulled off the hat, released her wild hair from the chignon, and shrugged off her jacket.
“I knew she wouldn’a take me seriously if I didn’t hit her with Jackie Kennedy.” She toed off her shoes and slipped off her skirt. Underneath, she rolled down her usual leggings. Leo pushed her sandals closer and she stepped into them. “Ah. That’s better. I hate the uppity fixin’s I gotta wear sometimes. How about tacos?”
Amelia adored Leo’s mom. “Tacos sound amazing.”
Six weeks later, Amelia stepped foot on another continent. Leo’s family on his father’s side welcomed her with open arms, fed her constantly, and taught her several phrases in Spanish.
She and Leo walked the estate with an older woman who acted as their chaperone. They never stopped talking. When they explored the city beyond, there was a detail who tagged along. It was strange how she could forget they were there.
Amelia gained ten pounds, her hair got lighter, and she returned to Illinois with a gorgeous tan and a lot more knowledge about the world than she’d had before.
Even her mother’s screaming about her not being ready for pageants and daring to get tan lines didn’t spoil a single moment. She had several dozen rolls of film developed and put the photos up all over her room.
Her Leo.
Chapter Five
1995-1996 - Senior Year
Leo ran through the house, headed for the front door. His mother called him back and he skidded to a stop.
“It’s s’posed te rain, darlin’. Take yer jacket.” She smiled. “Yer so distracted, Leo.”
Bending to kiss her temple, he explained hurriedly, “She got back last night. It’s the last photo shoot until summer.”
“Ah, I see.” Her palm cupped his cheek. “Bring Amelia by one night this week. We haven’t seen her in ages.”
“I’ve only been able to talk to her on the phone and her mother shares a room when they travel so...we’ve hardly talked at all. I’m dying to see her.”
“Go, darlin’.”
“Love you, Mom.”
He ran for his SUV, threw his backpack on the backseat, and climbed behind the whe
el. There was no doubt he broke a couple of speed limits on the way to Amelia’s house.
Rocking to a stop, he grinned when he saw her already running down the driveway. His feet had barely touched the ground before she barreled into him.
He caught her, hugging her tight as he inhaled a scent unique to his Amelia. “My girl,” he murmured against her hair.
“Leo! I’ve missed you so much. I was watching for you.”
“I couldn’t find my calculus homework…”
Leaning back, she laughed. Her brown eyes sparkled. “You couldn’t find your homework? That never happens.”
He hugged her again. “I knew you’d be back today. I could barely focus for three minutes at a time last night.”
Opening the passenger door of his SUV, he lifted her to the seat. He rested his forehead on her shoulder while she stroked her fingertips through his hair.
“Your hair is starting to curl. I’m surprised you haven’t cut it.” Slipping her hand from his hair to his jaw, she lifted his face. Staring into his eyes, she whispered, “Get me out of here.” Dropping a light kiss on his lips, she repeated more urgently, “Get me away from here, Leo…please.”
Frowning, he nodded and closed her door. He got in quickly and started the engine. She wrapped her hands around his bicep and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Just drive...I don’t want to look at this house.”
He glanced at her as he pulled away from the curb. Someone had cut her hair to her shoulders. It was silky and healthy but she always said she hated it too short because she couldn’t do much with it.
She’d lost weight. Every time her mother whisked her away for modeling gigs, Amelia came back at least ten pounds lighter. Sometimes within just a couple of days. Leo knew it wasn’t healthy or safe for her to drop weight so rapidly.
Her brown eyes were closed as he drove. Long lashes laid against her cheek and her lower lip trembled slightly.
There was no doubt she was a gorgeous woman. She stopped growing when she reached five-nine and her modest curves were just right for her lithe frame.
Leo’s own growth spurt the past year put him a solid four inches taller. Still lean himself, he’d finally developed some muscle. She called him beautiful but he knew he was average.
Feel My Love: The Damaged Series - Book Two Page 3