Her glare intensified, but Chance ignored it as he gathered her into his arms and hoisted her up. After securing her in her wheelchair, he backed up and sat on the couch a few feet away. His own body shook with anger that he was no longer able to suppress. Those two girls leaving the room had been responsible for Crystal lying on the floor crying. It took all his control not to storm after the two teens and demand an explanation then an apology to Crystal.
“What happened?” Chance leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.
She dropped her head, staring at her hands clasped together in her lap.
“Crystal, I saw two girls leaving the room. Do you want me to go and ask them? Because one way or another, I will find out what happened.”
Her head snapped up. “No! Don’t!” Panic thundered in her voice.
“Then talk to me. I want to help.”
“You can’t. No one can.” The panic slid into defeat. Her shoulders hunched over, and she returned to staring at her hands.
“I didn’t tell you before, but now that some people know I figure you should hear it from me. Up until a couple of months ago I was in prison for a crime I didn’t commit. They found the real killer and my conviction was overturned.” When he had mentioned prison, Crystal’s clasp tightened until her knuckles were white. “I knew your father. He was my friend.”
Crystal raised her head and looked at him, her eyes glistening. “Dad? I—I—” She cleared her throat. “He wouldn’t see me. Why?”
“Because he hated what he had done, what he had become. He didn’t want you to remember him behind bars. He loved you so much he only wanted you to remember the good times you all had.”
A tear slipped from her eye and rolled down her cheek. “He loved me?”
“He talked about you all the time. Believe me, Crystal, he loved you very much.” Her tears produced a constriction in his throat. “I’m telling you about my time in prison because it was your father who helped me deal with some prisoners who liked to bully the new person. I learned quick to stand up for myself. You have to stand up for yourself and let these girls know what they are doing isn’t going to get to you.”
“But it does.”
“Then don’t let them see that. A bully feeds off others’ fears and weaknesses.”
“But look at me. How can I fight back?” Crystal scrubbed a hand across her cheeks.
“By believing in yourself. You are a beautiful, talented young lady who happens to be in a wheelchair. We all have issues we have to deal with, even those two girls.”
“But still—”
“Start with your friends. Let them know exactly what is going on. Let them help you. That even includes your mother. You aren’t alone. Believe it or not, those girls are the ones with the problem. They feel belittling you makes them important.”
Crystal sniffled, blinking away the remaining tears in her eyes. “Mom will want to say something to them. I can’t tell her.”
“She’s very concerned about you. She knows someone is bothering you. Please let her help by listening to you.”
“I have to deal with them on my own. I can’t let my mother stand up for me. That will only make it worse.”
“Maybe. But being silent about being harassed won’t solve the problem, either. Think about what I’ve said, and remember if you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you, as is your mother.” Chance rose. “Now, do you still want to walk home? Or do you want me to call your mother to come pick us up?”
Crystal drew in a shuddering breath. “I need some time. Let’s walk.”
“Well, we couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon. It’s beautiful outside.” He started for the door.
“I need you to switch my battery on. One of them turned it off so I couldn’t go anywhere in my chair. They took my sketchbook and were taunting me with it. They said I had to reach for it. I tried but leaned too far and fell. They left laughing and giggling. They took it with them.”
“No, they didn’t. They threw it down in the hallway as they came out of the room. We’ll get it when we leave.” Chance went behind Crystal and flipped the switch on the battery. “You’re all set. Let’s go. I need some fresh air.”
The walls seemed to be closing in on him. All the memories of the bullies he’d handled in prison inundated him, underscoring the uphill battle Crystal had in her own situation. He dragged in deep breaths to alleviate the pressure in his chest as he left the TV room.
In the hallway Chance picked up the sketchbook and gave it to Crystal, glad to see it wasn’t damaged. A few minutes later they were on the street and heading toward Berryhill Road. A crisp breeze and the exertion of walking cooled Chance’s anger and eased the suffocating sensation the incident with Crystal had produced. He had dealt with bullies in prison, but why did someone like Tanya’s daughter have to?
Why aren’t You helping her, God? Crystal doesn’t deserve this on top of everything else that has happened to her in the past four years. Where is Your love?
As they neared home, Crystal said, “Don’t say anything to Mom, please.”
“I can’t lie to her, but I won’t say anything to her. You need to tell her, though.”
“She’s been through so much.”
“She’s strong, Crystal. She doesn’t need protecting.”
“You haven’t been here. She’s—” She snapped her mouth closed.
“I know she is bipolar. Your dad told me.”
“Then you understand it’s been tough for her. I don’t want to add to her problems. She’s had to deal with so many.”
“Not saying anything makes the situation worse for your mother. She is imagining all kinds of things. The truth will be hard, but not as hard as what she can think of.”
The front door opened and Tanya came out onto the porch, waving to them as they came up the driveway. She descended the steps and walked to them. “How did it go? Did you enjoy the art lesson?”
Crystal pasted a bright smile on her face. “It was great. I want to take art next year under Mrs. Garrison.”
“We have about an hour before we need to get ready for dinner at Jesse and Nick’s.” Tanya glanced at Chance and noticed a tightness about his mouth and wondered what had put it there. Had someone said something to him about being in prison?
“I’ll be ready,” Crystal said, heading to the ramp in back.
Chance started for his apartment.
“Did something happen at the center?”
With his back to her, he stiffened. “What do you mean?”
He didn’t turn around, but Tanya didn’t have to see his face to know something had gone wrong. She heard it in the clipped edge to his voice. “Did someone say something to you about your past?”
“No, not really.” The tenseness in his shoulders eased. “Dane and I talked some about what he’d heard. He wanted me to know he stood behind me.”
“Then what happened?”
Slowly he pivoted. “You need to talk to your daughter. I promised Crystal I wouldn’t say anything.”
She gritted her teeth and strode to him. “What happened? Tell me.”
“I can’t break a promise to Crystal. Don’t ask me to.”
Anger surged through her. Her fingernails dug into her palms. “You shouldn’t have promised her.”
“She thinks she’s protecting you. Go talk to her.”
“I have talked to her.” His words cut deep into her. Crystal had always tried to protect her and at one time she had needed that. But not now.
“After today, maybe she’s ready.” Chance resumed his steps toward his apartment.
Tanya watched him climb the stairs, trying desperately to tamp down her irritation at Chance’s silence. She thought about following him and demanding he break his promise to her daughter bu
t knew his integrity wouldn’t allow it. Instead, she spun about and hurried into her house to find her daughter. What had happened to put such a hard edge into Chance’s voice? She knew how cruel some kids could be, and she didn’t want what she was thinking to be true. She didn’t want her daughter to go through that kind of pain.
When is it enough, Lord? She’s suffered enough. Help me!
At her daughter’s bedroom door, she knocked.
“Yes?”
“We should talk, Crystal.”
The sound of the wheelchair moving toward the door came through the wood. Tanya released the breath she had been holding when she realized her daughter wasn’t going to shut her out—at least, not physically.
When Crystal maneuvered her chair so Tanya could enter the bedroom, her daughter asked, “What did Chance tell you?” Tension lined her face, and she appeared ten years older.
“Absolutely nothing and that’s the problem. He wouldn’t tell me anything, but I know something happened this afternoon at the center.”
Her expression relaxed into a bland one. “Not much. I took an art lesson.”
“Crystal, please don’t shut me out anymore. I’m going crazy trying to figure out what’s going on with you. I know you’re hurting. Let me help you.”
“You’ve got your own problems, Mom. I can take care of this by myself.”
“But you don’t have to. I can help. That’s what family is for. To help each other.” Tanya sank onto her daughter’s bed, the ice-green sheets crumpled at the foot of it. She plucked at the cotton material. “Did someone bother you today?”
Crystal swiveled her chair around so she faced her desk with her outdated computer.
“Darling, you’re scaring me.”
The fear in Tanya’s voice must have conveyed her concern more than her words because her daughter peered over her shoulder, sadness in her eyes, as she asked, “If I tell you, will you promise to let me deal with it?”
Tanya scooted to the edge of the bed, her hands gripping the bedding. “I will for as long as I can, but if you can’t take care of it by yourself, I will step in. I have to. I’m your mother. That’s all I can promise you.”
Her daughter swung her wheelchair back around. With a deep sigh, she said, “Two girls took my sketchbook and taunted me with it. When I reached for it, I fell out of my chair. They left, laughing. That’s when Chance came in.”
Tanya tried to control her reaction to her child’s words, but it seeped through her restraint. In Crystal’s mirror over her dresser Tanya saw in her expression the shock, hurt and anger all tangled together, flashing in and out so fast they collided with each other. Finally she schooled her features into a look that didn’t convey pity or rage. Her daughter wouldn’t accept either of those, she instinctively realized.
“What did Chance do?” Only the last word quavered with the emotions she quelled.
“Picked me up and helped me back into the wheelchair.”
“You aren’t hurt?”
“Only my ego. I knew when I went into the room with them they were up to no good, but they snatched my sketchbook when I came into the hall after class. I reacted without really thinking. I won’t do that again.”
Her daughter shouldn’t have to worry about something like that! “Who are the girls?”
“Just two sophomores. I don’t want to talk about them anymore. I’ve let them ruin enough of my day.” Crystal tilted her head to the side. “Aren’t we going to Jesse and Nick’s tonight? You aren’t wearing that, are you?”
Tanya glanced down at her worn jeans with several holes in them. “I thought this was what all the teens like to wear.” Her cleaning attire with her oversize T-shirt was only worn at home.
“Yeah. Some even buy brand-new ones with holes already in them. But, Mom, you’re too—”
Tanya held up her hand to stop her child’s words. “Don’t you say I’m too old to. I’m changing, but only because I was anyway.” She infused a lightness into her voice. “We’ll leave in about half an hour.” She pushed herself off the bed and strode toward the door. Before leaving, she added, “You aren’t alone, honey. Remember that, if things get too hard to handle on your own.”
When she left her daughter’s bedroom, Tanya didn’t go into hers. Instead, she headed toward the kitchen and paced its small confines, peeking out the window with each pass at the stairs that led to Chance’s. Chewing on her fingernail, she debated whether to pay him a visit or not. There were details she wanted to know.
Finally ten minutes later, she made her way to his apartment. But before she could knock, the door swung open. He stepped to the side to allow her inside.
“Is Crystal okay?” Chance asked as he faced her.
“Yes—no. She said she was physically fine, but this incident really hurt her.” Tanya paced from the kitchen table to the couch, then back. “How can I make this go away?”
He blocked her path back to the couch. “I’m not sure you can.”
“Who are the girls?”
“She didn’t tell you?”
Tanya shook her head, needing to know who would dare hurt her daughter.
“I don’t know them. I thought this week when I go to the center to tutor I would ask around and find out.”
“All she would tell me is that they are sophomores.”
“Okay, that helps.”
Suddenly the very act of standing erect tired her as though someone from above were pressing her down. She covered the short distance to the couch and collapsed onto it. The physical and emotional energy she had expended was catching up with her. “I promised her for the time being I wouldn’t do anything. I don’t know how I’m gonna keep that promise. All I want to do is find out who those girls are and have a few choice words with them and then their parents.”
“You can’t, at least not yet.” Chance eased down next to her and took her hand. “You promised her.”
“I told her I would give her a chance to work it out with them, but if she can’t, I’ll have to do something.”
“What?”
She lifted her shoulders. “Beats me. Any suggestions?”
He sagged back. “No. This is out of my realm of expertise. When Haley had trouble with another girl, she went to her mother.”
“I can’t believe how mean some girls can be. What in the world has my daughter done to them? Do you think it’s because she is in a wheelchair?”
His hand linked with hers, he answered, “Maybe.”
“They might as well have pushed Crystal from her wheelchair this afternoon. They knew what their actions would do.” Tears smarted her eyes, roughened her voice.
Chance slipped an arm around her and brought her up against his side. “I think you’re right. Let me see what I can find out at the center.”
Comforted by his presence, Tanya laid her head on his shoulder. “I’d wanted Crystal to get more involved at the center, but if girls like that are gonna be there, I probably shouldn’t encourage her to go.”
“Why don’t I take her with me when I go to tutor? She’s a whiz at math. Maybe she could tutor someone, too.”
“I don’t know.”
“I won’t let anything happen to her. I’ll keep an eye on her. Helping others always makes a person feel better.”
Lately she had turned to Chance more and more. What was going to happen when he left? Already she felt the emptiness in her heart as she thought of that day. She had to protect herself from being hurt.
“Fine.” She slid her eyes closed, a tear leaking out. She knew that Chance would do all that was humanly possible to protect Crystal, but this might be beyond him.
Lord, open those girls’ eyes. Help them to see what harm they are doing to my daughter. And please guide me in how to deal with these growing feelings I have for Ch
ance. I’m going to need You when he leaves Sweetwater.
* * *
“I’ve never seen two kids so excited to see someone,” Jesse said as she brought the decaf coffee out onto the deck.
Above the squawking of the two geese by the lake, Tanya said, “Crystal’s been thinking of doing some babysitting to earn some money.”
“Great! I know Cindy and Nate would be thrilled.” Jesse poured some coffee into two mugs.
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea. The logistics would be hard with her wheelchair. Most houses aren’t easily accessible for her. Yours isn’t too bad, but others are. That’s why I haven’t encouraged her.”
“She wants to earn some money? Maybe she could do something else.”
Tanya sipped her drink. “Like what?”
“Let me think on it.”
The din caused by Fred and Ethel, two geese that lived at Jesse’s house, increased. Tanya stretched her neck to look over the railing, the light on the pole enabling her to see Nick and Chance near the pier. “What are they doing down by the lake?”
“Nick’s probably taunting Fred. He’s never been a big fan of Fred’s since that day he nipped him on the leg.”
“Ah, but wasn’t that the first time you met Nick?”
“Yep.”
“He should be indebted to Fred.”
Jesse arched a brow. “You would think. But he keeps telling me he would have discovered me eventually on his own.”
The honking subsided as Chance and Nick hiked back toward the house. Momentarily the two men disappeared as the dark swallowed them. When they came into the circle of light from the deck, Tanya’s heart rate accelerated. For a few seconds she recalled the sensation of Chance’s arm casually about her as they’d sat on his couch. She’d felt protected and cherished while he had comforted her about Crystal. She hadn’t felt so alone with him next to her.
“It’s about time you two came back. I was about to go and get you. Poor Fred and Ethel.”
Jesse’s words dragged Tanya from her daydreaming as Nick said, “There’s nothing poor about either of those geese.” He climbed the steps to the deck with Chance slightly behind him. “I wanted to show Chance our new pier, offer him the use of the boat if he wants to fish.”
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