by Ronica Black
Jayden mouthed I love you to the photo and continued on. She smiled at the old photos of her and Mel. They’d met in juvie, when Jayden had been pinched for riding in a stolen car with a friend. She hadn’t stolen the car, nor had she known it was stolen, but her so-called friend had told a different story to the police. Jayden couldn’t prove her innocence, and having a joint on her hadn’t helped. Her prints had been all over the car, and she’d been with her friend most of the day, making stops here and there, giving witnesses an ample view of the both of them driving around in the car.
She sighed as she entered her bedroom and flicked on the light. Though those days were long gone, she still regretted them and the way she’d often behaved. She’d just been so lost with her mother, and after she’d died in the accident, Jayden had acted out, thinking nothing really mattered anymore. She knew what her teens at the shelter were going through and how they were feeling. Many didn’t have people that cared like Grandma Rose. Many had already been through more than she could imagine.
She set her drink on the night table, stripped out of her clothes, and crossed to the bathroom. She’d already showered, so she brushed her teeth and returned to the bed. Three of her dogs were already on it, curled up and ready to sleep. The other four were either tucked away in a dog bed or sprawled out on their sides on the floor. She whistled for Dax and scratched his head as she crawled under the covers.
Her mind went to Kassandra and how she wished she could help her. Dax would definitely do the trick. But secretly she wished she could be the solution. She imagined knocking on Kassandra’s door, embracing her in a comforting hug, and then walking inside to check the place out to make her feel safer. She’d calm her down, hold her hand. Then she’d gladly stay when Kassandra asked and she’d crawl into bed next to her, hold her, listen to her breathe while she drifted off to sleep. Then, in the morning, before she woke, she’d make breakfast for her.
“That sounds nice, doesn’t it, Dax?”
He twitched his ears and licked her wrist.
“We could make her feel safe, couldn’t we?”
She reached for her water and turned on her Kindle. She liked to read before bed, but tonight she knew it would be difficult to concentrate. She couldn’t stop thinking about the phone call. And she couldn’t stop thinking about Kassandra walking into the front office again. Would she exude the same quiet beauty? Would she be shy? Would she look at her differently?
“That’s not the big question is it, Dax?” She kissed him back on the nose. “The big question is…can I behave like a normal person and not stare at her. What do you think? Think I can do it?”
She wasn’t used to being overly interested in a woman. Usually they came after her, full force. And there had always been plenty to choose from. But one that intrigued her, brought a little mystery…a woman like that had long eluded her. Until now.
She eyed her Kindle and turned it off. She took several sips of water and then extinguished the light. She loved on Cooper, who lay at her side next to Dax. As she settled down next to them, she decided to tell herself her own story. One about Kassandra and herself. It was bound to be a good one.
Chapter Nine
Kassandra eyed the digital clock on the wall again. She’d been checking it periodically, then chastising herself for it. She was anxious and excited about going to Angel’s Wings after work, and she felt ridiculous. What was the big deal? She’d go and help with the kids. End of story. But as she reshelved the last book for the day, she knew there was more to it. And it had everything to do with Jayden Beaumont.
Her heart fluttered as Jayden’s face came to mind. She tried to brush it off while wheeling the book cart behind the counter, but she didn’t have much luck. Jayden had been in her mind all day. Did she like her? Had she meant those things she’d said? What did it mean? What should she do?
Suddenly, the double doors opened and Tony burst through. He shrugged off his backpack and slung it against the wall.
“I hate this fucking place and I hate home. I’m not going home.”
Kassandra continued to turn off the computers. She didn’t speak, knowing he would vent it all out. He was agitated, and the best thing to do was to remain calm and distract him a little while he vented.
“Can you switch off those computers on the far table?”
His body went from rigid and aggressive to calm and relaxed. She’d caught him off guard, forcing him to downshift. He loved helping her in the library, and she played that to her advantage, knowing it helped calm him.
He crossed to the table and began shutting the computers down. “I’m not going home, Ms. H. I’m just not. They can fucking kiss my ass.”
“If you’re going to help me, you can’t use that language,” she said softly.
He shook his head, his mind still on his troubles. “They have all these rules. Like they’re fu—like they’re dictators. You know, like Hitler and shi—stuff.”
“Parents have a difficult job. It isn’t easy for them.”
“Ha! Try my absent mother and asshole uncle. Mom is never home and my uncle is always partying with his messed-up friends. I have to share a room with that di—jerk.”
Kassandra felt for him. He often complained about his home life. But he’d never gone into detail.
“Where will you go, if you don’t go home?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Probably my place. I got a place.”
Kassandra grew concerned. “Where is it? Is it safe?”
Again, he shrugged. “It has been so far. And I don’t tell anyone about my place.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s where I go when I don’t want to be found.”
“What about your brothers and sisters?”
“Man, they’re with my abuela. Have been for weeks.”
“Can’t you go there? I’m sure she’d love to have you.”
He made a noise of disgust and sank into a chair. “She hates me. Calls me crazy because of my bipolar. Says all I need is a good beating.”
“She hits you?”
“Not anymore. I don’t let her. I don’t stick around to wait for her to try either.”
Kassandra sat across from him. “I have to tell someone if you’re really not going to go home.”
“Who, that cop? Man, he won’t do shit. They won’t care until my mom calls me in missing, and if she don’t come home, she won’t even know.”
“Tell me why you don’t want to go home?”
He pushed out a breath and shifted as if uncomfortable. “Nothing. It’s all good.” He stared off in the distance, careful not to meet her gaze.
Kassandra knew she couldn’t promise him that she wouldn’t tell anyone. If he wasn’t being cared for or if he was being abused, she’d have to tell.
“Is someone hurting you?”
He made a face of disgust. “Cha, no. No way. Ain’t nobody laying a finger on me.”
“Then why?”
He shook his head and looked away again. “Look, I shouldn’t have said anything. At least I got a bed and a blanket. Well, sometimes. If my asshole uncle doesn’t have one of his friends passed out on my bed.”
Kassandra studied him for a moment. He had on a familiar shirt and jeans. The jeans were a bit dirty and so were his sneakers. But she rarely saw a boy who didn’t have dirt on his pants and shoes. His skin looked clean, his nails were chewed, along with the skin around them. His hair was buzzed very close to his head. Overall, he looked like an average kid, though she did notice that his face looked a little thinner. Even so, she was going to talk to the counselor about him just to be safe.
Kassandra wanted to give him her number, but there were rules against that. Teachers had to have boundaries. “Where are you going to go now?”
“I don’t know. Probably the dollar cinema.”
“You have money?”
“Yeah, I took some off a loser last night. He was passed out in my bathtub.”
Kassandra sighed. The
situation wasn’t good. “Can you wait right here? I need to make a phone call.”
He stood, looking alarmed. “Hell no. You’re going to call that counselor, aren’t you?”
“I’m just trying to get you some help.” She held up her palms. “We need to find you a safe place.”
“I’m fine. I told you nobody touches me. I shoulda never said anything.”
She stood and spoke very softly. “I know, I heard you, okay? But for some reason you don’t want to go home, and that concerns me. I’m worried about you.”
“Yeah, well, don’t bother. Nobody else gives a shit.” He retrieved his backpack and shrugged it over his shoulder.
“Please don’t go. Stay here with me and we’ll call someone and work it out.”
“Like who? The counselor? The cops? Man, fuck them. They just see me as some psycho kid who steals. They just wanna pinch me and lock me away.”
Kassandra placed a hand gently on his shoulder. “Not everyone is bad. There are good people who can help. People like me.”
He met her eyes, burning a pain filled stare into her. “You can’t help me, Ms. H. No one can.”
He crossed the room and pushed through the doors, leaving Kassandra alone in his wake.
Chapter Ten
Jayden looked up for the fifth time that afternoon. There were three new people at the counter, but Kassandra wasn’t one of them. Normally, Jayden would be on the grounds, working with dogs or out on a call. But today she’d sent others out because she wanted to be the one to greet Kassandra.
“This is crazy, you know,” Mel said, sliding into the chair in front of Jayden’s desk.
“What?” Jayden leaned to her left to look around her.
“This madness. You’re sitting here waiting for her, aren’t you?”
“Maybe. Now go away.”
Mel scoffed. “And miss this freak show? No way.”
“There’s nothing to see. Now beat it.”
Mel leaned into her line of sight. “Really? Because it looks like you’re nearly peeing your pants while waiting for a woman.”
Jayden stood as the front door opened. Kassandra walked in and stood behind the others as if waiting in line.
“Not peeing. Just anticipating. Now get lost.” She rounded her desk and walked to the counter. She opened the waist-high door and came to stand in front of Kassandra.
“You made it.” Jayden smiled. Kassandra looked beautiful in the sunlight streaming through the window. Her blond hair shimmered and her skin looked soft and supple. Good enough to touch. Jayden felt herself heat at the thought. “Good to see you.”
Kassandra returned the smile and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks. Sorry I’m late. I got held up at school.”
“No, you’re fine. Whenever you can make it is fine.” Jayden didn’t mention that she’d been anxiously anticipating her for the last hour. Jumping every time the door opened.
“I actually had some trouble concerning a student.” She looked serious. “I was wondering if I could talk to you about it.”
Jayden felt honored. “Sure. Come on back.”
She led the way to her desk where Mel was sitting with her head craned to stare at them.
Jayden gave her a look and cleared her throat. “Ahem. Don’t you have some work to do?” She forced a smile at her as she sat behind her desk and Kassandra sat across from her.
“Oh, right. I have the—you know—thing.” She stood and looked to Kassandra. “I’m Mel, by the way.”
“Oh, hi. I’m—”
“Kassandra, right.” She took her hand and smiled. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” Kassandra looked to Jayden, who wanted to die. She could feel herself slowly sinking in the chair.
“Good things, though,” Mel said quickly. “I hear you’re going to join us.”
Kassandra looked back to Mel, who finally released her hand. “Yes, well, I’m giving it a shot.”
“Well, if anyone can convince you to stay, it’s Jayden.” She gave Jayden a wink. “Nice to meet you,” she said, walking away.
Kassandra waved. “Nice to meet you.”
Jayden was still burning with embarrassment. She tried a smile and linked her nervous fingers together in her lap.
“So, you were saying?”
But Kassandra looked distant, almost…heartbroken.
“She’s the one who played the trick on you, with me?” Her eyes were glossy and yet searing with intensity.
Jayden leaned forward, heart suddenly tripping over itself. “I—”
“No, I don’t want to know.” She looked at her own hands and then back up. “Just know that I don’t intend to be the butt of any jokes. I’m only here because you said it wouldn’t happen again.”
Jayden opened her mouth, but no words came out. “I-I can assure you it won’t. And just so you know, you weren’t something we were joking about. It was a misunderstanding.”
Kassandra wrung her hands and Jayden felt like an ass. How could she make this right? She would do anything to not see hurt in her eyes.
“I’m really sorry,” she said. “I thought you were a woman who had come to meet me.” She shook with nerves, but she knew the truth was her last shot. “I—you were really beautiful and I made a fool out of myself.” She sighed, wishing like hell she could take back that moment. Get a do-over somehow.
Kassandra sat in silence. When she did speak, her voice had a new strength to it. “You didn’t know the woman?”
“No. Mel had just told me she would be stopping by. I saw you and I just assumed it was you.” She wanted to say hoped, but she left that out.
“You…like women?”
Jayden reminded herself to breathe. “Yes.” It was a bold question and it implied that Kassandra didn’t. “I hope that won’t be a problem. We have a few gay staff members.”
“Oh, right. Of course, No, it’s not a problem. I just—I. My friends are lesbians.”
Jayden smiled at Kassandra’s nervousness. “So, are we okay now?”
Kassandra smiled softly in return. “Yes.”
“Good.” Jayden rose and walked with her to the kennels. “I think it’s best if you meet the dogs first.”
Kassandra followed, nodding polite hellos to those that introduced themselves on the way. Jayden liked her calm presence, her humble beauty, and her polite ways. She was a classy woman, very down-to-earth. Jayden wondered again if she had anyone special in her life. Surely she dated. A woman like her was quite a catch. Both men and women were probably all over her.
Like Jayden.
Jayden grimaced at her behavior. But she had to shake it off. Onward and forward. She’d make it up to her. She just didn’t know how yet.
They entered the kennels and Jayden introduced her to each and every dog. Kassandra was open and friendly, talking to each one, even insisting on petting them. Jayden watched her closely, moved by her inner beauty. She seemed to radiate love to the dogs, and they seemed to sense it, eating up her ample affection.
When they left the kennels, which was hard to do for Kassandra, Jayden showed her the warehouse and where they stored food and supplies. Then she showed her three grass lots and the hiking path where they often took the dogs for long walks.
“You’ve got a lot of land here,” Kassandra said, shading her brow from the sun.
“I do. I’m lucky. We use almost all of it.”
“Who lives there?” Kassandra pointed to Jayden’s house.
“I do.”
“Oh. Really?”
“Yep. This is all mine. Left to me by my grandmother, Rose.”
“Is she the one who started the shelter?”
Jayden started walking slowly toward the house. Kassandra matched her stride. “She was a big supporter. She spent many hours helping out, walking dogs, greeting people. She was an amazing person.”
“So, this was your dream?”
“Yes. Since I was sixteen.”
“That’s
really great, you know, seeing your dream come true.”
“It is.” Jayden noticed that her body language had changed. She was quiet. Almost sad. “What’s your dream, Kassandra?”
“Mine? Gosh, no one has ever asked me that before.”
“Then you’re not hanging out with the right people.”
Kassandra laughed. “Nah, my friends are great.”
“The lesbians?”
“Yes.”
They stopped on the front porch. Kassandra seemed to notice for the first time where they were.
“There’s someone else I want you to meet,” Jayden said, unlocking the door.
“Okaaay.” Kassandra stepped inside after her and closed the door.
Jayden greeted her dogs eagerly, shooing them back so Kassandra could enter. “Excuse their enthusiasm. Guys, calm.” She straightened and held up a finger. The dogs at once sat at attention. Eugene, the loving basset, yawned loudly and swung his tail.
“Wow. Very impressive.”
“They are, aren’t they?” Jayden dug in the pocket of her cargo shorts and broke up small bits of liver treats. She gave each dog a nibble as she praised them. “Guys, this is Kassandra. She’s very nice, so I want you to greet her calmly. Got it? Calm.”
The dogs wagged their tails but remained sitting. “Dax, come.” The German shepherd mix hurried to her, nosing her hands for treats. “Good boy.” She gave him a treat and brought him to Kassandra. “Kassandra, this is Dax.” Jayden stroked his head and Kassandra bent to pet him.
“He’s beautiful,” she said, now kneeling to rub him on his neck and shoulders.
“He’s a wonderful dog. Very alert, very protective. And he gets along great with these guys.”
Kassandra laughed as he kissed her on the mouth. “He’s affectionate.”
“Oh, yes.”
“You want me to take him, don’t you?”