The Complete Legacy Series: Books 1 - 6

by Paula Kay

  She sat up, knowing that her face was streaked with tears—and vomit.

  Rafael’s arm left its position from around her as he wrung out his shirt that he’d dipped into the river. He gently wiped her face with it and then put his hand under her chin to tilt her face up. He looked into her eyes.

  “Are you okay, Jemma?”

  She was still drunk but she recognized his genuine concern. She nodded her head and looked down at her hands in her lap. She was embarrassed—and grateful, extremely grateful.

  “Did he hurt you? Tell me the truth.”

  Jemma shook her head. “No. You got there just in time—I’m sure of that. How did you know? Where I was, I mean?”

  “I knew about the party—everyone knew around here. It didn’t take a lot to figure out that it was where that lowlife would be taking you.” He gently took the elastic band from her ponytail and used his shirt to wipe something—vomit, most likely—out of her hair. “Yeah, you got a little something in your hair.” He laughed lightly as she scrunched up her nose. He winked at her and used his fingers to fan her hair out around her shoulders. “And by the way, I like your hair down like this.”

  She looked at him then and burst into tears, letting him pull her to him for the big hug that she’d probably been needing more than she realized.

  “Shh.” She felt his kiss on the top of her head as she nestled against his chest. “Everything’s gonna be just fine.” He pulled away after a few seconds. “Are you okay now? I’d like to get you home before daylight.” He winked again and she was thankful that he wasn’t mad at her when she knew he had every right to be.

  She nodded her head and he moved back into position to steer the boat again.

  Chapter 23

  Jemma was trying to pay attention to Rafael’s voice telling her that she needed to be quiet. She was having a hard time keeping on the path even though Rafael had a firm grip on her arm as he attempted to lead her back to where she could finally lie down to sleep. She was tired and still feeling quite drunk. She wasn’t used to drinking tequila and it was more than what she could handle.

  “Raf—I need to stop—”

  She’d barely gotten off the path and into the bushes before she was heaving and feeling like she was going to die. Once again, Rafael held her hair back from her face and she could feel his hand on her back.

  “Jemma. Shh. Try to be quiet.”

  “Why? I can’t help—”

  “It’s Douglas. I can see him with a flashlight. Okay, he’s coming this way. Are you done? Can you stand up and try to act normal?”

  “What’s going on over here?” Douglas was shining a flashlight towards them that made Jemma cover her eyes with her arm.

  She wiped her mouth off with her hand and did a quick swipe under her eyes, hoping that her face looked somewhat normal.

  “Rafael, is that you?”

  Jemma was standing slightly behind Rafael and she knew it was just a matter of seconds before Douglas would be close enough to see them both. Act normal. Pull yourself together. She took a step so that she was standing beside Rafael, just as Douglas was close enough to see them on the path.

  “Jemma? What are you two doing out here? It’s three thirty in the morning.”

  Douglas was looking at her intently.

  “Oh, I couldn’t sleep.” Jemma couldn’t tell if her words were slurred or normal but she feared the worst by the way Douglas was looking at her. “We were just out for a walk and—” She couldn’t hold it in, and poor Rafael standing next to her could do nothing but follow her over to the side of the path, holding her hair again. Even in her state, Jemma felt she knew Rafael well enough to know that he wouldn’t lie to Douglas. She could hear him talking in a low voice to him.

  “Is she okay?” Douglas sounded worried.

  “She will be. Yes. She’s been sick several times in the last forty minutes, so I’m guessing she’s close to the end of that. I’ll try to keep her up a little while, though, to be sure that she won’t be sick in her sleep.”

  “Shall I send Gigi over?”

  “I think I can get her situated.”

  Jemma heard him pause.

  “If that’s okay with you?”

  “Yes. Yes, of course. You’re a fine young man, Rafael. Thanks for looking out for her. We’re going to want to talk about this—but that can wait until tomorrow.”

  Jemma tried to stand up and keep her balance as they all three started walking down the path.

  “Douglas?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me.”

  Douglas stopped walking and Rafael and Jemma stopped too.

  He stepped closer to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Honey, I could never hate you. Gigi and I love you. You know that. You go get some sleep and we’ll talk about this in the morning.”

  She tried to smile at him but even her face hurt now.

  She let Rafael lead her into the house and then down the hall to her bedroom. She watched him pull a long shirt out of her top drawer before he walked over to where she’d flopped down on the bed.

  He gently took her shoes off, and she noticed that she’d practically destroyed a pair of her favorite heels. He pulled her to her feet and led her to the bathroom.

  “I figure you might want to brush your teeth.” He winked at her as he found her toothbrush and got it ready for her. “Can you do this, go to the bathroom and put your shirt on while I go get you some water?” He was looking at her so carefully.

  She nodded, feeling only slightly confident that she could actually do the list of tasks he’d just handed out to her.

  She managed to finish up in the bathroom and get herself undressed. She smiled when she saw the shirt that he’d grabbed out of her drawer. It was actually one of Dex’s. Somehow she got out of her dress, into the shirt, and under the covers before she heard a quiet knock on her door that was slightly open.

  “Come in.” Lovely Rafael. She could hardly keep her eyes open and the bed felt so nice.

  Rafael came over by her bed. Seemingly satisfied that she was clothed under the covers he carefully sat on the side of her bed and helped her to sit up a bit. “Here, Jemma. Drink some of this water, okay? And I brought you something for the headache you’ll probably have tomorrow. Take them now. I think it will help.”

  She took the pills and gulped down the water, not realizing the extent of her thirst until that minute. She handed the glass back to him and he placed it on her night table.

  “Do you feel better now? Your stomach, I mean?”

  She nodded her head, wanting sleep, but seeing Rafael sitting next to her on the bed was stirring something else in her. She didn’t know if it was the alcohol or her heart but she had the alcohol to use as an excuse anyway. She reached out her hands to wrap them around his neck, just barely grazing his lips with her own before he quickly pulled away.

  “Jemma.” He looked pained as he said her name, taking her hands in his as he placed them down at her side over the covers.

  “What? Don’t you like me?” She knew it wasn’t fair. She knew that he liked her.

  He was staring at her intently now and then his arms reached to tuck the covers in around her just a bit, his hand smoothing the hair away from her face. He looked at her for one more moment and as her eyes closed she felt his lips gentle on her forehead.

  “Good night, Jemma.”

  The clock ticking in the kitchen was making her head hurt—that was how bad her hangover was—and Jemma had now sworn tequila off for good. Never again.

  Rafael had come by that morning, bringing her coffee and toast before he’d told her that he was headed over to talk to Douglas. He’d wanted her to know before he had the conversation with him that he felt obligated to tell him what had happened the night before—that he wouldn’t lie to him.

  Jemma respected Rafael for it, only asking that he not tell them the whole story about how he’d found her with Eduardo. She thought that it might c
ause them too much worry and she didn’t want to do that to them. Rafael had agreed as long as he didn’t have to lie outright to any questions that they had for him, which had suited Jemma.

  Now she sat in the big chair in the living room across from where Gigi and Douglas were sitting together on the sofa. She had a blanket wrapped around her but she still felt cold as she tugged it closer. The look on Gigi’s face pained her. She knew that she’d disappointed her, and after all her bravado in sneaking out and feeling like she needed to do her own thing, she was regretting it now.

  Gigi was clearing her throat and Jemma noticed the look that passed between her and Douglas. Jemma wasn’t at all sure what was going to happen, but she’d been preparing herself mentally for the worst. She’d messed up. Bad.

  “So, my darling. What do you have to say for yourself?”

  Gigi didn’t look angry as much as she looked sad when she spoke.

  Jemma looked down at her lap before she looked back up to meet Gigi’s eyes. “I’m really sorry. I know I messed up.”

  “I just—I don’t think you realize all the bad stuff that could happen to you—and that worries me, Jemma.”

  Jemma felt that she’d had a wake-up call of sorts last night but she wasn’t going to share all of that with Gigi. It would upset her too much, and Jemma didn’t want her mom to know either. She’d never been in that position before with a guy. In her heart she knew that if Rafael hadn’t have shown up, things would have ended very differently the night before. Her heart pounded even thinking about it now.

  “I know. You’re right.” Jemma looked over at Gigi and Douglas, begging them with her eyes to believe how sorry she was. “I don’t know what I was thinking. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

  She really didn’t know if they’d believe her or not. Why should they really?

  Gigi looked at Douglas and he nodded at her to continue.

  “Douglas and I have been talking all morning—trying to figure out the best way to handle all of this. And we’ve not called your mother—called Blu yet, but we do intend to let her know what happened.”

  Jemma nodded. She understood that.

  “We’re not going to sugarcoat this, Jemma.” Douglas was speaking now. “After seeing you last night, I was prepared to put you on the next plane to California—not because we don’t want you here, but because we want you to be okay and if that means getting you into a program—then that’s what it has to mean.”

  Rehab. She had no one to blame but herself. At least now she only had two weeks to go before her birthday—that was something, she guessed. But she couldn’t stop the tears from coming as she thought about it.

  “Come here, honey.” Gigi was motioning for Douglas to slide over on the sofa to make room for Jemma between them. Jemma obeyed and fell into Gigi’s embrace, letting her hold her for a few minutes while she cried.

  “Honey, sit up and look at me for a minute.”

  Jemma wiped the tears away with her hand while she tried to get it together.

  “I—we’d like to give you one more chance—if staying here is what you want,” Gigi said, and she seemed to be studying Jemma’s face carefully.

  She probably doesn’t know if she can trust me. Why does she trust me? Jemma nodded her head.

  “But honey, a lot of things need to change around here. We need to see you being involved—not sitting in your room by yourself all day and night. We want your help around the orphanage and we also want your word that you won’t have any communication with that guy.”

  Jemma was nodding her head again, shocked that she was being given another chance. She hugged Gigi and then Douglas.

  “You can thank Gigi for this, Jemma. Honestly, it’s against my better judgment but I trust that she’s making the right call about this. I want to know that we can trust you to keep your word to us.”

  “You can. I promise. I’ll start helping out more. I know I’ve been a brat this past week.” She looked down at her lap, feeling ashamed all of a sudden. “I really am sorry.”

  Gigi hugged her again and then got up from the sofa. “Let’s just move on from here. Douglas and I are willing to put this all behind us and move forward, if you are too, Jemma—and I mean that.” Gigi had that intense look about her again. “The bottom line is that we care about you so much—we love you as if you’re our own granddaughter. You know that. We can’t just stand by and let your life become anything less than amazing.” Gigi leaned over and kissed her on the top of the head. “You’re too talented and smart to let that happen and I won’t have it, so let’s figure out how to get you back on track, young lady.” She winked and Jemma laughed.

  “I love you guys too.” Jemma gave them her widest smile.

  “Okay, then. You take the day—to sit in your room and do whatever—nurse that headache I bet you have, but tomorrow be ready to work.”

  Jemma nodded.

  “I have an idea that I’m thinking of—I just need to check a few things and then we can talk about it tomorrow.”

  Jemma watched them walk away and then went to her room, thankful that things had gone much better than she’d expected.

  Chapter 24

  Jemma sat in the dining area eating lunch and listening to Maria chat across from her at the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she’d seen Rafael and a few of the older kids carrying big boxes and bags from the dock to one of the smaller buildings where some of the classes were held. She could hear Gigi in the distance, directing them as they made several trips back and forth.

  Gigi had stopped by the dining hall earlier to check in with her and see how the day had been going so far. Jemma had made it to breakfast to help with the kids and she’d spent all morning with the toddlers and a few of the volunteers. She liked helping with the children. It reminded her of when Kylie was little and she used to beg her mom and grandma to let her babysit. She’d been at least fourteen before her mom would leave her alone at the house for just a few hours with her four-year-old sister—and Jemma had always loved every minute of it.

  Instinctively, her hand went to the necklace around her neck as she thought about Kylie.

  “Jemma.”

  “Huh? Sorry, what were you saying?”

  “Earth to Jemma.” Maria giggled.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Jemma smiled at the little girl.

  “I was just asking you about the necklace. You’re always playing with it. Can I see it?”

  Jemma held it just out from her neck so that Maria could see the larger bead in the center.

  “My sister, my best friend,” Maria read out loud. “Who’s that from?”

  “My sister.” Jemma winked at her. “Who’s the same age as you, I think.”

  “Is she seven?”

  “She is—seven and a half, actually.”

  “Like me.” Maria smiled. “What’s your sister’s name?”

  “Kylie.”

  “I like that name. It’s nice.”

  Jemma studied her for a few seconds, noticing that her expression had changed and the little girl seemed thoughtful.

  “Maria’s a nice name too—a great name, in fact.”

  “Do you think so?” Maria’s face brightened just a bit, but not enough to convince Jemma that something wasn’t wrong.

  “I do. What’s wrong? You look a little bit sad.”

  Maria was looking down at her plate and when she looked up Jemma saw the tears gathered in the little girl’s eyes.

  She doesn’t want me to see her cry. She’s tough—too tough for such a young girl.

  And Jemma’s heart ached for her, in that moment recognizing that Maria’s life hadn’t always been good—that like so many of the kids from the orphanage, she might have known tough times and possibly held on to the bad memories that children shouldn’t have to deal with. Jemma wanted the little girl to trust her. It seemed important.

  “Come over here by me, Maria.”

  Maria obeyed, getting up to walk around the table, and came to sit ne
xt to her on the bench. Jemma took her hand and looked her in the eye. “You can tell me.”

  Maria looked up at her, wiping the few tears that had fallen with one swipe of her free hand. “I wish I had a sister.”

  Jemma felt a lump form in her throat. There were so many people who loved the little girl—in Jemma’s eyes, Maria had lots of sisters—and brothers—and a whole family here at the orphanage. Even as she had the thought, she recognized a certain truth which she wouldn’t let herself think about just yet as her focus remained on the young girl.

  “Hey, wait a minute. I heard that you are going to have two sisters—and a brother.” Jemma smiled at her.

  “Yeah, but I wish I had a real sister—who looks like me, I mean.”

  “Maria.”

  The little girl looked up at her.

  “Your parents—the ones who are adopting you—they’re gonna be your real parents, you know. And those kids—your two sisters and a brother—they’re gonna be your real family.” Jemma smiled at the young girl. “Families look all sorts of different ways.”

  The words echoed in her head and she had to fight to hold back her own unexpected emotion.

  Maria looked up at her with wide eyes—eyes that needed to understand—to believe what Jemma was saying to her.

  “Your parents are choosing you, Maria—that’s pretty special, if you ask me.”

  Blu had chosen to be a mother to her.

  Maria suddenly turned on the bench, throwing her arms around Jemma, nearly knocking her over. “I’m gonna miss you, Jemma.”

  Jemma hugged her back. “I’m gonna miss you too, sweetie.”

  She felt guilty because she’d wasted so much time since she’d arrived there—time that she could have—should have—been spending with Maria and the other kids. Now she only had a few days left to spend with her before Maria’s adoptive parents would arrive to take her back to the U.S. with them.

  Jemma stood up from the bench. “Do you want to go for a walk with me?”