“Um, not really, I’m not really big on shopping.” I gave her a disbelieving look. A female that wasn’t into shopping, an enigma for a Steele man. “Come again, you don’t like shopping?”
“Not that I don’t like shopping, mom usually bought my stuff or we’d get it online, it wasn’t always…safe to go to the mall.” her voice trailed off and I gritted my teeth. I guess I knew what we were doing today.
As soon as we got to the house mom ambushed us. You’d think she’d known Kadyn her whole damn life the way she carried on, but that’s what I wanted for her so it was all good. She gushed and crooned over how pretty my girl was before dragging her off to the back of the house for who knows what, her lips going a mile a minute.
I found Carrie and Nessa upstairs having some sort of wardrobe consult. “Girls I need your help.” They stopped mid sentence and turned their attention to me. “What do you need?”
“Kadyn’s never really been shopping before I want her to have a day at the mall doing all the shit you freaks do when you go there.” The squeals were loud enough to bust my eardrums. Josh came running when he heard his wife’s voice and I just rolled my eyes at his hyper ass. “What the fuck?”
“Calm down bro the girls are just a little over excited.”
“Why what’re you all up to?”
“I just asked them to take Kadyn shopping.”
“Shit bro, are you mental? Have you seen Carrie on a shopping spree? Fuck.” They started bickering about whether or not she was shopaholic and then the make up session started and it was time for me to go. “Be ready in ten minutes let me go rescue my girl from mom.”
Not a minute too soon I realized because I found them in the family room where mom had broken out the family albums and my ass was on display. “Mom geez.” She gave me her innocent ‘I’m not trying to embarrass my kids look’ my ass. I’m not sure who’s worst sometimes, her or dad. Speaking of which. “Where’s dad?”
“He was in his office doing something or the other.”
“Fine, we’re going shopping.”
“Ooh how fun let me get my purse.” She was off and running which was something I hadn’t expected, I might not have seen Carrie on a shopping spree but mom’s were legendary. “Mom I’m not sure, we don’t want to be there all year. I want Kadyn to hang out by the pool…” I was talking to the air because she was long gone yelling for dad as she went.
Chapter 15
My little experiment turned into a Steele family three-ring circus. Two cars and one hour later the whole damn family was headed to the mall. Kadyn rode up front with me our hands clasped while Josh and Carrie were in the backseat. Mom dad the douche and Nessa were in the car behind us. Dad had given me the stink eye for interrupting his day with what he calls my mother’s only vice. Whatever, my girl seemed excited at the prospect though her hand did tremble just a little in mine.
When we reached the mall it was like an unspoken rule or some shit, the boys and the girls in separate camps. Mom and Carrie were actually talking strategy like they were going into battle. They had a course mapped out of where to go first. Poor Kadyn looked bewildered until I squeezed her hand that I had yet to let go of and promised to stick to her like glue. Dad and Josh griped and mumbled the whole time while the douche acted like he was at an amusement park, fucker was almost as bad as the girls.
The first hurdle was getting her to accept my credit card to buy whatever she wanted, she seemed to think that was breaking some sort of etiquette or some shit. “Babe remember what I told you? We’re a couple now, this is what a man does for his woman if he can. Don’t think about what shit cost I can afford it just buy what you want.” That didn’t do the trick either, so I gave Carrie a secret nod to enlist her help and she took it from there.
I won’t say she ever seemed completely comfortable with things but the pile of bags kept growing because there was always something one of the others thought she just had to have. It helped that they got things for themselves as well and took some of the attention off of her, which went a long way to helping her relax.
“Matthew this is too much what’re you doing?”
“Are you having fun?” I didn’t need to ask because I could see the light shining in her eyes, she’d forgotten to be afraid, surrounded by all of us it was easy to let herself go and be a teenager just having fun at the mall.
“Yes, your family’s almost as crazy as you are and your mom’s just so amazing. I don’t understand why everyone’s being so nice to me though, they’re acting like I’m one of them, like we’ve known each other forever instead of just a few hours.” I just squeezed her in answer. I had come to the conclusion that in this case actions would speak louder than words. This was just the beginning of my campaign to undo the damage that had been done. By the time I was through Bruno would be nothing more than a distant memory, a blip on her walk through life and nothing more.
I didn’t tell her that the women knew what had happened to her and were going out of their way to make up for it, each in their own way. We didn’t have to discuss it but I knew the women in my family, including my new sister in law. I knew with them in my corner it wouldn’t be long before my girl was on the road to healing. It might seem like a silly thing, shopping, but already I could see the difference in her. Mom included her the same way she did Nessa and Carrie, that was just her way, but I’m sure the knowledge of what my Kadyn had endured was never too far from the forefront of her mind and that added a little extra something.
All in all everyone was having a good time except Josh and dad who complained every hour on the hour. I trailed along behind the women taking in everything for future reference. I kept my eyes on Kadyn to make sure she wasn’t becoming overwhelmed in anyway and called a break around lunchtime. We headed to a restaurant in the mall with their haul and already she was relaxed enough to talk with the others in the same light manner they were.
I noticed that when she felt a little stressed she’d find me and draw closer which was fine by me, though every once in a while she’d question my sanity. Two minutes in Josh’s company should soon disannul her of any doubts as to the way of the Steele men. I was hoping that this little outing would also open her eyes to the way things would be between us. There wasn’t going to be any slow build up, no hands off this is too new.
Because of her past there would be concessions made yes, but that was only gonna go so far. I had no intentions on putting us on hold or moving at a snail’s pace. Like I’d told her the night before I was willing to give her time to get used to having a man in her life but there was no way I was going to be able to keep my hands off of her for long.
The day would’ve been perfect except for after lunch as we were leaving some dude called out her name. She flinched at the sound and we turned to see the douche from the diner heading towards us. “Oh hi Dan.” She introduced us as the others had walked on to look into a store window. He acted like I was an insignificant species as he focused all his smarmy attention on her. Lucky for him she was practically under my arm, his days had already been numbered but his actions now sealed his fate; the fucker was obliterated. No I have no problems with being possessive, it doesn’t bother me at all no matter what society says.
They exchanged bullshit small talk while he kept giving me looks but I noticed that she seemed oblivious to his obvious interest. Maybe that’s something I’ll have to teach her about as well. I wasn’t sure just how much the asshole in the Midwest had stolen from her but I didn’t want her walking blind. When it looked like he planned to monopolize more time than I was willing to give him I hurried him along. “Sorry, Dan is it? but we have to go.” I didn’t even wait for him to say anything else just took her away. Fuck him, childhood friend or not he didn’t get any props.
We walked into the store that the others had gone into and mom called us over all excited. “Mom what the hell is that?”
“It’s the quintessential little black dress, every young lady should have one.”
“Yeah
but isn’t it a bit too short, and where’s the back?” the women started groaning but I paid them no mind as I walked deeper into the store pulling Kadyn behind me. I searched the racks until I found something more agreeable, it had a solid under dress and was topped with lace; at least it had sleeves and a back.
Next was the shoe store where she stared at these shoes with red bottoms that Carrie and Nessa were trying to push on her. I could see her practically salivating over the gravity defying contraptions but she refused to even try them on. The third time she did this I pulled her aside. “What gives baby? You’re looking at those shoes like they’re the holy grain so why don’t you want them is it the price?” she looked up at me and I swear I heard my heart crash and tumble at her feet with the next words that came out of her mouth.
“I can’t run in those Matthew.”
“Baby…” I pulled her into my chest and held her tight. I know I must’ve been squeezing her too hard but she didn’t complain. I held her until the pain in my chest eased before holding her away from me.
“I’m standing between you and danger remember? You don’t have to run anymore not from anything or anyone I promise.” I bought her every color they had to the delight of the women in my family and when she complained that she’d only ever worn her mother’s heels in the house to practice she had more than enough volunteers to offer to teach her how it’s done.
By the time we returned home I felt like I’d made a little baby step towards progress, one down a million more to go. Since today had been such a hit I planned on forcing as much new things on her as possible. I’ll have to work around her schedule though unless there was something I could do about that. I couldn’t imagine that if given the chance she wouldn’t prefer spending her days doing kid shit as opposed to being stuck in a diner working.
I really was becoming my brother because it never entered my mind to ask her one way or the other. I was in Matt Steele knows best mode; it felt kinda good too. I never had this much interest before so this was all new for me as well, and it was an eye opener. When your true emotions were involved this dating game was a whole new playing field. My mind was consumed with ways of making her happy, of seeing that winsome smile that she’d shown throughout the day. I wanted to hear her laugh at Josh’s stupid antics or the douche’s calamities as they tried to entertain her.
“You guys go on we’ll be right in.” I let the others go into the house leaving us in the garage. Each of them was laden down with bags and though the others had done a bit of shopping most of it was hers and that too felt good. It felt amazing that I could do that for her and more. I walked her over to the bay where my cars were kept. The garage was sectioned off because all the men were car aficionados and the women weren’t too far behind. Though I think they just liked pretty little roadsters with speed.
“Choose one.”
“What? Matthew no, now this is too much, you can’t just lend me a car what’s wrong with you?”
“You’re right I’m not lending it to you I’m giving it to you. I would buy you one but there’s nothing on the market that can beat my collection so choose something. You said the only transport you have is your father’s truck right? this way if you need to come to me you can anytime.” Her eyes ran over my babies but she made no move to choose one so I made the choice for her. “This one, it’s the Mercedes G550 built for speed and safety, perfect.” Not to mention this baby was outfitted with every feature known to man.
“Carrie has the same one, you can choose a car later, for now this should do just fine.” I think I’d finally overwhelmed her because she just stood there staring like she didn’t know what to do with herself.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Truth? Because I read what that fucker did to you, to your life, and I aim to erase every bad moment. I would’ve treated you like this anyway as my girl but I’ve accelerated shit because you need it baby, trust me, I know what I’m doing.” I hope like fuck I did. I know going shopping and giving her a car wasn’t going to erase four years of terror but it was a start, besides it was about showing her that her life could be so much more than it had been.
We hung out in my room the rest of the day, I didn’t jump her as soon as the door was closed but it was close. I needed to get her used to my touch so we sat with her on my lap. I had a moment of ‘what the fuck should I do now?’ if I made the wrong move it might spook her, I had no idea what to do with this girl as she sat like a stiff board on my lap.
“Relax baby I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to, we’re just going to relax and talk okay?” she nodded her head but seemed nervous still. There was so much fear in her, fear of even this, a simple thing that most girls her age took for granted. “Baby can you tell me what you’re afraid of? I understand what you’ve been through but I need you to explain to me what the fear is, that’s the only thing I can’t feel for you.” She took a deep breath and pulled at the bottom of her dress. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore than I did but it was the elephant in the room.
“He’s been there ever since I was fourteen, I don’t remember when he wasn’t there so now it’s hard to accept that he’s finally gone. Everyday when I awake I wonder if this is the day that he’ll find me. It doesn’t matter how nice the day is or what fun thing I’m doing, at some point I always stop and wonder if he’s near because I know he’ll never stop until he finds me. So you see, you maybe shouldn’t be spending all this time on me. You should find a nice girl who doesn’t have all this ugliness in her life someone…”
“Shut up Kadyn don’t be stupid, look I get it, he terrorized you for years but baby you’ve got to take the power back. Don’t you think you deserve to have a life free of all this fear? Don’t you want to have more days like today or go out with the girls and just have fun, do the things you’ve always wanted to do? What were your dreams before this all started, do you even remember?”
“Not really, because I had to learn that they would never come true, that I would never have a normal life. He’s always going to be there don’t you understand?” she was about to freak out again but this time I wanted to get to the end of this. I needed to at least plant the seed that there was so much she could do now. “But he hasn’t found you here has he?”
“Yes but how long is that going to last? Every time we thought we’d found a way around him in the past he’d outsmart us. I know it’s just a matter of time before he shows up here too he always does. Sometimes in the diner I expect to walk up to a table and come face to face with him.” I finally saw some anger in her then which if you ask me was the right fucking emotion.
“Babe here’s the thing, it’s always been just you and your mom right, well now you have four men five if you count the douche who will stand between you and this monster. We won’t let anything happen to you, this is your chance to take your life back but you have to want that. You have to believe that you deserve better I can’t make you fell that.” It seemed I’d have to repeat certain things over and over until she learned to accept them as truth. I hope I could keep my word, that no matter what I could keep her safe.
“Why do you even care Matthew, wouldn’t it be better if you found someone else?”
“No and don’t say that shit again. Do you think I’m that fickle that I can switch my feelings on and off at will? You think I wanted to fall in love with anyone now after the shit I just went through? No, I was fine with the way things were I too had made up my mind about my future but it wasn’t meant to be. You’re here now and for whatever reason my heart wants you and that’s that. But I won’t live my life in fear of this asshole and neither are you. When’s the last time you spoke to your mom?”
“We can’t risk it, I think he’s very good with computers because he always knew things and once we even thought he had our house bugged because he’d always know what we talked about. Mom couldn’t afford to hire anyone to sweep the house and the police either didn’t have the resources or they didn’t thin
k it was important enough but we never knew for sure. So we learned to be careful even behind closed doors.”
“Well he’s no match for Josh Steele when it comes to that shit I can assure you, by the time we’re finished with him he’s gonna regret ever hearing your fucking name.”
“What do you mean, don’t do anything Matthew you’ll get into trouble and I don’t want that. Your parents were very nice to me today but they won’t be so nice if I get their sons mixed up in this. I’ve learned that lesson too. No one wanted their kids around me when word got out about what was going on. I lost almost all my friends…”
“Don’t worry about stuff like that we know what we’re doing and besides my parents won’t hate you because of something that wasn’t your fault. So tell me have you really never had a normal day in the past four years? Didn’t you have a boyfriend, go out on dates?”
“No, I could never involve someone in my life. Before it all started I had friends there were boys I liked when I was twelve and thirteen but nothing serious obviously because I was too young and I wasn’t allowed to date then anyway. Then by the time I could date he was there and there was just no way.”
“So you’re a virgin.” The blush that touched her cheeks answered the question even before she nodded her head shyly against my chest. Why that should make me want to shout for joy was beyond me but somehow it meant a hell of lot that she was mine and only mine. It was just one more thing that made me that much more determined to keep her and to make sure that she remained a part of my life for always.
“How did you escape?”
“It was the prom, a few weeks before I received a threatening letter that said if I went with anyone that person would come to grievous harm. By then we knew that he was listening to everything we said. We were sure that he couldn’t see what we were doing because sometimes he’d text me or send emails asking what I was doing and where I was, stuff like that. Mom and I started writing notes to each other back and forth while we were home in the evenings. That would drive him crazy, he’d call nonstop then and make all kinds of threats.
Rebound: Passion Book 2 Page 10