The One. (The Girl #2)

by Laura Lee Fall

  Bobbie Joe and her daughter walked in, and Saul rose his pale eyebrow mumbling, “Ooh she grew up looking mighty fine”.

  Twenty minutes later, making it back home, sitting by the table smoking when Shawn walked in Brenda looked at him, he asked, “Aw can I get one of those maw?” Pulling a cigarette out, handed it to him saying, “Well all aboard, you must be the daddy”, lit the cigarette replied, “Yes”, taking a deep inhale.

  Watching him added, “You are daddy, because you never smoked”, and putting it out remarked, “Ah these are awful”, hurried by the sink, grabs a glass, filled it with water took a huge drink, slight smile putting hers out.

  Said, “Well seems when you play guess you do pay”.

  Turning around, walked by the table, sat down replied, “Maw I know nothing about girls I got a boy and she’s twelve already, what do I do?”

  “Raise her and love her, because she is yours Shawn”.

  Hanging his head saying, “Heck maw girls get women things, how do I handle that”.

  “Just buy her what she needs and a lot of aspirin”. Worried and his mother told him that Carla will fit in well, because there is enough granddaughters to be there for her and help with female issues.

  One week later, Carla become an official Wiley and Shawn bought her a canopy bed with pink comforter set, new dressers, he even bought her a stereo.

  Ecstatic, asked, “Really for me?”

  Standing by her doorway, arms folded replied, “Yeah Carla it’s yours, Elijah has his own to” and she said, “Wow, you must be rich”, looking around at her newly decorated and filled room.

  Smirking says, “No I am not rich, but I do work, our business is very good”. Hung her head and noticing asked, “What’s wrong Carla?”

  Filled her daddy in on, how her life had been grim and he listened to her tell him, she stayed in homeless shelters, even slept on the streets with her mother that struggled always.

  Never had her own bed, they would stay with people often and there was never a place to call home.

  Teary eyed looks at his daughter and said, “You are home sweet home Carla”, smiled. Waving his hand added, “Come on girly, time to buy some latest clothes, shoes and well under things”, laughing, he winked then stuck his head in the other bedroom, asked Elijah if he wanted to go and he was on the phone as usual, told his dad, “I’ll pass”.

  Turning away from the door was curious and grins asking, “What girl you talking to now?”

  “Marisa”, and laughing Shawn walked away.

  Inside the red king cab truck, started it up Shawn said, “Marisa, last week it was Kim”, and Carla giggled buckling the seatbelt.

  At the store, spent three hundred dollars on clothes with sleepwear for his daughter in shock and very happy, saying, “Thank you so much”, he winks.

  Walked out of a clothing store in the mall when Carla’s eyes got huge, looking at a porcelain doll that was beautiful with a blue velvet dress and noticed, Shawn bought his daughter her first doll.

  Holding the doll, told her father that she never had many, one actually and he said, “Aw stop kid, you’re breaking my heart”.

  “I lived with a broken heart for such a long time until now”, hugging him, and patted her back she added,” You saved my horrible life, guess that makes you my hero”, laughs out saying, “Nah, means I am your dad”.

  “Glad you are”. Held her doll.

  “Me to girl, let’s get something to eat, huh.”

  “Sure”, smiling.

  Walking through the mall noticed many women passing by looking at Shawn when a few nearly froze dead in their tracks, Carla giggling and he asked, “Aw, what’s up girly?” “You must be popular”.

  “I’m not actually, why?” Saw another woman staring and smiling replied, “You are”. At the eatery, placed the order, took it to the table sitting down they ate, and Shawn was getting to know a lot about his daughter and glad she was with him.

  However, Gina found out about how Carla was conceived and thought that was sick and later that night, they got into a huge argument, first fight to and she broke up with Shawn after only three months.

  One week later, stood outside, Gina’s closed door of the duplex, saying, “Please, just talk to me”, and standing on the other side yelling, “Go away Shawn!” “No, not until we talk about this”.

  “No Shawn there’s nothing to discuss, Carla is your kid, made by you from a disgusting act”. Leaning against the door hung his head listening to her add,

  “Sick actually”.

  “I really like you, please don’t do this, these past few months have been great”. “Please just get out of here”.

  “No, let me explain”.

  “It’s over Shawn”. Gina wiping tears.

  Placing both hands against the door says, “Aw stop, Gina this happened in my teens, heck I was eighteen”.

  “Yes should have known better, hope it was fun”.

  “I hardly remember”.

  “You’re lying”.

  “No, I seriously forgot about what we did”. Running fingers through golden locks. “Go away please!”

  “You cannot be mad over something teen boys did we are foolish at that age”. Gina quiet and he added, “I told Carla all about you and how sweet you are!”

  The door opened and slight smile, Gina said, “I’d love to meet your daughter Shawn, does she look like you?”

  “Carla has blonde wavy hair, so yeah I guess she does”.

  “Your bluest eyes?”

  Grinning says, “Yeah sure does Gina”.

  Smiled and he moved close upon her asking, “Not mad at me?”

  “No, you did not have to tell me how she was conceived, but were honest”. “I like you a lot Gina”. Hands against her face.

  “I like you Shawn”, smiled and asked, “You have time to stay?”

  Quickly, stepped inside saying, “Yeah sweet baby”, smiling she shut the door. Jumping up onto Shawn, straddling legs around his waist and face-to- face, walking her through the house she said, “Make love to me Shawn”, leans his forehead against hers replying, “Aw I plan to ”, giggling, walking into the bedroom.

  The next morning ready for work, Gina, opens the door, eyes huge found a dozen red roses sitting on the front porch, bends down reading the card, “Thanks for an amazing night, sweetest baby, Shawn!

  A few weeks pass with another member of the Wiley Family, Carla who one night at 1:00 Am, Shawn just lay down about midnight, as he had a lot of paper work with roofing contracts and building many new homes .

  Suddenly, Carla screaming and jumped out of bed fast, Shawn hurried out of his bedroom meeting up with Elijah and both rushed into her bedroom.

  Screaming louder, “Stop!” Rolling on the bed hitting her pillow screams, “Get away!”

  Bent down grabbing onto his hysterical daughter started hitting him and Elijah’s eyes were huge and trying to calm her down, saying, “Carla it’s me Shawn”.

  In screaming tears, hit him and he held onto her tightly saying, “Carla, please stop its dad”.

  Noticed her fear, held her in his arms felt her tremble and saying, “I am here, it was just a bad dream sweetie”, crying put her arms around his neck replies, “It was an awful dream!”

  Standing by the dresser yawning Elijah looking at Carla snug in her daddies arms and told his son “Go back to bed, she’ll be fine”.

  However, Shawn spent another few nights running into Carla’s bedroom with her screaming out, “STOP!”

  This continued for the next few weeks and one night Shawn was so tired after working all day, as he and his brothers were in the process of building a home that he fell asleep with his daughter in his arms.

  He did not even hear the alarm clock go off the next morning when Elijah comes running into Carla’s bedroom saying, “Hey dad, its 6:00,am”

  Gently removed his arm off from around Carla and got out of bed yawning and walked out of her room.

  Standing in the ha
llway, wearing just black jogging pants, Elijah asked, “What’s wrong with her dad?”

  Rubbing his eyes, replied, “I have a clue son”.

  “What?”

  “Do not worry about it boy just get ready for school”.

  Later that day, building a new home, Shawn was grabbing lumber out of the work truck and told Shane with Stanley what has been happening nightly for the past weeks.

  Kneeling down mixing cement, Stanley said, “Sounds like she was abused”. “Yeah that is what I think, because she cries stop!”

  “Aw sexually abused it sounds!” wrapping the tool belt around his waist. “That’s what I fear happened Shane”. Brown eyes huge Stanley remarked, “Hey did those wise words come from Shane”. “Ha-ha, funny”, waving hand.

  “I feel something awful happened to my kid”, pulled more lumber out of the truck when

  Saul yelled, “WHAT’S THE STALL Y’ALL!” Working hard throughout the day another

  home half built and Wiley men tired.

  Later that night, sitting on Carla’s bed, Shawn held her in his arms after another bad

  dream.

  Snuggled in his arms, Carla asked, “Are you going to touch me?”

  Pulling back from, Carla, and looked at her asked, “What?”

  Tears rolled, says, “All the others always did, don’t you want to”.

  At that shocking moment, Shawn almost fell off the bed and looked at her, said, “Heck no, you are my daughter”.

  Put her arms around him tightly, asked, “I am safe?”

  “Now you are Carla, thank god!” Gritting his teeth and crying tells her father, those other men always touched me when Shawn literally growled.

  Pulling back looks at his young daughter said, “Well that will never happen again”, and wiping tears shook her head, he added, “No worries now, daddies here to always keep you safe”, hugging him, adding, “No more talk of me touching you, because that would never happen from any Wiley male”.

  Looks at her asking, “Promise me?”

  “I promise and know I am safe with the Wiley’s”.

  “Aw, sweet girl you sure are”. Kissed the top of her head.

  Two days later, in a physiatrist’s office, Shawn sat with his mother at his side and fiddling with his hands nervously.

  Reached taking hold of his jittering hand said, “All will be fine now boy, she will get help to overcome this terrible fear from such a horrible thing that happen to her”. Holding onto his mother’s hand tightly, asked, “Why, how can guys mess with kids?”

  Raising eyebrows high, “Oh son, sad to say it happens often, I don’t know why Shawn”. Hanging his head with hands folded said, “Sick is what it is”.

  “I agree Shawn, it is not normal behavior for a step dad or any person to touch a child in this way”.

  Wiping a few tears that suddenly roll said, “Aw I just hope she will be okay maw and I am so glad she is with me”.

  Brushing his light curls back from his bluest eyes, replied, “Carla should have been with you to begin with then we would not be sitting here, but you never knew of her so here we are”.

  “Guess, I am punished for doing a nasty sexual act to a girl”.

  Looking at him, replied, “No Shawn, this is not punishment, because Carla was innocent and had nothing to do with the Wiley train”, took a deep gulp after mentioning that word.

  “I regret it now, but in a way don’t, because I wouldn’t have a daughter”.

  The side door opened and walks out with the female doctor, Carla looked at her father and grandma smiling. Patting Shawn’s hand Brenda quietly says, “Everything will work out and be fine.”

  The next few weeks, Carla continued therapy and Shawn started sleeping all night in his bed.

  Furthermore, Shawn was asked to sit through one therapy session, he wiped tears and felt angry of hearing how his daughter had been touched by a grown men. Afterward, Shawn told his mother about that heartbreaking session and she gagged rushing to the sink for a glass of water.

  Two months pass, Carla doing much better now and really becoming part of the family and one evening when Shawn got home from work, stood by his truck smiling. Watched Carla roller skating with Samantha and Kayla, even the littlest granddaughters were skating and falling down.

  Watching the Wiley girls and Sabrina screaming “Daddy!”

  Rushing up to her sitting on the ground in tears when Brenda hurried on the back porch, said, “Bring her in Shane, let’s clean her scrape”.

  Walking toward the house, Carla skated up to him saying, “Hi daddy”. “Having fun, huh”.

  “Yes”, and Samantha skated over asking, “Can Carla go to the indoor skating rink on Saturday most all the school kids go?”

  Carla’s blue eye become large and Shawn replies, “Sure, but an adult will take you”. Skating in a circle, Samantha said, “My daddy always takes me, but don’t go inside its embarrassing”, and laughs out, “Well that’s what daddies do keeping their girls safe”. Girls skating down the driveway, Shawn yells, “Have fun”, walking up the porch steps and into the house sniffing says, “Aw something smells good”.

  Glanced at Shane sitting by the table eating and walking up to him, Brenda smiles saying, “I made potroast”.

  “Aw yeah” and suddenly frowns noticing his son Elijah on the phone yelling, “Fine break up with me girl”, slamming the phone down looked at eyes staring, said, “I’m done with these young silly girls”.

  Almost choking on potatoes, Shane remarked, “Yeah, right, Elijah”. Storms out the back door and standing by the sink washing his hands Shawn says, “Female drama begins”. Setting a filled plate of potroast with potatoes smothered in gravy, onto the table, Brenda asked, “Sure you two remember those days?”

  Mouthful replied, “Aw to well maw”, looks at Shane rose her eyebrows mumbling, “Acts like he never ate”, and smirking Shawn sat down says, “Thanks maw”. “You’re welcome son”.

  Back door opens and walking in Danny Ray grins saying, “Aw my sweetheart made potroast”.

  “Yes, I sure did honey”, and kissed her when standing behind him, Stanley says, “Hope the showers free”.

  “Should be son”, walking away and Shane yells, “Hey missing a great meal Stan”, yelling back, “Just save me some, don’t gluten it all”.

  Meanwhile at the apartment building, Samantha in her bedroom sitting on the bed doing homework, heard her dad yelling at Missy and got up off the bed going to the door. Opening it hears her dad shouting “MY HEART ACHES!”

  Standing in the middle of the living room, Missy crying out, “Heart aches for her right, Seth?’

  Sat on the sofa hanging his head replied, “Maybe”.

  “Maybe, what kind of answer is that, you just said your heart aches for who Seth?” Rose his head tears pouring down his face replied, “Ella”.

  Gasping out, “Ella”, and standing by the half open door Samantha mumbles, Woe, aunt Ella, I always knew dad had a thing for her”.

  Closes the door, walks back over to the bed sat down, heard Missy shouting, “FUCK YOU!”

  Hung his head she hurried grabbing her purse and stood up asking, “Where you going?” “Far from this disgusting triangle”.

  “I’m sorry, I tried harder than you can imagine to wipe Ella out of my mind, but can’t”. “Nice to know Seth, I’m sorry for holding you back from the love of your life”.

  Opening the door, Missy heading out and Seth asked, “Where you gonna go”. “Do not worry about me, just go to the one your heart aches for”, walked out slamming the door. Yelling, “AW COME ON MISSY, IT’S LATE!”

  The next morning, Missy comes back gathering her belongs and Steven’s, then walking through the apartment, Seth close behind saying, “Really gonna go, huh?” Paused, turning around replied, “You’re kidding me right”.

  “No, where you two gonna go?”

  “Don’t worry about it”.

  “Well, I am Missy”.

  “Why you
’re free to be with Ella”.

  Points saying, “Aw, I feel bad for the kid”.

  “Oh just the kid, go to hell Seth” and now rushing to the door, he runs up behind her and said, “Not just him, you to”.

  “You liar, spits in his face shouts, “IT’S OVER!”

  Walked out, Seth stood there yells, “You can come back”.

  “Never Seth!”

  Chapter 8.

  Two days later, at the indoor skating rink, Samantha with Carla stood by the side railing watching the skaters and the roller rink was packed.

  Fixing the belt on her blue jean dress, Carla asked, “Ready to go out on the floor Sammy?”

  “Yeah let’s go have fun, huh”, skated out onto the floor and a boy skates by fast flips up Samantha’s pink skirt, mad says, “Aw, I’ll knock him into next week”, giggling Carla said, “Maybe he likes you”.

  “Nah a jerk”, skating both having a good time and then taking a break, sitting by the table in the back drinking a soda.

  Suddenly, Samantha rolled her eyes saying, “Oh god loser”, turned looking at a tall slender boy with long dark hair, Carla’s blue eyes huge and Ryder comes up to their table, said, “Hey it’s Wiley girl”. Blew a big bubble with his chewing gum.

  Swung her arm out, Samantha saying, “Get lost jerk”, and Carla just stared at him, as he sure noticed her saying, “Hey Wiley who’s your good looking friend?” Carla now blushed.

  Jerking her head, Samantha said, “Oh heck no, just forget about my friend pen bound boy”.

  Put his hands up saying, “Woe, calm down I’m leaving”, and went to walk away, he winked at Carla that really blushed giggling.

  Samantha carried on about Ryder saying, “What a punk”.

  “Wrong what a hunk”, and Samantha choked on her potato chips and clearing her throat asked, “Seriously?”

  “Yes, cutest boy I ever saw”, and leaning elbow onto the table, hand against face mumbles, “Great, one day I might be related to a felon”.

  The rest of the evening, Carla could not take her eyes off Ryder, noticed, as his eyes were on her to.

  That night other girls tried skating with him as he brushed them off fast and his friend asked, “Hey what’s up with you tonight?”