"You won't even believe Polly's family," Sal said. "Eleven people live in her house, and that doesn't include the huge number of people who are in and out of there all the time. She has two dogs and how many cats? Five? Six? All those animals are how she met my husband and then she introduced him to me. Give me your phone, Polly. The photo app, please."
Polly just let Sal go. Lexi was interested in everything the woman said and there was no trepidation at all.
Sal swiped to a picture Polly had taken of her crew at breakfast one morning. The four boys and Cassidy were all on stools at the island, while Rebecca posed at the far end.
"These are five of the crazies. Rebecca's mother died a few years ago. Polly took care of her and then adopted Rebecca. These two, Elijah and Noah, came into Polly's life because of a wonderful man from Chicago who brings inner city kids to Bellingwood so they can see what life is like outside the city. Would you believe some of those kids had never seen a real cow before?"
Lexi peered at the picture. She reached for it and then drew her hand back.
"It's okay," Sal said. "You want me to enlarge the photo?" She pinched it and enlarged the picture, then handed it to Lexi. "The other three kids, Caleb, JaRon, and Cassidy are all related. Their mom got into a world of trouble and Polly is in the process of adopting them, too."
"That's a lot of kids," Lexi whispered.
"Oh, we aren't done," Sal said. She turned to Polly. "Do you have pictures of Heath, Hayden and Cat?"
Polly nodded. "Keep going."
Sal swiped through the photos, one by one, letting Lexi take her time with them. Then she stopped. "See those two gorgeous boys? The one on the left is Heath and that's his brother, Hayden. Their parents were killed in a car accident a long time ago. Heath was living with an aunt who was this horrible witch of a woman. Then he got himself in trouble. Polly snagged his little butt and made him grow up. Then she got guardianship of him. Then his older brother, who was in college, moved into the house and they made a big family. Hayden got married to …" She swiped through a few more pictures. "Cat. Isn't she something? She's now a student teacher at the elementary school. Hayden's still over at Iowa State finishing his master’s degree in something bio - techy - something. I have no idea. But he's kind of smart. Heath is getting a construction engineering degree so he can go to work with Henry."
Tears had started leaking from Lexi's eyes.
"Oh, hey, what's the matter, sweetie?" Sal asked. "I'm sorry if these upset you." She handed the phone back to Polly and then stroked Lexi's hair.
"You've been spending all this time with me. Your family needs you," Lexi said.
Polly smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Lexi had finally moved past her own needs to be concerned for someone else. And all it had taken was Sal's brash manner to get her there. It would have taken Polly a lot longer because she was being so careful.
"My family knows that you need me more right now. It's okay."
"I'm so sorry to be such a problem," Lexi began to sob. "I don't know what else to do. You're the only person …"
Sal interrupted. "She is exactly the only person who can take care of you. What you don't understand right now, but hopefully you will know it someday, is that Polly has built an immense group of supporters who take care of her, her family, and the people she loves. In fact, that's one of the reasons I'm here."
Lexi furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"You see, one of my love languages is shopping," Sal said with a smile. "When you get out of this place, I will take you on a shopping binge like you've never known. It's more fun than cotton candy at a fair."
"I can’t afford to go shopping."
"That's not what you need to worry about right now. Right now, your job is to get healthy. My job is to do a little shopping. But I need to know what size clothes you wear."
"I used to be an eight," Lexi said with a sigh. "Then I got pregnant, and then I got stuck in that house and I couldn't exercise or do anything. I just ate and laid around watching television. It was like I was some stupid baby machine, getting fatter every day. I feel so gross."
Sal continued to stroke her hair. "I understand."
"How do you understand?" Lexi flashed. Another first. Real anger came from the girl. That had to be a good sign.
"I understand that you don't like what happened to you," Sal said. "I understand that you felt alone and were scared and wondered if anyone even knew where you were. I understand that no one should go through what you faced. No, I don't understand everything about what you're feeling, but I do care."
"You just met me," Lexi whispered, though she turned her face into Sal's hand.
"See, that's what being around Polly will do to you," Sal whispered back. "She teaches me every day how to care about people whether I know them personally or not. It was really the easiest thing in the world to do once I realized that I was enough. She told me I was enough and made me believe it. So now, I can care about you because you need me to care."
Lexi leaned in toward Sal. "A twelve might be too big for me, but I think a ten is too small and right now everything hurts down there."
"I am going to find you the softest, most amazing nightgown. And if you can't wear it while you're here, because, you know, they're always checking something on your backside, that’s okay. Good heavens, my backside is private business, people." Sal chuckled. "In a hospital, nothing is private business."
"I know," Lexi said. "I’ll be so glad when they quit measuring my pee. It's embarrassing. If the nurse looks at me funny, I wonder if I peed too much or not enough."
Sal laughed out loud. "I farted in front of my doctor once. Thought I was going to freakin' die. I don't fart in front of my husband. The poor doctor didn't say a word, just kept going like nothing had happened. What's your favorite color?"
"Red," Lexi said as she pointed to Sal's blouse. "That's so pretty. When I was little, my mom bought me a pair of red sparkly shoes. You know, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz? I thought they were so cool. I wore them everywhere. I still like the Wizard of Oz, even the flying monkeys. Everything I wore this summer was just white, grey, and black. Sweatpants and shorts and t-shirts. No color at all."
"What other colors?"
"All of them." Lexi picked at the pale blue-colored hospital gown she wore. "I'm tired of feeling drab."
"Color it is, then," Sal said and stood up. "I will be back tomorrow. Expect colors and soft things." She bent over and hugged Lexi. "I'm pulling for you. If you had to land in front of anyone's building, be glad it was Polly's. She's got you covered."
"Thank you," Lexi said.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. Polly, will you follow me?"
"I'll be right back." When Polly looked at Lexi, she was thrilled to see that instead of worry and panic at the thought of Polly leaving, the girl lay back with a smile on her face.
"How did you do that?" Polly asked Sal when they got outside into the hall.
"Do what?"
"Make her feel that everything was going to be okay?"
"I don't have to worry about her. You do. I just have to be Sal, the crazy tall lady with a shopping problem."
"Thank you for showing up and pushing your way in. You were just what she needed today."
"You'll be what she needs long term, I can't do that."
"There's no competition here, Sal. I am so grateful to you for helping her."
"I nearly showed her pictures of my boys," Sal whispered. "I don't know how she feels about losing her baby."
"I don't think she knows what to feel yet."
"Well, I didn't want to be the one who brought it home. Not today. I get to be the fun, cool aunt with wild clothes and lots of money."
Polly laughed and then grinned and pointed down the hall. "There's my girl."
"Rebecca!" Sal said. "Aren't you the hottest girl in the eleventh grade."
Rebecca sashayed down the hall. She wore a bright, colorful skirt over black tights. Her black sweater and b
lack, chunky shoes were adorable.
"That's my girl," Polly said with a smile. "She is pretty gorgeous."
"Cilla dropped me off," Rebecca said. "She and Kayla are taking the car back to Bellingwood. That's okay, isn't it?"
"Of course."
"Did you meet Lexi?" Rebecca asked Sal.
"Yes, and I'm off to buy some underthings and colorful night clothes for her. She's tired of drab. Shopping. What a joy." Sal pecked Polly's check and then gave Rebecca a quick hug. "You two girls be good tonight. Make your mama go home at a reasonable hour, okay? She's tired."
Rebecca nodded. "She got home late last night and was out of the house early this morning. I'll bet she didn't sleep at all today."
"I'm right here," Polly said.
"Well, did you?"
Polly shook her head. "You go, Sal. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Same bat time, same bat channel, or whatever that saying is."
They watched Sal walk away, confidence oozing with every step.
"She's amazing," Rebecca said.
"Every day. Okay, let me tell Lexi that someone else is here to meet her. This might be a little intimidating for her."
Rebecca's face fell.
"No, it's okay. Sal was good for her. I worry too much. Just let me warn her so she's prepared for you." Polly opened the door and walked back in. Lexi had brushed her hair back out of her face and straightened herself in the bed. Sal’s visit had been good for the girl.
"Lexi, my daughter, Rebecca, came to the hospital. She'd like to meet you. Would that be okay?"
Lexi's eyes grew wide in panic. "Another person?"
"In my life, every time you turn around there's another person. If you really don't want to meet Rebecca, I'll tell her to wait in the lounge for me, but I think you'll like her. She's such a bright light. Full of creativity and fun. She loves to draw and tell stories. And honey, she's been through it. Not what you've been through, but she's known the ugly side of life."
"Her mom died, right?"
Polly nodded.
"Does she get sad?"
"Sometimes."
"Okay. But is this the last one?"
"I hope so," Polly said with a smile. "I can't guarantee it. My friends come out of the woodwork sometimes. Especially when they know that I'm hanging out with someone who needs a friend."
Lexi gave her a weak smile. "I need friends."
It sounded more like a statement than a question, but Polly wasn't waiting for more. She opened the door and beckoned to her daughter.
Rebecca meekly entered the room and smiled at Lexi. "Hi. I'm Rebecca."
"I saw your picture in Polly's phone. You're in high school?"
"Yeah. A junior. Where did you go to high school?"
"Illinois. You wouldn't know it."
"My mom and I lived in Indiana for a while. But that was when I was little. Did you like college?"
Lexi thought for a moment and then she smiled. "It was the best time in my life. I haven't thought about it in a long time. It feels like forever ago, but I just graduated in May."
"I can't wait to go to college," Rebecca said. "My boyfriend is thinking about going to the University of Iowa."
"That's where I went."
"Oh, did you love Iowa City?"
"Yes," Lexi said. "I grew up in a boring little town. Iowa City is filled with everybody. I mean, everybody. There is always something going on. I loved going to plays and concerts. I'd never really heard such great classical music before. I heard it on the radio sometimes, but then I sat in a concert over at Hancher Auditorium and it was like nothing I'd ever known before."
Polly gulped back tears at the passion with which Lexi spoke. Rebecca had taken the chair and was listening raptly.
"Did you ever go to any of their art shows?" Rebecca asked.
"So much stuff to see," Lexi gushed. "Some of it is really weird and I don't understand it. Sometimes it was like the students were trying too hard to do weird stuff. Just make it interesting, people. But still, I felt like I couldn't get enough. There was so much to learn. I want to get my doctorate so I can be surrounded by the energy on campus forever."
"Tell me what it's like to see a play there." Rebecca pulled out her sketchbook and a pencil. "Do you mind?"
"I look awful."
"No. You're pretty. Just talk to me. This is what I do to keep from fidgeting."
Polly sat on the windowsill and watched the two girls. Why had she tried to protect Lexi from strong women who could help her heal? This was what she needed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Only after Lexi told them she would be okay by herself last night did Polly and Rebecca leave the hospital. Much of the panic and terror that had been in her eyes was gone. Though she was still in pain and fearful of the future, things were looking up.
Polly had been glad to be home to spend dinner with her kids. Even though she'd only missed one evening with them, it felt like she'd been gone an entire week.
She and Henry spent a few minutes with Elijah in the office before dinner. It had been a rough day because he’d been so afraid of the conversation with Katie Robinson. Because Polly was busy with Lexi, there was a short reprieve, but he knew he couldn’t wait any longer.
He managed to catch Katie in the music room alone. She was sulky and angry with him when he showed her the page in his notebook. At first, she tried to deny it, but Elijah’s emotions took over and he’d cried. Then she cried. He told her about how kids like him heard news reports of racial attacks and always worried someone might hate him enough to kill him, just because of the color of his skin. When he asked if she hated him that much, Katie cried again. She didn’t hate him at all; she was just jealous. Katie was worried when she discovered that Elijah’s parents knew what she’d done. She was even more worried when he told her that Rebecca knew and planned to talk to Katie’s older sister.
Henry explained that was the thing with ugly, hateful words and actions. As long as they live in darkness and silence, they stay ugly and hateful. Once exposed to the light, they become manageable. Elijah was smiling again. He’d confronted his hurt without adding more fire to the flame. Things might never be perfect between him and Katie, but she’d never say something like that again.
Heath took Agnes home when he returned from classes. She'd sent Polly several texts throughout the day. Cassidy wasn't sick; upending her normal routine had thrown her for a loop. They would have to work on that. This family was always in some type of chaos and Cassidy needed to learn better how to roll with the punches. Polly could hardly complain. The little girl had come into their home last fall, unable to speak out or understand how to interact in normal society. She'd come so far. This was just another lesson they'd have to work through with her. Polly was grateful that she had Agnes around to buffer Cassidy’s emotional ups and downs when Polly and Henry weren't able to be there.
Cassidy had clung to Polly most of the evening and wanted story after story read to her when it was time for bed. This morning she'd shot out of bed, looking for Polly. When she landed in the kitchen, still in her pajamas, Polly walked back upstairs with her to get her ready for school. There really had never been a time when Polly wasn't where she was expected to be. It wasn't that she couldn't leave Cassidy alone; the little girl needed to know in advance what was happening.
As Polly drove to the hotel, she wondered exactly how long this latest pandemonium would take to abate. She'd like to think her world would lurch back to normal before too long, but she knew better. Things were only beginning to take off.
She parked and went inside. When she arrived at the front desk, it hit her that she had yet to reserve rooms for Jon and Ray. June Livengood waved as she worked with a young couple at the front counter. In truth, there was no need for Polly to come to the hotel every week to balance the books, but she loved having the opportunity to spend time with June and be part of the activity. It didn't take long, but she felt better after spending time on site.
; As Polly sat down, her phone rang. "Hi, Jessie, how are you?"
"I'm a little freaked out," Jessie Locke said. "Thought you'd want to know that Austin called last night. He wanted to see me."
"Did you talk to him?"
"No, he left a message that he was going to be in town and wondered how I was doing."
Polly still had her jacket on, so she got up, gave a quick wave to June and walked back outside. The morning was crisp, but the sun was shining. It would be a beautiful day.
"Anything else?"
"No. And I wasn't going to talk to him after what you told me yesterday."
"Did he say how long he'd be in Bellingwood?"
"No. He was passing through, but he said that since it had been so long, we should get together. Why would he think I wanted to get together with him now?"
"I have no idea. You don't happen to have his phone number, do you?"
Jessie gasped. "I didn't even think of that. Yes, I do."
"Could you text it to me? Then I'll get it to Deputy Hudson."
"I should have called first thing this morning when I picked the message up at work."
"What time did his call come in last night?"
"About ten o'clock."
"I was pretty close to bed by that point."
"How's that girl you found? Is she getting better?"
"She is. Sal Ogden came down to the hospital and then Rebecca met her after school."
"They’ll be good for her. I dug through my closet last night and found the box of maternity clothes. Do you still want them? I brought them to work. I haven’t had time to go shopping yet."
"Thank you, Jessie. Why don't I stop over about lunchtime. And don’t worry about shopping, Sal has taken care of it."
"Marie and I are taking Molly to look for a new kitchen set for me, so I won’t be there. I'll leave the bags in my office. One of the guys will let you in."
"Perfect. Thank you."
"I've already sent the text. You should have it by now."
"I heard it come in. Thanks again."
Polly ended the call and opened her messaging app. She should just forward it to Tab, but on a whim, she dialed the number, wondering where this idiot might be. Oh, Tab was going to kill her if she spooked him.
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