Once Pined. Blake Pierce

asked. Then she added anxiously, “I’m not a good enough cook.”

      “Our housekeeper, Gabriela, takes care of all that. She’s from Guatemala. She lives with us, in her own apartment downstairs. You’ll meet her soon. She’ll take care of you when I have to be away.”

      Another silence fell.

      Then Jilly asked, “Will Gabriela beat me?”

      Riley was stunned by the question.

      “No. Of course not. Why would you think that?”

      Jilly didn’t reply. Riley tried to comprehend what she meant.

      She tried to tell herself that she shouldn’t be surprised. She remembered what Jilly had said when she’d found her in the truck cab and told her that she needed to go home.

      “I’m not going home. My dad will beat me up if I go back.”

      Social services in Phoenix had already removed Jilly from her father’s custody. Riley knew that Jilly’s mother had gone missing long ago. Jilly had a brother somewhere, but nobody had heard from him in a while.

      It broke Riley’s heart to realize that Jilly might be expecting similar treatment in her new home. It seemed that the poor girl could barely imagine anything better in life.

      “Nobody’s going to beat you, Jilly,” Riley said, her voice shaking a little with emotion. “Never again. We’re going to take good care of you. Do you understand?”

      Again, Jilly didn’t reply. Riley wished she would just say that she did understand, and that she believed what Riley was saying. Instead, Jilly changed the subject.

      “I like your car,” she said. “Can I learn to drive?”

      “When you’re older, sure,” Riley said. “Right now let’s get you settled into your new life.”

*

      A little snow was still falling when Riley parked in front of her townhouse and she and Jilly got out of the car. Jilly’s face twitched a little as snowflakes struck her skin. She didn’t seem to like this new sensation. And she shivered all over from the cold.

      We’ve got to get her some warmer clothes right away, Riley thought.

      Halfway between the car and the front door, Jilly froze in her tracks. She stared at the house.

      “I can’t do this,” Jilly said.

      “Why not?”

      Jilly said nothing for a moment. She looked like a frightened animal. Riley suspected that the thought of living in such a nice place overwhelmed her.

      “I’ll be getting in April’s way, won’t I?” Jilly said. “I mean it’s her bathroom.”

      She seemed to be looking for excuses, grasping for reasons why this whole thing wouldn’t work.

      “You won’t get in April’s way,” Riley said. “Now come on in.”

      Riley opened the door. Waiting inside were April and Riley’s ex-husband, Ryan. Their faces were smiling and welcoming.

      April rushed toward Jilly right away and gave her a big hug.

      “I’m April,” she said. “I’m so glad you came. You’ll really like it here.”

      Riley was startled by the difference between the two girls. She’d always considered April to be rather thin and gangly. But she appeared positively robust next to Jilly, who looked skinny by comparison. Riley guessed that Jilly had gone hungry from time to time during her life.

      So many things I still don’t know, Riley thought.

      Jilly smiled nervously as Ryan introduced himself and hugged her.

      Suddenly Gabriela came rushing in from downstairs, introducing herself with a huge smile.

      “Welcome to the family!” Gabriela exclaimed, giving Jilly a hug.

      Riley noticed that the stout Guatemalan woman’s skin was only slightly darker than Jilly’s olive complexion.

      “Vente!” Gabriela said, taking Jilly by the hand. “Let’s go upstairs. I will show you your room!”

      But Jilly pulled her hand away and stood there trembling. Tears began to stream down her face. She sat down on the stairs and cried. April sat down beside her and put her arm around her shoulders.

      “Jilly, what’s wrong?” April asked.

      Jilly shook her head miserably.

      “I don’t know,” she sobbed. “It’s just … I don’t know. It’s all so much.”

      April smiled sweetly and patted her gently on the back.

      “I know, I know,” she said. “Come on upstairs. You’ll feel at home in no time.”

      Jilly obediently got up and followed April upstairs. Riley was pleased by how graciously her daughter was handling the situation. Of course, April had always said that she wanted a younger sister. But April had been through some difficult years herself, and had been severely traumatized by criminals eager to get even with Riley.

      Maybe, Riley thought hopefully, April will be able to understand Jilly better than I can.

      Gabriela gazed sympathetically after the two girls.

      “¡Pobrecita!” she said. “I hope she will be all right.”

      Gabriela went back downstairs, leaving Riley and Ryan alone. Ryan stood staring up the stairs, looking somewhat dazed.

      I hope he’s not having second thoughts, Riley thought. I’m going to need his support.

      A lot had gone on between her and Ryan. During the last years of their marriage he’d been an unfaithful husband and an absent father. They’d been separated and divorced. But Ryan had seemed like a changed man lately and they were cautiously spending more time together.

      They’d talked about the challenge of bringing Jilly into their lives. Ryan had seemed enthusiastic about the idea.

      “Are you still OK with this?” Riley asked him.

      Ryan looked at her and said, “Yeah. I can see that it’s going to be tough, though.”

      Riley nodded. Then came an awkward pause.

      “I think maybe I’d better go,” Ryan said.

      Riley felt relieved. She kissed him lightly, and he put on his coat and left. Riley fixed a drink for herself and sat down alone in the living room.

      What have I gotten us all into? she wondered.

      She hoped that her good intentions weren’t going to tear her family apart all over again.

      CHAPTER TWO

      Riley woke up the next morning with a heart full of apprehension. This was going to be the first day of Jilly’s life in her home. They had a lot to do today and Riley hoped that no trouble was in store.

      Last night she had realized that Jilly’s transition to her new life would mean hard work for all of them. But April had pitched in and helped Jilly get settled. They had picked out clothes for Jilly to wear today – not from the meager possessions she’d brought along in a grocery bag but from new things that Riley and April had bought for her.

      Jilly and April had finally gone to bed.

      Riley had too, but her sleep had been troubled and restless.

      Now she got up and dressed, and headed straight to the kitchen, where April was helping Gabriela get breakfast ready.

      “Where’s Jilly?” Riley asked.

      “She hasn’t gotten up yet,” April said.

      Riley’s worry mounted.

      She went to the base of the stairs and called out, “Jilly, it’s time to get up.”

      She heard no reply. She was seized by a wave of panic. Had Jilly run