Page 28 of Jack

I drop my head when the first tear falls from my eyes. Domestic violence. Two words I haven’t allowed myself to say or think. Those words shove me and every woman like me into an even darker hole. They drastically change things, and not for the better.

“You want my story?” They haven’t asked. Nina didn’t even ask. She just threw me on this journey without any warning.

“Only if you want to share it. It’s not a requirement.”

I’m sure every woman who’s passed through here is grateful for that. I sure am.

“Not yet, but maybe soon.” Keeping it bottled up inside is starting to take a toll on me.

“Okay.” She points to my right cheek. “If you’re still in pain, I can get you some ibuprofen and ice. After six days, though, we should probably have it x-rayed.”

I gently touch my cheek with my fingertips. “I do have a headache, but this is getting better. My cheekbone isn’t broken.”

“That’s good.” She stands and walks toward the kitchen. “I’ll get you some ibuprofen for the headache.”

She returns with a glass of water and two pain pills. Her eyes drop to my cheek for a closer inspection.

“He didn’t hit me in the face,” I blurt out. It’s what everyone thinks. “I’m really not sure if it came from when he shoved me out of bed or from when I hit the doorframe before I left.” Yeah, that doesn’t sound any better.

“Thank you for letting me know.” Her phone dings with a text. After reading it, she taps a finger next to her eye. “My daughters are about to arrive if you want your glasses.”

Oh my. She has more daughters.

“Yes, ma’am, and thank you.” I jump to my feet and rush to the bedroom. I left the glasses on the nightstand while I tried on the clothes. Nanny is the only one who has seen my face.

I hear Jack’s sisters long before I see them. This family is loud. At least they sound happy. Everly has the same bubbly personality I hear now. I’m surprised they can be so happy with what they’ve lost and the reason why. I shake the thought away, slide the sunglasses on, and head to the kitchen. Maybe their happiness will rub off on me. Hopefully, they won’t treat me like I have the plague. I don’t want anyone to pity or feel sorry for me.

For a moment, I stand in the doorway and watch the three women interact. Nanny’s daughters are beautiful. All three women have the same long brown wavy hair. Nanny is a misleading name for Jack’s mother. If I had met her and her oldest daughter on the street, I would have sworn she was her older sister. The youngest one is following right along in their young-looking family gene pool. She looks to be my age or a little younger.

The youngest notices me and gasps. “Wow. You’re beautiful.”

Nanny and her oldest daughter stop their conversation about the party at the clubhouse and smile.

“I was thinking the same thing about you three.” I lightly laugh. It’s awkward. Totally awkward.

“Lily, this is my daughter, Harley.” Nanny smiles at the daughter standing next to her. She points to the youngest daughter, who’s getting ice cream from the freezer. “The one about to ruin her dinner is Maci. Girls, this is Lily.”

“Hello.” Harley’s the serious one.

“I won’t ruin dinner with just one scoop.” Maci takes the small bowl her mother is offering her and, surprisingly, only gets one scoop.

Who does that? I want the whole bowl.

Nanny comes to me and takes my hand. She’s getting a little more comfortable with touching me. Maybe she was waiting until I was ready. She hugged Everly a lot last night. Yeah, the problem is me.

“I hope you don’t mind if the girls stay with you for a while. I’ll stay if you prefer. If you’re okay with it, I need to help Nana oversee things for tonight’s party.”

“Nana?” There’s a Nanny and a Nana? I’m going to mess this family all up.

“Yes.” Nanny laughs. “Nana is my husband’s mother.”

“Everyone calls Mom Nanny because it’s what Logan and Everly call her. It was just easier, and it stuck,” Harley explains.

“Logan?” I think I’ve heard that name.

“Logan is Everly’s brother,” Nanny reminds me. “Next week is his first football game of the season.”

All three women beam with pride. Okay. They’re a football family. I liked watching football in high school. Medical college didn’t offer any sports. I’d ask to go with them, but I don’t know where I’ll be next week.

---