Page 29 of Waiting For A Girl Like You
Wedging herself between Toby and the children, Josie filled the boy’s line of vision. “You can hold her hand after you clean up.”
Toby glared at her with absolute hatred. “Samuel can go first. Or Selah. I’m not leaving Evie.”
How were they going to deal with this? Handling him would take an army, and then they needed all the things Samuel mentioned from the store. She could run to the 24-hour Walmart, but she didn’t want to leave Miranda alone for that long. Not with Toby in this state.
Then there was Evie. It was going to take at least two of them to get her clean. Miranda’s lack of strength had become noticeable over the last month, and Josie had been nagging her to call the doctor.
Off in the corner, Jamison continued to screech, her face going purple. “Let CeCe go first,” Selah said, picking Jamison up now that the adults were in the room. “You okay with that, Ce?”
CeCe’s head bobbed in agreement, and she touched her brother’s back. “I’m going to go first, Toby. You can sit next to Evie, but don’t make her get up if she doesn’t want to.”
Toby dropped to the ground in a huff and forced everyone aside to scoot his butt over to Evie crumpled on the floor. “Move,” he snapped at Samuel. “I’m sitting next to her.”
Samuel wouldn’t move at first, but finally gave up and went to Evie’s other side, sitting beside where her head rested. “Happy now, freak?”
Josie's mouth opened to reprimand Samuel, but she quickly snapped it shut. If she did, it would only have led Toby to think he could get away with this behavior, and the less stress they had, the better.
The crying coming from Jamison continued, and it seemed to aggravate Evie. A trembling took over the girl’s body as she lay on the floor.
“It’s okay.” Samuel leaned down to whisper, gently stroking her hair. He shifted his long legs out before him, working Evie’s head up a little so it could be cushioned against his thigh. “Jamison is just tired and dirty.”
“I have to pee,” CeCe announced, looking nervous. “I can go before my bath, but I’m scared. Can someone come with me?”
Josie felt it then. The crash. It slammed into her like a million daggers slicing through her flesh.Livy. Livy would normally take her little sister to the bathroom in this situation. The brave little mama would always care for everyone if they needed help.
Two doors down, there was a pretty room with a pink canopy bed Miranda had found in a furniture store over in Pensacola. There was a giant pink inflatable chair and a desk that she and Miranda had spent a whole day putting together because the instructions were crap. They hadn’t minded, though. Livy would need a place to study, and they had worked until nightfall, getting it right.
She had been so excited about her new school and excited that Samuel would be with her. The two always got along so well—a rare thing for their boy.
There was a closet full of clothes on the way. Going through that Deliah’s catalog had been so much fun. The three of them had giggled and circled almost every outfit option available. Once they finished with that, they broke out the Macy’s catalog to find more clothes and spent nearly a whole night placing orders.
Josie thought of the smaller sheet on the ballroom floor, and a cold sweat seized her. Sweet, perfect Livy was gone. Devon was gone. Laura Jean…gone.
And nothing would ever be the same.
The room around her spun, the faces of the children blurring. With a shake of her head, she stumbled off to the side, pulling Miranda with her.
“Toby and Samuel can’t be left alone together, or someone will get hurt,” Josie said in a hushed voice. “We need help, and I know where to get it.”
Miranda’s eyes searched hers, seeking an answer. When it came finally, her lips parted in shock. “Oh, I don’t know about that, Josie.”
“She’s going to find out one way or another, and it’s best if she hears it from one of us.”
Not giving Miranda a chance to respond, Josie left, even though she understood that this probably wasn’t the best way to deliver news. However, their options were limited. Actually, their options were non-existent. If Miranda wanted to keep this quiet, getting the help of someone who knew how to handle situations like this was their best chance.
Hurrying down the hall, Josie reached the back stairs in seconds, but almost lost her nerve when crossing the foyer. The marble floors were still wet from when they arrived, with big and small footprints tracking their way down the middle.
She hesitated before opening the front door. Hand on the knob, she told herself she could do this.
Shecoulddo this.
Couldn’t she?
Miranda always said she was the brave one. It was bullshit. She might be opinionated and spoke her mind plainly, but in truth, she was a coward. She was scared all the time and of so many things. She was scared that the cancer would come back. She was scared that one day Samuel might look at them with disgust. She was scared that Miranda would push her away because “it was for the best” or because she couldn’t take the pressure of hiding what they were to each other.
And in the middle of this horrific, nightmarish night, Josie was scared that what she was about to do was a grave mistake. There would be tears and screaming, but they needed help with the kids.
Taking the front stone steps two at a time, she hit the button at the end of the drive, allowing the security gates to swing open. She didn’t need to get her car. Not when heading right next door. This request was best made in person, even though they might actually call the cops on her. They might also not believe her or be so furious that she had the nerve to ask for help. Especially once knowing the truth.
