Secrets
Ashley's POV
With no idea where we were going I managed to drive us all the way to Los Angeles. From all the gas money that I spent I only had five hundred dollars to my name, and that I knew that wasn’t going to last us for long. But despite all of that I was determined to do anything to make sure that my sister received a better life than she was given. I had to stay strong; breaking down wasn’t an option when I had a traumatized ten year old to talk care of. We had nobody else in the world but each other now, so I had to build a strong foundation.
I was forcing myself not to cry, Jade needed me more than anything right now and I had to be strong for my baby sister. I was still in shock from everything, my body still trembling with anger as Jade slept sounding in the backseat. I felt like the worst brother of all time. How could I not have known? I just can’t believe that I never noticed all of Jade’s suffering; I should have known that she wasn’t safe in that household. There should have been some sign or at least a hint that I’d been missing this entire time.
The fact that our father was such a bastard that he wanted to send her back to that hell hole made me want to turn the car around and kill him. How could someone not care about their own flesh and blood being abused in the most horrific of ways? How heartless could one person be to let their child succumb to something so horrifying and terrible? I was still so stunned by it all but I couldn’t worry about me. I had to focus on Jade.
It had been two weeks since the two of us had arrived in Los Angeles and the two of us had been living in my car. Driving around for odd hours until I could find an empty parking lot to stay in for the night without worrying about someone breaking into the car as we slept. Nothing about our new lifestyle was easy. In order to clean ourselves I took her into public bathrooms and in there we would wash up and brush our teeth. I had tried to searching for work but that was hard to do because there wasn’t a job out there that would allow me to have Jade with me at all times. Leaving her alone was not an option whatsoever. I would not leave her out of my sight foranything.
So with money being incredibly tight and nowhere to live, I didn’t have the slightest clue as to what I was going to do to support the two of us. The only thing that kept me at ease was knowing that my little sister was safe. Jade never leaves my side whether I wanted her to or not. She hadn’t spoken a word since I took her away and that really scared me. Jade’s mouth never opened unless it was to eat, her eyes looked so dead, the light that used to be there had completely diminished. I didn’t have the slightest idea as to what to do to ignite it again. She was just a child she should have never had to go through this type of trauma. When she slept she had night terrors, it was the only time I heard any type of sound leave her mouth. Jade was always whimpering in her sleep until it turned into full out screams. It terrified me, I felt so useless because all I could do was hold her until they stopped which sometimes took hours because she just wouldn’t wake up from them.
When she was sleeping was the only time that I allowed my walls to break. I completely broke down while she was sleeping and the pain that was constantly in my chest felt ten times worse than ever. Every night I broke down and cried because I just couldn’t handle the fact that someone had the nerve to abuse a child in such a horrific way. But this only motivated me to try harder in taking care of her. Nobody was going to ever touch her like that again, I’d die before I let that happen.
The two of us were sat in a park just taking in the peacefulness of the sunny day. I had found this place about four days ago and I thought bringing Jade to nice environments would help to ease her mind. So far it seemed to be working. Everyday I would bring us here after my job searches had come up useless. I would sit on the same bench under the shade with my sister perched in my lap. She kept herself hugged tightly to my chest, her face buried into my shirt with small fists clutching the material. She barely glanced up to take in her surroundings but I knew it was helping because her posture was less tense. During our brief visits to the park I noticed how Jade and become fascinated with the various birds around the park. She especially enjoyed watching people feed the ducks in the small man made pond.
Today I thought it would be a good idea to let her feed them. I hoped that it would be a good idea to make her comfortable with her surroundings again. It wasn’t really in our budget to be spending so ferviously but I’d do anything to make her comfortable again. So far it seemed that Jade was enjoying it. She wasn’t exactly smiling, but her eyes gave away that she was enjoying the moment. There was a hint of a spark in her amber eyes that I prayed would brighten with eat day. Jade kneeled down in the grass and watched with fascination as a couple of ducks ate out of her palm. When the bread crumbs in her hands were all gone, she instantly turned to me for more. I felt awful because I had to be the one that burst her small moment of happiness and tell her that there was no more food to give them.
“I’m sorry Baby Girl, we ran out of food to give them” I felt my heart sink as Jade started to pout deeply. She moved away from the ducks, ignoring their quacks of displeasement. My little sister wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly. She was small enough that her face rested just above my belly button. I held her close and kissed the top of her head while I rubbed her back soothingly. Her breathing was a little erratic and I could tell Jade was trying not to cry.
“I know sweetheart, I’m so sorry but I promise we can come back and feed them another time” I reassured her. My sister just sniffled and continued to cling to my shirt. God, I felt like such an asshole for denying her this, but it was either feed the birds or starve ourselves. “I swear we’ll come back and feed them again. I promise.”
“Pardon me?” I gentle voice asked from behind us. I turned to see a beautiful older woman with sepia toned skin and long flowing black hair giving us a warm smile. Instantly Jade moved behind me, clinging to the back of my shirt. I glanced down to see her shyly peeking her head out from behind me to take in the woman. This caught me a little by surprise because Jade tended to avoid looking at anyone that wasn’t me. But there was just something about this woman that gave off such a comforting vibe that I couldn’t help but feel safe and I could tell that my sister felt it as well.
“Hello” I responded, holding Jade tighter to my side.
“I don’t mean to bother you and I hope this doesn’t sound creepy but I frequently come to this park and I couldn’t help but notice the two of you over the past couple of days. Is this little beauty your sister?” her voice was so kind and there was no trace of ill intent in her tone or stance.
“Yes Ma’am” I answered politely. “My name is Ashley and this is my little sister Jade.”
“It’s nice to meet you” She smiled brightly as she shook my hand “I’m Mary Ann.”
“Like wise.”
“I couldn’t help but to notice you were out of bread. I was going to feed the birds today” She stated as she pulled out a ziplock bag full of bread. “But I think someone else would enjoy feeding them more than I would.” Mary Ann’s eyes zoned in on Jade.
“You want to feed them some more, Baby Girl?” I asked gently and she stared at the bag of bread in Mary Ann’s hand before burying her face back into my shirt and nodding silently.
“Here you go sweetheart” she cooed leaning down a bit to hand the bag over to my sister. Jade glanced up at the woman clearly scared but I could sense her relax a bit when she looked up at me with wide eyes. I gave Jade a reassuring smile letting her know that she was still safe. Wearily she reached out for the bag before taking it shyly in her hands. Jade just stared at her for a few moments before hiding behind me again and I took that as her little way of saying thank you.
“Thank you so much” I spoke sincerely as I patted Jade’s hair. This woman had no idea how happy she’d just made my sister. “This means a lot to us.”
“It’s no problem sweetheart” Mary Ann stated waving her hand as if saying it was no big deal. “I’ll leave the two of you to enjoy the rest of your day. It was nice meeting you two, I actually own a small bakery nearby named Like Clouds. If you’re ever in the mood for sweets stop by. First pastry will be on the house.”
I thanked her again and she gave me a pat on the shoulder before smiling warmly at my sister and walking away. We watched Mary Ann as she walked away and soon enough, Jade was tugging at my shirt and I couldn’t help but to grin down at her playfully. “You’re rather eager to feed them huh?” I teased and she nodded enthusiastically. I couldn’t help but to ruffle her hair. My sister was too adorable for words.
“Alright, let’s go feed them” I help out my hand for her and after she placed her tiny palm in mine, I walked us back to the pond.
-x-
I couldn’t find an abandoned parking lot to spend the night in last night so I had to park on a residential street and pray that nobody called the cops and tried to get us towed. I was ecstatic when I woke up and to find that we were perfectly fine. I glanced down to see my sister resting peacefully with her head on my chest and her fingers wrapped loosely in my shirt. I had to crane my neck too look out the backseat windows. Sleeping in the backseat of the car was an awkward position for me but Jade fit perfectly and her needs came before mine always. My slight shift in movement caused my sister to wake up. I couldn’t help but to feel awful about it. Jade needed all the sleep she could get and for once she was resting peacefully.
Jade blinked open her eyes slowly and glanced up at me with wide eyes. There was the makings of a spark in her eyes and it would only burn brighter with time. “You sleep well Baby Girl?” she nodded before snuggling her face into my neck. Soon enough I heard her stomach growl and she looked a bit embarrassed. I smiled and kissed her forehead, she was so adorable without even trying. I chuckled a little and sat up. “Let’s go find a place to eat and get cleaned up for the day.” It took awhile to wake Jade up enough to leave the car but soon enough we were stepping out into the warm California air she reached for my hand.
“Ashley?” a soft voice questioned from behind us. I jumped a bit from the suddenness of it but when I turned around I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was Mary Ann walking towards us. I felt Jade hold my hand tighter but surprisingly she didn’t move to hide behind me, instead she stayed right by my side. “Oh it is you! It’s nice to see the two of you, and so early in the morning.”
“Good morning Ma’am, it’s nice to see you again” I spoke sincerely, she was one of the few kind people I’ve met since we’ve been here.
“You don’t have to call me Ma’am, Mary Ann is fine sweetheart. I was just picking up a few groceries for the bakery before I open in about two hours. What brings the two of you out so early?”
I blanched for a moment, I was caught off guard and didn't know what to say. I had a sinking feeling that She'd seen us leave our car and I could only assume she took a wild guess as to what we were doing. It was embarrassing to be caught sleeping in your car, but she didn’t seem like the type of person to judge.
"We were about to go and find a place to have breakfast." I replied going for nonchalant but I'm sure she could here the nervous tick in my voice. Mary Ann didn't point it out, instead her eyes lit up and she gave us a bright and welcoming smile.
"Well why don't I treat you to muffins at my bakery for breakfast? I only ran to the store for a moment so they're still in the oven. They'll be fresh and ready to eat."
"We wouldn't want to inconvenience you-" I started to say but she just waved me off.
"Nonsense, I don't open for another two hours. You two can take a load off and relax while you eat. And if you'd like to you can explain a few things to me." Mary Ann spoke giving me a non-judgmental yet knowing glance.
I just swallowed thickly feeling the urge to cry arise. But I held myself together. "That sound good Jade?" I asked looking down at her. My sister glanced up at me with wide eyes and nodded and squeezed my hand.
"Excellent!" She clapped her hands before leading the way to her bakery. Jade stayed close to by side as we walked with Mary Ann. Walking along with her made me realize just how kind of a woman she was. She told us about herself and her business. It turns out that she was a chef, mastering all types of cuisines but found her calling in pastries. The more Mary Ann talked the more I began to like and feel comfortable around her. She had this air about her that admitted genuine kindness. I could tell that Jade felt it as well because she wasn't clinging to me for dear life. Instead she seemed fascinated by the older woman.
Once we arrived at her bakery I couldn't help but notice how welcoming it felt. It was simple brick building that had about two floors above it. The sign above the door was shaped like a cloud and the writing 'Like Clouds' was in cursive sky blue writing.
"Well come on in!" She insisted as she unlocked the shop and opened the door for us. The bakery was much more welcoming inside. The walls were all painted in different skylines and it was overall beautiful.
"Your bakery design is wonderful." I complimented and she grinned.
"Thank you, Ashley. When I first opened I got local high school students to come in and paint. I figure it be nice to give young artists an opportunity they normally wouldn't get." She spoke as if it was no big deal but it was just another understated kind gesture that proved how lovely she was.
"I'm sure they appreciated what you did for them."
"Oh trust me they did. You see all the artwork around here has been made by teenagers and young adults. They've all been given to me for free even though I've practically begged to offer payment. Everyone accepts free pastries so I guess it's a win win situation."
"You must be well liked around here." I laughed and she smiled widely.
"Well I'm enable to have my own children and I've always been so busy that I've felt like I could never give a child the true care and attention they'd deserve so that's why I've never adopted. So instead I've emerged myself in helping out children and young adults around the city." Mary Ann shrugged as if it was nothing but she was very selfless.
"Now why don't the two of you make yourselves comfortable on the couch while I get the muffins out the oven."
We did as we were told and Jade climbed right into my lap and curled into me. "You two are so precious." She said before walking into the back.
"Mary Ann is really nice isn't she?" I asked Jade and I felt her nod into my chest. I smiled and kissed her forehead. "I love you Baby Girl and I promise that we'll be alright."
-x-
Several muffins and cups of tea later Jade had fallen asleep in my lap on the couch. Mary Ann had pulled up a chair and sat in front of us. She must have been able to tell that my sister wasn't comfortable around people that weren't me, hence why she didn't sit on the couch with us.
"Ashley" she spoke softly and reached for my hand. "I hope this doesn't sound intrusive, but this morning I saw the two of you coming out of that car so early in the morning and I couldn't help but to wonder if you'd slept in it overnight?"
I was expecting the question but that didn't stop me from bowing my head in shame. "Hey, no, don't do that there is nothing to be ashamed of." She stated lifting my chin up with her free hand. My eyes started to water and I let out a shuddered breath. "Now I don't mean to pry but I have to ask, did you runaway from a dangerous home situation?"
I nodded my head yes and she squeezed my hand in comfort. "Would you like to tell me what happened?" My body started to shake and I was scared that I might wake up my sister. The last thing Jade needed was to see me like this. I gasped out a yes as I gently placed Jade down on the sofa. She squirmed for a moment but I placed one of the cushions to her chest and she hugged it tightly and continued sleeping.
"Take all the time you need Ashley. I decided to open late today."
I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down enough and then I told her everything. I spilled out all the pain and hatred that we’d gone through, from finding her in such a vile situation to shipping us all the way out here.
Through my tears, Mary Ann held my hand and wiped my eyes even though there were tears streaming down her own cheeks. Not Once did she interrupt me, she just let me speak.
“And now we're down to two hundred dollars and I don't know what to do. I Swore to take care of her and I'm doing such a shit job at it.”
"Now I don't want to hear you say nonsense like that again." She hushed me, refusing to let me put myself down. "What you've done for your sister and what you're still trying to do is incredible. It's admirable. You should be proud of yourself, Ashley." Mary Ann was stern when she spoke leaving no room for argument.
"But I have no means of income and I'm down to two hundred dollars, there's no possible way that I can take care and provide for her. We have no home, no money, what am I supposed to do?"
"Stay with me." She replied simply.
" I couldn't possibly ask that of you."
"I'm offering you a place to stay. Ashley, I own this building and live above the bakery. I have plenty of spare rooms."
"But I couldn't possibly let us stay here for free."
"If you feel so strongly about paying me rent, I'll let you work at the bakery. And before you try to argue I'm letting you know that I've been looking to hire someone to help me around here. I'd love to offer you the position.”
“But-”
“And if you’re wondering about skills, you’d go through the basic training any other employee would. Making drinks and helping me bake won’t be hard.”
I was so overwhelmed by Mary Ann's kindness that I started to cry. "I don't know how to thank you for your kindness but I promise you won't regret it."
She smiled warmly at me before squeezing my hand. "Why don't we get both of you settled upstairs and into rooms and then we can discuss more later. You must want to sleep in an actual bed for once."
"Again thank you so much." I choked out.
"I'd love to help the two of you out for as long as it’s needed. Now I'll let you get settled for today. Then tomorrow if you're up for it you can start training. And don't worry, Jade can stay by your side the entire time. I couldn't imagine separating the two of you at such a crucial time."
I nodded, rendered speechless by how welcoming she was being towards us.
"And Ashley, we can discuss this later but if you'd like to press charges, I would love to help you with that as well. Nobody should get away with this." Again all I could do was nod, still feeling overwhelmed from her generosity. Mary Ann squeezed my hand once more before standing up. I followed suit, carefully picking up my sister bridal style. Thankfully she didn't woken up and snuggled into me again, tiny fists clenching my shirt.
I couldn't put into words how grateful I was to Mary Ann and I didn't know how I'd be able to pay her back for her kindness but I would work as hard as I could for the both of them to make it happen.
-x-
"A-Ashley?" The voice was so soft and quiet that at first I thought I was imagining it. I glanced away from the TV and down to see my sister staring up at me with wide puppy like eyes. Jade appeared nervous as she bit her lip. I smiled at her encouragingly, letting her know that it was okay to speak. It had been two months since Mary Ann had taken us in and although Jade was starting to become comfortable and used to our new lives, she still hadn't spoken a single word. I held in my shock and squeezed her closer to my side.
"What is it Baby Girl? You need something?" I asked and she shook her head no. The television playing reruns of Blue's Clues was now just background noise lost to my ears as I encouraged my sister to speak.
"N-no" she fumbled with the sleeves of her sweatshirt. I could tell she was flustered and a bit frustrated as she started to stammer over her words. But I just held her tight so she knew everything was alright. "J-just, th-thank you." Jade's voice was barely over a whisper as she spoke but her words made my heart swell with affection and break at the same time.
I kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly. "I'd do anything to protect you Jade, I promise. You'll always be safe with me."
"Love you." She murmured after burying her face in my chest.
"Love you too." I mused kissing the top of her head.
"Well don't the two of you look comfy." Mary Ann teased playfully as she entered the living room with a tray of glazed scones. "Room for one more on the sofa?" She asked and Jade perked up nodding happily and pointing towards the free space beside her.
"S-sit n-next to me, m-mama!" Jade stuttered. Mary Ann was so stunned she almost dropped the platter. This was the first time she's ever heard Jade speak and I could see her eyes glaze over. I was bewildered as well my sister had just taken such huge steps in just one moment. Jade had spoken for the first time in over two months, wanted to be closer to someone that wasn't me, and just called Mary Ann, mom. She was clearly honored by the way she'd been addressed and quickly sat down next to my sister, placing the tray on the coffee table.
Much to both of our surprise, Jade squirmed out of my hold and practically launched herself into Mary Ann's lap. The elder woman kissed my sister's forehead and started to run her fingers through her hair. "I'm proud of you for speaking sweet pea." She cooed causing Jade to giggle. My eyes became a bit watery because I never thought I'd hear that beautiful sound again.
Jade turned to smile brightly at me again and I could have cried from the happiness that consumed me. That spark in her eyes was back again. Shining brighter, reassuring me that even though it would take time; Jade was still my little fighter and she would make it through this stronger that before.
I was forcing myself not to cry, Jade needed me more than anything right now and I had to be strong for my baby sister. I was still in shock from everything, my body still trembling with anger as Jade slept sounding in the backseat. I felt like the worst brother of all time. How could I not have known? I just can’t believe that I never noticed all of Jade’s suffering; I should have known that she wasn’t safe in that household. There should have been some sign or at least a hint that I’d been missing this entire time.
The fact that our father was such a bastard that he wanted to send her back to that hell hole made me want to turn the car around and kill him. How could someone not care about their own flesh and blood being abused in the most horrific of ways? How heartless could one person be to let their child succumb to something so horrifying and terrible? I was still so stunned by it all but I couldn’t worry about me. I had to focus on Jade.
It had been two weeks since the two of us had arrived in Los Angeles and the two of us had been living in my car. Driving around for odd hours until I could find an empty parking lot to stay in for the night without worrying about someone breaking into the car as we slept. Nothing about our new lifestyle was easy. In order to clean ourselves I took her into public bathrooms and in there we would wash up and brush our teeth. I had tried to searching for work but that was hard to do because there wasn’t a job out there that would allow me to have Jade with me at all times. Leaving her alone was not an option whatsoever. I would not leave her out of my sight foranything.
So with money being incredibly tight and nowhere to live, I didn’t have the slightest clue as to what I was going to do to support the two of us. The only thing that kept me at ease was knowing that my little sister was safe. Jade never leaves my side whether I wanted her to or not. She hadn’t spoken a word since I took her away and that really scared me. Jade’s mouth never opened unless it was to eat, her eyes looked so dead, the light that used to be there had completely diminished. I didn’t have the slightest idea as to what to do to ignite it again. She was just a child she should have never had to go through this type of trauma. When she slept she had night terrors, it was the only time I heard any type of sound leave her mouth. Jade was always whimpering in her sleep until it turned into full out screams. It terrified me, I felt so useless because all I could do was hold her until they stopped which sometimes took hours because she just wouldn’t wake up from them.
When she was sleeping was the only time that I allowed my walls to break. I completely broke down while she was sleeping and the pain that was constantly in my chest felt ten times worse than ever. Every night I broke down and cried because I just couldn’t handle the fact that someone had the nerve to abuse a child in such a horrific way. But this only motivated me to try harder in taking care of her. Nobody was going to ever touch her like that again, I’d die before I let that happen.
The two of us were sat in a park just taking in the peacefulness of the sunny day. I had found this place about four days ago and I thought bringing Jade to nice environments would help to ease her mind. So far it seemed to be working. Everyday I would bring us here after my job searches had come up useless. I would sit on the same bench under the shade with my sister perched in my lap. She kept herself hugged tightly to my chest, her face buried into my shirt with small fists clutching the material. She barely glanced up to take in her surroundings but I knew it was helping because her posture was less tense. During our brief visits to the park I noticed how Jade and become fascinated with the various birds around the park. She especially enjoyed watching people feed the ducks in the small man made pond.
Today I thought it would be a good idea to let her feed them. I hoped that it would be a good idea to make her comfortable with her surroundings again. It wasn’t really in our budget to be spending so ferviously but I’d do anything to make her comfortable again. So far it seemed that Jade was enjoying it. She wasn’t exactly smiling, but her eyes gave away that she was enjoying the moment. There was a hint of a spark in her amber eyes that I prayed would brighten with eat day. Jade kneeled down in the grass and watched with fascination as a couple of ducks ate out of her palm. When the bread crumbs in her hands were all gone, she instantly turned to me for more. I felt awful because I had to be the one that burst her small moment of happiness and tell her that there was no more food to give them.
“I’m sorry Baby Girl, we ran out of food to give them” I felt my heart sink as Jade started to pout deeply. She moved away from the ducks, ignoring their quacks of displeasement. My little sister wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly. She was small enough that her face rested just above my belly button. I held her close and kissed the top of her head while I rubbed her back soothingly. Her breathing was a little erratic and I could tell Jade was trying not to cry.
“I know sweetheart, I’m so sorry but I promise we can come back and feed them another time” I reassured her. My sister just sniffled and continued to cling to my shirt. God, I felt like such an asshole for denying her this, but it was either feed the birds or starve ourselves. “I swear we’ll come back and feed them again. I promise.”
“Pardon me?” I gentle voice asked from behind us. I turned to see a beautiful older woman with sepia toned skin and long flowing black hair giving us a warm smile. Instantly Jade moved behind me, clinging to the back of my shirt. I glanced down to see her shyly peeking her head out from behind me to take in the woman. This caught me a little by surprise because Jade tended to avoid looking at anyone that wasn’t me. But there was just something about this woman that gave off such a comforting vibe that I couldn’t help but feel safe and I could tell that my sister felt it as well.
“Hello” I responded, holding Jade tighter to my side.
“I don’t mean to bother you and I hope this doesn’t sound creepy but I frequently come to this park and I couldn’t help but notice the two of you over the past couple of days. Is this little beauty your sister?” her voice was so kind and there was no trace of ill intent in her tone or stance.
“Yes Ma’am” I answered politely. “My name is Ashley and this is my little sister Jade.”
“It’s nice to meet you” She smiled brightly as she shook my hand “I’m Mary Ann.”
“Like wise.”
“I couldn’t help but to notice you were out of bread. I was going to feed the birds today” She stated as she pulled out a ziplock bag full of bread. “But I think someone else would enjoy feeding them more than I would.” Mary Ann’s eyes zoned in on Jade.
“You want to feed them some more, Baby Girl?” I asked gently and she stared at the bag of bread in Mary Ann’s hand before burying her face back into my shirt and nodding silently.
“Here you go sweetheart” she cooed leaning down a bit to hand the bag over to my sister. Jade glanced up at the woman clearly scared but I could sense her relax a bit when she looked up at me with wide eyes. I gave Jade a reassuring smile letting her know that she was still safe. Wearily she reached out for the bag before taking it shyly in her hands. Jade just stared at her for a few moments before hiding behind me again and I took that as her little way of saying thank you.
“Thank you so much” I spoke sincerely as I patted Jade’s hair. This woman had no idea how happy she’d just made my sister. “This means a lot to us.”
“It’s no problem sweetheart” Mary Ann stated waving her hand as if saying it was no big deal. “I’ll leave the two of you to enjoy the rest of your day. It was nice meeting you two, I actually own a small bakery nearby named Like Clouds. If you’re ever in the mood for sweets stop by. First pastry will be on the house.”
I thanked her again and she gave me a pat on the shoulder before smiling warmly at my sister and walking away. We watched Mary Ann as she walked away and soon enough, Jade was tugging at my shirt and I couldn’t help but to grin down at her playfully. “You’re rather eager to feed them huh?” I teased and she nodded enthusiastically. I couldn’t help but to ruffle her hair. My sister was too adorable for words.
“Alright, let’s go feed them” I help out my hand for her and after she placed her tiny palm in mine, I walked us back to the pond.
-x-
I couldn’t find an abandoned parking lot to spend the night in last night so I had to park on a residential street and pray that nobody called the cops and tried to get us towed. I was ecstatic when I woke up and to find that we were perfectly fine. I glanced down to see my sister resting peacefully with her head on my chest and her fingers wrapped loosely in my shirt. I had to crane my neck too look out the backseat windows. Sleeping in the backseat of the car was an awkward position for me but Jade fit perfectly and her needs came before mine always. My slight shift in movement caused my sister to wake up. I couldn’t help but to feel awful about it. Jade needed all the sleep she could get and for once she was resting peacefully.
Jade blinked open her eyes slowly and glanced up at me with wide eyes. There was the makings of a spark in her eyes and it would only burn brighter with time. “You sleep well Baby Girl?” she nodded before snuggling her face into my neck. Soon enough I heard her stomach growl and she looked a bit embarrassed. I smiled and kissed her forehead, she was so adorable without even trying. I chuckled a little and sat up. “Let’s go find a place to eat and get cleaned up for the day.” It took awhile to wake Jade up enough to leave the car but soon enough we were stepping out into the warm California air she reached for my hand.
“Ashley?” a soft voice questioned from behind us. I jumped a bit from the suddenness of it but when I turned around I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was Mary Ann walking towards us. I felt Jade hold my hand tighter but surprisingly she didn’t move to hide behind me, instead she stayed right by my side. “Oh it is you! It’s nice to see the two of you, and so early in the morning.”
“Good morning Ma’am, it’s nice to see you again” I spoke sincerely, she was one of the few kind people I’ve met since we’ve been here.
“You don’t have to call me Ma’am, Mary Ann is fine sweetheart. I was just picking up a few groceries for the bakery before I open in about two hours. What brings the two of you out so early?”
I blanched for a moment, I was caught off guard and didn't know what to say. I had a sinking feeling that She'd seen us leave our car and I could only assume she took a wild guess as to what we were doing. It was embarrassing to be caught sleeping in your car, but she didn’t seem like the type of person to judge.
"We were about to go and find a place to have breakfast." I replied going for nonchalant but I'm sure she could here the nervous tick in my voice. Mary Ann didn't point it out, instead her eyes lit up and she gave us a bright and welcoming smile.
"Well why don't I treat you to muffins at my bakery for breakfast? I only ran to the store for a moment so they're still in the oven. They'll be fresh and ready to eat."
"We wouldn't want to inconvenience you-" I started to say but she just waved me off.
"Nonsense, I don't open for another two hours. You two can take a load off and relax while you eat. And if you'd like to you can explain a few things to me." Mary Ann spoke giving me a non-judgmental yet knowing glance.
I just swallowed thickly feeling the urge to cry arise. But I held myself together. "That sound good Jade?" I asked looking down at her. My sister glanced up at me with wide eyes and nodded and squeezed my hand.
"Excellent!" She clapped her hands before leading the way to her bakery. Jade stayed close to by side as we walked with Mary Ann. Walking along with her made me realize just how kind of a woman she was. She told us about herself and her business. It turns out that she was a chef, mastering all types of cuisines but found her calling in pastries. The more Mary Ann talked the more I began to like and feel comfortable around her. She had this air about her that admitted genuine kindness. I could tell that Jade felt it as well because she wasn't clinging to me for dear life. Instead she seemed fascinated by the older woman.
Once we arrived at her bakery I couldn't help but notice how welcoming it felt. It was simple brick building that had about two floors above it. The sign above the door was shaped like a cloud and the writing 'Like Clouds' was in cursive sky blue writing.
"Well come on in!" She insisted as she unlocked the shop and opened the door for us. The bakery was much more welcoming inside. The walls were all painted in different skylines and it was overall beautiful.
"Your bakery design is wonderful." I complimented and she grinned.
"Thank you, Ashley. When I first opened I got local high school students to come in and paint. I figure it be nice to give young artists an opportunity they normally wouldn't get." She spoke as if it was no big deal but it was just another understated kind gesture that proved how lovely she was.
"I'm sure they appreciated what you did for them."
"Oh trust me they did. You see all the artwork around here has been made by teenagers and young adults. They've all been given to me for free even though I've practically begged to offer payment. Everyone accepts free pastries so I guess it's a win win situation."
"You must be well liked around here." I laughed and she smiled widely.
"Well I'm enable to have my own children and I've always been so busy that I've felt like I could never give a child the true care and attention they'd deserve so that's why I've never adopted. So instead I've emerged myself in helping out children and young adults around the city." Mary Ann shrugged as if it was nothing but she was very selfless.
"Now why don't the two of you make yourselves comfortable on the couch while I get the muffins out the oven."
We did as we were told and Jade climbed right into my lap and curled into me. "You two are so precious." She said before walking into the back.
"Mary Ann is really nice isn't she?" I asked Jade and I felt her nod into my chest. I smiled and kissed her forehead. "I love you Baby Girl and I promise that we'll be alright."
-x-
Several muffins and cups of tea later Jade had fallen asleep in my lap on the couch. Mary Ann had pulled up a chair and sat in front of us. She must have been able to tell that my sister wasn't comfortable around people that weren't me, hence why she didn't sit on the couch with us.
"Ashley" she spoke softly and reached for my hand. "I hope this doesn't sound intrusive, but this morning I saw the two of you coming out of that car so early in the morning and I couldn't help but to wonder if you'd slept in it overnight?"
I was expecting the question but that didn't stop me from bowing my head in shame. "Hey, no, don't do that there is nothing to be ashamed of." She stated lifting my chin up with her free hand. My eyes started to water and I let out a shuddered breath. "Now I don't mean to pry but I have to ask, did you runaway from a dangerous home situation?"
I nodded my head yes and she squeezed my hand in comfort. "Would you like to tell me what happened?" My body started to shake and I was scared that I might wake up my sister. The last thing Jade needed was to see me like this. I gasped out a yes as I gently placed Jade down on the sofa. She squirmed for a moment but I placed one of the cushions to her chest and she hugged it tightly and continued sleeping.
"Take all the time you need Ashley. I decided to open late today."
I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down enough and then I told her everything. I spilled out all the pain and hatred that we’d gone through, from finding her in such a vile situation to shipping us all the way out here.
Through my tears, Mary Ann held my hand and wiped my eyes even though there were tears streaming down her own cheeks. Not Once did she interrupt me, she just let me speak.
“And now we're down to two hundred dollars and I don't know what to do. I Swore to take care of her and I'm doing such a shit job at it.”
"Now I don't want to hear you say nonsense like that again." She hushed me, refusing to let me put myself down. "What you've done for your sister and what you're still trying to do is incredible. It's admirable. You should be proud of yourself, Ashley." Mary Ann was stern when she spoke leaving no room for argument.
"But I have no means of income and I'm down to two hundred dollars, there's no possible way that I can take care and provide for her. We have no home, no money, what am I supposed to do?"
"Stay with me." She replied simply.
" I couldn't possibly ask that of you."
"I'm offering you a place to stay. Ashley, I own this building and live above the bakery. I have plenty of spare rooms."
"But I couldn't possibly let us stay here for free."
"If you feel so strongly about paying me rent, I'll let you work at the bakery. And before you try to argue I'm letting you know that I've been looking to hire someone to help me around here. I'd love to offer you the position.”
“But-”
“And if you’re wondering about skills, you’d go through the basic training any other employee would. Making drinks and helping me bake won’t be hard.”
I was so overwhelmed by Mary Ann's kindness that I started to cry. "I don't know how to thank you for your kindness but I promise you won't regret it."
She smiled warmly at me before squeezing my hand. "Why don't we get both of you settled upstairs and into rooms and then we can discuss more later. You must want to sleep in an actual bed for once."
"Again thank you so much." I choked out.
"I'd love to help the two of you out for as long as it’s needed. Now I'll let you get settled for today. Then tomorrow if you're up for it you can start training. And don't worry, Jade can stay by your side the entire time. I couldn't imagine separating the two of you at such a crucial time."
I nodded, rendered speechless by how welcoming she was being towards us.
"And Ashley, we can discuss this later but if you'd like to press charges, I would love to help you with that as well. Nobody should get away with this." Again all I could do was nod, still feeling overwhelmed from her generosity. Mary Ann squeezed my hand once more before standing up. I followed suit, carefully picking up my sister bridal style. Thankfully she didn't woken up and snuggled into me again, tiny fists clenching my shirt.
I couldn't put into words how grateful I was to Mary Ann and I didn't know how I'd be able to pay her back for her kindness but I would work as hard as I could for the both of them to make it happen.
-x-
"A-Ashley?" The voice was so soft and quiet that at first I thought I was imagining it. I glanced away from the TV and down to see my sister staring up at me with wide puppy like eyes. Jade appeared nervous as she bit her lip. I smiled at her encouragingly, letting her know that it was okay to speak. It had been two months since Mary Ann had taken us in and although Jade was starting to become comfortable and used to our new lives, she still hadn't spoken a single word. I held in my shock and squeezed her closer to my side.
"What is it Baby Girl? You need something?" I asked and she shook her head no. The television playing reruns of Blue's Clues was now just background noise lost to my ears as I encouraged my sister to speak.
"N-no" she fumbled with the sleeves of her sweatshirt. I could tell she was flustered and a bit frustrated as she started to stammer over her words. But I just held her tight so she knew everything was alright. "J-just, th-thank you." Jade's voice was barely over a whisper as she spoke but her words made my heart swell with affection and break at the same time.
I kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly. "I'd do anything to protect you Jade, I promise. You'll always be safe with me."
"Love you." She murmured after burying her face in my chest.
"Love you too." I mused kissing the top of her head.
"Well don't the two of you look comfy." Mary Ann teased playfully as she entered the living room with a tray of glazed scones. "Room for one more on the sofa?" She asked and Jade perked up nodding happily and pointing towards the free space beside her.
"S-sit n-next to me, m-mama!" Jade stuttered. Mary Ann was so stunned she almost dropped the platter. This was the first time she's ever heard Jade speak and I could see her eyes glaze over. I was bewildered as well my sister had just taken such huge steps in just one moment. Jade had spoken for the first time in over two months, wanted to be closer to someone that wasn't me, and just called Mary Ann, mom. She was clearly honored by the way she'd been addressed and quickly sat down next to my sister, placing the tray on the coffee table.
Much to both of our surprise, Jade squirmed out of my hold and practically launched herself into Mary Ann's lap. The elder woman kissed my sister's forehead and started to run her fingers through her hair. "I'm proud of you for speaking sweet pea." She cooed causing Jade to giggle. My eyes became a bit watery because I never thought I'd hear that beautiful sound again.
Jade turned to smile brightly at me again and I could have cried from the happiness that consumed me. That spark in her eyes was back again. Shining brighter, reassuring me that even though it would take time; Jade was still my little fighter and she would make it through this stronger that before.
This story is a one that I laughed and cried with.
9/3/16