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“What is it?”
“My sister’s potato soup. It has some herbs and stuff. Potatoes, of course. Cheese. Milk and chicken bouillon. It’s kind of bland but still has flavor. Just not too much. Danica always made this for us after we’d been sick. You know. When we felt like eating. It’ll get you going.” She hesitated, looking off as if unsure of herself. “I thought Cecilia might need some building up.”
“Lots of carbs,” I muttered. “Would give her energy and strength without being too hard on her stomach or the rest of her digestive system.”
“You can take her a bowl if you think it would help. Maybe some crackers to go with it?”
I gave the young woman a gentle smile. “I think that will do nicely.” She flashed me a beautiful smile so reminiscent of her twin’s, it was hard to reconcile the sweetness of this woman with Lemon’s tartness. “Apple?” I had a question I wanted to know the answer to. I told myself it was because I wanted to look after all the women’s health -- mental and physical. The last thing we needed was one of them getting overwhelmed and frightened.
“Yeah?”
“What happened to make you want to come to Grim Road? Did someone hurt you?”
Immediately, her open friendly expression shut down in such a perfect imitation of her sister’s it nearly took my breath away. “No.” She didn’t hesitate even a second, obviously having no intention of admitting anything was wrong. Just like her sister.
“I didn’t mean to intrude, Apple.”
“You’re not.” Her welcoming demeanor didn’t return. If anything, she grew pale. Hard somehow. Whatever had driven her to Grim Road had done a number on her. “You’re welcome to as much of the soup as you need. I’ll come back in a couple of hours and put it in the fridge for later. She can have as much as she needs. I’ll be happy to make more if she wants.” She nodded once before turning and leaving the kitchen without a backward glance.
Why did our women seem to come to us just as broken and hurting as we all were?
I shook my head, then set about making a tray for Cecilia. In addition to the soup, I added some saltine and sweet crackers, as well as a glass of milk and bottles of water and Gatorade. She could have milk with the soup if she wanted. If not, there was something for her to pick from. Either way, she needed as much fluid as she could comfortably drink. I put everything on a tray and carried it to my room. The second she felt up to it, I was moving us into one of the houses in the family section of the compound. I wanted her to have privacy. I also didn’t want any mistakes. If a club whore hadn’t gotten the message and hurt her feelings, I wasn’t sure how I’d react.
I reached our room, and I could hear Lemon chatting lightly. To announce my presence so I didn’t startle them, I balanced the tray on one hand and knocked lightly. The chatter didn’t stop. Instead, Lemon’s voice grew louder. Seconds later, she opened the door with a bright smile. The lines around her eyes and mouth told a different story.
“Good! You brought food.” She immediately took the tray from me and shut the door in my face.
“Lemon!” I growled and opened the door, stepping inside and closing it behind me.
“My bad,” she called, not looking over her shoulder. “Forgot you were there.” Lemon liked dicking with us. I thought sometimes it was a defense mechanism when she wanted to avoid meaningful conversation. Or to hide her worries. The woman was brash and as sharp-tongued as they came, but she had as tender a heart as ever I’d seen.
“Of course, you did,” I grumbled but eased my way farther into the room. Cecilia was on the bed in one of my shirts instead of one Lemon and Apple had procured for her. It was embarrassing how much I loved seeing her in my clothes.
Cecilia looked up at me. She picked at the bedding nervously. “I’m sorry.” Her eyes started to tear up, but she swallowed them back. “I liked the way your shirts smelled. Lemon dug me one out of your dresser.”
“Honey, don’t be sorry about that. You can have any of my shirts you want.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I hated that she looked so unsure and afraid. I wanted her to be the confident, assertive woman I’d grown to know over the past few weeks.
“Not at all. In fact, I might have to insist on it. Especially while you continue to heal.”
She gave a relieved breath and glanced at Lemon. The other woman winked at her.
“I’ve got to go see Apple. You have my number for when Crush gets you a phone. If you need me before then, send a prospect or come get me. Me and Rocket are in the house next door. You can’t find me there, send a prospect for me. I’ll always come if you need me, Cecilia.”
“Thanks, Lemon. Please tell Apple I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“I will. We’ll both come by tomorrow.” She glanced at me with a knowing glance. “Have Bullet here give you some fruit punch. Shit’s got a kick to it and it’ll help you sleep.” She gave a little wave before disappearing out the door.
“Fruit punch?” Cecilia gave me a confused look.
I shrugged. “Got cannabis in it. Kinda makes you, uh, stoned.” When her eyes widened, I added hastily. “You don’t have to. She’s suggesting it because it helped her sleep after she’d been beaten pretty badly a couple of weeks ago. I think she stayed stoned the better part of the next day too. Lemon likes the feel of it and I’m pretty sure she uses it to do unspeakable things with Rocket. But it’s not for everyone. Sometimes it helps with pain control. At the very least, you won’t care that you’re in pain.”
She ducked her head. “I wouldn’t want to… not be myself if you weren’t with me.”
I sat on the bed beside her, much as I had in the hospital. “Honey, you don’t want me leavin’ you, I won’t. If you want to try the pot to see if it helps your pain, I’ll be at your side the whole time. If you’d rather take conventional pain meds, I can provide that too.”
“Either way my wits will probably be muddled.”
