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Any other adult responsible that could take care of the little girl?
Instead, I hug her tight. Releasing the anger against whoever raised her won’t help her, and she might take it the wrong way. I walk her to the couch, sit down, and hold her tight. Thea’s face is glued against my chest as she cries.
“You were a kid, Butterfly,” I say, angling her head slightly so I can see her. “Did you kill anyone during that hit and run?”
She shakes her head.
“You’re clean?”
She nods, showing me her wrist.2014.I’ve seen that number before and wondered why it changed often—daily.
“Those are a lot of days. Impressive when you started so young. I’m no one to judge your past, but I can offer to be around to make sure that you have a happy future.”
She bites her lip, fighting hard to keep the tears from flowing freely, but she’s losing the fight. Her body is shaking. Her lip quivers and tears topple one behind the other.
“I hurt for that girl. Sounds like she was alone.” I kiss her forehead, her nose, and her lips. “You’re not alone, Butterfly. No matter what has happened, nothing will change the bond we share. Tonight, I’m staying with you.”
I touch her silky lips with mine. It’s only for a second, but that simple touch loosens her stiff muscles.
Thea falls asleep, but her sadness remains trapped inside her. Frustration, anger, and the need to find Mr. and Mrs. Dennis to teach them a lesson run through my head. Powerless, I remain on the couch, pondering what to do next. I have to leave tomorrow for Vancouver. She was so sad. I wish she could understand that I don’t care who she was, but that I care about who she is and what we can be together.
In my experience, addicts are unpredictable when facing their problems. Flashes of Porter Kendrick make my body stiffen. He’s my parents’ foster child who became a junkie. He almost died. I found him unconscious in his dressing room. The doctor said I saved his life.
What if no one is around to save hers?
I find my phone and check my emergency contacts.
“Mattie?”
“Hey, Dad,” I greet him, kissing Thea’s cheek before I speak. “I’m at Thea’s.”
“A little late for house visits, isn’t it?” I mumble a yes. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. What did you do when Papa told you… that he was, you know, an alcoholic?”
“Ah, she told you.” His worried, confused voice changes to his casual fatherly one. “Babe, Mattie is on the line. I think he needs some guidance.”
“You knew?” I growl. They whisper on the other line, neither one acknowledging me. “Hello?”
“Mattie,” Papa’s soft voice comes to the line. “Yes, we knew. Part of the full disclosure to your mentor and future employer. Like many of us, she has a past. It’s up to you what you do with the information she gives you. Accept her or walk away. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you care for her, don’t you?”
“What I’m worried about is tomorrow. She’s too sad, Papa.” I let out my frustration along with a big breath.
“She works at a fucking bar.” I level my voice before I wake her up. “What if she heads downstairs to drink herself stupid and—”
“Yes, you should ask her about it. Why she works there and what she thinks. That girl has an interesting theory.” He pauses, I guess blocking the phone as their voices are muffled. “Mattie, there might be more behind her past. Think twice before you decide what your role in her life will be. You can always offer her a support system. Once I had mine in place, I never relapsed.”
“Was it Dad, Papa?”
“Yes, him and then the three of you.”
I don’t know how she’ll do tomorrow, but I think about my father. He never had a family until Dad came into his life. Dad gave him my grandparents and then they had us. Thea has no one. But I can always offer her more, including my kickass family.
“Thank you. I gotta go, talk to you later.”
“Call if you need us—or if Thea needs us.”
“Will do.”
