I hope that all you celebrated had a great Thanksgiving! I know this is late, I hope you enjoy it! See you on Wednesday!
"Thanks for dinner," I say still feeling the tension between Alice and my mom. "But Jenny and I should head home we, have a lot to do tomorrow."
"Oh, well yes, of course, dear." I smile at my mom, as I lean in to kiss the side of her face. I take hold of Jennifer's hand as we walk out.
The drive to our own home is short, taking less than ten minutes and I park in the driveway.
I jump out smiling and open Jennifer's car door. "Okay, honey, close your pretty eyes," I say leading her to the front door.
I take the key my dad had given me during dinner and unlock the door.
I push the door open and crouch down so I'm at the same level as her. "Open your eyes, Jenny," I whisper in her ear.
She opens her eyes and gasps looking around smiling.
"I'll take that great big smile as you like it? And you haven't even seen your room yet!"
Jennifer looks at me for a few seconds and I give her a smile as I chuckle. "Up the stairs, first door on the right," I tell her and she sprints off.
I slowly walk up behind her. When I get there, she is standing at the door to her bathroom.
"Thought you would like your own bathroom. As for the room, you and I are going to the city so you can choose what we get for your room. We could paint, wallpaper or anything you want," I tell her running my fingers through my hair. "I thought it would be fun for us to do this together." I see a tear run down her face as she leaps into my arms, giving me a quick hug.
"Thank you." I smile as she signs to me.
"No thanks is needed, honey. How about you take a bath and get ready for bed. I'll go get things sorted and find a book to read tonight." Jen nods and I place her back on her feet.
I head downstairs and out to the car. I grab our bags and cooler before walking back inside. I place them down and go back to my car and lock it. Once I get inside, I wash the cooler out, put the uneaten food and drinks away and drop our dirty clothes into the washing machine.
Once I am done, I head to my own room. I quickly strip and put on my night time shorts and t-shirt. I pick up a book and head in to see Jennifer is sitting on her bed.
"Want me to dry your hair?" she bobs her head in agreement. I get up grabbing the hair drier and a brush.
I'm still getting used the amount of hair Jenny has. I watched a YouTube video that says you should part the hair and dry it in pieces, but it seems to take me forever. By the time I start reading, it's almost nine. Jennifer's normally sleeping by this time and I only get a chapter in before her eyes close.
I tuck her in and move to her window. I look out seeing our large back yard. My eyes scan slowly around it, knowing when we go shopping this weekend, we'll need to pick up some outside toys as well. My eyes land on the house that's over the fence. My eyes move up the house knowing this is the family that Jennifer will see when she's out playing. My eyes go all the way up the house to the roof, that's when I see someone sitting there. I feel myself frown as I stare at them. They are sitting pretty high up and seem to be smoking.
As I stare at the person, my eyes adjust to the dark. I am taken back when the person looks to be none other than Alice's friend Bella. I carry on watching as she raises her hand to her mouth and take a long inhale of a cigarette. Her head snaps around and she appears to be looking right at me. Her hand moves up and she waves. I shake my head and close Jennifer's window and blind. I move back to the bed and place a small kiss on her head.
"Night, princess," I whisper.
These past few months I have been calling her honey along with a few other like names of endearment, but I've yet to call her princess. I am still unsure of how she will react. Her therapist believes she's had little affection or social interaction with her parents and each new step I make needs to be made slowly and careful.
The next morning I wake with Jennifer curled up at the bottom of my bed. This doesn't happen often and usually only when she's had a really bad dream. At first I would try to coach her into telling me about them, but it would only cause her to shut down. So I gently told her I wouldn't ask her anymore, but when she was ready to talk, I was here to listen to her.
I get up and head into my bathroom, so I can shave. I'm only half way done when Jennifer pokes her head in.
"Morning, honey. Once I am fished here, I'll make us breakfast and then we can get ready." She bites her lip, I know she's not looking forward to starting school, but she needs to go. She's already missed too much time. She will be going into third grade, which is the right grade for her age, but I know through testing she is a little behind. I just don't want her slipping any further behind her peers.
I stop shaving and put down my razor and move to her when I see the fear in her eyes.
"You're going to be fine, I swear it. If anyone messes with you, you go to the office and have one of them call me." Jennifer nods as she keeps looking at me.
"Will you stay with me?" I let out a sigh knowing I can't. When she first came to live with me, I did stay with her when she was in school. At first it took almost six weeks for me to wean her off of not needing me there.
I try to force a smile on my face as I clear my throat. "I'm sorry, but I can only stay for an hour or so, but I can't stay all day. I'm sure you'll make friends quickly, though." Jennifer shakes her head as if she disagrees with me.
"I don't talk, they will think I'm a freak," she signs holding back her tears.
I place my hand softly under her chin and make her look at me. "You are not a freak, and if anyone says that to you are, I'll kick their dad's ass!" Jennifer snorts at me, but still has the deer caught in head lights look. "Plus, you can talk, nothing bad will happen, I promise," I tell her as she looks down.
"If you need me, go to the office and I'll come back. I will always come back," I tell her. I know I need to reassure her that I am not leaving her. I give her a loving smile and wink.
"Okay, honey, I need to get this done, so I can make pancakes." She nods and moves to the toilet and sits down watching me.
~HLAG~
The school Jennifer attends is the smallest of the three elementary schools in this area. We arrive just a little before nine. When I park the car, I can see there are children playing as parents stand and chat.
I get out of the car and move around to Jennifer's door and help her out. She pulls at my arm as we walk to the main door of the school.
"What, honey?"
"They're all looking at us," she signs as her eyes scan the playground again.
"That's because we're so hip and cool," I say as I slide on my shades giving her my cool grin. Jennifer giggles a little laugh as she ducks her head.
It takes me the best part of an hour to fill out the paper work, which would have been shortened, if they didn't ask for her name, date of birth and address over and over again.
"Here you are," I say handing Mrs. Cope the paper work.
"This looks to be in order," she says looking at it. "If you follow me, I'll take you to your class." I nod and stand up flexing my hand from doing so much writing.
We walk about halfway down the hall when Mrs. Cope knocks on the door, and walks in.
"Hello class," she says and they all say hello back.
"This is our new student we have been talking about, Jennifer Cullen," she says holding her hand out for Jennifer to take. When I talked to Jennifer about us moving, I had broached the subject of her changing her last name to Cullen, she quickly agreed and seemed eager. I was grateful when the judge also agreed and legally changed her name during the adoption hearing.
Jennifer looks at me and I give her a wink. She takes a deep breath and walks to Mrs. Cope, but doesn't take her hand. "I expect you all to welcome her," Mrs. Cope carries on dropping her hand. "Jennifer, this is Miss Denali."
Miss Denali bends down and smiles at Jennifer. "Hello Jennifer, if you take the seat next to Ana, we can get on with our day," she says sweetly, pointing at a girl who has raised her hand.
I get to the classroom door and look back. I sign only telling Jenny I'll miss her, and I'll be back soon.
I leave the school, heading to get both Jennifer and I registered at the dentist, and doctor. Once that is all done, I head back to my parents', hopping I can speak with my mom.
"Hi," I say walking into the stable.
"Hi, honey," she says as she stops cleaning the horse and kisses my cheek.
"I was thinking that maybe Jenny can have some lessons, when she's here?" Jennifer and I talked before coming here what would happen when I was at work and she was out of school. Her choices were for me to get a babysitter or she could come and stay at my parents' house. She was unsure, so we agreed to start off with her coming here, but if she didn't like it, than I would find her a babysitter. Going by her sparkling eyes for the horses, I think she may just like it here.
"Yes, I'll fit her in for three times during the week and once on the weekend," my mom says, but I can see she's still looking sad and worried.
"So?" I ask making her roll her eyes. "Tell me," I edge.
"Just this new friend of Alice's, she's bad news, Edward," I sigh and pull my mom to sit down.
"Tell me about her, her family?"
My mom rubs her head. "She staying with Sue Clearwater, you remember her?" I nod at her. Sue, as far as I remember, is a shy but lovely woman.
"Sue lives in the house behind yours." So that was Bella I saw smoking on the roof then. "Bella just appeared two years ago. She seemed angry and we all thought something happened, you know?" I bob my head. "But a few weeks later her mom appeared and turned out she was working and didn't want Bella to be on her own, so she left her with Sue. From then, Renee, that's her mom, comes as often as she can, but that girl has just gotten worse, she's always up to no good. She swears like a sailor, steals, she has tattoos and piercings!" my mom says with a shake of disgust of her head. "She's never respectful to the teachers, and she's been in a number of fights. She's been seen drinking, smoking and taking drugs."
My mom stops and bites her lip. "She flaunts herself at men, men, not boys her own age, but fully grown men." She shakes her head again and sighs. "I dread to think how many men she has slept with, she just gives it away like candy. I don't want her dragging Alice down that dark path, she's hell bent on going down with Bella."
I rub my mom's back trying to give her comfort. "I'll talk to Alice. Just keep talking to her and try not to fight. You raised Alice, remember that, you taught her right from wrong. Trust her to make the right choices."
I spend a little more time with my mom and help clean the horses before leaving to get Jennifer.