Special Thanks: Emilie, thank you! Yes, I agree, it is so not Jim to fall quickly for someone. I try to keep the characters as close to their movie portrayals as possible. I always cherish your reviews, they are so meaningful and encouraging! :D Rosalie, haha, your review made me giggle. I know, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Jim is being a moron. What's that poor girl going to do with him? *raises eyebrow and smirks* And you're welcome, sweeting. Thanks for the wonderful reviews, support, and always being such a wonderful friend. =) Cimee, that was probably one of the funniest reviews I've gotten. Yes, Jim is being so infuriating! Thanks for the review and the laugh. :D Wolfess, you are totally welcome! I appreciate your dedication! And awww, okay, I completely understand about the e-mailing thing, it's all good. Also…baaa, I know someone like that too. It's like, "Hello? Can I be any more obvious?" *shakes head at stupid, idiotic boys* And thank you, thank you! :D Amy-Kia, thank you for both subscriptions and for the favorite! =D Skye the Golden Dragon, thank you for the favorite! :-]
Reason for Delay: Gah, I would have had this posted last weekend, I had it typed and everything. Then suddenly my wonderful computer claimed it had a virus. It crashed my computer so badly that I had to get a new one. I couldn't even access the Internet. So yes, I had to retype this entire thing. Oh well, while doing so I made many major changes that should make it better. I hope you enjoy!
Important! Please Read! This chapter boarders on the 16+ age rating. Impressionable readers are warned.
Stranded: "To bring into or leave in a helpless position: He was stranded in the middle of nowhere; also, to be halted or struck by a difficult situation: He stranded in the middle of his speech," courtesy of an online dictionary/thesaurus. Both of these definitions apply to the title.
*face flushes in embarrassment; runs to my bed and jumps on it, covering my head with a pillow*
Chapter Thirteen: Stranded in the Rain
Saturday was quite boring for Kayley, who longed to be outside, enjoying the wide expanse of rolling, green hills of her dear Salisbury. Instead, she was cooped up in her apartment, staring out at the drab, bleak city below. Thunderclouds loomed overhead, threatening an impending chance of rain.
Kayley sipped her tea with milk, and then gazed fondly at her family portrait proudly displayed above the fireplace. "I miss you, Father."
Meanwhile, Jim was enjoying himself at the skate park, performing advanced tricks, flips, and gaining huge amounts of air—all of which received some "oohs" and "awes" and a few envious glares. Yet, he wasn't experiencing the adrenaline rush to which he was so accustomed. It was as if there was an emptiness within him.
O~o~O
When Mrs. Evans returned home, she found Kayley huddled in a blanket on the loveseat, flipping through a picture album.
"What are you doing, dear?" Mrs. Evans asked as she removed her coat.
Kayley raised her head, revealing a red nose and tearstained face. "Going through some old pictures," she sniffed.
Mrs. Evans smiled sadly. "They're of your father, I assume."
"Why did he have to die?" Kayley wept, tears falling on pages of the open album.
Mrs. Evans sat next to her daughter, embracing her. "Love, he died for England, for us, for the innocent. He died doing his duty, protecting those he loved."
"It's not fair!" Kayley indignantly wailed into her mother's shoulder.
"Kayley, dearest, your father would not want to see his 'sweet sunshine' corrupted with such sadness. It would hurt him to know how much pain he has caused you. He would also see it as if you are not proud of him fighting and dying for us, for you," Mrs. Evans gently lectured, stroking her daughter's head. She wiped away the tears rolling down Kayley's face.
"Why don't you go out and do something fun?" Julianna suggested in an effort to get her daughter's mind on a more cheery topic.
"Like what, Mother?" Kayley asked, wiping her eyes with the sleeves of her long sleeved, gray shirt.
"You could go see Monique and do something together. You two like to talk and seem to never run out of things to say."
Kayley snorted, offering a faint smile. She straightened. "Mum, I am an absolute mess," she claimed good-humoredly, jokingly rolling her eyes and making a face. "Why don't you instead tell me about your day?" Suddenly Kayley's mind flew to thoughts of Jim. "Was Jim there?" she asked as casually as possible.
"My day was fine, albeit nothing much to tell. Jim was not there, though I do believe he has an afternoon shift tomorrow. In fact, I think he has a Sunday shift every other Sunday," Julianna prattled on. She thought for a moment. "I think he comes in tomorrow…" she said, unintentionally voicing her thoughts.
Kayley's face brightened. Perhaps tomorrow she should stop on by. Heaven knew how lonely she could get being alone in the apartment. "Tell me," she said brightly, curling her legs under her, "what's it like working with Jim? Sometimes he can be such a pain that I wonder how he manages to keep a job."
Julianna considered the question before carefully answering, "He's strictly professional, mostly keeping to himself, working in the kitchen as dishwasher."
"So much for that. He'll be washing dishes," Kayley thought in disappointment and a bit of frustration.
There was a glint in her daughter's eyes, and Mrs. Evans read it as frustration. Trying to ease Kayley's tension, Julianna offered, "You know, Kayley, Jim's father was also recruited to fight in the war."
Kayley sat bolt upright, perking with interest. "Really?"
Julianna nodded. "Yes, seven years ago. But Jim and Sarah never get any word from him. Sometimes they wonder if he still exists."
Kayley slumped, her face full of sympathy and sorrow. "Oh, that poor boy. And Mrs. Hawkins…"
Standing, Julianna patted her daughter's head. "You have more in common than you thought. Now, don't breathe a word of this to Jim or anybody else for the matter. Sarah told me this in confidence, and now that you know, I will now hold my tongue, and I expect you to do the same."
Mrs. Evans began preparing dinner in their kitchenette, and Kayley remained on the sofa, mourning for Mrs. Hawkins and Jim. She said a silent prayer for them and Mr. Hawkins. She finished her prayer and began to pick up the album, about to put it away. Then her eyes lit and she dropped the album in her lap as she thought excitedly, "Well that explains everything!"
O~o~O~o~O
On Sunday, Kayley spent the morning getting ready for her little "drop in" at Sarah's Café. Smiling and humming, she began outlining her eyes with black eyeliner. Finishing one eye, she gasped. "Mistake! I look like a raccoon!" Kayley washed off her eyelids and tried again, this time not using the eyeliner. She put on her mascara and tastefully added the slightest touch of silvery blue eye shadow. After applying the last of it, she took a couple steps back and studied herself in the mirror.
Donning her short, tan jodhpur boots, navy blue skinny jeans, a bright fuchsia and purple plaid shirt with navy diffused throughout, and her denim jacket, Kayley's fashion style was cool, fun, and flirty. She had decided against fashioning her hair in a ponytail and instead left her hair, just the slightest bit wavy, loose. It framed her face nicely, and her eyes popped. If looks could kill, Kayley would be one of the world's top assassins.
Smiling in satisfaction, Kayley snatched up her handbag and skipped out the door, locking it behind her.
Kayley arrived at the restaurant around twelve-thirty. As she pushed through the door, thunder sounded in the distance. The sky had been darkly overcast for the past few days, and this day was the first of those to receive thunder.
The girl strode up to the hostess desk and rang the bell. Promptly, Mrs. Sarah Hawkins emerged from the kitchen, her hair a bit frazzled as always, and her smile warm and friendly. "Hello Kayley!" She tilted her head. "Your mother didn't tell me you were coming today."
Kayley raised her right hand. "She didn't know; on a whim I decided to pop in and see how everyone is doing."
"I'm glad you did!" Mrs. Hawkins exclaimed, though she was really thinking, "That girl sure got dressed up for just 'popping in on a whim.'" Sarah brushed back some of her unruly hair that was peeking out from under her New England style bonnet. "What can I do for you?"
Kayley self-consciously began ringing her hands. "Well, may I please just hang around here for awhile? It can get dreadfully boring sitting around by myself with nothing to do at home."
"Hunny, you don't even have to ask," Mrs. Hawkins replied, smiling warmly, motioning for Kayley to follow her into the bar area. As Kayley followed, Sarah laughed to herself, "The accent—so cute!" They soon approached the bar. Sarah gestured to a stool. "You can sit here, watch some TV, whatever."
"Oh, but I don't wish to intrude!" she gasped in sincere honesty. "Please, at least let me do something to help repay for your kindness."
"And let me be close to Jim," she added in her head.
"No, no, go ahead and relax. Though you might someday come to regret that offer!" Mrs. Hawkins laughed before leaving for the kitchen.
Kayley leaned up against the counter, extending her left leg behind her, knee slightly bent, and arms folded in front of her upon the counter; she began watching the football game on the television suspended over a corner of the bar.
"Kayley!" Mrs. Evans cried in pleasant surprise, stepping out of the kitchen.
Kayley's head whipped to the left. "Hi, Mum."
"I didn't believe Sarah at first but she insisted you were here." She smiled. "What are you doing here?" she asked, hugging her daughter.
Kayley shrugged. "I grew bored and decided to just swing by and say hi."
Julianna studied her daughter critically. "Really?" she asked skeptically.
"Mhmm!" Kayley smiled and then looked back at the miniature television.
Mrs. Evans gazed at the screen and watched for a few moments. An oblong ball was kicked over a horizontal yellow pole, and then two men in matching uniforms chest-bumped each other in celebration. "American football is so strange!" Julianna said, slowly shaking her head.
"Well, maybe that's because American football is derived from rugby," Kayley informed. "Soccer is the equivalent of European football, or as they say in Spanish, fútbol." Kayley grinned, then returned to leaning against the counter and watched the game with interest. "It's actually quite interesting once you understand the downs, yards, carries, rushes, and whatnot."
Julianna's eyes reflected her shock. "How do you know so much, Kayley?"
"Well…I tend to have a good memory and sense of observation." Kayley grinned coyly. "And, well, for some reason we received a free issue of Football Fever in the mail. I was bored and skimmed through it."
Mrs. Evans shook her head, laughing. "That's my girl."
"I learned from the best." Kayley smiled lovingly before returning her attention to the game. Mrs. Evans gazed up at the miniature television as well, trying to discover what her daughter found so intriguing in this sport called American football.
Their attention distracted, they didn't notice the kitchen door swing open. Jim exited, carrying a handful of bread plates. As he began to pass the bar, he caught sight of something. Spinning, he stared wide-eyed at the girl leaning against the bar—Kayley Evans. She was absolutely stunning, gorgeous. "Wow," he mouthed, the plates slipping from his hands.
Hearing the shattering of plates, Kayley and Mrs. Evans wheeled toward the sound. And the sight which met her made Kayley smile. Jim, hair slicked back and wearing a white suit and black Dockers for dressing code, stood gaping—no, gawking at Kayley.
"Jim?" Mrs. Hawkins called, pushing open the swinging kitchen door. Jim quickly dropped his eyes and fell to his knees, picking up the larger shards of shattered plate. Sarah gasped in horror. "I'll go get the broom and dustpan," she said in a tight tone.
As Jim picked up a few more pieces, he discreetly glanced up at Kayley, his eyes roving over her, drinking her in. When Kayley made a curious glance in his direction, he quickly averted his eyes. He dumped the large shards into a trash bin given to him by Mrs. Evans, and then he was handed the broom and dustpan. As Jim began to sweep, Mrs. Evans rolled a vacuum cleaner out of the supply closet. She left it near Jim, then looked at Kayley and pointed to the machine.
"What?" Kayley mouthed.
Behind Jim, Mrs. Evans gestured once more to the vacuum. Kayley walked over. "Help him. You have nothing else to do anyway," Julianna whispered.
"Oh all right!" Kayley quietly hissed back in feigned annoyance. Kayley clutched the handle and flipped up the button on the machine, powering it. Then she stepped on the foot pedal to lower the handle, making the machine easier to push around, and began maneuvering the machine around Jim.
As she did that, Jim filled the dustpan with debris. He carefully lifted the dustpan, about to carry the contents to the bin, when Kayley acted on a whim and pulled the hose from the machine. She jumped up behind Jim and pressed it to his back. Feeling the suction, he pivoted, and Kayley proceeded to suck up the shards from the pan. Kayley laughed and then returned to vacuuming the floor, and Jim smiled as he replaced the broom and dustpan in the supply closet. Having returned, he lugged the garbage can back into the kitchen as Kayley sucked up the few remaining broken bits of plate.
Jim quickly exited the kitchen, his mother hot on his heels. Sarah studied the floor as Kayley powered down the machine. Kayley smiled at Sarah and leaned against the vacuum. Mrs. Hawkins bestowed upon them a look of approval. "Well, you two certainly cleaned that up quickly. You two work well together."
Kayley blushed just a tad and looked at the floor before stealing a shy sideways glance at Jim.
"Now, Table 27 still needs plates. I'll take them, but I expect you to be more careful in the future, Jim." With that, Sarah bustled into the kitchen and emerged with a handful of plates which she delivered to Table 27.
Kayley and Jim watched the speedy Sarah for a few moments before returning their attention to the vacuum cleaner. Kayley kneeled down and began wrapping the power cord around the notches of the machine to hold the cord in place. Finishing, she stood up, placing hair behind her right ear. "Thank you," Jim said quietly before wheeling the machine back to the supply closet. Kayley grinned. He had thanked her. That was new. She finally forced herself to look away and repositioned herself at the bar counter, trying to once again focus on the football game.
At that moment, Sarah and Julianna hustled out of the kitchen. "Honestly, Sarah, I don't mind going to get the supplies."
Kayley glanced over, straining to hear.
"It's my fault anyway. I'm sorry, I didn't realize how low we were on them! I would have written them on the list if I had realized. We wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for me," Julianna fervently apologized.
"But it's not your job! Besides, I need you here. You've brought me so much business; people love your cooking."
"Well," Julianna answered, firmly planting her hands on her hips, "you can't leave either, so who's going to go to the market?"
Sarah, desperate, searched the room, her eyes landing on Kayley, who was curiously watching the two women. Sarah's eyes lit. "Kayley," she called sweetly, waving Kayley over, "I need to ask something of you."
As Kayley sauntered over to the two women, Jim emerged from the supply closet and began on his way toward the kitchen.
"Kayley, remember that offer you made earlier?"
"Of course!" Kayley replied, beaming.
"How would you like to be my gofer today? I need some things from the store that I didn't realize I was low on."
Kayley considered the task for a moment. "I would love to," she replied, "but I'm afraid the sky is on the verge of a thunderstorm. I'd walk, but I shan't think it a good idea right now, and I don't have a mode of transportation."
In distress, Sarah looked around and espied Jim, who was pushing into the kitchen. A light bulb went off in her head. "Well Jim could drive and you could go together." Jim froze into a stone column. "You two work efficiently, as you demonstrated a few moments ago. And it gives you something to do," Sarah enthused.
Sure, Kayley had planned on being around Jim that day, but not that close and for that long. Talk about awkward. "Uh…" What should she say? What could she say? Mrs. Hawkins had been so kind that Kayley felt there was no delicate way of declining. She had a dilemma on her hands. She desperately looked at Jim, for once hoping that he would protest.
She was not disappointed, for he seemed to be thinking along the same lines. Gathering his wits about him, Jim scurried into the kitchen. Sarah was too quick and grabbed the back of his collar, dragging him out of his hiding place. "It will only take half an hour or so. Jim, go get changed, I can't have you sullying your uniform," she instructed, pushing him in the direction of the cubbies.
Kayley glanced nervously at Jim, who was visibly scowling. Jim snatched his clothes from the cubby and grudgingly headed for the supply closet, where he would change. Wait, that wasn't supposed to happen, Jim wasn't supposed to be caught and bossed around! He wasn't supposed to give in!
After Jim and Sarah and momentarily departed their company, Mrs. Evans stared expressionless at her daughter, who in turn whispered fiercely, "Honestly? It didn't occur to you to save your one and only daughter?"
"What was I to do?"
That was true. Julianna had already offered to get the things herself. What else could she have done? Practically nothing. Kayley massaged her forehead in exasperation. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'll just suck it up and handle it like a man—uh, woman." Kayley smacked her forehead in frustration. "Can nothing go right?"
In a few moments Jim emerged, wearing his clunky boots, baggy cargo pants with a belt that was far too big, black t-shirt, and heavy jacket. His hair was back to normal, though it was rather stiff. In his hands was his folded uniform. Frowning, he nudged open the kitchen door and grunted, "Ready."
Mrs. Hawkins pushed through the door. "Good. I'll go get the car keys." Sarah rummaged through her purse, finally removing a jingling, bulky keychain. She handed it to Jim. "Lay your clothes in the backseat, that way you'll have them if you return and work another shift or decide to go home after shopping."
"All right, Mom."
"Do you have your license?" she asked, warning present in her face and voice. Jim dug into a pocket and pulled out his wallet, flipping it open to satisfy his mother. "Good. Then I guess you're ready to go." She handed him a short list and some money. "Bye Jim, bye Kayley. Have fun!"
Was it just Kayley, or was Sarah wiggling her fingers at them? She hoped her eyes had deceived her.
Jim began to leave. With her eyes, Kayley made one last, desperate plea at Mrs. Evans, who only shrugged in response. "I can't believe this is happening!" Kayley thought in horror. But there was no turning back now. Reluctantly, Kayley shuffled out of the restaurant behind Jim, letting the restaurant door slowly swing shut behind her.
Thunder boomed nearby as Jim loaded his suit into the back of the car. Then he swung open the driver's door and hopped in. Kayley continued to stand on the pavement, staring incredulously at the car. Jim leaned over the passenger seat and pushed open her door. "What are you waiting for? Get in," he said more gruffly than intended. Kayley slowly climbed in and fastened her seatbelt as he proceeded to put the car into gear and pulled out of the parking lot.
There was an awkward silence for a few long seconds and Kayley curiously studied his face. He seemed as nervous as she. Kayley racked her brain for something to say. Due to her excessive reading of biographies and historical novels, random facts of some of England's kings and queens popped into her head. "You know, Queen Elizabeth the First and Queen Mary the First—arch-enemies, half-sisters, and daughters of King Henry the Eighth—now rest in the same tomb," Kayley volunteered.
Jim snickered. "I wonder how they're getting along in there."
Kayley made a face. "It's ironic, but it doesn't call for such a morbid comment." She grinned in spite of herself.
He had responded. Encouraged, she continued on, "Another bitter rivalry between sisters was between Anne and Mary Boleyn. They were fighting over King Henry the Eighth, in fact. Anne eventually became Queen of England, only to later be beheaded for her infidelities." Kayley barely paused for breath before rapidly adding, "The same was done to her cousin, Catherine Howard, after she too married the vile beast." Kayley's face was lively, vivid. "It really wasn't fair, for how could Catherine have been unfaithful if all her dalliances occurred before she knew she was to be his wife?"
Jim shrugged indifferently. Kayley unconsciously began waving her hands and her voice slightly raised. "It wasn't fair. Though I daresay she should have acted with more self-control. Now, if there's a queen who betrayed her husband, it's Eleanor of Aquitaine. She betrayed the King of France with the Duke of Normandy—who would later become her husband, King Henry the Second—several other men I believe, and possibly even with her own uncle, Raymond of Antioch!" Kayley's expression was of utter, stupefied disgust.
Jim scrunched up his face. "Eeeewwww…"
"My thoughts exactly. Another disgusting, horrendous act was carried out between King Henry of England, Eleanor's second husband, and a Welsh girl. Mind you, I said girl. A girl of fourteen, no less. Now, at that time it was common, the norm, for girls to marry that young. Henry, thirty-two, took the maiden of fourteen without marrying her. And he was married to Eleanor!" Kayley's face reflected how appalled she was. "Sometimes I wonder if Eleanor or Henry committed the bigger wrong, but then I remind myself that they both sinned and a sin is a sin in the Lord's eyes," Kayley concluded, hands falling in her lap.
Jim was in total agreement. "That's crazy. It shouldn't be right to marry that young either."
Kayley pushed herself up, repositioning herself in her seat. "Actually, in the Scriptures, it reads that many young girls were wives. But I get your point. Take, for instance, Queen Eleanor's child Young Henry. He was but five when he married the daughter of Eleanor's former husband, Marguerite of France, who was not yet even three!"
Jim almost got whiplash as he jerked his head to look at her. "You're not serious!"
Kayley nodded. "I am."
Jim shook his head and returned his attention to the road. "Crazy."
Kayley nodded. "What's more, with arranged marriages, the children didn't even have a chance of finding true love. It was all about alliances and land holdings and gainings." Kayley sighed dramatically and glumly gazed out the window. "I'm glad I do not live in that day and age. I'd have no freedom."
For the next five minutes Kayley rambled on about England's history and even a bit of where she grew up. Jim, who was unused to having such lengthy conversations, felt his temper growing short. What she had to say was somewhat interesting, maybe, but it wasn't anything he actually cared to know. In fact, it was a bit overwhelming. He wasn't there for a history lesson, and it felt as if his brain was about to explode from information overload. He began to fear that if he heard one more mention of a king, queen, or England in general, he'd lose the little patience he had left. And so he sped.
Kayley gripped the hand support. "Don't you think you're going a bit fast?" she asked, eyeing the speedometer. He was going fifteen miles per hour over the speed limit.
Jim didn't answer. Within moments he pulled into a parking space at the local grocery store. Jim yanked the keys from the ignition and began unfastening his seatbelt. "Are we here already?" Kayley asked, sadly eyeing the store. "I was just about to tell you about King Richard the Lionheart." Jim hopped out of the vehicle, practically slamming the door behind him.
Kayley stumbled out of the car and ran to catch up. "You're lucky a cop wasn't behind us," she said as thunder incessantly roared nearby.
"Yeah, whatever," Jim grumbled, removing the list from his pocket. They were outside the entrance of the store, and it was beginning to drizzle. At least they had parked near the entrance, taking a front row parking space right at the curb. Jim stuffed the note into his pocket and went inside, closely followed from behind by Kayley. "I'll get the flour, you get a 16-ounce carton of half-and-half. Meet back here and then we'll go through line," Jim instructed, heading off in the direction of the baking aisle.
Two minutes later, Jim and Kayley were at the check-out. As Jim payed for the goods, lightning flashed outside, the thunder quick to follow. "Look, it's pouring!" Kayley observed.
"Yipee." Jim picked up the grocery bag and led the way to the car.
Kayley was overcome by the cold as she stepped out into the downpour. Jim reached into a pocket for the keys, then dug into another one. "Hurry! It's freezing!" Kayley cried, teeth chattering, arms wrapped around herself, hair flattening against her head.
Jim set the bag on the hood of the car and checked all his pockets once more. He didn't have the keys. He was struck with an awful realization. He pushed up his drenched bangs, which were plastered to his forehead, and peered into the driver's side window. Sure enough, the keys were on the seat. Right where he had dropped them when Kayley had mentioned King Richard the Lionheart. He tested the door, but to his horror the car had automatically locked.
Hoping against hope, Jim frantically tried the door once again. It wouldn't open. "Great, that's just great," he said angrily, striking the window with his fist.
"You left the keys in the car?" Kayley asked innocently as the rain continued to drench them. His head drooped and his shoulders slumped in response. Kayley gasped. "Don't tell me you locked us out of the car!"
He left the keys in the car. So she was blaming him.
He turned to her, growing more and more furious each second. "You know, we wouldn't be having this problem if it wasn't for you."
"Me?" she squeaked in pure shock.
"Yes you, Lady Chatterley. You and all your talking," he spat vehemently. "You were driving me crazy in there, droning on and on about history of all things! I couldn't wait to get out of that car!"
"Well, you seemed inter—"
"That's why I left the keys in there. I was trying to get away from you!"
Kayley looked skeptical. "So you're saying you left the keys in the car because I was talking? Somehow this is my fault?"
Jim's palms were on his forehead. He was so frustrated with the weather, with her—who had caused him so much trouble lately—and with himself. He violently threw his hands down. "Don't you understand?" he snapped, his face red, "I was trying to get away from you as fast as I could and I forgot to remove the keys!" The rain continued to pound down on them in the awkward silence. "And now we're stuck out here."
Kayley stared at him, crestfallen. She said nothing.
He gritted his teeth, and then a mean, terrible thought entered his mind. He straightened, a rigid, jagged shape against the dark sky. He glared venomously at her. "I wish you never would have come here."
Kayley gaped incredulously. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"
He was lying, but he needed to say it. He needed to see someone else in pain, someone to know what it felt like to be hated, despised, unwanted, and worthless; someone to feel how he felt every single day of his life. It was the only way he could get out his anger and frustration at the world. And Kayley Evans was that release.
He squared his shoulders. "You never should have come to America."
Kayley's face grew red and hot tears began streaming down her porcelain face. She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to look at him any longer, unable to hold back her unbearable disappointment. She let the tears flow. How could she ever have liked him, this…arrogant monster? This horrible, selfish, shallow, empty excuse for a human being? And the worst part about it was she hadn't realized it…until now.
Wrenching her eyes open, she pointed an accusing finger in his face. "Maybe I wouldn't talk half so much if I didn't feel so bad for you." Jim's eyebrows shot up in bewilderment and he began to open his mouth, but she didn't allow him a chance to retort. "That's right. I saw that you have no friends. For goodness' sake, you won't allow it! You don't let anybody into your life because you're so afraid you'll feel an attachment to somebody who won't return it, someone will get to know you and dislike you for who you really are! You push everybody away, using it as a defense mechanism so they never have a chance to hurt you. So you detach yourself from everybody, especially those who care the most about you, and you end up hurting them the most of anyone! You lack confidence and you don't believe in yourself because you won't let anybody who actually believes in you into your life."
It was Jim's turn to squeeze shut his eyes and block out the world. She was the first to understand him. His problems. His insecurity. His life.
It made him all the more angry. Of all the people in the world, she was the one he wanted most never to learn about him. It was too humiliating. And here she was, throwing it all before him.
Kayley's arm weakened and her voice quavered. "I thought that maybe my talking—my company—would somehow make you believe you're not alone, that someone cares about you, that someone understands what you're going through, and…it would make you believe in yourself," she finished, not having the desire to hurt herself further by mentioning that she had wanted the same in return.
He didn't need to hear this. Why couldn't she just let him be angry and hateful? He got it. He was a jerk. Clinching his teeth, his eyes opened…to see the accusing finger still hovering just inches from his face. Instinctively, he seized her wrist and jerked her hand down.
"Ow!" she cried.
Registering the sheer pain plastered on her face, he realized what he had just done. He had hurt Kayley. Sweet, gentle Kayley, who hadn't done a thing to him. Who just admitted she actually cared for him…or had cared for him. And in turn he had hurt her.
He quickly released his grip, letting her arm fall limply to her side. She cradled her wrist and inspected the damage. On it he could see his finger marks. His mood swung then. A sincere, apologetic look crossed his face. But she would have none of it. She shook her head and stormed off down the sidewalk in the opposite direction.
"I'm sorry!" he called.
She would not cease pace.
He couldn't let her walk away. He ran after her and halted in her path. He towered over her like a huge roadblock, but his face was full of concern, sorrow, and care. "I'm sorry…" Kayley turned her face away, completing a 110 degree rotation. "Listen," he reached for her hands, only for her to swiftly pull them away. He was going to give her an apology, no exceptions. But it was a nearly impossible task when the person he was apologizing to would have preferred to stomp on his foot, kick him in the shin, and run off crying. Jim sighed. He found himself faced with no other option except to do the unexpected. He cupped her face in his hands and put his forehead to hers, forcing Kayley to look him in the eyes. "I'm sorry. I really am. I never meant to hurt you. I'm sorry I blamed you for leaving the keys in the car. That was me, I take full responsibility."
Kayley's expression morphed from fierce, fiery hatred to perturbed confusion. What the heck was he doing?
"It's really great what you did for me and I…I appreciate it."
For the first time Kayley noticed what intense, gorgeous blue eyes he had. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. She closed her eyes, wishing the revelations away. She still hated him.
His hands dropped to her shoulders. "You can go on hating me forever, and I'll learn to deal with that, though I really wish you wouldn't," he said.
Suddenly her hate started to dissipate. His apology was touching, and most importantly, it had been sincere.
"But believe me when I say there's more to me than what you see." At that he left her and made his way for the car.
Kayley had never been so close to Jim before, and had never been more intrigued. The intensity was overwhelming, and suddenly she was aware of a burning desire she held for him. There was no denying.
Kayley stared after him for a moment, confused and not sure how to respond. "Wait!" she abruptly called. He turned ever so slowly and glanced at her with the most pitiful look she had ever seen. She approached him at a run, sliding and nearly slipping on the slick sidewalk in the process. She skidded to a stop before him. "Jim, I…" At that moment she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Jim leaned back in surprise, not sure at first what had happened. Then it hit him like lightning: She had kissed him. In an instant, memories came flooding back. He thought of how she had persuaded the principal to repeal his expulsion, of how she had tried to mend what had gone wrong between them and how he had so rudely, so stupidly ignored her efforts. Lastly he recalled how she had spied on him. All the time she had cared and he was too blind to see it. But he wouldn't be anymore. And this time, he wasn't going to throw it away.
He closed his eyes and slowly wrapped his arms around her as her trembling fingers ran through his hair. The kiss continued for a few seconds longer before she pulled away and smiled sheepishly, whispering, "Thank you."
He shook his head. "No, thank you for forgiving me and giving me another chance."
"So he does care!" She struggled to keep from spilling tears of joy. She hugged him. "Finally," she whispered.
When she pulled away from the hug, she looked up at him and he smiled down at her. Blushing red as a beet, Kayley lowered her head and pressed her face against his chest. They stood there in their embrace for a few seconds, the rain coming in a torrent, thunder roaring over their heads. It was so…perfect. It couldn't get any better. As they stood there, Jim became aware that the kiss had started something, and Kayley was only escalating it with her affections. He suddenly had the yearning to kiss her, to run his hands through her hair, to hold her close. He was just about to lean down and kiss her when Kayley stepped back and looked questioningly at the car. "What are we going to do now?"
Jim pulled her close to him. At long last he could take in the scent of her hair, her beauty, her entirety without feeling awkward, that he'd be judged critically for it. "I don't know, but whatever we do, we're not going to do it here," he replied suggestively, huskily, nuzzling his face in her hair.
Kayley joltingly felt it hard to breathe. He obviously was not referring to the vehicle. A thrill raced through her at this new development. "Then we better fix the car."
The two of them immediately marched back inside the store and put in a call to a tow company, and within fifteen minutes their vehicle was magically unlocked.
"Do you think we should buy another creame?" Kayley asked half-heartedly, restraining herself with all her might. She wanted to touch him, run her hands along his arms, feel the electricity surge through them with every touch and kiss, prove to herself what was happening was real and that she wasn't dreaming. Most of all, she wanted him.
With Jim's strained response, it was easy to guess he was feeling the same way. "No, the rain's kept it pretty cold."
Both of them climbed into the car, silent as ever, not exactly sure what to say. They remained silent on the ride back, Kayley relishing the tingle upon her lips and the energy she still felt from the kiss. She found herself stealing glances at Jim, and Jim found himself doing the same. One time they caught each other and smiled, both of them breaking into a small laugh. "Keep your eyes on the road, cabbie," Kayley instructed with a slight giggle. Jim reluctantly did so.
Jim sped the entire way to Sarah's Café, and before he and Kayley jumped out, Jim was mindful to remove the keys. The two of them dashed into the kitchen, Jim dropping the grocery bag at his mother's feet. "Sorry it took so long, left the keys in the car, had to get help; everything's okay now," Jim hastily explained, tossing the extra cash into the grocery bag.
Sarah's eyes flicked up to them, her attention distracted from her cooking. "My goodness, you two are soaked!"
Jim nodded. "Yeah." Yet, both he and the girl stood before her, their eyes beaming.
Mrs. Evans glanced up from the masterpiece salmon that she was seasoning. Upon seeing their faces, she immediately noticed something was different, and she became suspicious. She knew too much of their awkward history. Something was not right here. She held her tongue and refrained from saying anything, however. She would not question and embarrass her daughter in front of others; they would talk later, she decided.
"You need to dry off, you guys!" Sarah cried. "Jim, you should take Kayley home and then go home yourself. You both need an immediate change of clothes."
Jim's eyes glistened. "In that case, I think I'll skip the second shift," he proclaimed thoughtfully, cunningly. Then his expression darkened. "I'll have to drive back, though, to pick you up, right?"
"No," Mrs. Evans answered for her. "We don't want you getting wet again and catching cold. I'll drop off your mum on my way home."
"Why thank you, Julianna! How thoughtful," Sarah exclaimed.
"Oh, it's nothing," Julianna replied, waving it off and peppering her salmon.
Jim and Kayley almost jumped. Kayley had to bite down hard on her tongue to keep from squealing. Jim quickly shot Kayley a devilish glance and jingled the keys in his pocket. She tried to keep from smiling in delight.
"Well, you two should get going," Mrs. Hawkins said.
"Yeah, I guess," Jim grumbled, feigning irritation.
Kayley took the hint, but was less successful at concealing her feelings, though she did well enough. "Yes, I guess we should," she immediately chimed, her voice uncharacteristically dull.
The both of them started out of the kitchen when… "Kayley." It sounded like a schoolteacher calling on a student gazing out the window in a blissful daydream.
"Yes?" Kayley asked, spinning on her heel and pausing in the kitchen doorway.
Julianna looked at her expectantly.
"Oh, right!" Kayley smacked her forehead and hopped over to her mother, kissing her on the cheek. "Love you. Bye!" she chirped.
Then Kayley sprinted back to the door where Jim was waiting, holding it open for her. She tried to skid to a stop, but in her wet shoes she slipped and slid right into Jim, making her erupt in laughter. A smile escaped confinement and momentarily appeared on Jim's face. The look he gave her was something more than would be expected in that kind of situation. Julianna noticed and pursed her lips. Something definitely was not right. Yet she dared not say anything. "Besides," she reassured herself, "Kayley knows what she's doing, she won't do anything idiotic."
The two children turned to leave. Sarah smiled and returned to chopping a head of lettuce. Julianna stared after the children with a worried expression, hoping she hadn't made a mistake.
Jim and Kayley dashed to the car, Jim pulling her by the hand, both of them laughing as they continued to get drenched by the heavy rain. Jim slid to a stop, causing Kayley to crash into him. He lifted her chin and kissed her, again making her burn with desire, and a previously unknown urgency filled them both. Reluctantly parting, he climbed into the driver's seat and Kayley into the passenger's. He revved up the engine, and as the car began to roll forward, he shot Kayley a grin, his blue eyes twinkling with evil intentions. Kayley smiled seductively. "You don't know how long I've waited for this," she breathed heavily.
"You have no idea."
Kayley arched an eyebrow, elated. "Really?"
"I've…I've been attracted to you for a while…I'm not sure how long," he confessed. "I just never accepted it until today."
"And we just never told each other," Kayley observed in quiet surprise. She couldn't resist. She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Stop," he warned, "if you continue, we'll end up in a crash."
"Then we'll just have to wait," she sighed, her tone more enticing than she intended.
Jim stomped on the gas pedal, and soon they sped by her apartment building. "Whoops!" I forgot to tell you how to get to my apartment!" she cried, glancing back over her shoulder at the redbrick building that was quickly growing smaller by the second.
"We're not going there anyway." He smiled his irresistible sideways smile. His smile was one of his most enchanting qualities. She loved it. Kayley slid down in her seat, forcing herself to maintain some control.
The car zoomed up a knoll and pulled into a small driveway before screeching to a stop. Kayley unfastened her seatbelt and jumped out of the car, Jim doing the same. They met in front of the vehicle, Jim pulling her to him in a smashing kiss. She held his face in her hands. He couldn't get enough of her. His hands found the small of her back and pulled her in even tighter. Her fingers began threading through his hair. The kissing became more passionate. Jim began slowly leading her toward the door of the house. He rammed her against the wall as he rummaged in his pocket for the house key. He jammed it into the lock and twisted it, unlocking the door. He pushed open the door and returned his full attention to the girl who was beginning to hyperventilate. He wrapped his arms around her and picked her up, carrying her inside, kicking the door shut behind him.
He finally collapsed on the edge of his bed. Kayley peeled off her jacket and threw it on the floor, and then she ripped his off, throwing it down to join its new companion. She leaned into him, causing Jim to fall back, her atop him. Jim's lips moved to her forehead, then the tip of her nose. Then he made a more daring move and kissed her neck. Kayley offered no resistance, much to his delight. His hands traveled to her shirt, which he began unbuttoning. Kayley stiffened with the undoing of the first button. Her lover paused, not sure if he should stop. His worries were rested as she quickly gave him the cue to go on, sensually tracing her fingers along his jaw. He kissed her again, Kayley so melting in it that she didn't really notice the undoing of the second button. However, she noticed the completion of the undoing of the third button and the significance of the event finally hit her full force. "Stop," she quietly gasped, pulling away.
His eyes reflected his bewilderment and terror.
Shaking, she tossed her legs over the edge of the bed, hands gripping the side, her head hanging low.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, sitting upright.
Kayley took a deep breath and shook her head. "It's not your fault," she said in a surprisingly calm tone. She lifted her head the slightest bit but kept her eyes riveted on the floor. "I've always been taught that sex is something special and intimate that should only be shared between a married man and woman." Kayley began crying. "I wanted this to be special. But now I've ruined it!"
Jim embraced her from behind, setting his chin on her right shoulder. "Kayley, every moment spent with you will always be special."
His gentleness was overwhelming and she began weeping harder. Jim tightened his hold on her. "Stop crying," he whispered. Kayley made a shuddering breath, attempting to obey but finding herself unsuccessful. He kissed the side of her head. She turned to him. He kissed her forehead and wiped away her tears with his thumb. She offered a weak smile. He lay down, pulling her with him. Her head on his chest, he stroked her hair until she fell asleep.
O~o~O
Jim had one arm around Kayley. Snuggling and sleeping peacefully, Kayley's arms were wrapped tightly around Jim. Her auburn hair was splayed across his pillow, chest, and her own face. For the hundredth time that afternoon he cast adoring eyes on her and smiled. He gently brushed the hair out of her face, only for her to tighten her grip on him. Kayley's eyes fluttered open, and meeting Jim's smiling face, she smiled back.
And then she jumped up, panic present on her beautiful face. "Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I didn't…we didn't…"
"We didn't," he said soothingly, placing her hair behind her ears. He kissed her forehead.
Kayley smiled sheepishly, whispering, "Oh yeah, I remember." She sighed. "What time is it?" she asked tiredly, exhausted.
Jim glanced at his watch. "Six-thirty," he announced, nuzzling her.
Kayley's eyes flew open, now fully awake. She jumped out of Jim's arms and dashed over to the discarded articles of clothing. She picked up her jacket and began tugging it on.
"What's wrong?"
Kayley thrust her second arm into the jacket. "My mum gets home at eight. By then I need to be dry and…ooooohhh!"
Jim understood. It would be devastating if Mrs. Evans found out about what had happened, or more correctly, what had almost happened between her daughter and the soon-to-be bad boy. He didn't want to think of it. Yet he couldn't help but smirk as he watched Kayley struggle to pull on her jacket. "Before you meet your mother, you might wanna button up your shirt." Kayley shot him a perplexed glance and then curiously looked down at her shirt. She gasped and placed the three top buttons into place.
Jim tried to hold back a laugh but it escaped.
"You wicked boy!" she cried.
He smiled crookedly. "If I recall correctly, I wasn't the one who made the first move…or the one who climbed all over the other."
Kayley flushed. "That wasn't me, so I don't know the person to whom you're referring."
The bantering was enticing in itself. "She has an English accent," Jim retorted, grinning.
Kayley shook her head. "Doesn't ring a bell."
"Well," he said in a velvety voice, "all I know is that she is the sweetest, smartest, most beautiful, wonderful, perfect girl I've ever met."
Kayley was on the verge of tears. "That's the nicest compliment I've ever gotten," she said. But the sentiment was soon broken when she glanced nervously at the door. "It's still raining, I can hear it," she said worriedly.
Jim stood up and gazed at her fondly and with longing. "Let me drive you home."
"No. If you do that, I'm afraid something will start up again and then, this time I won't be able to…stop," she explained, her eyes full of emotion. "I've never wanted anyone this badly before," she admitted as she pulled her hair out of her jacket. "Then again, I've never wanted anyone."
Jim led her to the door. "Take my umbrella then," he said sadly, handing one to her.
"Thanks," she replied gratefully, taking it from him. She hugged him at the door and reached for the doorknob.
He gripped her hand. "I don't want you to go." He searched her face, hoping she'd show some sign she felt the same way.
Kayley looked up in surprise, touched. "But…I…I have to," she faltered. Kayley stepped out of the door and took a few steps, then hesitated. She pivoted and pecked him on the lips. "Bye." And then she was gone. Jim stood there, watching her sprint down the driveway, all the while positioning the umbrella over her head. He smiled to himself, and after she was out of sight, the door slowly clicked closed. He threw his arms in the air. "Yes!"
O~o~O~o~O
~Jim~
After Kayley had left, Jim decided to change into dry clothes.
When his mother arrived, he greeted her cordially, helping her get settled and the dinner started. A multi-tasker, as she stirred the spaghetti noodles she asked, "Jim, is your uniform in the laundry room? I was going to start a load in a few minutes."
No, he had left it in the car, having forgotten it in the presence of Kayley. "No, I left it in the car. I'll go get it."
"It's still raining," she called from her pot of noodles. "So take the umbrella with you."
Jim looked at the coat rack where the umbrella was usually stored. No umbrella, he had lent it to Kayley. But he had a plan. Jim grabbed the keys, unlocked the car from the warm comforts of his house, and then sprinted to the car. He yanked the door open and jumped in, picking up his uniform. As he was about to hop out, he spotted something bright in the front passenger seat. It was a pink, green, and brown plaid handbag. It was Kayley's. It seemed that she too had forgotten her possessions in their haste to get together. Jim quickly picked it up and hid it under cover of his folded uniform. He sprinted back to the house and locked the car with the keys.
Jim shut the door and turned—right into Mrs. Sarah Hawkins. "Jim, you're wet! Why didn't you use the umbrella?"
Self-consciously, Jim held the uniform and hidden handbag closer to him. "Oh, I guess I was out the door before you said anything…"
"That doesn't account for not using common sen—" Sarah's gaze turned skeptic. "How did you know I said anything if you were already out the door and couldn't hear me?"
Jim's eyes nervously flicked around the room.
Sarah positioned her hands on her hips. Then she looked over at the coat rack. "Where'd the umbrella go?"
"Umm, I think it broke…" Jim lied, pushing around his mom and heading for his room.
"Hold on."
Jim winced. Sarah Hawkins reached for the clothes in his hands. "I'll put these in the wash—"
"I can do that, Mom," he replied, pulling away.
"Jim, give me them," she demanded, pulling them back.
"Mom!"
Sarah yanked them away, causing the plaid handbag to fall to the floor. Sarah and Jim gawked at it for a nanosecond before Sarah murmured, "Jim…what is that?"
Jim quickly grabbed it and tucked it under his arm. "Uhhmm, Kayley left it in the car."
"Oh, well you should take it to her tomorrow."
Relief flooded Jim's face. "Yeah, I'll do that." He began to walk off toward his room, only to be stopped by a firm hand gripping his shoulder.
"Jim," Mrs. Hawkins said grimly, "I'm not stupid and I can put two and two together. Did Kayley come here?"
Defeated, Jim hung his head. "Yes."
"And she has the umbrella?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you drive her home?" came the surprising response.
Jim's face squished in puzzlement. "She refused…you're not mad?"
Sarah threw her arms around her son. "I knew you two were perfect for each other! Oh Jim, I'm so happy for you!" she cried, rocking him. Then her eyebrows rose at a realization. She wasn't stupid, just a bit slow. "You didn't do anything, did you?" she asked, pulling away. "If you did anything, anything to that girl, I'll never forgive myself."
Jim didn't understand why she'd have to forgive herself, but the question made him smile in embarrassment. "No, Mom."
"Good. Now, go wash your hands for dinner," she said, shooing him away.
Smiling, she put the clothes in the washer and started it. She grinned. Julianna was not to blame for the missing ingredients. Sarah had deliberately set them missing. In fact, she just happened to know that there was a half-empty sack of flour and a sour carton of half-and-half resting in the dumpster behind the restaurant.
Sarah was still grinning as she went to the kitchen and picked up the phone, dialing a number displayed on a contact list that was stuck to the fridge by a Sarah's Café magnet. She then pressed the call button and the phone rang a few times, then there was a beep. Sarah began leaving a message as Jim walked out of his bedroom. ". . . It's Mrs. Hawkins," he heard. "Just thought I'd let you know that when I sent Jim out to collect his uniform from the car,…"
Jim's eyes widened. "She wouldn't…"
". . .he found your handbag."
She did. Anger surged through him.
"He'll take it to school and give it to you tomorrow. You can exchange it for the umbrella—"
"Mom!" he furiously shouted. He reached for the phone.
"Bye!" She clicked off the phone.
"Mom, what were you doing? Do you know how embarrassing that is for Kayley?"
"You don't know that," Sarah retorted smugly.
"What did she say?"
"I left a message—"
"WHAT?" Jim yelled, incredulous. "Her mom could end up hearing that!"
Oops, she hadn't thought about that. "I called her to remind her to bring back the umbrella, honest," Sarah offered instead, trying to avoid his question.
Jim huffed. He was so distraught and angry he didn't know what to do. He wanted to storm out of there; he wanted to hunt Kayley down and comfort her, press kisses to her sweet lips, to hold her close to him. Now he regretted not finding out where she lived. Frustrated out of his mind, he stormed into his room and slammed the door behind him.
~Kayley~
Kayley fumbled with her apartment door, finally throwing it open. She ran to her room, switched into her pajamas, and ruffled her hair with a towel. Then she flew to her bedside, picked up a book, and flopped into her bed.
A half-hour later Mrs. Evans, a tad wet, walked into the apartment—and spotted a soaked umbrella propped up against the wall. Julianna bit the side of her cheek. She hadn't recalled seeing Kayley with an umbrella earlier that day at the restaurant. Where had that umbrella come from? Then she recalled she still had to have a talk with her daughter. Mrs. Evans marched up to Kayley's bedroom door and knocked.
"Come in!" Kayley called. Mrs. Evans pushed open the door. Kayley, book in lap, grinned at her mother. "Yes?" Her daughter possessed such a natural sweetness.
Julianna sighed. "Love, I…" She exhaled, capturing Kayley's utmost attention. "I noticed how well you and Jim were getting along at the restaurant. It just seemed like such a quick turnaround. I want to know what brought about the sudden change," she spluttered, cutting to the point.
Kayley nodded slowly. "Yeah. You know, Jim's not that bad, just different."
"And you realized that while you two were shopping?"
"Yep." Kayley smiled sweetly. "He's a nice boy," she said decidedly.
Kayley seemed to be telling the truth. Having full trust in her daughter, Julianna left the girl's room with a smile. Kayley picked up her book and smiled at her retreating mother. After Julianna shut the door behind her, Kayley ran a hand through her hair. "That was close."
A few moments passed, and suddenly the apartment phone rang. Tired, Mrs. Evans let it ring, allowing the answering machine to pick up. The machine was set to a high enough volume that Kayley could hear the message in her room. "Hey, Kayley. It's Mrs. Hawkins."
Kayley scrunched up her eyebrows and frowned in thought. "Why in the world would she be calling me?"
"Just thought I'd let you know that when I sent Jim out to collect his uniform from the car, he found your handbag."
Mrs. Evans froze.
Kayley dropped her book in her lap. She didn't even hear the rest.
"He'll take it to school and give it to you tomorrow. You can exchange it for the umbrella—"
"Mom!" Jim was heard shouting in the background.
"Bye!" Sarah chirped hurriedly.
So her suspicions were correct. Which meant Kayley had hid something from her. But why would she hide anything…? Mrs. Evans stormed back into Kayley's room, throwing the door open. "Kayley, what did you do with that boy?"
Kayley knew there was no use in denying. "Mum, it's not what you think."
"Then what is it?" she demanded.
Kayley was quiet, trying to think up an excuse.
"Kayley, did you get together with Jim?"
Her hopes at hiding her new relationship were dashed. "Yes," she replied meekly.
That still wasn't reason enough to hide the fact, Julianna realized. "What did you do with him?"
Kayley was deathly silent.
"Kayley, tell me the truth, did you do more with him than you should have?"
"Mum, listen—"
Julianna gasped. "Kayley, did you sleep with him?"
"No!" she cried. And then she reconsidered. She had, actually, in the literal sense. "We didn't…we didn't…have any dalliance."
Julianna collapsed on the bed. "I don't know if I can believe you."
"Mother!" Kayley cried, "You must believe me! I'm your daughter! Trust me. I would never lie to you."
"There was once a time when you would tell me everything," Mrs. Evans said, hiding her face in her hands. "Now it feels like I'm losing you. You're all I have."
"Mum," Kayley said gently, "you'll never lose me. Look, I'll tell you everything—"
"No, it's okay," Mrs. Evans replied, lifting her head and wiping her eyes. "It's your life."
"Mother, now that you know, I should inform you that I care a lot for Jim. I've felt this way for some time. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but I was still trying to figure it all out myself. Today was the first day I learned he feels the same for me," Kayley quietly confessed. "I love you."
"I love you too and only want the best for you," Mrs. Evans sobbed. "And I like Jim, I do. Just…promise never to do anything risky again."
Kayley smiled reassuringly and hugged her mother, both of them spilling tears. "I promise, Mum."