Saved by Silence

Chapter 9

                                                                                              Kaley

    Pulling into my parents a little after five, and thanks to the help of Jackson, it took half the time it normally would for me to change it. I heard my phone go off a few minutes ago, so I grab my bag and check. It’s a message from Jackson, and with a smile, I reply back that it really is Kaley. I quickly add his number to my contacts and get out of the car seeing Everly has already reached the porch. 

    “Hey, Ev’s wait for me” I yell towards her and quickly try to catch up to her. 

    Meeting her at the door I knock and use my key to enter. Everly takes off running for her Papi, sitting at the counter. 

    “Princess!” he says standing and swooping her up into his arms. “How is the best granddaughter in the world?” he asks, tickling her.

    “Papi stop, that tickles.” she says still laughing and holding on to his neck. 

    “Hey, dad sorry we are a little late. Got a flat on the way here”

    “No problem, your Mom actually ordered pizza and it isn’t here yet. Did you get the flat taken care of?”

    I definitely don’t want to mention Jackson that would bring up too many questions and I pray my daughter doesn’t say anything “yeah it was no problem”, I say quickly. 

    He places Everly down on the ground, “Princess” he says looking at my daughter “as you know we have someone staying with us. You may know her, but your Mema will introduce you. However,” he pauses giving her a stern look “she doesn’t speak right now and I need you to not say anything about that. Can you do that?” he finishes asking her. 

    “Yeah, Papi I promise. Can I go see them?” she asks, getting a little excited. 

    With a chuckle, “Yeah they are reading books in the playroom, but please calm down” and just as he finishes she is running up the stairs. 

    “So much for her staying calm” I comment. With that I walk to my dad and give him a hug. 

    Walking toward the back sliding door, he looks back at me “Take a walk with me Kaley”, he states more than asks. 

    Following him, we walk into the backyard and he heads to the swing set. We both pick a swing and for a few minutes it's just silence. “Okay Dad, out with it. You never bring me out here unless this is a tough topic for you” I say knowing him all too well. 

    “Baby, how are you doing with all this?” he says while staring at the house.

    Knowing I can’t lie or even downplay it with a shrug “As well as can be expected. It has definitely brought up some really bad memories for me, but I am a lot stronger now and I am coping”.  I stop the swing to look at him. I know this is not something he likes to talk about and by the look on his face he is struggling just trying to make sure I am okay. 

    Finally he looks at me, “Your mom and I both agree” he pauses and grabs my hand, “that you are, most likely, Arabella’s best option to help her get over some of her fear and pain.” In shock at what he is saying I start to shake a little. Noticing my reaction he continues “we don’t want you to give her a lot of details, but we were hoping you would be willing to talk to her.” 

    I honestly am extremely shocked, does he even comprehend what he is asking me to do. This will bring up a ton of tough memories that I worked so hard at puting behind me. Taking my time, we sit in silence as I think about what he is asking. Finally, I stand up from the swing and turn to face him. “Dad this may be one of the toughest things you are asking me to do” he goes to interrupt, but I put my hand up to stop him. “However, I also understand that helping Arabella is more important than me finding it hard to dredge up some tough memories. When were you and mom thinking?”

    Looking at me, I see pride radiating from him. The next thing he says takes me back “We were actually hoping tonight after dinner.” 

    Wow, okay so no time for me to really mentally prepare. I nod my head yes and sit back down to swing. After a little, my dad gets up and goes back into the house. The next thing I know, my mom is calling me in to eat. 

                                                                                        ………………….

        Everly chatted enough through dinner to keep us all entertained. While, Arabella barely touched her food and made sure to keep her distance from everyone. Now, Mom and I are just finishing cleaning up the table. “I talked to your Dad, he said you would talk to Arabella tonight. Your dad and I are gonna keep Everly entertained in the living room.”, Mom says to me and throws the towel she was using in the sink. 

    I stay quiet and just look at my mom. She takes that as her que to keep talking, “I have noticed today, she is most comfortable outside if you want to go to the swing set.” With that parting comment, she heads to the living room. 

    Taking a few minutes, I compose myself before walking into the living room. Arabella is curled up on the chair watching everyone carefully. My parents are playing some video game they bought for Everly. I walk past Everly, give her a kiss on the forehead and squat in front of Arabella. “Hey, how about you and me go on the swings? It is one of my favorite places here.” 

    Slowly uncurling herself she stands and walks with me to the playset outside. I sit down and start swinging, but Arabella takes a little longer to get up the nerve to join me. Watching her swing, I decide it’s now or never. “About 9 years ago, someone hurt me. They hurt me really bad.” I can feel the tears start to run down my cheeks, but I have Arabella’s full attention. 

    “I couldn’t fight back. They did some really bad things to me and at first I couldn’t talk to anyone. I just wanted to keep it all bottled up inside.” Knowing my next move could either gain her trust or make her retreat from me, I stop swinging and stand. I slow her swing to a stop and she stares up at me. Turning around I pull my shirt up on my back and show her the scars I have from that night. “This bad person left these marks. I never felt safe after that, I was always nervous and wary around people”. 

    Reaching out, I pray she will take my hand. She stares hard at my hand, almost waiting for it to come at her. Finally, she put her little hand in mine. With a breath of relief, I walk her toward the fort and go up in it with her. Wiping the last of the tears,“do you know who made me feel safe again? My parents, especially my dad. And my mom was and still is the best listener.”

    I look down at Arabella sitting next to me to see tears in her eyes. At that moment my heart broke for her and silent tears rolled down my cheeks from looking at a little girl in pain, that she should never have to experience. “Can I give you a hug?” 

    She didn’t even take time to think about it. She got up and curled into my lap. Arms around my neck and head on my shoulder, I leaned back against the wall. We sat like that for a long time and finally I heard her breathe even out, she was asleep. 

    A little while later, I hear footsteps right below the fort. Looking down, I see my mom standing there. When she caught sight of us, she started crying. Standing and picking Arabella up with me, I notice she weighs almost nothing, I carefully make my way down from the fort. “Did she talk?” my mom whispered.

    Shaking my head, “No, but she made the first move on the hug. She has a long road ahead of her.” I stop at the slider and stare at my mom. “I showed her my scars.”

    My mom gasped, knowing how big that is for me. She took a second to compose herself and then walked us into the house. Closing the sliding door, “Everly is asleep in the spare bedroom. I know you have spare clothes here. Would you stay the night? I know you have to work in the morning, but I think it would be for the best.”

    “Yeah mom, we will stay. I am gonna go put her in bed. I’m not going to wake her to get changed.” I finish and take Arabella to her room. 

    Laying her down in the bed, I cover her up. Sitting down, leaning against the headboard, next to her. I grab the fairytale book from the nightstand and just start reading out loud. 

                                                                                            …………………….

    I slowly open my eyes, to the sound of whimpers. Looking down I realize I fell asleep reading to Arabella. Brushing her hair with one hand, I grab my phone with the other. It’s just a little after midnight, making sure my alarm is on, I place my phone back down. Not being able to tear myself away from her, I lay down and she snuggles up to my side. At that moment the bedroom door cracks open and I see Everly peeking in. Moving over with Arabella stuck to my side, I pat the bed for Everly to come join us. She jogs over and curls in on the opposite side that Arabella is on. 

    “Mamma, is she okay?”

    Taking a long look at Arabella and then finally looking back to Everly. I pull her in closer “It’s gonna take a long time, but with lots of love and patients, yeah she will be okay”. Within minutes she is out cold. 

    It’s at this moment I realize I’m not going to work and Evs isn’t going to school. We need to be here tomorrow. Quietly, grabbing my phone and going through the proper protocol I let the school know I won’t be in tomorrow and then text Sam that Everly and I would be taking a personal day. With that I put my phone down and try to get some sleep.