The Right Side of My Pillow, стр. 31

Chapter 17

An hour later, Jade was having the best time she’d had in years with Ms. Nash, Millie, and Lisa baking cookies. She had laughed so hard her cheeks ached.

Lisa and Millie were somewhere around the ages of fifteen or sixteen. Lisa nudged Millie. “Ask her.”

Millie nudged her back. “No, you ask her.” They laughed.

Jade used the back of her flour-covered hand to wipe away an itch she had on her cheek leaving behind a large smudge of flour. “What are you two giggling about? Ask me what?”

Millie tilted her head to the side. “Are you Mr. Thornton’s girlfriend?”

Jade cracked a smile. It was obvious both girls had a serious crush on Cole. “You’ll be happy to know that we are not dating. But…” she said with a mischievous smile, “he does have a girlfriend.” Broad smiles and giggles were immediately replaced with disappointment when Jade delivered the bad news.

Lisa rolled her eyes. “We should have known. He’s so hot!”

Jade laughed because she’d always thought he was pretty hot too. Rarely did she talk about her past but felt safe to do so here. “He and I actually grew up together in a home similar to this one. Well, not exactly similar. The energy is much more positive here.”

The room went quiet. Millie was stunned. “Really? We knew about Mr. Thornton, but you grew up in a group home too?”

Jade nodded. “Yes, I did. Why is that so surprising?”

Lisa shrugged. “I don’t know. You seem so together.”

Jade pressed her lips together. “Boy, I’m so far from being together, but I’m working on it.”

Millie put a pan of cookies in the oven as she agreed with Lisa. “Most people have no idea what it’s like to live our lives. I guess that’s why I like Mr. Thornton so much. He gets it. He really does and doesn’t make us feel less than…you know?”

Ms. Nash hadn’t said much but watched Jade’s every move. After a moment, she spoke. “I’ve been told this place is good for healing.”

Jade responded with a warm smile. “It seems like it.”

“It definitely had a healing effect on me. I’m blessed to have so many children to look after and love, but if I could have birthed my own, I only hope that they would have been as thoughtful and generous as Cole. He is one of those people who feels as if he has a responsibility to take care of those that are important to him.”

Jade thought back to her eighteenth birthday when he didn’t show up as promised. The more she thought about who he was then and the man he seemed to be now—something just didn’t add up. Maybe, just maybe, there was more going on and in her anger and frustration, she’d missed it.

After they had finished baking the cookies and cleaning up the kitchen, Lisa and Millie went outside to hang with some of the other teens.

Ms. Nash decided to dig a little bit. “So, you and Cole grew up together in a group home too.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ve known Cole for a few years now, but I have to be honest, I’ve never seen him like this.”

Jade was curious. “Like what?”

Ms. Nash thought about it for a second. “He has this faraway look in his eyes that even when he’s here, he’s not all the way here. Today, he seems fully present. I’m wondering if you have anything to do with that.”

“Oh. I can’t imagine I would.”

“Hmm…I don’t know. The way you look at each other and the energy you both are giving off…are you sure there’s nothing but friendship between you?”

Nervously, Jade laughed it off. “I promise there is nothing between us. As a matter of fact, we’re trying to rebuild an adult friendship. I haven’t seen Cole in years.”

“Mmmhmmm. I know that look on your face. I’ve worn it. Well, if you two want to pretend there is not this sizzling energy, then I’ll follow your lead.”

Jade touched her face. “What look?”

“The one you’re desperately trying to hide, and the one he doesn’t know he’s even wearing. These old eyes don’t miss much.”

“Oh, Ms. Nash. I’m sure that’s not true. He has a girlfriend so even if what you said was true, which it’s not, that’s that.” Ms. Nash’s words gave Jade an anxious energy. She thought maybe she should read some to the younger kids to calm herself. “Cole mentioned that you might need a volunteer or two for story time. I’d love to read to the children.”

“Are you sure Millie and Lisa didn’t wear you out?”

“Positive. To be honest, it’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed myself this much.”

“Great! I’ll never turn down any help. Typically, some of the older kids would read to the younger ones but if you want to let’s do it.” Ms. Nash took Jade’s arm and linked it through hers. “I’ll walk you down to our reading room.”

*****

Cole was finishing up his Algebra tutoring session with a couple of the guys. “Okay, we’re about done going over this material.” He pointed to Jay then Michael. “Do either of you have any questions?”

Jay responded first. “Yeah, I have one. Who was the hottie you came here with?” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

“Who? Jade?”

“Is that her name? Man, she’s gorgeous.”

He laughed. “Dude watch it. She’s family.”

“I thought you didn’t have any family?”

“Well, it’s a long story, but we’re like family.”

Michael and Jay looked at one another then Michael responded. “Like family and family are two different things.” They nodded in agreement and fist bumped.

He lifted an eyebrow. “Whatever. Don’t be ogling her.”

“Uh-oh. What’s up with that? Did you see that Michael?”

“Yep. I saw it, Jay.”

Cole looked confused. “Saw what?”

Jay flexed his non-existent muscles. “Was that a spark of jealousy on your face because you know that if she were to take one look at all of this, she would kick you to the curb?”

It took everything for Cole not to laugh