Jade

Chapter 38

“Can you wake him up again?” Ripley asked.  “No,” Aris answered, “It only works once.”  “That is a pity.  I would like to know if anyone involved in this attack got away,” Ripley said.  “I can answer that,” Max spoke up, “no one got away.”  “So do we keep this quiet?” Ripley asked Aris.  “For now, yes,” Aris answered, “I will talk to Mike Dowd in the morning and see how he would like to handle it.”  “You mean, in like, two hours?” I asked.  “Good point,” Aris answered, “I will just wake him.  Antony and Kale stay and guard the bodies until you hear from me.”

The rest of us got on snowmobiles and went back to the cabin.  There were already signs of life.  “Hopefully they are staying for breakfast,” I commented as Aris lifted me up onto the porch.  “Jade and I are going ahead.  I want to catch him before anyone leaves.  You all catch up,” Aris said hopping up onto the porch.  The back door opened right as we approached.  It was Mike Dowd and he was alone.  He followed us down to where the others were.

He wasn't too happy to hear about Mrs. Drake and those two men dying, but he wasn't surprised.  “I will handle it.  I need to take the bodies back with me,” he stated.  “We haven't touched them, except for the one that I tried to save,” Aris told him, “two of my men are guarding them.”  “We should go take care of it now before people start leaving,” Mike stated, going to a snowmobile.  We all went back to where the bodies were.  Aris, Antony and Kale helped load the bodies into the back of Mike's truck.  When they were finished, they put tarps over the top of the bodies and secured them down.  “I would appreciate it if you kept it to yourselves,” Mike told us, “I am going to tell them when we are far enough away that no one will want to come back.”  “There is a snowstorm moving in later,” Ripley spoke up, “that might work in your favor.”  “We will not tell anyone,” Aris agreed.

We all loaded back up on snowmobiles and went back to the main cabin.  Lia was on the back porch with a bundled up Emma.  Aris lifted me up onto the porch, then climbed up beside me.  Emma ran to us.  She hugged me and Aris' leg at the same time.  “I was so worried,” she mumbled.  “Worried?” Aris picked her up, “You don't need to worry about us.”  “I just do.”  “That is a pretty pink coat,” he changed the subject.  She smiled and looked down at it.  “Where did you get it?”  “Lia got it for me,” she answered.  “Is it nice and warm?” he asked.  She nodded her head yes.  “Can I borrow it sometime?”  She giggled, “it will not fit you!”  “I could wear it as a hat.”  She just giggled.  “Now go play with those kids in the igloo before they leave.  Antony is going to take you, okay?”  “Okay,” she giggled, “who is Anty.”  Aris pointed at Antony and she ran to him.  He took her hand and they sort of skipped their way to the igloo.

Ripley lit me a cigarette.  Then passed them around.  “That is one smart kid,” he commented.  “She is,” I agreed.  “So what have you all been up to?” Lia asked.  “A lot,” I answered, “we haven't slept yet.”  “Wow!  Would you like for me to watch Emma so that you can sleep?”  “Maybe later,” Aris told her, “after our guests have left.”

And we really did wait for all of the guests to leave.  They all thanked us for our hospitality and we thanked them all for staying.  Several young men told me that if I change my mind about Aris, they are available and Aris got several looks from girls.  “I need a bath,” I whispered after the final guest had left.  “Same here,” he whispered back.  He was holding Emma who was worn out from playing.  “Let's go eat breakfast then take a nap,” I suggested.  “Okay,” Emma agreed.  We went to the upstairs kitchen.  Lia volunteered to make pancakes.  We all agreed.  Lia makes excellent pancakes.  So good that Emma ate a second one.  I had three and was done.  Everyone else had four or five.

Emma was a gooey sticky mess.  Definitely bath time.

We all three got in the bath at the same time.  I wore a bikini and Aris wore swim trunks.  We worked on getting Emma clean first.  I was probably clean just from sitting in the bath.  We finished Emma then got out.  I wrapped a towel around her, then put a bath robe on.  “Do we have clothes for her?” I asked Aris.  “Let me check,” he put on a bathrobe and left.  He came back with a nightgown and underwear.  I got her dressed and towel dried and brushed her hair.

I changed into a pajama set.  She looked at me funny.  “We will talk about it after we take a nap, okay?”  “Okay,” she agreed.  Aris put her down on the cot and covered and tucked her in real good.  Then the sweetest thing happened.  He kissed her on the forehead, then both cheeks, then her mouth.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed.  He whispered in her ear.  “Goodnight Jade, even though it's not really night time!” she yelled.  “Goodnight Emma!” I yelled back.  One last kiss on the cheek, then Aris turned off the lights and got into bed next to me.  He had left the bathroom light on and the door open a little.  Emma doesn't like the dark.

He pulled me close then did the same with me.  One kiss on the forehead.  A kiss on each cheek.  Then one on my mouth.  “I love you Jade,” he whispered.  My heart soared.  I felt tears well up in my eyes.  “I love you too,” I whispered.  He kissed me again, but this time requested access.  I granted it to him and he kissed me like that for a minute.

Then, from behind me, I heard, “I can not sleep.”  I turned over to see Emma standing beside the bed rubbing her eyes, “Can I sleep with you.”  “You have to keep your hands off of Yaris' boy parts,” I told her.  “He will not kiss me like he kissed you, will he?” she asked.  “I promise I will not.  I will only kiss you like I did before,” he answered.  “Okay.  I will not touch his boy parts,” she agreed.  She climbed up into bed beside me and got under the covers.  I pulled her close to me.  She giggled.  Aris put his arm around the both of us.  I fell asleep like that.

When I awoke later, Aris was absent but Emma was still sleeping.  I could hear the shower running in the bathroom.  I stayed with her, listening to her even breathing.  Watching the rise and fall of her small chest.  Already loving this little girl.  She stirred a little then went still again.  She is probably hungry.  I know I am.

I felt someone watching us and glanced behind me.  Aris was standing in the bathroom doorway, dressed, and watching us.  My two beautiful girls.  This beautiful girl has to pee.  I got up, waking Emma.  “I have to go potty,” she told us.  “Right this way,” I helped her down off of the bed.  We went passed Aris into the bathroom.  I took her to the smaller toilet.  She went without any help.  I sent her back into the bedroom with Aris and did my business.  I changed into a sweat suit and went back into the bedroom.  Emma looked at my clothes, clearly confused.  “How do you do that?” she asked.  “I just do.  I don't know how to explain it,” I answered.

“I can show you,” Aris offered.  She looked at him.  He showed her his hand.  He slowly formed a glove onto his hand.  She smiled, mesmerized.  “Can I do that?” she asked.  “With my help you can,” he answered, “give me your hand.”  She held her hand out.  He slowly changed her pajamas into a gray sweat suit to match ours and some warm bunny slippers to match mine.  She giggled.  “I will make you a princess dress later,” he promised.  “Okay,” she happily agreed.  “Are you hungry?” he asked her.  “Yes,” we both said at the same time.  “Me too,” he agreed.  She reached up for him to carry her.  He picked her up and carried her with his left arm and held my hand with his right.  We left the bedroom and headed to the kitchen.  Wonderful smells filled the air before we even reached the dining room, growing stronger the closer we got.  “Mmm hmm,” from Emma, “that smells good.”  We went into the kitchen.  “What is for dinner?” Aris asked.  “Sketti,” Emma answered.  “Spa-ghe-tti,” Ripley corrected her.  “Spa-ghe-tti,” Emma repeated.  “Good job!” Ripley praised her, “it is almost done.  Want to be the sauce tester?”  Aris sat her on the counter.  Ripley got a little on a spoon and blew on it.  She tasted it.  “Yummy,” she stated.

“Rip,  we are going to go smoke.  Are you too busy to keep her with you?” Aris asked.  “No.  She can help me,” Ripley answered.  Aris held her hand and gave her an apron and a chef's hat.  She was just amazed.  We headed to the back door.  Lia and Max were there.  “Where is Emma?” Lia asked.  “She is helping Ripley in the kitchen,” I answered.  “I better get in there,” Lia hurried inside.

Aris handed me a lit cigarette, then lit his.  “Are you settling in with Emma okay?” Max asked.  “Pretty well,” Aris answered.  “How did you know that she had been molested?” Max asked.  We explained about the bruises and what had happened in bed.  “Have you checked her for internal damage?” he asked.  “Yes,” Aris answered, “I have been repairing her while she sleeps.”  “Is it extensive?”  “Some of it.”  “Let me know if you need help.”  “I will.”  “I've been repairing her too,” I let them know.  “I thought so,” Aris said, “continue what you are doing.  It helps me.”  “I will,” I answered.

“Can you repair the psychological damage?” Max asked.  “I have been working on that too,” Aris answered.  “We can do that?” I asked, impressed.  “You can.” Max stated, “I can not.”  “I do not want you to unless I ask for your help,” Aris told me, “It is delicate and you are inexperienced.”  “That's fine,” I agreed, grateful that it can be done, “What do you do?  Make her forget?”  “As much as I can,” Aris answered, “Some things I can not.  She has to remember why she can not go back.”  “Have you done that for me too?” I asked.  “Yes, some.  Not as much as for Emma.  She is a child.  I can do more for her.”

The door opened and Ripley came out.  He lit himself a cigarette.  “Dinner will be served in about ten minutes,” he told us.  “How is Emma doing?  Any odd behaviors?” Aris asked him.  “She does not like to be tickled,” he told us, “I tried and she shied away.  I explained that her body is her personal space and if she does not want someone touching it, she should say so and they should stop.  She said so, so I stopped.”  “That's really good Ripley,” I commended, “we may just have you explain it all to her.”  “No way,” Ripley pushed back, “if it comes up when she is with me, that is fine.  But do not bring her to me at three in the morning to explain sex.”  “I was joking Ripley,” I smiled, “calm down.”

“Any other behaviors?” Aris asked.  “Not that I noticed,” he answered.  Ripley finished his cigarette and we went in.  The table was already set.  Lia brought out a huge bowl of spaghetti and set it on the table.  Emma followed her with a plate of garlic bread.  Lia took the garlic bread and sat it on the table, “Thank you for your help Emma.”  Emma beamed at the praise and took her seat next to me.  We passed the spaghetti bowl around, each taking some.  I did my and Emma's plates.  Then we passed around the garlic bread.

“I usually don't like spaghetti, but this is excellent,” I complimented Ripley, Lia and Emma.  Emma beamed again.  “What did you help with Emma?” Theo asked.  I heard a sharp intake of breath and looked down at her.  She scooted closer to me, like she was trying to hide.  “What's wrong Emma?” I asked.  She wouldn't answer.  She put herself under my arm and hid her face in my side.  “Are you done eating?” I asked her.  She nodded her head yes, but left her face hidden in my side.  I looked up at Theo.  I expected a look of concern but instead saw a look of disappointment and shame.  Something is going on.  “Would you like to go take a bath and go to bed?” I asked her.  She nodded her head yes, but still didn't look up.  “Okay,” I pulled her chair out so she could get down.  I stood up, but not before noticing that her seat was wet and there was a small puddle on the floor.  I walked behind her so that her wet pants wouldn't be visible.  We went back to our room.