“Sorry I’m late,” Gemma said as she made her way to us.
The young woman looked frazzled. Something was going on, it was easy to see, and the ladies had said they were worried on more than one occasion. I also could see it on their faces as Gemma stood in front of us then.
“What did I miss?” Gemma asked, looking around the group.
“Daddy,” the twins shouted right at that moment, running up to Bodie.
Gemma’s eyes caught on the adorable kids and she immediately went down to her knees, not caring if she got her pants dirty. She was marvelous with kids and it showed.
“Look at you two pretty little princesses,” she said to the girls, who beamed bright with smiles of joy at her words.
The bolder of the two girls did a spin in her dress while her sister stood watching her sister do the honors.
“We just came to ask our daddy if we can change our clothes so our dresses don’t get too dirty,” the talkative one said.
At that, Gemma glanced up at the man the girl was talking to when she said it and noticed Bodie for the first time. The young woman's eyes widened and then she masked whatever danced in their depths.
Interesting I thought.
She looked back at the girls. “I think that is an excellent idea. Those dresses are way too beautiful to ruin.”
“That’s what I said,” she told Gemma. It came from the one I believe Bodie said was named Peyton.
Her sister Piper hadn’t said a word after she had called out to her dad, but I noticed her reach out and touch a bracelet that Gemma was wearing.
‘You like that?” Gemma asked her eyes solely on the shy child, who nodded her head up and down in answer.
All eyes went down to watch the interaction and more might have been said if everyone hadn’t noticed what else was on Gemma's small wrist.
Deep growls left the men's throats and exhales of breaths left the women’s. Gemma looked uncomfortable and abruptly stood.
Bodie chose that moment to distract his girls. “Hey, munchkins, let's go change.” He took each of their hands and led them around the house toward their car, where their bags probably were. Someone would be taking them to the condo later that day.
But as he walked off I saw him glance back over his shoulder, an angry expression burning in his eyes.
I think we all felt the same way at that moment.
Gemma looked around and covered her wrist with her other hand. But it was too late, we’d all seen the bruises. It looked like someone had grabbed her wrist tightly like a vice, leaving fingerprints visible.
“Gemma,” Jurnee whispered.
The woman was somewhat of a spitfire, kind of like Alley. Sure, I had seen her angry about something she was passionate about, but most of the time she was playful. Lately though, if she was around—which has been less—she was quieter and didn’t seem as happy.
And right then tears glistened in her eyes.
That was something I don’t ever remember seeing.
“Don’t please,” she said softly, a pleading note in her voice.
The ladies had let her have her space. But from the look in their eyes, they were done. Jurnee knew her best, having known her since she was a child, and I could see the heartbeat in her gaze when she looked at her friend.
All the women had the same determined expression.
“Come on, honey. It’s time we talked,” Jurnee told her, taking Gemma’s hand softly from her wrist and slowly pulling her toward the house.
Gemma looked reluctant but she didn’t argue.
When they walked off, the other ladies followed close behind, and we guys stood there staring at each other. Bodie's girls yelled and ran past us back to play, breaking up the silence and he joined us again.
