“Understandable,” she said. “Have you been outside atall?”
I shook my head. It really didn’t occur to me to even ask or to try. I missed the sun and the fresh air, but I could live with just staying in the window to get whatever Icould.
“We’ll have to change that once we have better weather. It’s pretty chilly out this time of year,” Kelly said. “But you do need a swimsuit so you can use Elijah’spool.”
“What?” I asked, shocked. “I . . . I can’tswim.”
“Oh, Sug,” Kelly said softly, laying a hand over my own. “It doesn’t matter if you can swim or not; the pool is only five feet deep, so no worries. There’s also a hot tub that fits at least tenpeople.”
“Oh . . .” I replied with wide eyes. I’d never been in a pool or a hot tub. The idea sounded appealing—if Elijah allowed meto.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to go grab Eli’s laptop so we can order you some clothes. I expect you need things men don’t really think about,” Kelly smiled and stood. “If Lilly cries, you can pick her up,okay?”
I simply nodded, still stuck on the idea of being able to do something I wanted to do. I didn’t expect Kaleb and Kelly to be so nice. They made me feel included, like I belonged. Morgan was the only one who had been halfway nice to me, even though he was also the one who made me do things I didn’t want to, and the one that took me from my home. He seemed like he couldn’t decide how to handle me. When we were alone, Morgan was nice, and almost sweet and tender. He would teach me how to please Master Galvin the best, and how to stay on his goodside.
Then when he was there, among others, he’d ignored me or egg people on, alongside Galvin. On many accounts, Morgan was the one being egged on and he never once seemed to care what he was doing to me, even when I was crying and begging him to stop. He’d use me, hit me, and yell at me, making me dig myself more and more into the pit of darkness. He used me for sex, just like theothers.
Kelly was back shortly, holding Elijah’s computer. She checked on her baby before sitting back down next me. She opened the lid and entered into some store’s website, as she explained the whole thing to me on how to get there. We spent some time looking at the different clothes and styles. Kelly let me pick what I wanted and liked, not once saying anything about what I couldn’t have. I found a cute two-piece tank top type swimsuit with shorts in a dark purple color. It was simple and covered much more than most of the styles that she pointed out to me. I also picked out some shorts, tank tops, pj’s, pants, sweaters, and shirts that would last thewinter.
“Once summer rolls around, we can order more summer clothes for you,” Kelly said once she’d placed theorder.
Elijah and Kaleb came back out of the office to join us, and said they were ordering pizza for a latelunch.
“So, how much am I out?” Elijah said through a laugh as he took his bank card from Kelly. He took a seat next to me again, pulling me to his side where I didn’t complain. He made me feel safe andprotected.
“Three hundred,” Kelly answered. “Not as much as I would spend in oneorder.”
“That’s it?” Elijah asked half shocked. “I figured with you, it would have beenmore.”
“I could have easily, but it was tough enough to get Dawn to let me know what she liked. And most of its clothes and shoes she will need until summer. If she fills out any with the healthy diet, she may need a bigger size in a fewmonths.”
“Oh, by the way, Dawn, my dad sent a text to me, and all the results came back clean,” Elijah said near my ear where only I could be able to hear him. “No STDs. You are borderline anemic, but that should get straightened out since you have a better diet. If not, you’ll have to start taking ironpills.”
I was glad there were no health issues I needed to worryabout.
As they talked back and forth, I sat there quietly. I knew these three had a great friendship, and I envied that as I watched them joke with one another. With the envy, I felt guilt. I shouldn’t be feeling jealous. I was a nobody. I didn’t deserve to feel accepted; I was just aslave.
“Dawn?” Elijah said besideme.
I looked up at him, hoping to tamper down myfeelings.
“Are you okay?” he asked, gently cupping my cheek in his palm. I leaned into it, closing my eyes at his touch. “What were you thinkingabout?”
The ringing of the doorbell saving me from having to comeclean.
I excused myself to thebathroom.
I splashed my face with lukewarm water, hoping I could get my thoughts and emotions under control. I looked in the mirror; I couldn’t see anything special about myself. My dull green eyes were lined with tiredness. My face was thin from lack of food but was just now starting to fill out, so it wasn’t all just skin and bones. My black hair was half limp, half curly. It did have more shine than a few weeks ago. Sighing, I left the bathroom and followed the smell of pizza and the clatter the three made in thekitchen.
“Hey, Princess,” Kaleb smiled as he noticed me at the kitchen entryway. “We got a plain pepperoni pizza, or a pizza that has all the works. Which do youwant?”
“Pepperoni?” I answered—more of a question. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d hadpizza.
“Coming right up!” Kaleb smiled as he placed a piece of pizza and handed me a plate. I took a seat next to Elijah at the table, who was busy eating his own pizza, covered in many different types of meat andveggies.
I couldn’t contain a small moan at my first bite. It was filled with cheese and flavor. Feeling eyes on me, I blushed as I looked up. Elijah was staring at me with surprise before he got his look undercontrol.
“Um, good pizza?” He grinned while Kaleb laughed. At least Kelly would keep her thoughts on the matter to herself, although she was smiling while looking between the two ofus.
