EIGHT
JUSTIN’S CHEST ACHED, and he actually felt her pain. As he continued to stroke her silky hair, he prayed that he’d be able to stay strong for her. She needed comfort and support since nobody had given that to her, and he wanted to be the man who understood. The one she could trust.
His heart broke into pieces as he imagined all she’d gone through. What could be worse than being physically abused and then having friends and family turn their backs and distrust you?
“After a few weeks had passed,” she continued in a strained voice. “I discovered I was pregnant.”
The statement took him totally unaware, and when she lifted her head to look into his face, he knew she saw shock.
“Yes, you heard me correctly.” She blinked away the liquid filling her eyes again. “I had the hardest time deciding whether or not I should keep the child or put it up for adoption.” She pulled herself straight, but he still kept his arms tight around her. “Anyway, my pregnancy started showing and I was beginning to anticipate the time when I could hold my little one in my arms.”
Her voice cracked again, and tears dripped from her eyes. Justin’s throat tightened, and he wanted to cry himself. What a strong woman, carrying the baby for nine months then to give it up for adoption. It must have been the hardest thing in the world for her.
She wiped away a tear. “When I was almost six months pregnant, Chuck came back and snuck into my apartment. He told me he was engaged to be married. When the news didn’t upset me as he thought it should, he went into a rage and... and... beat me again.” Her body shook uncontrollably, so he tightened his hold. “After he left, I went into labor. The baby was born too early, and it didn’t—” Her voice broke into sobs as she buried her face into his chest.
Justin swallowed the lump of emotion in his throat, fighting an inward battle not to cry himself. The agony in his chest was more than he could bear, but he stayed strong. His eyes stung with the tears he held back.
Brooke continued. “My baby had blonde hair like me. She was the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.”
He couldn’t stop the tears from gathering in his eyes this time, and he tightened his hold even more. Brooke had gone through so much. “Oh, my poor angel. How did you do it?” His voice broke. “How did you survive?”
“I... don’t... know,” she sobbed. “Have I survived at all?”
He gently rocked her while his hands helped to comfort, caressing up and down her arms and back, trying his best to ease her pain, and his own.
“After I lost the baby,” she continued, “everybody thought I forcefully brought on an early delivery. They actually thought I killed my own baby just because Chuck had gotten himself engaged to another woman.” She looked up into his eyes. “How could they think I would still have feelings for a man who beat me?”
Her wet eyes tugged at his heartstrings. His throat tightened, and he shook his head. His fingers threaded through her hair.
“There’s no way you could have loved him,” he told her.
“But why... why wouldn’t my friends believe me? Even my relatives doubted my story.”
His hands stopped in mid stroke. Anger sliced through him like a hot knife. “Even Robin?”
Brooke let out a bitter laugh. “Especially Robin. She spread false rumors to the other relatives. Why would they doubt her? She’s so perfect,” she ended, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Hatred for Robin burned to his very core, and he didn’t care if he never saw that wretched woman again. How could she do that to her own cousin?
He took Brooke’s face tenderly in his hands and wiped the tears with his thumbs. “I promise you right now that Robin will never hurt you again. I’ll see to that personally.”
Tears streamed faster down her face. “How can you stop her?”
“I can do something, believe me. Remember, we know each other well.” He paused and searched her eyes for a brief second. “Do you believe me?”
It took her a few moments, but she nodded. “Even though I only met you yesterday, I feel as if you’re the only person I can trust.”
Justin smiled, kissed her forehead again, and gathered her in his arms. She rested her head on his chest and as he stroked her arms, her body relaxed. “What can I do to help? Let me know. I’ll do anything.”
“Just hold me.”
He leaned back against the sofa, continuing to rock her and stroke her arms and back. Justin pressed his lips to the top of her head and gathered her tight. Relaxing against the couch, he stroked her hair and back. She snuggled closer to his chest and laid her hand on his thigh.
It thrilled him to know she trusted him enough to confess her past. They’d gotten closer, and he liked that. He just hoped that she would not push him away. He wanted to get to know her... and yes, even start a relationship with her. He liked the way his heart was light when he was with her. He enjoyed the relaxed feeling and he wanted to experience life to the fullest.
Of course, the only place he could feel that way was up here in this snowy mountain retreat. Until he knew what was happening with Robin’s father, Justin didn’t dare go anywhere else. Here in the cabin, Justin and Brooke were safe... for now.
