Chapter Three-Hundred-Fifty-Six
“I swears daddy, I didn’t have anything to do with it!” Elenore insisted as she stormed into Ashley’s house angrily when Laney had opened it for them and Kevin followed her with his arms wrapped around Summer who had tears rolling down her face.
“I know you didn’t have anything to do with it – it’s impossible. But your manners really suck this morning Elenore and my patience are wearing thin.”
“What happened?” Nick asked curiously as Kevin, Elenore, and Summer rounded the corner to the kitchen where Nick, Sarah, and Dakota were just finishing up on breakfast.
“We were crossing the street to Brian’s house – Jerry, Ellie, and I were already on the other side while Summer who was busy sulking was still in the street,” Kevin began as Summer let out a dramatic sniffle. “The walk sign had just turned to walk, she should’ve made it across on time but out of no where it turned back to stop. Cars came from both ways, neither of the driver’s saw her until almost too late and just barely stopped on time creating a big square around her. Summer screamed at the top of her lungs and by the time I got to her she was crouched down sobbing her poor heart out – she was scared to death.”
“She wasn’t scared to death daddy,” Elenore insisted. “She’s still standing there alive isn’t she?”
“It’s a figure of speech Elenore, and you shouldn’t have laughed at her – that was a serious situation and I am not happy with you in the least bit.”
“Are you okay Sum? Would you like some water or something?” Nick asked politely for Kevin’s sake and he instantly went over to the cupboard to get out a glass.
“Yes please,” Summer sniffled and Kevin brought her over to the table to set her down.
“Ellie why don’t you go sit on a couch or something? We’ll talk in a bit.” Elenore opened her mouth to argue when Nick beat her to it.
“Actually Kev I could really use some help with finishing up breakfast and Id like Ellie to do it.”
“Fine,” Kevin replied waving it off and he turned to comfort his girlfriend after Nick had handed her some water.
“Here Ellie, how about you help set the table?” he asked gently.
“Kay,” she replied giving him a grateful look and he handed over the plates.
“Be very careful please. These plates are pretty important to Ashley.”
“Maybe you should put those on the table and let her do the rest Nick,” Kevin suggested warily.
“No that’s okay. Ellie is a big girl, I trust she’ll do the job just fine.” Elenore looked up at Nick with eyes full of doubt on herself and Nick gave her a comforting smile and leaned forward and planted a kiss on her cheek. “You’ll do fine. I bet Ashley would be happy to know that you helped with her birthday surprise.” Elenore couldn’t help but give him the tiniest smile and she turned and headed to the table where she carefully placed the plates in each spot.
“Daddy I thoughts we were giving Ashee breakfast in bed. That’s what you said last night an’ Sarah this morning,” Dakota spoke up curiously as she sat on the counter next to Bella.
“Yeah we were, but then AJ called earlier this morning and told me everybody wanted to come over for breakfast like they did for my birthday so that’s what’s going on,” Nick explained.
“Oh.”
“That okay?”
“Uh-huh,” Dakota answered nodding her head and giving him a tiny smile and Nick grinned back just as Brian, Jerald, Riley, and the boys walked into the kitchen.
“Where is the birthday girl anyway?” Brian wanted to know.
“Still sleeping,” Nick answered while reaching over and placing a pacifier in Bella’s mouth as she was starting to get fussy. “And Bella is making it very challenging when it comes to keeping it that way too.”
“Well, that’s babies for you,” Brian chuckled while going over and gently getting the three month old out of her chair and cuddling her close to him. “Still want another one Nick?”
“You know it,” Nick insisted, while going back to fixing breakfast. “My life has become all about taking care of babies since Dakota, it’s not really that big of a deal.”
“Hmm…Bri I think Nick should sit in on my delivery…don’t you?” Riley asked and she smiled at her fiancée.
“Sit in on your delivery? Baby I think the more appropriate birth control would be to have him take care of you for the rest of your pregnancy,” Brian teased playfully. Riley scoffed and whacked Brian in the arm and Brian just chuckled and leaned over and kissed her on the nose. “I love you baby, you know I’m just kidding.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Ellie, why are you getting another plate?” Josh suddenly asked as he’d been helping her set the table causing all eyes to turn to them.
“So my imaginary friend can be apart of breakfast too,” Elenore insisted while shrugging her shoulders.
“You have an imaginary friend?” Kevin asked suddenly intrigued and he looked at his daughter.
“Uh-huhs.”
“What is your imaginary friend’s name?”
“Lin—“
Don’t tell them my name!
“-da” Elenore looked toward Lindy with a weird look.
“Linda huh? When did you make friends with this Linda?”
“A little bit after Nicky’s birthday.”
“You know Kev,” Jerald replied while pulling a chair up next to his brother purposely placing it between him and Summer. “It’s pretty normal for a child to have an imaginary friend,” he explained looking his brother in the eyes. “Especially lonely ones.” Kevin looked away from his brother’s judging eyes and he stood up.
“I just remembered I forgot something out in the car. I’ll be back,” he told Nick before walking toward the door and a few seconds later they heard the door shut. Jerald shook his head.
“That’s it, I’ve had enough” he insisted before pulling his cell phone out. “I didn’t want to go here, but its getting bad,” he added, before hitting the number two-speed dial button and placing it to his ear. The phone rang a couple of times before the person on the other end picked up.
“Hi. Mom? Its me Jerry,” he spoke into the phone before walking out into the backyard and shutting the door behind him.
“Okay, breakfast is done” Nick announced five minutes later. “Bri go fetch your cousin please. Kota, Sarah why don’t you go do the honors of waking Ashley up, hmm?”
“Kay,” Dakota and Sarah replied in unison before hopping down from their perch on the counter tops. Brian handed Bella over to Nick who handed her over to Sarah and the two girls headed for the bedroom that Nick and Ashley share. After watching his girls disappear inside his bedroom Nick looked over at Elenore who sat on the floor behind the table in a corner and Josh was sitting next to her being careful not to touch her in fear of being yelled at. Nick sighed and went over and gently gathered her in his arms and Elenore looked up at him in surprise at just how careful he was. He delicately cradled her and Elenore slid hers up and around him happy that someone was holding her and being gentle about it. Why does he know to be gentle though? She thought inwardly to herself. He doesn’t know anything does he? He can’t know! That would be dangerous. He planted a kiss on her forehead and went over and began to make a plate for Ashley.
~*~*~*~*~
“Ashee…wake uuup…” Dakota whispered softly in Ashley’s ear as she had crawled up onto her and straddled her stomach. When she didn’t reply she raised her eyebrow.
“Ashee, wakes up nooow” She told her a little louder but to no avail. Sarah rolled her eyes.
“Let me try,” she told her before moving closer to the bed and lightly nudging Ashley’s shoulder. “Ashee wake up please, its morning.”
“Maybe you should try jumping on the bed – that’s how you woke me up after alls.”
“Shut up Dakota. Daddy doesn’t want any fighting this morning. He wants everything perfect for Ashee.”
“So don’ts fight with me then,” Dakota told her simply.
“I—you—just--dah!”
“Stop it your gonna upset the baby” Dakota insisted angrily and Sarah rolled her eyes.
“I am not,” she told her before rubbing her hand over Bella’s back as she was just as happy as can be. Dakota turned and looked at Ashley again who was lying there snoring softly and still appeared to be sound asleep. She sat there watching her in silence for a couple of moments just thinking about what she was going to do. When she decided she leaned forward so her face was just inches from hers planning to kiss her forehead when suddenly Ashley chose right then to open her eyes meeting Dakota’s deep blues.
“Got’cha!” Ashley told her before sitting up and surprising Dakota so much that she shrieked. Ashley playfully shifted her so she was cradling her and she lifted her shirt up just far enough to see her stomach before leaning forward and blowing raspberries on it and Dakota erupted into a fit of laughter. When she pulled back she gently gathered Sarah into her arms as well, delicately lay Bella on the bed next to her, and she began to tickle both girls. “I got’cha, I got’cha, Nyeah nyeah nyeah nyeah nyeah!” she told them in a sing song voice, enjoying the sounds of their giggles an shrieks.
“Stop…it…ash—eeeeeee” Dakota shrieked amidst giggles as she squirmed about in her arms. “That…tick-leeeeeeeees!” Sarah added. Ashley smirked and finally stopped after a few moments and she reached over and playfully rubbed her hand over Bella’s stomach and smiling at the sight of her smiles. “I got them, I got them, ha, ha, ha, ha…” she continued her sing-song taunting.
“That was not very cool,” Dakota insisted when she was able to regain her composer and Ashley laughed and leaned forward and rubbed her nose lightly over hers for an Eskimo’s kiss.
“I’m sorry baby I just wanted to hear my girls’ giggle and see their smiles first thing in the morning. You’ll forgive me wont you?” she asked giving her a playful puppy dog face and Dakota giggled some more. She wrapped her arms around her neck and leaned up and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“I loves you Ashee. Happy birthday.”
“I love you too,” Ashley told her with a happy smile and she accepted Sarah’s hug next.
“Happy birthday Ashee,” She repeated.
“Thank you ladies, I love you both.”
“Aww…so much love in this room,” Nick’s voice came from the doorway causing all three girls to look that way and find him standing there still cradling Elenore.
“Ellie!” Ashley replied in surprise. “What are you doing here sweetie?” She asked curiously and Nick smirked and brought her into the room with him as he walked to the bed and leaned over and brushed his lips lightly over Ashley’s.
“Why don’t you come out in the kitchen,” was all he said.
“Do I need to get dressed before I make this little trip to the kitchen?” Ashley asked looking at Nick with a raised eyebrow and Nick chuckled.
“I would advise you to but it’s your birthday so you are welcome to do as you please baby.” Ashley got out of bed then and gently placed Dakota and Sarah on their feet before going over to Nick’s dresser drawer. She opened it up, pulled out a pair of his boxers and she slipped them on before going over and gathering Bella into her arms and she allowed Nick and the girls to lead her out to the kitchen. When they got out there she discovered AJ, Howie, Kevin, Brian, Denise, and the whole gang sitting at the table waiting on her to start breakfast and she smiled some.
“Good morning sweetie,” Brian greeted and keeping their new tradition alive he jumped to his feet and went on over to be the first person to hug her. Ashley giggled slightly.
“Good morning Brian,” She told him while returning his hug.
“Happy birthday”
“Thank-you,” She replied, and she went around and hugged everybody else (minus Summer) telling them good morning. After making her rounds she made her way to the empty seat that she assumes must be hers since the plate in front of it has a can of Dr Pepper placed next to it. She sat down and Nick went up behind her as she looked up at him and he leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly over hers.
“The girls and I were going to make you breakfast in bed but then everybody else wanted to come over, so I’m giving you a Free Breakfast in Bed card for tomorrow morning okay?”
“Sounds good to me,” Ashley replied with a small smile. “I like having everybody over anyway,” She insisted. “But where is Jerry?” She added after gently taking Elenore from him and placing her in her lap and she noticed Kevin sitting across the table with bitch-zilla.
“Outside on the phone with his mom. He’ll be in shortly to say good morning and stuff.”
“Oh.”
“Kevin, should I assume that I’m going to be the one to make Ellie her plate?” Nick wanted to know after a couple of moments.
“I’m sorry I thought you were going to since you were holding her and stuff. I’ll do it now” Kevin replied while starting to get up.
“No, no, it’s fine. Stay there with Summer, I’ll go make it” Nick replied taking on Elenore and Ashley’s well-practiced sugary sweet tone technique and he grabbed up Elenore’s plate and went on over to fix it up.
“So, Ash, what are yours and Nick’s plans for the day until the concert?” Brian spoke up not wanting the growing tension from the Summer situation to ruin Ashley’s birthday. She is already secretly upset with Kevin enough as it is, the last thing she needs is her anger and frustration to become known on today of all days. Kevin is very important to her.
“You don’t really want to know our plans Bri,” Ashley replied and she couldn’t help but smile slightly. “You know perfectly well what we’re doing.” Brian rolled his eyes playfully.
“Well, I’m through with trying to talk you out of it I realize its pointless. I just hope you know I’m going to be worrying about you until the very moment you’re safe on the ground and you’ve called me.” Ashley reached over and gently squeezed Brian’s shoulder.
“I don’t want to put you through this anxiety Brian, but its something I have to do. Please understand that.”
“I know sweetie, I understand. Doesn’t mean I have to approve of it” he told her with a small smile.
“Are you gong to watch the children for us?” Nick questioned as he brought his plate as well as Ellie’s to the table and he sat down in his spot next to Ashley before placing Ellie’s plate in front of her and digging into his own food.
“Mhm,” Brian nodded. “I’ll already be baby-sitting anyway so what’s three more children gonna hurt?” Brian teased. Elenore snuggled into Ashley at Brian’s words as she quietly ate her breakfast feeling a few emotions all at once. Hurt because of Summer – but that’s pretty much the story of her life, she’s used to hurting she can bare it if she must. Neglected by Kevin and happy that someone is being gentle enough for her to snuggle with them. Why they know to be gentle, she doesn’t know but why question a good thing? Ashley quietly looked down at Elenore upon feeling her nestle into her and noticed just underneath her shirt a little below her neck a purplish blue mark. If she didn’t know any better she would say it resembled a bruise. Lightly resting her chin on top of Elenore’s head she continued to eat and socialize pretending not to have noticed under Summer’s watch but she will not forget it. After breakfast was over Dakota appeared in front of Ashley.
“Ellie come on, let’s go play. Daddy can we play with your playstation please?”
“Of course sweetie. But remember daddy’s rules for it okay? Make sure your friends know them too.”
“Kay,” Dakota replied, and she waited as Elenore slowly slid off of Ashley’s lap before she, Josh, and Spencer ran off to play. Nick took Ashley’s plate as well as his own to the sink and while he was putting together a dish washing party with a couple of other adults Ashley walked outside to the backyard where Jerald was still at.
“Mom, I’m telling you I don’t know what to do,” she listened to him confess. He heard her close the door behind her and turned to look at her and he smiled at her some before holding an arm out toward her. Ashley walked over to him and allowed him to pull her into a hug and she returned it. After a couple of moments she pulled back and quietly stood there listening to him. “He’s just not himself anymore and I’m worried for Ellie because she isn’t herself either and it’s really frightening me.” He listened for a moment as his mother spoke on the other end. “I wouldn’t ask you to if it weren’t important momma. I really think he needs you. He wont listen to me, he won’t listen to the boys, he won’t listen to Ellie…Summer has him wrapped around her finger…I just really think this is a mother’s job.” He was silent for another moment as he listened. “Okay great…thanks mom. I know Ellie will love to have you here. I have a feeling that she could really use a grandmother’s touch right now. How soon can you get here?” She spoke some more and then he replied. “Cool, I’ll be at the airport to pick you up tonight then. Love you momma.” He listened as she replied. “Bye,” he told her and then he hung up.
“Is Grandma Ann coming to the rescue?” Ashley asked with a small smile when he looked at her.
“Mhm. She was over at Aunt Jackie’s house so Aunt Jackie will be coming as well. She insists that she needs to be here to spend sometime with Riley and her grandchildren too.”
“Yay, home cooked meals!” Ashley cheered and Jerald chuckled.
“Well I’m glad to see your enthusiasm, because you know they’re both going to want to cook you a big dinner tomorrow night – Kentucky style.”
“That’s the best kind,” Ashley beamed and Jerald pulled her into another hug.
“Happy birthday sweetie. I bet I missed breakfast huh?”
“Yeah, but it was important so you’re forgiven.”
“Thanks,” he chuckled.
“Nicky said he was going to save you some, so you should probably go see about that.”
“Yes, my stomach would agree” Jerald told her and while keeping his arm wrapped around her, they went inside. Once in there, Ashley spotted Marcus and gently grabbed his arm and lightly pulled him around the corner toward the stairs.
“Well its good to see you too,” He chuckled as he let himself be pulled a long.
“I need to talk to you,” was all Ashley said before taking him up the stairs. When they got up there and were standing with the other security guards she made sure there wasn’t anybody else around and then looked at them.
“Whats up sweetie?” Laney questioned.
“Does Kevin have cameras put up in his house?” she asked in a low voice.
“Well yeah, but they are never turned on because for awhile he wasn’t even living there. And since you aren’t staying with him we didn’t even bother with them. Why?”
“I want you to turn them on and I don’t want Kevin to know about it.”
“Three words for you sweetie…evasion of privacy.”
“I could careless about privacy right now,” Ashley told Marcus seriously. “I have reason to believe that Ellie is being abused.”
“By Kevin?” Q asked incredulously. “Honey that’s a pretty serious accusation.”
“No not by Kevin,” Ashley answered patiently. “By Bitch-Zilla. I don’t want to bring it up to Kevin though because I know he is too wrapped up in Summer to believe me right now.”
“I need to know why you think she is being abused first,” Marcus insisted. “I am not evading Kevin’s privacy unless there is a very good reason.”
“I saw something that could be a bruise…and think about it Marcus, think about how she’s been behaving lately. Nick and I were just discussing it last night after Dakota came to us and brought to our attention that something might be wrong – we’re both very concerned for her.”
“Jerry did say she doesn’t let anybody touch her anymore…and she downright refuses to let Josh sleep with her too,” Q pointed out. “And we all know that she is nowhere near ready for it.”
“Go get Ellie Ash…bring her here. If she’s covered in bruises why not just show Kevin that?”
“Because I don’t think Kevin is ready for it. I think he’ll automatically blame Jerry…or someone else before he believes that it was Summer. I want to get it on camera so he can’t deny it. But I’ll go get her if that will motivate you to turn the cameras on.” Laney nodded.
“Please do because we need a very good reason before we go and evade Kev’s privacy. Because to catch Summer we might have to put cameras in the bedrooms.”
“I’ll be right back then,” Ashley replied, and she went on downstairs where the children were sitting in the front room playing video games. She sat down on the floor next to Dakota and carefully gathered Elenore into her arms.
“Hey sweetie…” She spoke gently.
“Hi Ashee,” Elenore answered quietly and Ashley combed her fingers through her hair.
“Will you come upstairs with me for a few moments please? Marcus and I want to talk to you.”
“What about?” Elenore asked cautiously when she noticed the satisfied and grateful look on Lindy’s face.
“We’re just curious about how our little Ellie is doing, that’s all.”
“Your little Ellie is doing fine,” Elenore insisted before making an attempt to squirm out of Ashley’s arms but Ashley tightened them around her still being very careful.
“Ellie please. You know you can trust me…please trust me.”
“Why do you an’ Marcus wanna talks to me?”
“Why wouldn’t we? You are such a great kid and we just love you that much.”
“Why me? Why nots any of the other kids too?”
“Well, that’s a good question” Ashley replied and she looked the children over decisively, trying to think of who would be the best at keeping secrets.
“Chris how about you? Wanna come upstairs and hang out with Marcus, Ellie, and me?”
“Whatever,” Chris shrugged feinting indifference to hide the fact that he is slightly concerned for his cousin too. If anyone tries to accuse him of it, he’ll simply say that he was just curious as to why he all of the sudden gets Josh to himself lately – not that he is complaining or anything – just curious.
“Okay,” Ashley told him while hiding her amusement as she can see right through his charade. “So how about it Ellie?” she asked gently, once again looking down at the cautious five year old. Elenore looked over at the once CD covered flat surface of the small entertainment center with a look like she is asking for approval only to find that her Grandmother is following Chris’s lead and acting as if she doesn’t care ether way. Ashley raised her eyebrow in curiosity and looked over there as well.
“That is, if its okay with Linda of course.”
“She seemed excited abouts it earlier, but now doesn’t seem to care. Why?” Elenore asked suspiciously and Ashley shrugged.
“Maybe because its not such a big deal,” Ashley suggested gently. “We just want to talk to you sweetie. Why are you so skeptical?”
“Are we going to hang out with Marcus or what?” Chris asked impatiently and Ashley gave Elenore a questioning look. Elenore gazed up at Ashley not so sure just yet if she should trust her. But not wanting Chris to get annoying she sighed and slid her arms around Ashley’s neck.
“Kay,” She told her softly and Ashley stood up and headed for the stairs after checking to see if Chris was following. When they got upstairs Ashley gave Marcus and Laney a look with her eyes before taking the children into her parents room where she knew they wouldn’t be disturbed. Nobody is allowed in that room without Ashley’s permission. Marcus and Laney followed them in there shutting the door behind them and Ashley sat in the middle of the bed with Elenore settled in her lap. Chris leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest making himself look mildly bored and Marcus and Laney took seats on the floor.
“Why did you takes us into a whole different room to talk?” Elenore asked suspiciously.
“Because…we wanted to keep you all to ourselves that’s why. We don’t like to share” Marcus told her playfully and Elenore continued to regard him wearily.
“You don’ts normally take us into a private room unless you wants to talk about something serious,” She pointed out.
“Well, that’s because we do…” Ashley told her, deciding that there is no easier way to dive into this. It gets tiring trying to ease Ellie into telling her what she wants to know, especially since she is always so cautious and so untrusting of her and she isn’t used to that. But she knows there are going to be a lot of children like that in the career path she hopes to take so she hopes to one day master Ellie’s trust. If she is going to freak out, she’ll freak out and they’ll just deal with it.
“Well I don’ts want to talk serious,” She insisted and she started to crawl out of Ashley’s lap but Ashley gently stopped her.
“Ellie…”
“Please,” Elenore pleaded, her eyes filling with tears.
“Come on Ellie, talk to me,” Ashley begged and she carefully rubbed her hand over her back in a slow circular motion. “What is going on with you lately? You haven’t been yourself.”
“Nothing, I’m fine.”
“You and I both know that you aren’t. If something is going on, don’t you want someone to put an end to it?”
“I can’ts tell you,” Elenore insisted as the tears that had filled her eyes rolled down her cheek.
“Why not? Because you don’t want to, or someone else doesn’t want you to?” Laney spoke up. Elenore didn’t answer.
“Why don’t you let anybody near you anymore?” Ashley wanted to know. “Is it because it hurts when people touch you?”
“No I’m fine,” Elenore insisted, and she started to crawl away again. Ashley pulled her back and despite the five year old’s struggles and whimpers, she grabbed hold of the hem of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head revealing bruises worse then what Shelly had given her. There is not one part of her whole upper body that isn’t covered in bruises. Chris gasped in horror at the sight and Elenore looked away wanting nothing more then to crawl into a hole somewhere and hide. Summer is definitely going to hurt her now.
“You shouldn’ts have done that!” she insisted, her voice full of so much anger and frustration.
“Why not sweetie? This is something that we needed to know. Something that we can fix” Marcus insisted.
“No you can’ts!” Elenore shouted. “My daddy is going to be so unhappy now and its all your fault!”
“Why would he be unhappy?” Ashley spoke up again lightly combing her fingers through her hair. “Because Summer said so?”
“Because daddy loves her more then me, an’ he won’ts care if he finds out I’ve been abused. I’m just in the ways an’ he is counting down the days when my other daddy will finally come an’ takes me back,” Elenore cried. “An’ he is going to be so unhappy an’ disappointed for getting Summer in troubles!”
“That is not true,” Chris spoke up. “When are you going to open your eyes and see that you mean a lot to him?”
“Kind of hard to sees that when he lets Summer come between us!”
“Kevin hasn’t been in love for quite awhile Ellie…he was aching to start dating again” Ashley explained. “So he fell for the first beautiful woman that he saw…sometimes when grownups fall in love they don’t always see the bigger picture – they make mistakes. Kevin loves you very much he just doesn’t understand what he is doing wrong.”
“Buts you, Uncle Jerry, an’ everybody else tells him all the time.”
“Yes I know…but sometimes when grownups fall in love with another person they tend to become blind to their flaws…he looks at Summer and thinks she can’t do anything wrong and he wont believe a word anybody else says. It happens sometimes.”
“Buts if he won’ts believe you then how are you gonna stops her from hurting me?” Elenore wanted to know.
“You leave that to Laney and me okay?” Marcus asked gently. “We’re going to take care of everything, ” he added while looking at Ashley and Ashley smiled at him gratefully. She is happy that she will be able to enjoy the rest of her birthday knowing that Marcus was going to get rid of Summer. That fact alone takes a huge weight from her shoulders.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
