Loving His Forever by LeAnn Ashers Page A

bunk beds and full-size beds beside them. Women are sitting throughout the room, playing with their kids. Huge men are sitting by the entrances, like guards. I’m guessing they are there because all of these women are escaping some from of abuse. What breaks my heart the most are the kids’ eyes. They see their mother being beaten down and have maybe even been beaten themselves.
    I was that kid. I watched my mother getting struck on a daily basis over stupid things like the food not being warm enough when something so simple as warming it in the microwave could have solved it all.
    I spot a boy around seven years old. His posture calls to me and has me moving toward him, without even knowing what I’m doing. He’s sitting on the bed, hunched over, staring idly at something on the bed. Looking around, I try to spot his mother, but she is nowhere around him.
    “Hi,” I tell him softly and sit down on the bed beside him. I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, then with a shaky hand I touch his shoulder to get his attention. He jerks away and looks at me wildly.
    I pull my hand back as if it was burned. His light eyes search me to see if I’m a threat before he relaxes. “Where’s your mom, sweetie?”
    I make sure not to take my eyes away from his. “She’s in the kitchen,” he answers curtly and looks toward a door behind us. A woman comes out and looks between the little boy and me. Her defenses come up, and she hurries over to us.
    “Is something wrong here?”
    Shaking my head no, I stand up. “No, I was just saying hello.” My voice stutters as I answer, not wanting a confrontation.
    “Oh well. Thanks.” She gives me a look of disgust and pulls her son roughly off the bed then moves him toward the kitchen. The little boy looks at me with pleading eyes. A woman who cared about her kid wouldn’t touch him so roughly.
    Sighing, I turn around and look for Chrystal, who is wearing a matching expression. That woman isn’t good business, especially for that little boy.
    She walks over to me and lays a gentle hand on my forearm. “We haven’t seen her actually physically abusing him, but sometimes her actions and his reactions prove it’s more than what we are seeing,” she whispers into my ear.
    “I don’t like it,” I tell her, concerned. I look back to the door the little boy went through. “Will you watch over him? If you feel like something is amiss, then there is probably a reason.”
    “Come, let’s meet the rest of the women.” She tugs at my hand and introduces me to everyone. I see a small part of myself or more in these women.
    “Momma’s home!” A woman yells as she pops around the side of the door, holding her baby bump. She has a blinding smile on her face, and the whole entire room perks up at the sight of her.
    “Jessica, come over and let me introduce you to Brae!” Chrystal waves her over. Shifting on my feet, I watch as Jessica smiles and greets everyone. She comes and stands in front of me, and for some reason, I instantly like her. Her presence alone makes everyone happier.
    “Nice to meet you, Brae. I’m Jessica. And this is Hunter!” She points down to her belly bump.
    “Nice to meet you.” I give her a kind smile.
    “Let’s go make lunch.” Jessica grins and walks ahead of me to the kitchen, blowing through the room like a whirlwind.
    Following closely behind her, I enter into a huge kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Some women are standing in the corner, waiting for Jessica’s instructions. I’m guessing she’s the cook around here.
    “Braelyn, come here and help me make some hamburgers. We don’t make pussy food here; we want to get these ladies fattened up,” Jessica yells in a sing-song voice. My mouth falls agape at her crude comment, but I can't help but giggle and move to stand beside her.
    She sets down a bowl of hamburger meat and some spices already pre-measured. She points to the bowl and then to the spices. “Mix those together. Roll them out