Sweet Soul (Sweet Home #5)(20)

I took a deep breath absorbing all that she was saying. I lifted my hand to my ear again, but this time, I held the woman’s eyes and pointed to the aid. Lexi nodded her head.

“When the doctor examined you, he discovered your old hearing aid. It was broken beyond repair, but we got you a new one. The doctor told us you should have eighty percent hearing in your right ear now. He thought the last one only gave you about forty, if that.”

That was why I could hear more. This woman, this woman who had cared for me, had given me back my sound. She had, in turn, given me back the world.

Laying my hand on my chest, I lowered my head in thanks. The woman, seeming to understand my action, squeezed my hand. “No need to thank me, honey, it was all Levi.”

My head snapped up at the mention of that name. The woman jumped, startled by my reaction. “You okay?” she asked.

I opened my mouth to ask her questions, but she was a stranger. I couldn’t... I just couldn’t talk to strangers. I couldn’t let them hear my voice.

I closed my mouth, when Lexi’s head tipped to the side. “Honey, can you speak?” she asked. I paused wondering if she would make fun of my voice.

Speak, dumbf*ck. Speak. Let her hear that horrible sound. She knows you can… but it’s embarrassing, isn’t it, dumbf*ck? Your ugly as f*ck voice is as stupid as you. Ugly and f*cking dumb.

My body stiffened as I heard the echo of Annabelle’s taunts in my head. Heard her mocking laughter and dilapidating words circle my mind, and my body froze with fear.

Too afraid to open myself up to judgment, I shook my head, no. I couldn’t speak. I wouldn’t ever speak again.

Looking around me, I searched for the pen and paper I always kept with me, but I couldn’t see it. “What are you looking for, honey?” Lexi asked.

Lifting up my hand, I mimed using a pen and paper. Lexi lifted her hand and walked to a dresser at the back of the room. She opened a drawer and brought over a pen and notepad.

Shaking my hand to relax my tense muscles, I took the pen and wrote, “Levi? The boy from the alley?”

I held up the pad of paper to Lexi and she nodded her head. “Yes, sweetie. I’m married to his brother. Levi lives here too, but in the pool house across the backyard.” I stretched my neck up to see the building Lexi was pointing too, and a flush of warmth filled my chest. Levi. Levi Carillo had helped me. He had saved me. Even when I’d pushed him away.

Feeling Lexi watching me, my cheeks warmed and I wrote, “I don’t remember much.” I paused, a memory of me lying in strong arms filled my mind. Strong arms, bright gray eyes, and full lips that told me I was safe.

My cheeks burned brighter and I dropped the pen, not willing to share this intimate memory with Lexi. It was just for me.

Lexi shuffled forward, and asked, “What’s your name, honey?”

Taking the pen again, I scribbled down, “Elsie.”

“Elsie,” Lexi read when I held up the pad of paper. Her smile returned. “What a beautiful name.” Lexi’s smile faded, and she asked, “How old are you, Elsie?”

I had to think hard about when I had my last birthday. Living on the streets, birthdays and dates didn’t really matter.

Calculating the months in my head, I wrote, “Eighteen. I will be nineteen in a couple of weeks.”

Lexi nodded again, and said, “Just a bit younger than Levi.” At the mention of Levi again, my heart seemed to miss a beat and the same warmth from before infused my body.

Lexi, stood from the bed. “I’m going to get you some food, Elsie. You need to eat to build your strength. You got too thin out on the streets.”

Something worrying seemed to cross Lexi’s face. She moved closer to me, and this time she sat right by my side. Lexi took a deep breath, and said, “Elsie, because you’re eighteen, it’s up to you whether you choose to stay here and get better, or leave.” My chest tightened as she spoke, then she added, “I want you to stay. I can’t bear the thought of you returning to the streets.” Her hand then landed on my arm and traveled down to my wrist that was covered by my bracelet, one of the two bracelets I never took off. Her thumb delicately ran over the metal, directly over the scar that was hidden below.

Dumbf*ck, no one wants you. No one can stand that voice. No one can stand your stupid written notes.

I met Lexi’s eyes, Annabelle’s denigrating voice once again pushing through as Lexi shined a light on my biggest shame. But Lexi’s obvious sympathy and understanding only shone back at me, the haunting cruel voice of Annabelle floating to the farthest reaches of my mind.

“I don’t know anything about your life, and I would never presume to understand what you have been through, but you’re safe now. And if you let us, we would all like to help you in any way we can.”

This time, the tears brimming in my eyes fell onto my cheeks. No one had ever shown me such unconditional kindness before. In the past, these offers always came with terms that I would never agree to.

I was overcome.

Lexi didn’t say anything else on the matter. Instead she got to her feet and walked to the door. Just before leaving, she said, “Levi has been real worried about you, Elsie. He’s been coming up here every day after his classes to make sure y’all are well. He keeps you company. He sits by your bed and keeps you safe.” What she said caused the pulse in my neck to increase in speed and all I could think of was the boy from the alley, the one who brought me coffee and let me rest on his shoulder, cared for me. I didn’t understand the how or the why, but it filled me with happiness all the same.