“Fine, we’re going shopping.”
“Ooh how fun let me get my purse.” She was off and running which was something I hadn’t expected, I might not have seen Carrie on a shopping spree but mom’s were legendary. “Mom I’m not sure, we don’t want to be there all year. I want Kadyn to hang out by the pool…” I was talking to the air because she was long gone yelling for dad as she went.
Chapter 15
My little experiment turned into a Steele family three-ring circus. Two cars and one hour later the whole damn family was headed to the mall. Kadyn rode up front with me our hands clasped while Josh and Carrie were in the backseat. Mom dad the douche and Nessa were in the car behind us. Dad had given me the stink eye for interrupting his day with what he calls my mother’s only vice. Whatever, my girl seemed excited at the prospect though her hand did tremble just a little in mine.
When we reached the mall it was like an unspoken rule or some shit, the boys and the girls in separate camps. Mom and Carrie were actually talking strategy like they were going into battle. They had a course mapped out of where to go first. Poor Kadyn looked bewildered until I squeezed her hand that I had yet to let go of and promised to stick to her like glue. Dad and Josh griped and mumbled the whole time while the douche acted like he was at an amusement park, fucker was almost as bad as the girls.
The first hurdle was getting her to accept my credit card to buy whatever she wanted, she seemed to think that was breaking some sort of etiquette or some shit. “Babe remember what I told you? We’re a couple now, this is what a man does for his woman if he can. Don’t think about what shit cost I can afford it just buy what you want.” That didn’t do the trick either, so I gave Carrie a secret nod to enlist her help and she took it from there.
I won’t say she ever seemed completely comfortable with things but the pile of bags kept growing because there was always something one of the others thought she just had to have. It helped that they got things for themselves as well and took some of the attention off of her, which went a long way to helping her relax.
“Matthew this is too much what’re you doing?”
“Are you having fun?” I didn’t need to ask because I could see the light shining in her eyes, she’d forgotten to be afraid, surrounded by all of us it was easy to let herself go and be a teenager just having fun at the mall.
“Yes, your family’s almost as crazy as you are and your mom’s just so amazing. I don’t understand why everyone’s being so nice to me though, they’re acting like I’m one of them, like we’ve known each other forever instead of just a few hours.” I just squeezed her in answer. I had come to the conclusion that in this case actions would speak louder than words. This was just the beginning of my campaign to undo the damage that had been done. By the time I was through Bruno would be nothing more than a distant memory, a blip on her walk through life and nothing more.
I didn’t tell her that the women knew what had happened to her and were going out of their way to make up for it, each in their own way. We didn’t have to discuss it but I knew the women in my family, including my new sister in law. I knew with them in my corner it wouldn’t be long before my girl was on the road to healing. It might seem like a silly thing, shopping, but already I could see the difference in her. Mom included her the same way she did Nessa and Carrie, that was just her way, but I’m sure the knowledge of what my Kadyn had endured was never too far from the forefront of her mind and that added a little extra something.
All in all everyone was having a good time except Josh and dad who complained every hour on the hour. I trailed along behind the women taking in everything for future reference. I kept my eyes on Kadyn to make sure she wasn’t becoming overwhelmed in anyway and called a break around lunchtime. We headed to a restaurant in the mall with their haul and already she was relaxed enough to talk with the others in the same light manner they were.
I noticed that when she felt a little stressed she’d find me and draw closer which was fine by me, though every once in a while she’d question my sanity. Two minutes in Josh’s company should soon disannul her of any doubts as to the way of the Steele men. I was hoping that this little outing would also open her eyes to the way things would be between us. There wasn’t going to be any slow build up, no hands off this is too new.