Walking back into the bedroom, I made sure to keep my gaze straight ahead. Okay, so I peeked a little, but he was no longer there. Stopping in the middle of the room, I looked around, he wasn’t anywhere. Probably back in his study. With a heavy sigh, I climbed into bed.
It was about twenty minutes later when there was movement next to me. Keeping my eyes closed, the warmth of his body caressed mine. My skin absorbed it like I was in hypothermal shock. His closeness heated my center and dampened my underwear. As I tried to resituate myself, his arm came around my waist. He wasn’t sleeping, he'd just gotten into bed, and I didn’t know if he knew I was awake. After he snuggled against my back, I quickly fell asleep.
Aidan was gone the next morning when I woke. Viola arrived at nine in the morning; we were going to tour through the children’s home.
There were so many kids in the home and it hurt to know that they were physically or mentally handicap. To top it off, they were either abandoned by their parents or had lost them. My heart ached. Nothing made me happier than visiting them.
I’d sat down in the middle of a room where some of the kids were watching TV. A girl with Down's Syndrome turned to me.
"Are you Mrs. Viola’s daughter?" I shook my head. "Oh." She looked confused. "Do you work here now?" I shook my head and smiled at her. "I like when you visit." She smiled brightly.
"I like visiting with you." She wrapped her arms around me and hugged tightly.
"Do you like things?" She asked without looking up.
"What kind of things?"
"I like peanut butter and jelly." She sat up looking at me.
"I love peanut butter and jelly." I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "I also like lemonade, a lot."
She shook her head. "Lemonade makes my tummy hurt, but I like cherry drink." I couldn’t stop smiling at her.
"I like to read books."
"Me too," she exclaimed and then got up, running away from me. "She likes to read too," she yelled to no one.
I was talking to a boy when she returned with a book in her hand, Romeo and Juliet. I smiled broadly.
"I love Romeo. I’m going to marry him."
"Are you Juliet?"
"No. I’m Amanda." She giggled.
"Why don’t you read to me, Amanda?" I leaned into the couch we’d been sitting on.
She shook her head. Embarrassment colored her cheeks bright red.
"How about I read first and then you can take over?" Putting my hand out for the book, she handed it over with a big grin.
I started reading the story. Soon the TV was silenced and the kids gathered around Amanda and me. I continued with the story, trying to change my voice with each character. My poor acting skills made a few kids laugh, but I didn’t care. Their giggles gave me warm fuzzies.
"Okay, Amanda, your turn," I held the book out to her. Her eyes widened.
"I-I can’t." Her eyes dropped to her lap.
"Sure you can, I want to hear you read it to me." She shook her head. "You read a couple of pages for me and then I’ll read some more, deal?" She nodded and took the book.
As Amanda was reading, I looked around at the kids, catching a glimpse of Viola in the doorway. I smiled at her, which she returned warmly, and turned my attention back to the kids.
"You okay?" Viola asked with concern on her face.
"How do you do it?" She looked at me confused. "Leave them?" I answered her silent question.
She smiled.
"I know I’ll be back." Viola started hugging a few people. Amanda ran up to me and hugged me tightly.
"Will you be back?" Her eyes were pleading with me.
"Of course," I exclaimed and pulled her to me. Looking over at Viola, she winked, smiled, and then spoke.
"That’s how I do it."
Viola insisted that we go to dinner before heading back to the house. It was nice being out with her and, in all honesty, I wasn’t looking forward to being in the empty mansion by myself.
"Lilli, I want you to consider becoming more involved with the foundation." Viola sat with a serious look on her face.
"I would love to help you more. Going to visit the –"
"No, I mean I want you to become a part of the foundation." She took a sip from her wine glass. "I would like for you to work with me."
My mouth opened twice and closed before I knew what to say.
"I know that you’re finishing up college, which is wonderful, and you should, but I want you to consider working with me at the foundation."
"Um…I’ll…I’ll think about it." I instantly started to go through the pros and cons. "Thank you, Viola."
"Oh, don’t thank me. You’re amazing with the children and I can see how much you care. It’s written all over your face the moment we make plans to visit." I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the kids.
"See," she motioned to my face, "just thinking about them gives you that look. That’s how I knew I wanted you to work with me."