Soul of my Soul (Take a Chance Book 1) Read online

“Well done. You guys sounded beautiful,” I tell them. I watch as a few students sit straighter in their chairs, grinning from ear to ear. “Why don’t you get your coats and bags ready for the bell.”

  Hearing them all shuffle out of their seats, I turn my gaze back to Star, who hasn’t moved from her seat. She pushes her thumb through the hole in her cardigan, looking around the room nervously.

  “Hey, Star,” I greet softly, bending down in front of her table. “You not going to get your coat?”

  She removes her chewed up sleeve from her mouth to answer. “I lost it.”

  “Have you not got another one you can wear?” I ask softly, worried for her health. It’s freezing outside and soon the ground will freeze. After all, December is only a few weeks away.

  She shakes her head. “No. But Miah said he will get me one.”

  No mention of her parents, I note. The girl is really breaking my heart. She looks so sad, so devastatingly sad.

  “He sounds like a real good brother,” I tell her.

  She smiles at me, and I melt at the missing tooth. “He is. The best.”

  “You finally lost your tooth? Did the Tooth Fairy come?” Last week she was unsettled as it was really loose and hurting.

  Her smile falls into a frown as she bends forward. “Daddy said she isn’t real. I didn’t get anything under my pillow, and I looked. A whole lot.”

  I take her cold hand in mine, feeling the tension in her arm. “Well, I think she must have got the wrong address,” I whisper so the other kids don’t overhear.

  Her eyes spark with hope as she leans in closer. “She did?”

  “She did, because this morning I found a bag of new school clothes that have your name inside. Would you like them?”

  I’ve already checked with Karen if this is okay. She said she called Star’s parents, told them we had some school wear donated, and asked if they’d be interested in having them for Star. It was the nicest way we could broach the subject. It’s clear Star’s parents have fallen on hard times. Her uniform barely fits her and has stains and tears. Karen didn’t tell me much, but she did say she got a grunt from the dad and was taking that as a yes, they would accept the uniform. She also didn’t inform them they were bought by me.

  “Would I!” she squeaks, nodding enthusiastically. She claps her hands in excitement, then winces. My forehead creases into a frown when she rubs her shoulder.

  “Are you okay?”

  She sucks her bottom lip into her mouth, looking nervously outside. “I’m okay,” she whispers, and it’s a blatant lie.

  Michelle, my T.A, begins to call out the names of the children whose parents are outside waiting to pick them up. I know Star’s brother will be late, so I press further.

  “You don’t seem okay. Would you like to show me where it hurts?”

  Her hazel-green eyes flash to mine, and I suck in a breath. There is no denying the fear lurking in them. My breath becomes hard to catch.

  “Star, we have to go,” Miah snaps, walking into the room. I stand up straight, feeling my heart begin to race. I hadn’t even heard anyone come through the door.

  Michelle is glaring at his back. He clearly pushed through as we don’t allow family members back here unless invited.

  “Miah, you’re early,” she squeals, jumping from her chair.

  His expression softens as he looks down at his sister. “I finished early. I fou—bought you this,” he explains, holding up a red coat with a white ring of fluff on the hood. It doesn’t look brand new, but it’s in better condition than her last one.

  Tears gather in her eyes, and as I watch her, it brings back painful memories, ones of a lady bringing me a coat when I didn’t have one—had never owned one. Memories I wish I could forget because I don’t like reminders of the time I didn’t have those things. My eyes begin to burn as she hugs his legs.

  She takes the coat before turning to me, and I suck in a breath at the bright smile she gives me. This one is genuine, filled with so much happiness my chest begins to ache.

  “Look what Miah got me. Isn’t it boo-tee-ful?”

  I bend down once more, taking the coat from her hands. “It’s a beautiful coat for a beautiful princess,” I tell her hoarsely. I help her pull her arms through and zip up the front of her coat. Smiling, I take her hand and say, “Twirl.”

  She giggles, twirling. I stand and watch her entire face beaming with pride. Such a small thing to some people, but huge to someone like Star.

  My gaze goes back to Miah, who is watching his sister with a soft expression. It hardens when he sees me watching him.

  I notice bruising around his neck, and once again, my breath hitches and that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach comes back.

  I need to help them.

  I need to help them like Dad helped me.

  “What?” he snaps roughly, glaring at me.

  Taken aback, I rest my hand on my chest. “Can we talk for a moment?”

  A look of panic flashes across his face before he masks it. “No, I’ve got to get Star home for her dinner.”

  “You don’t want to talk to Miss Carter?” Star asks.

  He takes her hand. “We have to go. Dad is waiting,” he tells her, but there’s a warning in his tone that I don’t like.

  “Please,” I plead. “I can help you.”

  “Look, lady, I don’t know what it is you want to talk about, but you can’t help me. Look at you. You look like you belong in a Disney movie,” he scoffs. “Now, I’ve got to go.”

  He pulls Star behind him as he rushes out the door. Once they’re gone, Michelle turns to me, her face pinched with worry.

  “I’m sorry, but someone needs to report those kids. I know it’s wrong to gossip, but look at the state of them. They need new clothes—clean clothes—and to be given a bath. And is it me or is that boy looking skinnier by the day?”

  Michelle means well, I know that, but it still hurts to hear her describe them like that. I bite my bottom lip, worried for the siblings.

  “I’ve tried talking to Principle Hartman. He said he will speak to the parents.”

  She shakes her head. “There has to be something else we can do. They aren’t being looked after.”

  I have a million things I should be doing, but all I can think of is Star and Miah. “I’m going to try one more time. She was hurt, Michelle.”

  “I saw she was favouring her other arm. I didn’t want to say anything in case I was wrong.”

  “That’s okay. But you can feel free to tell me anything, even if it might be wrong.”

  “Thank you.”

  I nod, mad I didn’t see she was favouring her other arm. “If you like, you can go. I’ll clean up after I’ve finished talking to Principle Hartman.”

  She waves me off, already heading over to the puppet box we made. “I’ve got this; you go sort those children out.”

  Grabbing my bag and coat, I head out of the classroom and make my way through the maze of hallways to the principal’s office.

  I knock twice when I reach it. “Come in!”

  Stepping inside, I find Mr Hartman sitting behind his desk. “Hello,” I greet softly, fiddling with the edge of my coat. Mr Hartman always makes me nervous. He’s a pudgy man, bald and loud-spoken. At sixty-two years old and having been a principle for twenty-nine of those years, I think Mr Hartman dislikes his job. And me sometimes.

  “What do you want now, Ms Carter,” he sighs, blowing out a breath. The way he says my name sends a shiver up my spine. He never addresses any of the teachers by their name, always by our surnames. I should have gone to Karen, but she doesn’t work Fridays.

  “I’ve come about Star Merin, Mr Hartman,” I explain.

  He looks up from the pile of paper sitting in front of him, puffing out a large breath, looking annoyed. “Again? I’ve been through this with you, Ms Carter. Star Merin is fine. You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.”

  My heart sinks. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

  His thick, grey, bushy eyebrow raises questioningly. “You’re not? Then tell me what it is you’re doing, because it seems to me you’re being uptight over a low-income family. You see a girl in the only clothes her parents can afford and assume she’s not looked after.”

  My eyes begin to burn once more as I clasp my hands in front of me. I’m not doing that, am I? “But that’s—”

  “That’s exactly what you’re doing. Now, good evening, Ms Carter. I have work to do before I go home to my wife. Who, may I add, will be waiting to serve me dinner.”

  I nod, my throat tightening. “Okay,” I let out on a mere whisper, standing in the doorway, watching him go back to his work.

  This isn’t in my head. It isn’t. Something is going terribly wrong for Star Merin and her brother, Miah, at home.

  “Why are you still here?” Mr Hartman booms.

  I jump, a squeak escaping my lips. I don’t waste time getting out of there, rushing past the receptionist and a few other teachers.

  “Lily?” I hear shouted, but I ignore them, rushing out as tears begin to flow. They can’t see me crying. They’ll know I’m weak.

  My car is parked out on the road instead of the school carpark. My old parking spot is now used as a space for the bins, and Mr Hartman wants to keep them there so the bin men don’t have to go down the small road at the back of the school where they used to be. It’s just another thing he wouldn’t talk to me about. I don’t like walking out onto the street where there aren’t any streetlights. When I work late this time of year, it’s dark. And with only a few townhouses on the street, it’s pretty vacant. It’s scary.

  I wipe my nose before reaching into my bag to pull out my keys. My hands shake, and I drop them. Frustrated, I take a deep breath and pick them up. Once I’m in the car and have turned the ignition, I sit and wait for the heaters to warm up. My mind soon wanders back to Star and what I can do to help her—both her and her brother. There must be something.

  “Uncle Myles,” I whisper into the empty car, more determined to get someone to listen to me and actually hear my words.

  Uncle Myles is a social worker. If anyone can help, it’s him.

  *** *** ***

  Pulling up outside my uncle Myles and aunt Kayla’s house, I notice my dad is here. My entire system calms somewhat.

  A knock on my car window makes me jump, a small startled scream escaping my lips.

  I shut off my car as Hayden, my cousin, opens my door, her long wavy brown hair curtaining her face.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?” she asks, then takes one look at my face. Hers hardens. “What the fuck? Who the fuck upset you and who do I have to kill?”

  “No one. Is Uncle Myles inside?”

  “Who upset you?” she demands, stepping back so I can get out of the car.

  I slam the door behind me and lock the car. She steps up beside me as we walk up the steps to Myles’ house.

  “I’m fine,” I tell her, avoiding her gaze.

  “Just so you know, I don’t believe a word of it. Charlotte’s inside; maybe you will talk to her.”

  Charlotte is my other cousin, daughter of Myles and Kayla. I’m surprised she’s here though. It’s Friday and she normally works until six. She owns the library she renovated not long ago. She’s made it thrive and even does kids’ parties. Her home is not far behind the huge building, just at the back of my house.

  “I just need to talk to Myles,” I assure her.

  Instead of knocking when we reach the door, we walk straight inside. Benefits of being such a close family.

  “Hayden, Lily,” my aunt Kayla greets. Her dark red hair falls heavily down her back. She’s beautiful, always has been, but her soul is another matter. She’s pure goodness. Just like her daughter.

  “Hello, guys.” Charlotte waves. Her hair is a darker shade of red than her mum’s but is just as vibrant. Both have smooth, creamy skin with ruby red lips. The only difference between the two is Charlotte has deep dimples when she smiles.

  “Is everything okay?” Charlotte asks warily, looking to Hayden beside me.

  “I need to speak with Uncle Myles,” I tell Aunt Kayla.

  “He’s with your father in the living room,” she says, her gaze going over my shoulder to Hayden. I ignore the look she gives her and head into the living room.

  Dad’s face lights up when I step inside, and he gives me a huge smile. I reciprocate, only mine doesn’t reach my eyes like his does.

  “Is everything okay?” he asks, placing his cup of tea down before getting up from the sofa. At twenty-four, I still need him, and I’m not embarrassed to admit that. He saved my life when I was four years old. Many kids wouldn’t remember that stage in their life, but I remember every second of it.

  Dad might not be my biological father, but he’s the only father I’ve ever known. He’s the only man I’ve ever loved. You see, we had a shitty mum. After she had my dad and his four brothers, she left them with their sick father and never looked back. Fast forward twenty years and she had me. I was abused from the day I was born. I was neglected, beaten, and traumatised by the men she brought through whatever home we lived in at the time.

  Then one day, something happened. Men and women came charging into the home I was in and took me to the hospital. That day, I met my eldest brother, but he became my dad the second he took me home. A dad I loved more than anything and who has protected me since the day my life began in that hospital room. Every demon I’ve had, he’s slayed. He’s beaten away so much darkness and fear that he’s my go-to person whenever I feel scared or lonely. He might not be able to protect me from my nightmares and the past I had before him, but he will try.

  We never talk about my adoption; there’s no need to. For me, for him, and even my uncles, I am my father’s daughter. I’m loved and cared for by all of them.

  He’s the strongest and noblest man I know.

  “Princess?” he calls.

  I shake my head and turn to Myles. “I need help. There’s a little girl in my class. She wears dirty clothes that are far too small and is very rarely clean. I’ve never seen her parents either, but I don’t need to. I know something is wrong at home. I’m not judging her by her appearance. I promise. I just know, and no one is listening to me. No one will hear me when I say something isn’t right. And it’s not right, Uncle Myles. It’s not. I’m not seeing things because of my past. I’m not,” I rush out, feeling my chest begin to tighten. I try to calm my breathing, practicing the techniques my psychologist taught me when I was younger.

  “Lily,” my uncle Myles begins, but I place my hand up to stop him. My eyes close when I feel my dad come up behind me, pulling me into his chest.

  “I’m not seeing things. You need to listen to me. Even today, she was hurt. I know it. She was going to tell me what happened, but her brother came in to get her and stopped it. You need to believe me.”

  “Lily, I don’t—” he starts again, but panic rises inside of me.

  “No, you have to listen,” I yell.

  “Lily,” Dad soothes.

  I look to Dad, knowing he will believe me. “Someone is hurting her, Dad. I can feel it inside,” I plead. “Her brother, Miah, had bruises too. Please, the school principal won’t do anything. He said I’m being judgmental because of her appearance. But I’m not. I wouldn’t do that. Ever.”

  “Calm down. We believe you. But we need you to start at the beginning,” he tells me, steering me over to the sofa.

  Numbly, I take a seat next to him and gaze up at him. “You believe me?” I whisper, relief seeping through me.

  “Of course,” he tells me softly.

  “I’ll go make us all a cup of tea,” Aunt Kayla announces, sharing a look with my uncle.

  Uncle Myles has been a social worker since I can remember, and he’s good at his job. It’s why I’ve come to him. I know if anyone can help with this, it’s him.

  “I’ll come,” Charlotte says politely, tears gathered in her eyes.

  When they give Hayden a pointed look, Hayden ignores them. She shrugs. “I’m not going anywhere. I want to hear the rest of what this prick of a principal said about Lily.”

  I chuckle under my breath. Sometimes I wish I could be more like Hayden. She’s fierce and doesn’t let anyone mess with her. I’ve seen her cry only twice in her whole life, and one of those times was when she thought she lost her brother Landon in an attack that left him fighting for his life.

  It feels like I’ve cried the majority of my life.

  I turn back to Dad, feeling hope for the first time. The longer we leave those children in the care of abusive parents, the worse it will be for them.

  “You really believe me?”

  “Even if you didn’t have the past you do, I would still believe you. You’d never tear a family apart if you weren’t so sure, princess.”

  I close my eyes briefly before something occurs to me. “Wait, do you think I’m seeing things because of my past? Do you think Mr Hartman is right and I’m seeing things that aren’t there?”

  He takes my hand. “Fuck no! We didn’t have the best start in life, Lily. It’s not a nice truth, but it’s the truth. Because of that, we see things differently to others. We see behind the fake smiles and lies. If anyone can see if someone is being abused, it’s you.”

  “Mr Hartman doesn’t think so,” I tell him, breathing evenly now.

  Dad’s jaw hardens. “Mr Hartman needs to be paid a visit.”

  “Dad,” I whine, rolling my eyes, knowing he’s being silly. He wouldn’t really do that. I think.

  “Well, he does. Have you reported anyone else in your class for suspected abuse?”

  I shake my head. “I haven’t, no.”

  “Because none of them are being abused. My girl has light in her eyes, but when we first met you, there was only shadow. You can see the same shadow in other people’s gazes, sweet girl.”

  “Why don’t you start with the girl in your class,” Myles says.

  Aunt Kayla times her entrance perfectly, walking in and handing everyone a cup of tea. I take mine, the heat warming me.

  After taking a sip, I dive in, explaining everything from the very first moment of meeting Star; her brother always dropping her off and collecting her, the clothes I bought her, and today.