“Yeah.”
“Did you go?”
Fiona shrugged her shoulders. “Kind of. I sat in the parking lot for a few minutes watching everyone go in and then I left.”
“Why?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me. Talk to me, Fiona. What’s wrong?”
The young teen sighed. “You ever feel like you don’t belong anywhere, Josie?”
“Sometimes.”
“Well, I feel like that all the time. I feel like everyone is just going through the motions. Like I’m some obligation they are required to care for.”
“You feel left out.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I don’t have any friends here. I mean, no one wants to hang out with a former runaway homeless teen mother. And those who do only want one thing from me. It sucks sometimes being a statistic.”
“Have you tried talking to Granny or George about this?”
“No,” she grumbled, sinking further into the seat. “What’s the point? I’ll be eighteen soon, anyway.”
The car fell into silence as I thought about what Fiona said. I knew well enough that kids could be cruel. It didn’t matter if you were poor or had all the money in the world. There was always going to be someone out there who despised you, for one thing or another. The reason behind it was usually stupid, but for a teenager, just trying to survive until adulthood, it made things way harder than they needed to be. Hell, I went to one of the best boarding schools in the world. Every student came from privilege, yet that didn’t stop the bullying. Like Fiona, I just wanted a friend, someone I could trust who would understand me, but all they saw was a cheap Southern girl with a dead mother and a father who didn’t want her anymore.
Even if it wasn’t true, words hurt.
“You’re back early,” Rome said, turning away from the New Orleans Saints football game he was watching. “Kiddos are asleep, and Jack took LeeAnn to dinner at the Country Club. He said not to expect him anytime soon.”
Taking off my coat, I placed it over a chair as Fiona stepped next to me. I watched as Romeo’s eyes widened and he slowly stood, his eyes clearly fixed on Fiona as she looked around the family suite. I knew what Rome was seeing. Fiona was a beautiful young girl and as she got older, she would definitely become a stunning young woman.
Clearing my throat, I glared at my cousin. “Rome, this is Ms. Fiona Mitchell-Steiner. George and Frank’s little sister. Fiona is going to be our guest tonight.”
Rome, with all his Southern Louisiana charm, smiled as he walked over and took the young girl’s hand and bowed as he introduced himself. “Jasper Francis Alexander DuBois at your service, milady.”
Fiona gulped, not quite knowing how to react as my cousin brought her hand to his lips and kissed the top, smiling at her.
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Forgive him, Fiona. The men in this family are full of shit. They know no better.”
Fiona giggled.
“Come on,” I groaned, removing Fiona’s hand from Rome’s. “Let me show you to your room before Rome really turns on the Southern charm.”
Later that night, something woke me from a dead sleep. Rolling over in bed, I could clearly hear voices coming from the living room. Getting up, I walked out of my room to find my cousin Rome talking with Fiona, who sat curled up on the couch.
Rome, sitting not far from her, gave her his undivided attention when I heard Fiona say, “And then I saw him escort Amy into the dance. I couldn’t believe it. I thought he liked me.”
“Want me to beat him up?”
Fiona smirked. “No. What’s the use? It won’t make a difference. It just hurts, ya know. I thought we were friends. I wasn’t asking for anything special. Just to go to a dance with someone I thought liked me.”
“You deserve special, Fiona. Even from where I’m sitting, I can see that. Don’t let one boy’s mistake stop you from dreaming of your happily ever after.”
Fiona sniffed. “Do girls like me ever get a happily ever after, Rome?”
Taking her hand, Rome turned his body to face her and said, “Oh yes, sweet girl. Somewhere out there is your happily ever after and when you are ready, he will be waiting for you. I know it.”
