One for All and All for One
This story is the property of the co-authors and cannot be reproduced or distributed without specific consent of the authors. It is written for your enjoyment only. Any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental.
Part Three
By Chrissy and Peyton
Another week passed and Rose Marie met with Kayla to discuss some financial issues surrounding her pending divorce. There were also some other financial matters of Kayla's they needed to discuss. As they were sitting in the kitchen discussing them, Ella, who had gone to pick Alexis up from school, came in with Alexis.
"Hi Alexis," Rose Marie said.
"Hey, what are you two doing?" she asked Kayla and Rose Marie.
"Kayla is helping me go over some financial records. She is better at math than I am so I asked her to help me. How was school today?" Rose Marie asked her.
"It was good. This new computer has been great for taking notes. Even my teachers have commented on how it is one of the best laptops out there," she proudly told everyone.
They all smiled knowing it was a great laptop, but more how it seemed to be a source of pride for Alexis.
"Why don't you take your homework out in the living room and let's leave these two alone to finish what business they were doing," Ella told Alexis.
"Well, okay," Alexis reluctantly said as she wasn't sure why she couldn't be in there and a part of the conversation between Rose Marie and Kayla.
Rose Marie continued to show Kayla her list of assets and debts. She was asking Kayla's advice as to what to ask for as she was planning on getting a divorce from Billy.
"Okay, let's divide this up into three lists," Kayla proceeded to tell Rose Marie. "The first list will consist of things you prefer not to give up or really need in order to survive such as your personal belongings, child support and shelter. Do you want to keep the house or have it sold and split the proceeds meaning you would need to move to an apartment or buy another house?"
"I want to keep it if possible. There isn't much equity in it since we had just purchased it and Jake and I have to have a place to stay. If I don't have to move him to a strange new place it will be better for him especially not having Billy around as much," Rose Marie explained to Kayla.
"Okay, then the house will be on list "A". We'll put the furniture on that list too but be prepared to concede some of it. It has no real value once it is used but to replace it can be expensive. Your savings account should be split. It is only fair unless only one of you contributed to it. That person then should really get it. We will put one-half of it on list "A". As far as your stocks are concerned I would likewise split them in half too," Kayla told Rose Marie.
"It doesn't sound like there is going to be anything left to go on the other two list," Rose Marie said.
"Half of your savings and stock will be on list "B", which will be the things you are willing to concede to Billy," Kayla told Rose Marie. "List "C" will be things that are negotiable, which is where we will also put the furniture. If you are willing to negotiate any of the stock or savings, we will put those there too. List "C" will have duplications because it will have the negotiable items. List "B" shouldn't need any more negotiating because those items you are conceding to Billy up front. Am I confusing you?" Kayla asked.
"A little bit but I think I see your reasoning," Rose Marie said. "Initially I go in with only list "A" and "B". Then if they counter, I use list "C" for my negotiating tool."
"Exactly! Not everything on list "A" will be on list "C" but in a divorce you can never expect everything you ask for. For all we know, he will require you to sell the house out of spite, splitting any profits. So even though the house is on list "A" it is not a certainty. What you have going for you is since you have not been married very long, you two haven't accumulated a lot of assets, so there really isn't much to divide and argue over. Your focus should be on child support and making sure you have a home for Jake first, which is what list "A" has done. Once you have an agreement, then I can show you how to maximize your income by investing your savings and other stocks if it isn't performing well."
"Thank you Kayla," Rose Marie said. "It is hard to see facts when you are so emotionally involved. I've handled divorces before but when it's your own it really blurs the lines and you can't let go of things."
Once Kayla had given her a plan to work with, it would enable Rose Marie to proceed with the filing of the petition for divorce and what to ask for. They went over some paperwork Rose Marie needed Kayla to review and sign concerning her legal representation of Alexis in the matter with the police, and with her guardianship. Because she was funneling some money to an account for Alexis, they had to make sure it was documented in the paperwork. Little did they know that Alexis, while she couldn't hear much of the conversation that was taking place, she did hear some, and enough to know that there was a lot that Kayla, Ella, and Rose Marie were not telling her. Her defenses were immediately on alert as trust was still a big issue with Alexis.
Another couple of weeks went by. Since Alexis would get home from school before Kayla would get home from work, Alexis began snooping in Kayla's things in their bedroom. She found the paperwork where Kayla had paid for the computer and the paperwork where Kayla had paid the funeral expenses for Brian. She couldn't believe how much money Kayla had spent on these items and it bothered her as she was really suspicious where this money was coming from. She also found a copy of bank records where apparently Kayla had opened a checking account in her name with Ella as the co-owner of the account. Money had already been deposited in the account, yet she knew nothing about it. Another thing she found was paperwork concerning a storage business. She didn't understand all of it, but the storage business was in a corporate name with Kayla's signature was at the bottom listed as President and owner. She has tried to get into Kayla's lap top but it was password protected and everything Alexis tried wasn't the correct password. All of this had Alexis wondering was anything Kayla or Rose Marie or Ella for that fact, telling her really true. She knew her parents were dead as that was confirmed by the police from Arizona that she talked with. Beyond that she was not sure if she could believe anything else other than she loved Ella being her guardian. She also knew she was very much in love with Kayla though now she was questioning both her love for her and her sexuality. Was she in love because someone was being nice to her and taking care of her, or was she really in love? After all she was still only fifteen. She seemed confused but what Brian had told her kept replaying in her mind. "Trust no one. Take care of yourself first."
A month later all the paperwork arrived giving Ella complete guardianship of Alexis and settling her estate. It seemed the state was waiting on the police to release some property they had seized in the course of their investigation of Alexis's father. Since no charges were ever brought, what they were holding would go to Alexis as next of kin not to mention she was also a victim, they released all properties. While there wouldn't be much to the estate is still amounted to three-hundred thousand dollars and thus needed to be placed in a trust until Alexis was eighteen.
Rose Marie came over to the house with all the paperwork for Ella to sign and to discuss with Kayla how the trust money should be handled. Since much of this concerned Alexis they did not exclude her from the discussion as they sat around the kitchen table.
"Alexis," Rose Marie started. "I'm giving Ella to sign the official document from the state of Arizona that gives her complete guardianship over you until you reach the age of eighteen. If you have any concerns or doubts about Ella being your guardian then now is the time to speak up."
"I don't. In fact Ella has been the best so far and I want her to be my guardian," Alexis said not wanting to create any issues even though she was having trust issues.
"Come here sweetie," Ella said and gave Alexis a hug and kiss. "I'm so happy you have come into our lives."
She then listened to Rose Marie and Kayla discuss the trust not really understanding any of what they were saying until they asked her if four-hundred dollars a month was enough of a monthly allowance.
"What? What are you talking about? Four-hundred dollars a month? Are you kidding? Am I rich?" Alexis questioned as she had never had anywhere near that much money in her life before.
Kayla half laughed and half smiled at Alexis for her reaction to their proposal. "No, you are not rich by any means. But with what is left of your parent's estate, I believe if invested right, it can pay you four-hundred a month. Plus that same amount will also be reinvested in the trust so when you turn eighteen, your estate will have grown more. It won't be enough to live off of for too many years, but it can be used to supplement any income you might need until you make enough to support yourself."
"How do you seem to know so much about all of this? Are you some kind of genius and you are not telling me for some reason?" Alexis asked now confronting Kayla.
"Math just comes easy for me and for some reason I have a knack for picking up on these things. I am nowhere near a genius," Kayla answered trying to deflect some of the attention off of her. Both Ella and Rose Marie were exchanging paperwork also trying to deflect Alexis's curiosity as it was obvious that Kayla did not want to get in a discussion about her intellect which might then raise the issue of her wealth.
Kayla then went into the bedroom bringing out the checkbook she had for Alexis giving a cancelled check to Rose Marie. She would need this to have the allowance from the trust direct deposited in Alexis's checking account monthly. When she retrieved it, she noticed it had been moved and opened in her dresser. She knew exactly how she had placed it in her drawer. She had a suspicion now that Alexis had been going through her things and she began to think maybe she needed to purchase a safe to put all her important and secretive paperwork in. She wasn't trying to hide anything from Alexis, but she wasn't quite ready to tell her about her intellect and wealth.
Once Alexis saw the checkbook she asked Kayla, "Where did the money come that's in here if I haven't received anything from the estate yet?"
"I put it in there to open the account. You have to have at least five-hundred dollars to open an account with the bank so I put a little extra in it thinking something might come up before your allowance starts to come in. Don't worry. You don't have to pay me back. It's part of my gift to you for doing so well in school," Kayla told her.
Trying to change the subject Kayla turned to Rose Marie. "Do you know Miss Smarty here, who questions my math, and hadn't been to school in over two years, in just six months has already caught up and is on grade level now and able to attend public school come fall? She will be a freshman in high school in two months."
"Alexis that is wonderful," Rose Marie told Alexis. "I'm so proud of you. That is quite an accomplishment to catch up that fast."
"Yes we are very proud of her for her dedication to her schoolwork," Ella told Rose Marie while she looked at Alexis and smiled a big smile only a mother could smile.
Alexis blushed as she did take her studies seriously and she was also proud of her accomplishments having been out of school for so long. Kayla too was proud of Alexis and not caring she was in front of Rose Marie or Ella leaned over and kissed Alexis on the cheek and placed her forehead against Alexis for a few seconds after the kiss.
Rose Marie having completed the reason for which she had come over to the house then turned to Ella, "Billy was served today."
"How did he take it?" Ella asked as Kayla and Alexis were watching with concerned looks.
"He wasn't surprised but he wasn't happy about it either. I don't know how much he will dispute or what he will ask for, but he has a month before he has to respond. Time will tell. Hopefully it won't take too long and then I can put all this behind me."
"Let us know if we can be of help to you. God knows you have helped us so much and we owe you, so don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything. I know the girls would be glad to watch Jake sometime if you need them too and like I told you before, we can make room here if you need a place to stay," Ella told Rose Marie.
"Yeah, we both would be glad to watch Jake for you wouldn't we Alexis?" Kayla asked.
"I didn't know you were getting a divorce. No one said anything to me," Alexis said sounding hurt.
"I'm sorry Alexis," Rose Marie said. "We weren't trying to hide it from you. I thought you already knew. Yes, Billy and I are getting a divorce and Kayla has been helping me with some of the financial aspects. She can look at it without the emotional attachments I have and see it for what it needs to be."
"Anyway, all of you are more than just clients to me, and I know I can count on you if I need you," Rose Marie said and turning her attention back to everyone at the table. "Right now, I have everything under control. If I do need anything, it will be watching Jake as I can't always be at home since the daycare he is in closes by six. I haven't said anything at work yet. I won't for as long as I can because knowing them, they will try and make it hard on me once they see that weak spot and try to force me out."
"How can they do that?" Kayla asked.
"Because honey, if they know I can only work so many hours, they might assign me work that requires me to work over that. If I refuse, they can let me go. If I work it, they might add more work knowing how inconvenient it would be in an attempt to get me to quit."
"That is horrible. Like Ella said, if you have to, give us a call. I don't mind watching Jake and I'm sure Alexis won't mind either. We don't want you losing your job especially right now."
"Thank you for all of your understanding and support. I really do appreciate all you are doing to help me through this time. You all mean a lot to me and I do thank you," Rose Marie said and put everything in her briefcase to head home.
Later that night after Kayla and Alexis had gone to bed Alexis began to question Kayla on things she did not have an understanding of and felt like she wasn't being told the truth about.
"Why didn't anyone tell me Rose Marie was getting a divorce? Is it because I'm too young or still considered an outsider?" Alexis asked Kayla.
"Why would you think such a thing, Alexis?" Kayla snapped back. "We don't consider you too young or an outsider. I didn't realize we had excluded you. I'm sorry."
"Do I really have an estate that I will get four hundred dollars a month from?" she asked Kayla.
"Yes, you do. When your parents died, you were the only heir to their property. You get all the proceeds from what was left. The state sold their home and cars combining the proceeds from that with any money they had in the bank or had invested to make up your estate. Ella, Rose Marie and I decided to invest it so it would earn interest and that is where the four-hundred dollars come from," Kayla tried to explain to her.
"So you are some kind of math genius? You invested my estate so I would get an allowance before you even told me I had an estate? How do I know I can't get more than that and you are not taking any of it?" Alexis questioned.
Kayla sat up in bed and turned towards Alexis, "I would never take any of your money away from you Alexis. I have my own estate to manage and it brings me in an allowance every month too. I don't need or want your money. That is for you. If you feel more comfortable with someone else investing your money you can have them handle it if you want. But just so you know, they will charge you a fee every month for handling your estate whether you are making money or not. Do you not trust me to handle your estate? Do you really think I would take your money from you? We weren't hiding anything from you about your estate or Rose Marie. I guess we just assumed you knew and that was our fault."
Alexis didn't immediately answer which hurt Kayla a lot and brought tears to her eyes. She lay back down but turned her back to Alexis pulling the covers up over her using them to wipe her eyes from the tears she had in them.
A few minutes later Alexis answered Kayla. "I don't think you would take money from me but I feel you are not being honest with me and telling me everything. Maybe you think I'm too young to understand or you don't trust me but I feel you, Ella and Rose Marie are hiding things from me. I don't want to feel this way, but it seems that way to me."
Alexis could hear Kayla sob and felt bad but what Brian told her kept coming back to her, "Don't trust anyone."
The next day Kayla went to work and didn't kiss Alexis goodbye. All she said was tell her she was going to work. Ella seeing the tension decided to keep an eye on the two of them to be sure she didn't need to step in before it escalated too far.
Alexis came home from school that afternoon and seemed to be in a good mood to Ella.
"How was school today?" she asked.
"It was great. I met two new people and they seem really nice. We might go do something together this weekend," Alexis told Ella while getting a snack out to eat.
"That's great. How old are they?" Ella asked knowing that not until next month would Alexis be in regular school with her own age but since she was still in a remedial school where the age difference could be tens of years.
"Jesse is eighteen and Martin is seventeen."
The age difference took Ella by a bit of surprise. "Martin is a boy I assume? Is Jesse a girl or boy?"
"Jesse is a boy," Alexis said as a matter of fact and turned to walk out of the kitchen.
"Don't you think they are a little too old for you? Or were you planning on Kayla going too?"
"No, I don't think they are too old for me. They are really nice and cute too. And no, I wasn't including Kayla. She's probably doing something with Rose Marie anyway," Alexis said and kept walking.
Ella knew she needed to have a talk with Kayla and find out what was going on. She also knew she would have to put her foot down and tell Alexis she couldn't go out with two boys especially ones that were so much older than she was. She texted Kayla they needed to have a talk but not with Alexis present and to text her when she would be free.
Within minutes she received a text back from Kayla asking, "What's up?"
Ella texted back, asking if she could talk to call her on her cell phone.
A couple of minutes later Kayla called her. Ella took her phone and went into the garage where she had more privacy. "This morning I detected some tension between you and Alexis. Is there something I need to be concerned with?"
"I don't know Ella. Last night she all but accused me of cheating her on her allowance and taking money from her estate. She thinks we are all hiding things from her and keeping secrets. I don't know what to do at this point," Kayla pleaded.
"She came home and told me she was going out this weekend without you because you were probably doing something with Rose Marie. She also said she was going out with two boys who are seventeen and eighteen."
"What? That's ridiculous! You aren't going to let her go out with boys that age are you?" Kayla asked now really concerned and also feeling hurt.
"No, they are too old for her plus I don't trust two boys and one much younger girl being together. Too many things can go wrong with that," Ella replied. "When will you be home? I want the tension between you too resolved before it gets any worse."
"I'm leaving in an hour and will be home shortly after that. I'll try and talk to her about last night and get that resolved and then see what's up about this weekend," Kayla told Ella.
A couple of hours later Kayla came into the house after work. Alexis was now at the kitchen table doing homework and Ella was in the living room reading. When Kayla came in from the garage, she looked at Alexis who hadn't even looked up from her laptop. Kayla sat at the chair next to Alexis turning it so it faced her.
"Can we talk about last night?" Kayla asked.
"I'm busy now and don't want to talk," Alexis said.
Kayla was torn between hurt and pissed but stayed calm and persisted. She took the laptop and folded it closed. "We need to talk, Alexis. I love you. I would never steal from you. My heart is aching right now because I feel you hate me and I don't know why."
Alexis still didn't look at Kayla but responded, "You might not steal from me but you and everyone else aren't being honest with me. You don't trust me and you never have. You went behind my back to find out about my parents. You hid from me about my estate and about Rose Marie. You are some kind of math freak and you didn't want me to know about it. And you keep coming up with all this money to buy things and pay for things like my clothes, computer, and Brian's funeral. How do I know what to believe from you? You say you love me but how can I trust what you say?"
"You are right. I did go behind your back to find out about your parents. But I did that to protect you and help you. There was never a chance of anyone knowing where you were by me finding that information out. I made sure of that before I asked for the information. I didn't hide any of your estate from you. I found out when you did how much it was. I only knew you would be getting something. Ella and I had already decided to open up a checking account in your name so you would have your own money and not feel obligated to us each time you wanted to buy something. The only thing I did hide from you was where my money came from. It wasn't important to me and I didn't think it mattered so I never said anything to you about it. Yes, I get an allowance every month. Only my parents were wealthier than yours were so I have more, but that is not important. What is important is for you to trust us and especially me when I tell you I love you. I realized last night after you questioned my stealing from you. It really hurt me and that's when I realized why it hurt so much. It's because I love you," Kayla explained to Alexis while tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ella was by now standing just outside the kitchen listening to the discussion in case she needed to intervene. Her heart felt for Kayla because she knew that love didn't come easy for her and she knew when she heard Kayla say she loved Alexis is was from her heart.
Alexis listened to Kayla and turned away as she saw tears rolling down Kayla's cheeks. She knew down deep she loved Kayla too but still, there was something inside her that wasn't ready to commit and admit it to anyone. "Can I get back to my homework now? I have some things that are due tomorrow and I need to get them done," Alexis said and reopened her laptop.
It was as if a stake had been driven through Kayla's heart. She hurt much like when she found out about her parents death. She got up and hurried out of the kitchen passing Ella crying as she went to her room falling on the bed sobbing into the pillow.
Ella walked into the kitchen and acted as if she was getting things ready for dinner. "You know that girl has never done anything in her life for herself since her parents died. She has devoted herself to helping those in need. Most of the time she did it without them knowing she was helping them because she didn't do it for the thank you, but because she wanted to and could do it. Just like finding you and trying to help you, and staying with Brian until he died. She only works at the hospital because she feels she is helping those kids who need cheering up at a time they need it the most. She would never hurt you or anyone else. But in one sentence you just ripped all that out of her and broke her heart in a million pieces."
Ella paused while she got some pans out to cook. "You two may not get past this issue but you have to live in my house and under my rules, so you best find a way of at least not hurting each other. And while I'm at it talking about rules, you might as well tell those boys to find something else to do this weekend. You are not going out with boys that old at least without Kayla or some other person I know to chaperone. Do I make myself clear?"
Alexis sat there looking at her laptop now madder than a wet hen before spurting out, "Oh I guess that means you are on her side and because of that you are going to punish me and tell me I can't go out with Jesse and Martin?"
"One thing has nothing to do with the other young lady and you had better watch your tone with me or you will see how many other rules I have around here. My treatment of you and Kayla is equal on both sides. I didn't expect you to become lovers and have to get in the middle of a lover's quarrel. But I do expect you two to coexist. You going out with boys who are considered adults and with you are only fifteen is a problem in and of itself. I know very few if any parents who would allow their daughter to go out with one let alone two boys that age."
Alexis folded up her laptop and left the kitchen still mad and half blaming Kayla for what Ella had said. Dinner that night was tense to say the least as no one said anything to each other. After dinner and the kitchen cleaned, Kayla was sitting in the living room with Ella with the television on but not really watching it. Her heart was broken and she was hurting. She didn't know how to handle this situation but she knew she needed to do something or she would lose Alexis forever.
Alexis was also sitting in the living room but her thoughts were different. She was still mad at both Ella and Kayla and was trying to figure out what she needed to do to not feel like a prisoner in the house. Her thoughts kept going back to Brian to not trust anyone and look out for herself first.
Kayla got up saying she was going to bed and left the room leaving Alexis and Ella alone in the living room.
"Alexis, I know you have had a very different and difficult life. Being abused and forced to flee to escape the abuse is something no child should ever have to experience. Living on the streets for two years, I can't imagine how you survived. I know trust is something that doesn't come easy for you but you need to know that the world is not full of people intent on taking advantage of you. Neither Kayla nor I would ever do anything to harm you or take advantage of you. In this short time you have been in our lives, we have been blessed by you being here and have grown to love you. It may be hard to accept but my role is to guide you, protect you, and raise you, to be a wonderful woman that I know you will be. At times it might require me to put my foot down and tighten the rules, but it is for your own good," Ella tried to explain to Alexis.
"I know you are trying to be a good mother to me. I do appreciate all you have done for me. I don't know what it is but something is missing and I can't figure out what it is. I still feel left out of conversations and decisions being made about me. Kayla says she loves me but then when she is around Rose Marie, they have these secret talks and I'm not included. I feel she loves her more than she loves me and I feel like a third wheel when they are together," Alexis explained to Ella.
"I don't think they do that on purpose honey. Those two have a relationship that's totally different than yours is with Kayla. It's more of a big sister relationship they have had for years, plus they have some business dealings they talk about. Even I am not a part of those conversations, as I probably wouldn't understand them anyway. I do know that Kayla does love you in a very special way that most people never experience and I hope you can see it and not throw it away over a misunderstanding," Ella stated.
"What if I don't love her the same way?" Alexis asked.
"Then you two need to discuss it in a civil tone without hurting each other. I'm sure if you explained to her you don't feel the same way she will understand. And if she doesn't come to me and I'll have a talk with her. I don't want you two to create a tense situation like we have right now. It's not healthy for any of us and these types of situations could turn worse and make living together very unpleasant. Kayla's old enough to live on her own if she wanted to, but you have a few years to go before you are old enough and I don't think we could live harmoniously if we don't get along."
"I think I am going to bed. Thank you, Ella. I do love what you have done for me and I don't mean any disrespect towards you." Alexis then got up kissing Ella on the cheek and went to the bedroom.
Once inside the room she saw Kayla in bed with the covers pulled up. It appeared she was asleep. Before she undressed and got in bed, she stood there looking at Kayla trying to figure out how she really felt about her and why she felt something was not right. She couldn't seem to answer any of her own questions, so she got ready for bed crawling in carefully as to not wake Kayla, pulling the covers up and turning her back to Kayla.
The rest of the week while there were no arguments or harsh words spoken, nothing was resolved either. Kayla and Alexis barely spoke saying hi and goodbye and that was about it. Kayla stayed at work longer each day to avoid the tension not knowing that Alexis was also staying out later too but not at school. Alexis feeling something was missing in her life wanted to get out and experience new things. She might not be able to go out with Martin and Jesse over the weekend, but during the day while she was supposed to be in school who would know. Instead she went with them to the park to hang out. As it so happens this park is where many teens went to hang out. Many were there to use or buy and sell drugs or to plan things that weren't always legal like shoplifting, stealing, or destruction of property. It seems both Jesse and Martin were no different and unknown to Alexis they had plans for her.
At first they would hang out and talk, but then they would buddy up next to her while sitting on a picnic table in the park, putting their arms around her and sometimes kissing her on the cheek. Alexis though she knew better from her time on the streets, seemed to forget what she had learned. Her home situation was driving her to seek the comfort and companionship of others who just happened to be Martin and Jesse.
The weekend came and true to her word Ella would not allow Alexis to go off with Jesse and Martin. Kayla originally didn't have plans but Rose Marie called and asked her if she wanted to go shopping with her and Jake.
"Alexis, Rose Marie is going shopping at the mall and has asked if we want to go with her. Do you want to go?" Kayla asked Alexis.
Alexis gave Kayla a look that obviously told Kayla her answer as she was mad because Ella wouldn't let her go with the boys. Instead she chose to sit in the house and sulk.
"Well, I'm going to go to get out of the house for awhile. You are welcome to come if you like. You know I want you to go," Kayla said continuing to try to get Alexis to do something with her. Alexis shook her head and continued to look at her laptop she had in front of her so Kayla left without her.
As Rose Marie and Kayla walked around the mall pushing Jake in his stroller they talked.
"I haven't had a chance to talk to you about the latest since Billy was served," Rose Marie started.
"Yeah, how is it going?" Kayla asked.
"Better than I thought it would. He wasn't happy but after having time to think it over he realized it was for the best. He has agreed to almost all the terms as were listed with a few changes here and there which I can live with. Most of those were things you and I discussed so thanks to you I wasn't panicking over them. With luck it will be finalized within the month."
"That's really great. Have you had any issues with Jake and the daycare or with work since Billy has moved out?"
"Not yet. Everything seems to be working fine. They still don't know at work but once the final papers are filed it will be easy for them to know from the court docket. It's then that I expect to see some of the fallout."
"Well let me know anytime you want me to watch or pickup Jake and I'll be glad to help out," Kayla said.
"I will and thank you. Without you I'm not sure I could have done this."
They walked some more stopping to buy a few things here and there but mostly just walking and being out. It was time to feed Jake and they stopped in the food court where they could each get a sandwich and still feed Jake too.
"You've been a little quiet today. Is there something on your mind?" asked Rose Marie.
"I'm sorry. Was I that obvious?" Kayla replied.
"Not obvious but I know you well enough to know your mind is somewhere else. By the way why didn't Alexis come with us today?" Both Jake and I would have loved to see her too."
"That's where my mind is. Alexis and I aren't really speaking right now," Kayla continued.
"Oh, Kayla, I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"
"I'm not sure I can explain it because I'm not sure I understand it myself. After you were over at the house and we told Alexis about her estate, it seemed to unravel that night into a full-blown argument. Alexis accused me of hiding things from her and questioned whether I was cheating her on her estate money. She actually accused all of us of hiding things from her."
"Did she read all the papers that I left there on the estate that list everything the state set her up with? She could follow the money from there to see we didn't take any of it?"
"I don't think she did and I'm not sure she knows how to do that. All I know is she won't talk to me and thinks I betrayed her trust."
"Kayla, do you want me to talk to her as her attorney and tell her I have a legal and moral obligation to tell everything to her. If I didn't I could lose my license to practice?" Rose Marie asked Kayla.
"I'm not sure it would do any good. Both Ella and I have talked with her and she seems to have it in her mind she can no longer trust me or any of us for that fact," Kayla said and Rose Marie could see Kayla's eyes tear up with some falling down her cheeks.
"You two have gotten really close haven't you?" Rose asked as she handed Kayla some tissue.
Kayla nodded her head. "I realized when we were arguing that I loved her with all my heart and I told her. It didn't seem to matter to her a bit. In fact I think it made it worse between us."
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry. I wish there was something I could do or say to help."
"Thanks, letting me talk about it helps. I don't know what will happen. I've thought if things continue I might find a place of my own to live so we aren't seeing each other every day."
"If it comes to that you can stay with me. I have plenty of room and Jake would love to see you on a daily basis," Rose Marie told Kayla.
"Thanks that might be a good option though Alexis already feels you and I have something going on between us," Kayla said.
"What do you mean we have something going on between us? Does she realize I'm ten years older than you and think of you as my sister?" Rose Marie said.
"That's just it. She thinks I care more about you than her. She accused us of having secret talks behind her back purposely excluding her. That's why she doesn't trust you either," Kayla told Rose Marie.
"I'm sure it will blow over. Remember she is still only fifteen. She is still dealing with the effects of adolescents and hormonal changes in her body which will affect her moods. With everything that has happened to her and developing as a teenager, her mind sees things differently. Just give her time and space and I'm sure she will get over it," Rose Marie said trying to assure Kayla.
They played a little with Jake then continued walking the mall for a while. Kayla left to go home stopping at the storage place to pick up stuffed toys for work on Monday.
A few weeks passed and there was still no resolution to Alexis and Kayla not speaking. Alexis continued to sneak away from school to be with the boys. While nothing bad had happened yet, the boy's conversations with Alexis had ventured into areas that potentially would lead to trouble. They talked about getting someone to buy liquor and go in to a vacant house down the road to drink. They even talked about buying weed and smoking it too. The topic also turned to sex as the boys had questioned Alexis on her experiences, telling her they had each had sex with other girls before and maybe the three of them could party together.
Alexis for the most part had deflected most of the questions and conversations. She was feeling more comfortable around the boys since up to this point other than a kiss on the cheek, an arm around her shoulder or waist, or at times a stray finger touching her breast over her clothes they had not tried anything with her.
This was the last day of class for her school and in a couple of weeks she would be in high school attending at her grade level and age level. The boys wanted to celebrate and talked Alexis into giving them money so they could buy liquor and drugs. Alexis initially hesitated but wanting to be a part of the group, she gave them one-hundred dollars out of her allowance. The boys bought some weed and a pill of another drug and bought some beer. They went to the vacant house breaking in the back door. Inside they proceeded to drink and smoke some of the weed. Alexis had a few sips of the beer and only one hit from the weed trying to stay sober with her wits about her. She didn't see the boys slip a drug into her beer. They told her to have two more gulps and she could be done. She did and within minutes her head began to spin. She tried to stand up but couldn't keep her legs under her and she fell back down. She heard the boys laugh at her and then she felt hands on her body unbuttoning her blouse.
Alexis tried to stop them and say no, but it was like she was there but unable to speak or move. Next one of the boys was kissing her on the lips as she felt her blouse open up and her bra being unclasped. She remembered hearing someone yell, "Hey what are you all doing in here?"
Alexis woke up in the hospital with Ella and Kayla by her side. "What am I doing here?"
"It's ok honey. Nothing happened to you. You were drugged and those boys were about to assault you. One of the neighbors heard the noises coming from the house and went to see. He apparently got there just in time before anything happened to you and called an ambulance to bring you here. Luckily Kayla was still working and this was her floor, so she saw them bring you in."
"I don't remember," Alexis said.
Shortly afterwards the police came in to talk to Alexis and find out what she could remember which was little. Even though she knew who the boys were she refused to name them to the police. Her time on the streets taught her not to be a snitch but now more than ever Brian's words came back to her, "Don't trust anyone."
Ella talked with the police outside the room and gave them the two names she knew. The police told her unless Alexis would name them or identify them, they couldn't do anything as the neighbor never got to see their faces before they ran out the back door.
A few minutes later the doctor came in to talk to Alexis. He examined her asking her several questions about where she was and who was in the room with her, where she went to school, etc. He was really trying to see if she was conscious enough to know what was going on. He told her she had been drugged and came close to being assaulted. Whoever stopped it potentially saved her life and at a minimum saved her from being sexually assaulted. He questioned her previous drug use telling her he wasn't going to report it to the police but he needed to know for her recovery.
Alexis answered all his questions correctly and without hesitation. Concerning the issue of past drug use, she was adamant and almost to the point of angry that the doctor seemed to not believe her when she kept saying she had never used any drugs before.
That night Alexis had to stay in the hospital for observation. The doctor told Ella it would also give them an idea if she had been truthful in her responses about drug use. An overnight stay for any drug user would show in her actions and bodily functions by not having drugs for that period of time. Kayla stayed in the room with her though they still were not talking. The next morning Alexis was discharged and Ella came and picked her up as Kayla was back at work.
The weekend before school started Kayla was in the kitchen fixing her breakfast when Alexis came in. Alexis walked up to Kayla and took her hand in hers. No words were spoken as Alexis took Kayla into the bedroom and shut the door.
"Sit on the bed so I can talk to you," Alexis told Kayla.
Kayla sat on the edge of the bed folding her hands in her lap looking at Alexis who was pacing the floor.
"I don't know where to begin so just sit there and listen without saying anything until I am done. First let me say I'm sorry I accused you of stealing and I'm sorry I thought you were not looking out after my best interest. I didn't mean to hurt you especially after all you have done for me. I messed up big time with you and with those boys. I'm sorry for any pain I have caused you."
"It's alright Ale...." Kayla began to say.
"Don't talk. I'm not done. And no it's not alright. Maybe with you it is, but not with me. You told me you loved me. I wish I could say I love you back but I'm not sure if I do."
With those words Kayla's heart sunk. Up until now she thought Alexis was trying to apologize and things would get back to normal but now from what Alexis was saying she felt her world coming apart.
"If I loved you I wouldn't have treated you the way I did, so I must not love you. I also wouldn't have put myself in the position I was in this week if I had feelings for you, so I must not have any. All I know is I am lost and other than not being on the streets, I feel alone and on my own. I don't know what to believe or who to trust but I feel isolated. I know this won't make any sense to you but I need out of here and away from you. You need someone better and I can't give you what you want or need. I'm going to ask Rose Marie to find another guardian for me and move out."
All of this was too much for Kayla and tears were now flowing from her eyes. "You can't mean that. Have you told Ella?"
"Yes, I told her and she said if that is what I wanted then she wouldn't stand in my way as long as I listened to my next guardian's rules and finished going to school."
"Why, Alexis, why? I thought you did love me from the way we were before. I don't understand."
"I can't explain it. I just know I am not any good for you and I can't be what you want me to be." Alexis then walked over to Kayla taking her hands and wiping the tears from Kayla's face. She then leaned down and kissed her on the lips. Thank you for all you have done for me. I do appreciate it." She then turned and left the bedroom.
Kayla's tears really poured out and all she could do was lie in bed sobbing. Ella came in shortly afterwards comforting Kayla.
School started for Alexis and she seemed to be in better spirits. Rose Marie began working on finding another guardian for Alexis. Kayla started to sleep on the couch instead of in the bed next to Alexis. She then came home one day after work and told Ella she was going to stay with Rose Marie until Alexis moved out.
Ella while also heartbroken for both girls and feeling like she somehow failed both girls. She was agreeable for Kayla to temporarily stay at Rose Marie's as she thought it was all for the best for both girls.
Kayla moved in with Rose Marie and within weeks her spirits were in a better place. She still loved Alexis but she knew one sided love couldn't work. She took on a different role at Rose Marie's picking up Jake when Rose Marie was running late and the three of them seemed to get along really well.
It was about two months later and Rose Marie was still not able to find a family that would take guardianship over Alexis. It seemed her past had given pause to anyone who was willing to take her in. Rose Marie and Kayla were sitting on her sofa and talking about it.
"I told Ella I would move back to her place when Alexis moved out but I really don't think I can. I know I can't sleep in the same bed anymore and I think there are going to be too many memories of her in that house I won't ever get over."
"You don't have to leave Kayla. I've become accustomed to you being here and helping with Jake and if Ella is okay with it I don't mind you staying here."
"Maybe that would be better. I don't know if Ella would be too lonely there by herself or maybe I should buy a house and all four of us live in it," Kayla said.
"Well that is a little extreme but I can understand the reasoning. Let's see what Ella thinks first before you start looking for a big house we can all stay in. The bigger problem is first finding someone who is willing to be a guardian over Alexis," Rose Marie told Kayla.
Kayla agreed and told Rose Marie she was going to take a shower and get her night clothes on before they watched some television together. She came out after her shower wearing her long t- shirt and panties. Rose Marie then went to take her shower too. When she came out she was wearing a black baby doll nightie and matching panties with a black silk robe over top of it.
They sat on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn between them deciding on what to watch. Kayla at some point had pulled her legs up crisscrossing them. From where Rose Marie was sitting she only had to lean slightly forward to be able to see Kayla's panties. Rose Marie, during the movie, had shifted to sitting almost sideways towards Kayla bringing her inside leg up curling it under her. Only by pushing her nightie and robe down between her legs did she not expose her panties to Kayla.
The movie they watched was a love story where the couple was apart for a time being and reunited through a friend's wedding, starting their romance again. It was a good movie but one that brought tears to Kayla's eyes seeing how her situation was at the same juncture as in the movie. She sniffled and Rose Marie noticing moved the popcorn out of the way moving over next to Kayla. She wrapped her arm around her shoulder pulling Kayla's head into her upper chest. She leaned down and kissed Kayla on the top of the head giving her a light squeeze with the arm she had around Kayla.
Kayla let one of her hands down and placed it on Rose Marie's leg at first resting it there before she began to softly with her finger tips run them up and down her thigh. As the movie ended Rose Marie again hugged Kayla, "I think it's time for me to get to bed."
Kayla lifted her head up now staring into Rose Marie's face. "Thank you," she told Rose Marie.
"You're welcome," Rose Marie replied looking back a Kayla.
They sat there what seemed like minutes but was only seconds before Kayla closed the distance between their faces. Her intent was to give Rose Marie a kiss on the cheek but Rose Marie moved as Kayla did and their lips touched. The kiss was only for a few seconds but it was enough that neither wanted it to end. They stared at each other before leaning together and kissing again this time with more emphasis. After a few more seconds both opened their mouths and their tongues met twirling into each other as their hands held each other tight.
They broke the kiss both a little lightheaded and breathing heavily. They smiled at each other before leaning in and giving each other a short kiss.
"I think I need to go to bed," Rose Marie said.
"Me too," Kayla responded.
Kayla got up first taking the bowl of popcorn into the kitchen.
"Goodnight," she heard Rose Marie say to her.
"Goodnight," she responded.
After getting in bed Kayla lay there thinking about what just happened between her and Rose Marie. She wondered if she had broken a golden rule with a friend that would change their relationship for ever. She also felt guilty as she felt she had just cheated on Alexis. She couldn't help to think though how wonderful it felt to kiss Rose Marie and what it would be like to experience more. Her hand moved down to her breast and she began to feel her nipples under her shirt as they hardened to her touch. Her other hand moved down across her belly pulling her shirt up exposing her panties. She let her hand glide across the panties and she felt a wet spot from being turned on by the kissing. She took both hands and pushed her panties down her legs and off leaving her pussy bare. She brought her hand back up to her nipple and the other she ran slightly over her slit feeling the moisture already coating it. Kayla pushed two fingers inside of her and began to push them in and out as she thought what it would be like to be making love to Rose Marie. She was really turned on now and the noise her fingers were making going in and out of her only fueled her excitement. She dropped her other hand to her clit and began to rub on it as her fingers continued going in and out. Her orgasm rose quickly much faster than she thought and it hit her all of a sudden. She moaned and squealed slightly as she came.
In the other bedroom Rose Marie having similar thoughts of making love to Kayla was fingering herself too. Her orgasm was rising when she thought she heard a noise like a squeal coming from Kayla's room. The thought that Kayla maybe doing the same thing as she was doing was all she needed, and she came hard moaning out Kayla's name as she climaxed.
Both girls slept really well that night.
Another month passed and Kayla received a call from Ella early in the morning. She told Kayla that she couldn't find Alexis. She hadn't come home the day before from school and she was afraid Alexis was in trouble. She had already called the police and they were on the way over to the house. Kayla told her they would be right over.
They packed up some things for Jake and drove over to Ella's. When they arrived the police were already at her home. Upon entering they found Ella sitting in the kitchen with the officer.
"This is my attorney, Rose Marie Jenkins, who also happens to be Alexis's attorney too. And this is Kayla Manning, who I also have guardianship over," she told the Deputy.
"This is Deputy Williams," Ella told the girls.
"I was just getting some more information from Ms. Reardon on Alexis. You haven't seen or heard from her recently have you?" Deputy Williams asked Rose Marie.
"No, I haven't heard from her in months. What happened?" Rose Marie asked.
"We are not sure at this point. It seems she may have run away. All we know is Ms. Reardon called us last night to report Alexis hadn't come home from school. We checked with the school this morning. She was in class until lunch yesterday, but after that she wasn't in class. Do either of you know where she might go if she ran away?"
"No, she came here as a runaway from Arizona. There isn't anything there for her to go back to since both of her parents are deceased," Rose Marie continued.
Then Kayla piped in, "Wait, let me check on something," Kayla said and opened the laptop Ella kept on the counter. A minute later she found what she was looking for. "Yesterday morning she withdrew all of the money from her checking account at the bank a block from her school at eleven- thirty. That's almost three-thousand dollars!"
"We know she was in school until around that time as that was her lunch break. After that she didn't attend anymore classes. We'll keep looking into it but I must tell you if someone runs away, unless they want to be found or come home there isn't a high percentage of recoveries. I don't mean to frighten you or worry you, but you should know the reality of this situation. Most runaways come home at some point, usually after they find it's not easy to live out there on their own. We will do our best though to find her," Deputy Williams explained.
"She lived on the streets for two years when she was twelve and thirteen so she knows how to survive. If she doesn't want to be found it won't be easy to find her," Kayla added.
"Let me know if you hear from her or see her. Here is my card and you can reach me anytime," Deputy Williams said and then left.
"Ella, were there any signs that you can think of now knowing what she did? Any unusual moods or phone calls, anything?" Rose Marie asked.
"No, nothing I can think of. Ever since Kayla left she has been rather moody but I just figured she was realizing she missed Kayla and was waiting her out to see if she would talk about it," Ella said.
"How did you know from what bank and what time she withdrew her money?" Rose Marie turned and asked Kayla.
"I read the routing numbers on the withdrawal information listed in her account. If you click on a withdrawal it gives you more information such as the routing number which identifies the branch where the transaction occurred and the time. Don't ask me how I know the branch from the routing number. You don't want to know," Kayla said and chuckled a little.
"You haven't done something illegal have you?" Ella asked now concerned with Kayla.
"No, don't worry. I didn't hack into their system if that is what you're implying. I just figured it out one day. It's all math."
"Don't worry Ella," Kayla continued. "If she did run away, she is a strong person and knows how to get by on the streets. She will be careful, I'm sure. I just can't imagine where she might go and why? Her next deposit is scheduled in two weeks. Let's see if she withdraws it and that might help us narrow down where she might be, assuming she doesn't come home before then."
"You're beginning to sound like a detective now," Rose Marie said. "I should hire you to help me in some of my cases when I'm trying to trace money or schemes to hide money."
"I would be glad to help if you need me. You know those kind of challenges are what intrigues me," Kayla told Rose Marie.
Rose Marie and Kayla stayed with Ella the rest of the day though Ella was taking it pretty well. Kayla seemed more upset and at times the tears she had in the corner of her eyes showed her concern for Alexis. Before Kayla and Rose Marie left to go home they made sure that Ella was alright to be alone.
To be continued....
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