Jemma

I pause, the makeup brush in my hand. Although the redness has faded, the ugly scars still cover the left side of my face. There is one big blotch on my forehead that my curls cover, but nothing can hide the path the oil took as it splashed over my cheek and down my arm. The doctors struggled to get some of the skin grafts to heal. It was a long and painful process and I’m grateful it’s over.

I like to think that I’m not a vain person, but I’d be lying if I said the scars don’t bother me. When I was a teenager, people used to tell me all the time how beautiful I was. I’d even get stopped on the street, or I’d overhear them talking about me and how pretty I was. Now people just look away quickly and shudder. Probably thinking how grateful they are this didn’t happen to them.

My ex-boyfriend, who did this in a fit of rage, is getting out of prison soon. I’ve forgiven him, but that doesn’t mean I want to come face-to-face with him ever again. So even though I’ve come to love the family I’m staying with and the church I’m a part of, when Autumn told me about the Nanny job all the way in Portland, I jumped at the chance. Autumn and I have spent a lot of time on the phone since I left the rehabilitation center, but I’m really looking forward to seeing her again. I’m so happy that she found love and acceptance, even if it is with a famous rock star. There’s no way I could ever fall for someone in the spotlight. All that attention, everyone feeling pity for the poor deformed girl. I’ll admit I had doubts about looking after Wes’s sister, but when I found out it would just be the two of us most of the time, I realized it was a fantastic opportunity. I’ve missed working, missed being useful. Best of all, I’ll still be able to finish my post-grad in linguistic anthropology while Sophie is in school.

Looking away from the mirror, I drop the makeup brush back into the bag and put it down. Chances are, these rock stars are going to see me without my makeup sooner or later. May as well get it all out in the open right from the start. Returning to the bedroom, I place my makeup bag into the large suitcase and zip it closed. This is it. It’s time to start my new life.

The wheels of the plane shudder slightly as we touch down. I remain in my window seat as we come to a stop. Fighting my way out doesn’t interest me. I pretend I don’t need this time to compose myself and stop the trembling in my fingers. My eyes close as I pray for the strength to do this. That I won’t bring any prejudiced preconceived ideas about Wes Bowman, my new boss. That the awkward stage will pass quickly and they’ll all be able to see me as just a simple girl from Bloomington, Illinois. When I open my eyes again, the plane is nearly empty, and I feel much better. My bag is sitting by itself in the overhead locker, and I lift it out easily.

I smile goodbye to the flight attendant as she wishes me a pleasant stay in Portland, and then I walk through the terminal toward the baggage claim. I keep my head down slightly so my mass of blonde curls partially obscures my face. Some days I hold my head high but not today. Today I just want to get out of here. I can’t help smiling as I arrive. I’ve timed it perfectly; most of the bags have already been claimed, and I see my battered old red case coming towards me. Using all the strength in my 5-foot-3 petite frame, I yank it toward me and almost land on my butt as it slides off the sloped carousel more easily than I expected. At least no one is around to witness my clumsiness. I wipe the sweat off my palms and onto my jeans before setting off toward the exit.

I see Autumn before she notices me. Finn has his arm protectively around her shoulders as if she were a rare jewel, which of course she is and it gladdens my heart to see them so happy. Finn whispers something to her and she looks up. I grin and see her face light up as well, and then we are both running. My bags are left abandoned as we come together. I ignore the pain in my arm and shoulder as Autumn hugs me tightly. It’s nice to have a friend who understands you so completely.

“Jemma! I can’t believe you’re finally here. It seems like forever.”

“I know. I still can’t believe you eloped, and I didn’t get to see you get married.”

“We just wanted to avoid the publicity. Maybe now that things are less crazy we can have a second wedding for all our friends.”

“That sounds like fun.” I take a step back. “You look beautiful. Married life obviously agrees with you.”

Autumn’s smile radiates. “It does. Especially when you have the most gorgeous, amazing, talented husband on the planet.”

“Oh my, I think I’m blushing,” Finn jokes as he joins us, hauling my bags.

In person, he is ridiculously attractive, that dark hair and those piercing blue eyes. “Hi, Finn, I’m glad you’re taking such good care of my girl.”

He pulls me in for a quick hug before releasing me. “We take care of each other.”

He somehow manages to look into my eyes without seeming to look at my scars. I can see how Autumn fell for him. Still, he’d have to be pretty special for her to put up with the paparazzi who follow them around everywhere. I know I couldn’t do it. Peaceful Shores may have helped me deal with my past trauma, with the physical scars and the trauma of the court case, but all I want now is a chance at a normal life.

“We’d better head out,” Finn says while glancing around quickly. “It won’t be long before someone spots us, especially the way you girls were shrieking before.”

“I do not shriek,” Autumn says.

Finn grabs her hand and tugs her forward still carrying my suitcase. “Of course not, babe.”

“You know better than to call me 'babe,' pretty boy.”

I grab my smaller bag and follow close behind as they continue to tease each other. Just as we head out the exit doors, a man comes running up from behind.

“Finn, Autumn! Give us a smile?” He lifts a large camera in front of them, stopping them from moving forward. I dip my head and make sure I’m hidden behind Finn’s body as the flash goes off.

“Not now, man,” Finn says abruptly.

“Just one photo, Mr. Holloway. You know they’ll only run stories about a break-up if you don’t smile.”

A huge man, dressed in a black suit, pushes his way in between Finn and the photographer. Finn doesn’t hesitate. He escorts Autumn and me to a sleek black Mercedes and ushers us into the back seat. Another man in black efficiently loads my bags into the trunk and before I can take in what’s happening, we’re pulling away from the irate photographer and into the busy mid-morning traffic.

Finn sits on the far side of the car, with Autumn seated between us. “Are you both alright?”

“I’m fine, honey. You know it really doesn’t even bother me much anymore.” Autumn squeezes my hand gently. “Are you alright Jem?”

“Um, I think so. It all happened so fast, it’s kind of hard to take in.”

“Stan and Leon are pretty good at eliminating any potential problems before they turn nasty,” Finn says. “They’ll be in charge of Sophie’s security while we’re away on tour so I thought it would be nice for you to meet them today.”

The man in the front passenger seat looks back at me and smiles. “Hey, Jemma, I’m Leon. You can call me Leon.” He grins, showing me a set of perfect white teeth that gleam against his dark skin.

“And I’m Stan,” the equally huge man driving the car adds helpfully but keeps his eyes on the road as he drives through the busy streets.

No one seems surprised by my scars, and I suspect that Autumn has talked to them all about me beforehand.

“Will you be staying at the house with us?” I ask Leon.

“I have an apartment over the garage if you feel comfortable with me there. Stan lives nearby with his family. He’ll come in the mornings to take Sophie to school and then drop her off again in the afternoon. But we’ll both escort you if you take Soph out on the weekends or evenings.”

“And what if I go out on my own while Sophie is in school?”

“Well, you can go out on your own then…unless you want some company?” He adds hopefully.

A laugh escapes me. “I think I’ll be fine on my own, but thanks for the offer.”

“Looks like you struck out again, lover-boy,” Stan says.

“Hey, just being friendly,” Leon says.

Leon’s not bad looking, but he must be at least 6’7” and very muscular. I can’t really see myself with someone so physically big. Not to mention all the attention we'd attract being so opposite in looks.

“You’ll love the house,” Autumn gushes, “it’s so beautiful, all timber floors and big windows, and the gardens are spectacular.”

“Do you like to garden?” Finn asks seriously.

“I do. I find it relaxing.”

Finn actually snorts. “Not another one.”

“Shh,” Autumn says placing a hand on his arm. “Don’t tease her.” She turns back to me. “Wes loves gardening too, but Finn doesn’t get why anyone would want to spend their time playing in the dirt and muck. Actually, I really don’t get it either.”

I find it hard to imagine the sexy keyboard player from Infusion Deep pulling weeds and planting things, but I guess looks can be deceiving. At least if all else fails we’ll have something in common we can talk about besides Sophie. “You should both try it sometime. It’s wonderfully rewarding to see something you’ve planted and cared for come to life and flourish.”

Finn nods. “I guess music feels a bit like that for me. I think I’ll just stick with that.”

“I’ve tried it,” Autumn admits. “It was okay I guess, but there are other things I prefer more.”

Finn whispers something in her ear and she giggles. She’s so different from the scared insecure girl I met at the counseling center. I really hope they can keep their relationship strong despite all the pressures of their world. From what I can see they have a good chance of making it.

The houses are getting bigger and further apart as we enter a more prestigious part of the city. I’ve never lived anywhere like this before. My mouth drops open as we pull into an immaculate driveway and the large black gates open up to let us in. Autumn wasn’t joking about the house being fantastic. It’s surrounded by trees and flowerbeds and gorgeous windows overlook the drive. Stan opens my door, and I step out, spinning slowly to take it all in.

“They’re here!” A girlish voice shouts loudly. Sophie comes toward me at a run. She’s almost my height but still hasn’t filled out much. Her brown hair hangs loosely around her shoulders. She surprises me by hugging me tightly. I wince as the pain from my burn scars flares but she quickly releases me.

“Autumn’s told me so much about you. If I can’t go on tour, I’m glad she found me someone fun to hang out with.”

“Thanks, Sophie. I’m looking forward to it too.”

“Wow, you’re really beautiful. I can’t believe someone would hurt you like that.”

I breathe in sharply. Autumn told me she was direct, but I’ve never had anyone speak so forthrightly to me before. It’s refreshing in a way, knowing exactly what she thinks.

“Well, he didn’t get away with it, he went to prison for what he did to me.”

“For his whole life I hope?”

“Unfortunately not, but I’ve forgiven him for what he did.”

“Really! Wow, I don’t think I could ever forgive someone for that.”

“Carrying the hate inside only hurts yourself in the end, Sophie.”

“Does it still hurt?” Sophie reaches her hand toward my face.

“Sophie Rose Bowman, you behave yourself,” a man’s voice shouts from across the drive.

Sophie takes a step back and her skin flushes. “I get a bit carried away sometimes.”

“Don’t worry, I like honesty…” My voice trails off as I look up at the man who has just walked over to us. Wes. The sun shines down on his chestnut brown hair, highlighting the natural strands of red and gold. But it’s his eyes. Brown with flecks of gold within. They are the eyes of a much older man. And I’m lost in their haunting depth. I can’t say anything and I can’t look away. How does a man who can’t be older than his early twenties get eyes like that?

“Hi, I’m Wes.”

I look down at his outstretched hand and it’s as if I’ve forgotten what I’m supposed to do. He lets his hand fall back to his side, the hurt at my rudeness reflected in his eyes.

“Come on,” Sophie says, breaking me out of my trance. “I’ll show you your room.”

I look back at Wes as Sophie tugs me by the hand toward the house. He turns toward Autumn and Finn who are still standing on the driveway near the car, deep in conversation.