Page 12 of Healing Hope
That seemed to back off the little girl’s ire. “Oh. Thank you,” she whispered.
“And I was trying to figure out where your clothes were. What would you like to wear to bed?”
Jess crossed to the closet and opened it up. There had been some dresses hanging in here, but not a lot of play clothes. She watched Hope move to the closet, towel wrapped around her little body. With a direct look, she turned around and backed into the closet, closing the door behind her. For a minute, Jess was at a loss. Well, that was different.
Four seemed a little young to be so self-conscious. Why was she hiding?
“Hope? Can I come in and help you?”
There was shuffling on the other side of the door, as if she were hurriedly getting dressed. Paul came into the room, and Jess gave him a look. “Does she always hide like this?”
He nodded. “She’s never let me help her.”
Jess frowned. That was concerning. She tried the door. It opened but as soon as she started to push it open, it was snapped shut again. There were a few seconds of rustling before Hope swung it wide and came out. She wore a pair of soft cotton shorts and a purple t-shirt, and looked up at them like they were the ones acting strangely. She headed out of the bedroom, calling for Sophie.
Jess watched her go, concern running through her. As soon as Hope was far enough away, she looked up at Paul. “This is going to sound invasive and crass, and I’m not accusing you of anything, but have you ever seen your daughter naked? Did you help her in the bath?”
Paul frowned, his eyes going dark. “No. I run the bath for her, then let her do her own thing. I tried to help her once and she basically told me no, she’s been taking baths on her own for a long time. And she’s never let me help her dress. I listen outside the bathroom door, sometimes, to make sure she’s doing okay, but I’ve never… made her expose herself.”
Jess sighed, thoughts running through her mind.
“What are you thinking?” he demanded, facing her fully.
Jess gave him a slow blink. “That someone has either hurt her or shamed her into not exposing her body. She’s too young to be this self-conscious. At four, five, they’re becoming aware of their bodies, but she seems hyper-aware, and I’m not sure why.”
“Should I take her to the pediatrician for an exam?” he asked immediately.
Jess sighed. “I don’t think there’s anything physically wrong. She runs around and plays, moves right. I think something emotional is at play. Not sure it’s worth the possible added trauma of making her go through an unnecessary exam.”
Paul’s face had darkened, and his jaw was clamped. Anger radiated from him, and she knew it wasn’t because of what she’d said. It was probably because he hadn’t noticed it himself. Paul seemed to be the type to want to be in charge and on top of everything. Reaching out, she rested a hand on his bunched bicep. “It may be nothing. Give me a little while. She may just be embarrassed.”
Paul glanced down at her hand, and Jess realized how forward it might appear to be. She hadn’t meant to reach out and touch him. It had just happened. His arm was very strong, though, she noticed, the bicep straining. Drawing her hand back, she turned to look out of the room, wondering where Hope had gone.
“She likes to get a glass of milk before bed,” Paul murmured. “And some cookies.”
She gave him a grin. “Let’s go get some cookies and milk, then.”
* * *
Paul watchedJess walk out of Hope’s room, her golden legs long and strong, her narrow feet bare. He was a shoes-on kind of guy, but she seemed perfectly content in her skimpy outfit and bare toes. She was so different from anyone he’d met, and he hoped that she would bring some joy to Hope. And maybe lessen his worry a little.
Right now, his anxiety was through the roof. It wasn’t like he’d had kids before, so he’d had no idea that the way Hope was behaving was out of the ordinary. Once she’d assured him she was fine, he’d left her alone mostly. Once Jess pointed it out, though, he’d seen it as odd.
He may not agree with the way the woman dressed, but she seemed knowledgeable about kids. Didn’t she say she was one of seven?
The few visits he’d had with Hope over the years hadn’t prepared him for the child she was now. She’d always been quiet, but now she was quiet and self-sufficient and incredibly guarded.
Rubbing his hand over his eyes, he walked toward the kitchen.
“These are lame ass cookies,” Jess told him as soon as he entered the room.
Paul scowled, not appreciating the language. It had been incredibly hard to learn to curb his tongue in front of Hope. He was about to say something when he looked at Hope. There was a glimmer in her eyes and her cheeks had lifted, as if she was about to smile. Paul hesitated, then changed tact.
“What do you consider decent cookies?” he asked instead.
Jess waved a hand in the air. “Oreos, Nutter Butters, even Archway cookies. Not these store-brand wafer things that are more air than substance. I should have grabbed some at the store.”
She shook her head at Hope. “Tomorrow we’ll have real, homemade cookies. Do you like chocolate chip? Or Snickerdoodles?”