The New Beginning (The LeAnna Series Book 1) Read online

  The New Beginning

  The LeAnna Series

  R.L.Tornero

  Copyright © 2020 R.L.Tornero

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9781234567890

  ISBN-10: 1477123456

  Cover design by: Art Painter

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

  Printed in the United States of America

  To every girl struggling to belong

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Prologue

  The fire rose outside the door, smoke spreading into the closet suffocating me.

  I twisted the handle. Kicked the door. Yelled for help. But I was trapped. And I didn't know how the fire started but I could feel the heat rising.

  The only person who knew I was in there was my stepdad.

  I pounded the door with my fists one last time before passing out.

  Chapter 1

  Ella

  I thought I was dead.

  My body was freezing, but I wasn't shivering. And even though I didn't know what being dead felt like, it made me wonder, Am I still here? Still breathing? Still alive?

  Something warm touched my face. I flinched. And the movement made my head hurt. My vision was blurred. But when it cleared, I could see a woman in scrubs wearing a mask.

  "You're going to be okay," she said.

  I realized I was alive. And I started to cry. She touched my hand, bringing me comfort, but it also scared me. I was afraid of her for reasons that were known and unknown to me.

  To my knowledge, I feared people.

  But she seemed like she wanted to help me. And I knew I shouldn't be afraid of her. But I was. Afraid that somehow, she wasn't as nice as she looked. Or that she was helping me now only to hurt me later.

  I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my stomach.

  "You best lay still," the woman urged. "I'm Ella, your nurse."

  "Why am I here?" I asked.

  I looked around. There was something pointy attached to my arm and something squeezing my finger. The black screen beside me was blinking with my heart rate which was quickly rising.

  "Your house caught fire and you were rescued."

  "Where's my stepdad?"

  "He's been arrested."

  Suddenly, nausea filled my stomach and I turned over the bed.

  She pulled my long hair out of the way. Her perfume smelled like cinnamon and that helped my stomach.

  I turned over and closed my eyes.

  Now that the pain was gone, I was left with my loudest emotion, fear. It was the kind that plagued a person. Not a sudden jolt of the emotion but a pending, ongoing rippling on the inside of your body that affected every nerve and muscle. It was a constant feeling of danger and harm. It was never trusting anyone no matter how good or innocent.

  Suddenly, the door to my room opened and a little boy peeked in. He slowly walked in, staring at me.

  "I'm Jason," he said. "Do you know Jesus loves you?"

  I touched the cross around my neck and memories of my mom flooded my head. She looked exactly like she did the night she gave me the necklace as a gift. Her blue eyes were smiling. She hugged me tight. Thinking about her made me want to cry. But I held the tears inside.

  "You run along," Ella said to the boy. "I'll see you tonight."

  Jason ran out, his dark curly hair springing.

  "Is that your boy?" I asked.

  She smiled. "Yeah, he's our little explorer. We have to keep a hawk's eye on him."

  "Do you have other kids?"

  "Felix and Jason. Their both good boys."

  I closed my eyes, wishing that I belonged, again, to a family.

  Chapter 2

  Trust

  I could hear a deep voice as the sun rose through the window. I thought it was my dad reading the bible before getting ready for work. But as I pushed up in bed, I saw a boy sitting there.

  He was Ella's other son, Felix, and he was fifteen. She told me he would come in to read to me as he liked to do for the patients at Hope Hospital.

  His reading made me remember Sunday nights as my dad read by the fireplace and how mom listened, holding his hand.

  "I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors – rescue me." He moved his head and took a sip of water before seeing that I was awake.

  "Did I wake you?" He asked. "I thought reading would help you sleep."

  "It's okay."

  "How are you? From what I've heard, you've been through something crazy."

  The AC turned on and blew the pages of his bible.

  "I'm okay," I said. "I could be a lot worse."

  He screwed the lid on his bottle. "You know there's a pretty good cafeteria upstairs."

  I took a sip of water from the cup beside me. "I'm good, but thanks."

  He reached inside a bag of M&M's and grabbed a few. "Want me to continue reading?"

  "Go ahead." I sounded calm, but inside I was scared.

  I shivered and pulled the blanket over my shoulders.

  Felix started reading. He was good at it, keeping his voice even. But he was a stranger and I didn't know if I could trust him yet.

  He leaned back. "God is my shield…"

  ◆◆◆

  I was asleep when an officer, named Roger Carlson dropped in to see me.

  "Johnny is holding to his word. And as far as we know, LeAnna never tried contacting anyone for help."

  The sun was shining, and Ella pulled the blinds shut.

  "Well that doesn't mean she didn't need help only that she was helpless. A lot of victims never reach out because they're afraid."

  Roger touched Ella's shoulder. "You know she can't stay in the hospital forever, right?"

  "Did you find out if she has any relatives?"

  "No word."

  Ella sighed. She had been troubled ever since I came along. But God had appointed her guardian over me.

  "I'm not letting her leave here without somewhere to go," she said.

  ◆◆◆

  Why is she being so nice to me?

  I breathed out, afraid to see my body. I didn't really know how small I was, but I knew I was underweight. And Ella was leaning over me, washing my skin.

  "This will help you feel better."

  I straightened. "You really don't have to do this. I can do it." I took the sponge.

  She brought me breakfast and while I ate, I stared at the window. My stepdad kept me locked in my room where there was no window.

  "Go for whatever looks good," she said. There was fruit, jello, scrambled eggs, and a cup of juice.

  I watched birds perched in their trees instead of flying around.

  I took a bite of egg. "It's good."

  "Good. Eat up."

  I only ate a few bites and then fell asleep.

  Officer Carlson came again.

  "Both LeAnna's parents have passed and there's no one else."

  "She needs someone," Ella said.

  He touched her shoulder, knowing what she was thinking. It was the same way she looked when she stopped the car to help a stray dog. And he already had his answer.

  "We'll go home and get the guest room ready."

  That night, Ella helped me brush my teeth. I spit out the rest of the toothpaste and got in bed.

  "Would you like your hair braided?"

  I nodded. "That would be cool. My mom used to braid it for me."

  Ella took a hairbow from her pocket and started dividing my hair. It wasn't thick but it was long, and it took her a few minutes to complete.

  "Do you need anything else before my shift ends?"

  I smiled. "No, but thanks."

  Ella seemed to care. She reminded me of my mom.

  And I don't know how or when it happened, but I trusted her.

  Chapter 3

  Nightmares

  I was in pain for the next three days. They said my body was weak from a lack of nutrition, so I had to eat more. It was hard. But I managed.

  At that moment, the only two people I trusted were beside me. Ella and Felix.

  I understood why I trusted Ella. She gave me a warm sensation in my heart. But Felix I didn't
understand. He read the bible to me. And somehow that was enough.

  "You're good to go," Ella suddenly said. "And we want you to stay with us."

  I looked at them. "You want me?"

  She touched my shoulder. "Yes. Would you like to come?"

  I nodded; it was impossible to speak.

  Felix steadied me as I moved from the bed to the wheelchair. His hand on my back felt good. He rolled me outside, the warm breeze touching my body. And I smelled the flowers as birds flew from branch to branch.

  "What are you thinking?" Felix asked as we rolled off the sidewalk.

  "I'm thanking God," I said. "I thought I'd never leave the hospital."

  "That would suck. Our place is pretty cool.".

  "I can't wait to see it."

  We stopped beside a black car. "We have a lot of land. Our cabin is kind of small though."

  I grabbed his arm as he helped me up and into the car.

  I took a deep breath. "You have a cabin?"

  "Yeah. Deep in nowhere land."

  Now inside, I felt suffocated. I grabbed my seatbelt and looked at Felix.

  "You okay?" He scooted in.

  "I don't know."

  He buckled up and I leaned my head against his shoulder.

  "You're okay," he said. "Believe that."

  I woke up on a bed, sun glowing through a window.

  Instantly, I remembered dreaming about my stepfather. He was hitting me. Then there was a door and I knew if I entered it, I would never wake up again. But I couldn't stop my legs from walking or my fingers from touching the knob.

  I realized I was crying as someone hurried to my room. It was Ella.

  "Did you have a bad dream?" She asked, holding a phone.

  I wiped my cheeks. "Yeah."

  "Felix is coming in to read, is that alright?"

  "Okay."

  He came through the door wearing jogging pants and a big shirt and carrying his bible. He sat next to me, making me feel better already.

  "I have bad dreams sometimes too," he said and touched my hand.

  "I dream of my parents a lot. And my stepdad."

  "Do you miss them?"

  "Yeah. You're lucky to have a family."

  "More than I know, I'm sure." He flipped through the bible. "When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn."

  I closed my eyes, wishing I could read but I had never been schooled. I didn't want anyone to know; I was scared they would judge me.

  "Wake up!" Felix's hand was on my shoulder.

  I looked around, breathing hard. I didn't remember falling asleep.

  "You were dreaming again," he said.

  I realized I was sick and sat up.

  "Are you okay?"

  I shook my head and he quickly left and came back with water.

  "What can I do?" I couldn't understand why he was helpful.

  "It's just my stomach."

  "That's all?"

  "My head is hurting."

  He took a bottle of pills from the dresser. "Mom told me to give you these if you start hurting."

  I took them and fell asleep. At last, the nightmares had ended, and everything would be all right.

  Chapter 4

  Dog

  Ella woke me, handing me a cup of juice and opening the curtains.

  I sat up and stretched my arms before drinking. She sat a bowl of fruit beside me and after I ate, she brought the scales in.

  I stepped on, holding my breath as I waited for the results.

  "Amazing. You're up ten pounds." She opened the window.

  The fresh air felt good. "I thought I gained more."

  "Ten pounds is a lot," she said.

  I sighed and sat on the bed. I wanted to be all better. But getting there felt like forever.

  After lunch, Ella left for work. She wanted me to stay in bed. But that was getting old.

  I glanced at the window and called for Felix.

  He quickly came in.

  "Yeah?"

  I scooted off the bed. "Let's go outside."

  He put his hand on my back and we walked to the porch. There was a big swing. We sat down and I breathed in the fresh air.

  "How are you?" Felix asked.

  I stared at the tall trees around us. "I think I'm okay."

  "If you ever need to talk, I'm here."

  A bee swarmed around a patch of wildflowers. "Thanks." I wished I could tell him my story, but I was afraid.

  He pushed us with his feet. "How do you like it here?"

  "I love it." I swatted a bug near my face. "But I don't know what's gonna happen to me." I would have to be adopted. I just didn't want to leave.

  "I know. But it'll be okay."

  "Why?"

  He smiled. "Because God's in charge."

  I tried to smile. I just wished there was something I could hold on to.

  ◆◆◆

  Two weeks later I was pushing myself on the swing while Felix carried tools to the shed before the rain. I was relaxed, looking at the field when a dog started running down the hill.

  I jumped up and ran to the door, feeling shacky.

  "What's wrong?" Felix called, carrying a shovel.

  I pointed. "There's a dog!"

  "You don't like them?"

  "No." I grabbed the handle as the dog made it to Felix and sniffed his shoes.

  He petted his head. "You don't have to be afraid of Sid, he's a good boy."

  I opened the door and went inside with chills down my back. The last time I petted a dog, I got bit in the shoulder and my stepdad made me sleep in the kennel with him.

  I went to the kitchen and poured a cup of water and drank it at the table. The back door opened, and Felix came in.

  "It's okay now," he said. "Sid is gone."

  I picked up the saltshaker and looked at it. "I think I'm gonna stay in for a bit."

  "Okay." He sat beside me and tucked my hair behind my ear. "Do you need anything?"

  "I'm gonna take a nap."

  He went to the fridge. "Okay. Want something to eat first?"

  "No, maybe when I get up." I got up and went to my room where I fell asleep.

  Chapter 5

  Meeting the Blanks

  When I woke up, it was dark. I turned on the lamp and cuddled a pillow. I had a dream that the Carlsons adopted me. But they were probably looking for me somewhere else to stay.

  He didn't know it, but Felix was my best friend. Would we ever talk again if I left?

  I stayed awake for a while thinking about what would happen to me and it made me sad. And after I fell asleep, Ella and Felix came in to check on me.

  "She's so shy still," Felix whispered.

  Ella pulled the covers over my chest. "Yeah but she's warming up. We'll keep loving her while we can."

  ◆◆◆

  The next day I walked in the wet grass. Felix's hand was on my back.

  "Where are you going?" He asked.

  I gazed at the sunny field. "Somewhere over there."

  We walked to a big red oak in the middle of the field.

  Felix leaned against the trunk and I leaned against him, closing my eyes as birds chirped overhead.

  I realized Felix was always there for me and looked at him, smiling.

  "What are you thinking?" he asked.

  The leaves rustled above us, and I picked up a rock.

  "It's cool that you're shy. But you can always talk to me."

  "I know."

  He squeezed my hand. "Good."

  After we walked home, Ella was standing by the door with her purse.

  "LeAnna, would you like to go shopping?"

  "For what?"

  She dialed a number on the phone. "New clothes and anything else you want – Yes. She already left? Okay, thank you." She hung up.

  "Is someone coming with us?"

  "Our friends Jane and her daughter Sarah. She's your age."

  A van started up our driveway, I rolled my shorts up and sat on the swing while glancing to see them.

  The girl that got out first was Sarah, I guessed. She caught me looking and waved. While Ella and Jane talked, she walked to me.

  "It's nice to meet you," she said. "I'm Sarah and that's my brother Tom." She pointed at a tall boy in a tank top. Him and Felix had just started talking.