Chapter 5
FIVE
STORM
Signs of neglect, physical and mental abuse: children chained to their beds, starved, not allowed to use the toilet or shower? Living in filth.
That was the part of Reed’s life he had left out?
My stomach continued to churn. I had read Reed’s notes, which he’d submitted to my question sheet earlier that week, detailing that portion of his life before being fostered by Ma Sawyer.
Those lost ten months!
I hadn’t messaged him, knowing that what I wanted to say needed to be delivered in person and under professional circumstances.
I knew as soon as I read about that missing period of his life, which he’d rarely talked about, that I wouldn’t be able to become his official therapist; I was much too close.
Learning that the boy you once loved, strike that still loved, had been through such an ordeal gave me physical pain. My entire chest plate was still aching: shock, rage, and confusion powered through me.
After the foster mother he had shared with Micah died, and the father figure couldn’t cope, the two boys who had been housed together since they were five were split up: thrown back into the care system.
I didn’t have the details about what had happened to Micah, but Reed had been temporarily rehomed with the Palmer family. He and five others. All of whom were mistreated: some over a period of months, others for years.
Hiding in plain sight.
I’d seen something in the news about The Horror House but hadn’t given it that much thought.
When I’d searched the internet, the case was all over the news. Reed had been one of their victims, but why had he never come forward? I had a million questions circling my head.
From the appearance of the large bungalow, Reed and the others had been kept in it was a standard, middle-class family home, but inside, it told a very different story. From the photographs, the conditions in that house were not even fit for an animal.
When I found out that Reed had taken Hudson’s place in the doubles match between my father and Jasper, my heart had shifted to my throat.
How could I sit there, knowing what I knew, without showing it on my face?
But I had to, I wasn’t Doctor Summers that day, I was Storm.
I also knew that if I showed him pity, Reed would not appreciate that.
And as a professional, that would be unhelpful and could be potentially disempowering.
The two emotions you were allowed to show, empathy and compassion, didn’t seem enough under the circumstances.
I had reread his notes many times over the last few days; they outlined how the kids were starved for days and the beatings they had if they misbehaved. No wonder Reed’s relationship with food was so strong.
What I had read in those papers would haunt me, and I knew I needed to speak with him about it.
It happened a long time ago, but that didn’t mean that he was in any way healed.
That type of scarring came out in different ways.
Suppressed emotions led to uncontainable anger.
Hence, Reed’s issues on the field. He had been so calm and quiet in high school and college, and now things had come to a head.
The story was all over the press, but there had been no mention of one of the NFL’s star quarterbacks having been a victim.
Because they didn’t know.
The chaos of my thoughts was interrupted by my mother. “Do you want another glass of champagne, darling?”
I straightened in my seat. We were sitting inside the club restaurant beside the large bi-folding doors that led out onto a terrace. There was a perfect view of the golf course. It was Daddy’s usual table, and the staff always fawned all over us. I wondered fleetingly who was winning.
“No, I’ll wait for the others. Surely, they shouldn’t be too long now.” I was so anxious, my spine should have snapped in half from how rigid my body was.
“I feel quite nervous,” my mother carried on, fluffing her hair.
She wore a short navy golf dress, which was rich considering she never played.
I was also wearing Tory Burch, but in white with a collar and no sleeves.
At least I’d been on the driving range that morning with my golf coach, Robert, and so had a right to wear it.
My long hair was pulled into a severe ponytail, and I wore minimal makeup.
The only jewelry I had on was my engagement ring.
Jasper would freak out if I came to the club without my rock.
And I hated it; it was like carrying a huge weight, not that dissimilar to the one on my shoulders.
“What did you say?” I sighed, realizing I hadn’t heard my mother properly. I inspected the chipped paint on my nails as Rachel replied.
“I said I’m nervous. I’ve never met a football star before.”
What a crock. “You’ve met Reed plenty of times, mother. We went to high school together.”
“Well, I can’t remember him. Why would I remember a high school teenager?”
She had a point. “I introduced you to him at your wedding anniversary party that time.”
My mother was still drawing a blank.
“Anyway,” I began, picking at my nails. “He’s just a normal person, like any other. And you’ve met celebrities before.”
“Yes, but not as hot as Reed, the gunslinger Prescott. He can get aggressive with me anytime.” OMG! I think I was a bit sick in my mouth. I knew my mother was crushing on the guy, but to hear it said out loud made me want to hurl. Not country club etiquette, you understand.
Ever since my mother learned of my dad’s infidelity and that the consequences of that had resulted in Phoenix, they had drifted apart.
They were together for appearances only now, and it still broke my heart.
Rachel Summers had gradually turned into a carbon copy of her friends.
A socialite with nothing to say for herself who spent her husband's money with gusto, having jacked in her job as a once-respected interior designer. That’s why I had made the deal about pursuing a career for myself.
I knew I was spoiled and selfish in school, just like my mom now and her circle of friends, and I refused to become one of them.
When they got together, it was like a scene from that old movie The Stepford Wives.
“Just be cool and don’t embarrass me,” I replied, finishing off the rest of my champagne. We were waiting for the boys to join us so we could order.
My heart was beating so fast in my chest, I was approaching a full-on meltdown at the thought of seeing Reed again, and in the company of my family and Jasper.
Before she could reprimand me for my comment, they appeared at the top of the steps from the green, an entourage of people behind them.
From the looks on their faces, Phoenix and Reed had won the doubles game.
My father appeared full of beans, patting Reed on the back and introducing him to a couple of guys he used to work with when he was in office.
Jasper’s face was pulled taut. Nix was talking to him, possibly discussing golfing techniques, and he looked like he was listening, but I knew better.
I had seen his pissed, active listening face many times.
If Reed and Nix had thrashed my father and Jasper, that would make my day.
Sally Prendergast, one of our usual waitresses who spent most time ogling the men of the club, appeared to take our order, yet again.
Even though we’d explained that we were waiting for people to join us.
We were sitting at a table for six with four empty places.
Do the fucking maths. I hated incompetence.
Her sister was also horrible to me during college, another bugbear against her.
I could have had her fired had I been the old Storm when she’d spilled cranberry juice down my dress one brunch.
On purpose! The new Storm was much more tolerant.
As my eyes roamed towards the men, Rachel followed the direction of my gaze as she waved Sally away.
“Here they come,” she cooed. “Ooh, isn’t he a dish?”
Kill me. Kill me now.
We both stood as the men joined us. Their faces were flushed, well, my father and Jasper's were.
Nix and Reed just looked normal. If you can call the sexy motherfucker that was Reed Prescott that.
He wore cream pants and a Ralph Lauren top with the sleeves rolled up, and looked like sin.
His aviator Ray-Bans were pushed up onto his head.
As his eyes met mine, they creased at the corners as he shot me a smile.
I felt that all the way down to my womb and shyly gave him one back.
I didn’t miss Jasper's glance between us.
The guys bustled over, all talking over each other about the game, and we greeted each other in the usual way.
Air kisses and handshakes ensued. I thought I heard one of my mother’s ovaries burst as Reed kissed her hand like a proper gentleman. Smooth.
As he rounded the table towards me, there was a moment of awkwardness. Phoenix was complimenting his stepmother on her dress, and my father and Jasper were taking their seats. Jasper was right next to me, which meant Reed would have to sit across the table.
“Storm, long time. You look good,” he said as he pulled me in for a hug and kissed my cheek. Restless heat was knotted inside of me.
Everyone knew we were at school together, and so his behavior didn’t seem odd. Not to anyone else anyway, Nix had a massive grin on his face as he called Sally over. My mother and father just did their usual bickering thing.
“You too,” I managed to reply. Of course, Jasper didn’t know that I had been asked to counsel Reed.
He’d brought it up at dinner once he’d found out about Reed’s transfer, but I’d explained that I doubted they would assign him to me due to our history.
Yet another lie. Plus, a client's details were confidential.