Chapter 292: Big Sister
*I envy you, baby sister. You have a future. I’ve seen where I’m headed. – Leigh Anne*
Chance looked up when he heard the lobby door open notification from the alarm. Rye had her interview with the principal today. At Karan’s insistence, she had taken the day off. But had promised to come by when it was over.
Instead of Rye, he saw another familiar face. It was almost skeletal under the bruises. She was having a tough time keeping herself upright.
“Leigh Anne, are you okay?” Chance asked walking out to her.
Karan stood in her doorway, phone in hand. As expected, it rang, and she told the Wolf Pack rep that everything was fine.
“You’re baby sister’s friend.”
“I’m her husband, Chance.” He said gently.
They had been married for about a month. Sharing a bed for a week. It still thrilled him to say that he was married.
“Good. She deserves a good guy. A good future.”
“So do you. We can help you.”
“Can you?”
“There’s a treatment facility that is holding a bed for you. I can take you right now.”
“Where’s Rye?”
“She’s at a job interview. I can bring her by to see you, tonight.”
Leigh Anne looked around nervously for a moment. Quietly she asked, “Can we get something to eat?”
“Absolutely.” He started to get his keys and remembered that today he rode his bike to work. He turned to Karan, and she already her own had keys in her hand.
“It’s the club SUV. Cookie can pick me up if he needs to.” She said softly and he nodded.
Chance guided Leigh Anne out the front door and around the building to the parking lot. He used the fob to unlock the black SUV and then opened the passenger door for her. The entire drive to the Cookie Jar, he ignored the stench of her unwashed body.
It was a nice summer day and he suggested that they sit at one of the new outdoor tables. A waitress came around and gave them laminated menus.
“Is Mia here?” Chance asked, accepting the menu.
“Yes, sir. Should I tell her you’re here?” she asked, scribbling down the order that Leigh Anne gave.
“Please. Tell her Chance is here. She’ll know what I want.”
The teen with rainbow hair nodded and walked back in with the menus. Leigh Anne looked like she was ready to run away. He knew the look. It took months for Rye not to look that way.
“Rye worries about you.” Chance finally said. “She’ll be glad that you’re wanting help.”
“I tried to keep her safe.” Leigh Anne whispered. “I did my best.”
“I know you did. So does she.”
Mia approached the table wearing the Cookie Jar uniform and her black hair pulled back in a braid. She sat the sandwich and tea in front of her brother and the waitress placed the other plate and soda in front of Leigh Anne.
Smiling brightly, Mia offered a hand. “I’m Mia, his sister. You must be Leigh Anne.”
A grubby hand with protruding bones shook hers. “Hi.”
“I would love to hang out, but I have two people out. If you need anything, Rainbow will take care of you.” She said hugging Chance from behind.
“Rainbow?” he chuckled.
“I have three employees named Heather. One has Rainbow hair. One has a star tattoo; we call her Star. And one is just Heather.” She acted like she was choking him and kissed the top of his head. “Oh! Have you heard how the interview went?”
“Not yet.” He hugged her back over his shoulder and kissed her cheek. “Get to work before I tell your boss.”
“He’s at the daycare.” She laughed as she walked away.
Leigh Anne picked at her food as Chance ate slowly. She didn’t talk much, and her answers were short and direct. After nearly an hour, he motioned to the waitress, and she brought the check and a to go box.
Once the bill was taken care of he drove them to the sprawling rehab facility. Leigh Anne was checked in and taken for processing. Chance made arrangements for Rye to come see her later that day. Then he headed back to the daycare.
“Hey.” Karan smiled. “She’s with Michael.”
“Thanks.” He said, tossing the keys onto her desk. He glanced over and saw Law sitting at his desk. The other man gave him a chin lift and Chance returned the motion.
“I didn’t say anything about Leigh Anne. Thought you might want to.”
“You’re awesome. I’m going to take the rest of the day.” He said leaving her office and headed to the nursery. Rye was playing with Michael as he lay on a blanket.
“Duchess, I have something we need to go do.” he said softly.
“Okay. Jordan?”
“He’s fine there. I’m going to change him and put him down for a nap.” She smiled and as if on cue, the baby yawned.
Rye kissed his cheek before standing up and going to her husband. Chance led them to an empty room.
“I just dropped Leigh Anne off at the rehab center. She agreed to go. You can go see her today and in about a week she’ll get phone privileges. It will be about two weeks before you can go see her again.”
“Leigh Anne was here?” Rye asked quietly, hopefully.
“Yeah, duchess.” He said hugging her to him. “She came here looking for help. I took her to lunch and then the clinic. After today, she won’t have any visitation rights until it’s out of her system. It’s a hard process. It sucks. It’ll be the hardest thing she ever does.”
A small sob escaped as her body began to tremble. He held her as emotions assaulted her. Grief and relief. Happiness and sorrow. Joy and fear.
Hope.
Chance made arrangements for his bike to be taken home and then he drove Rye to the clinic. They were taken to a small room to wait. It seemed like forever before the door opened and Leigh Anne was escorted in.
She was clean now and her hair was still damp. Baby blue sweatpants and a gray t-shirt hung off her bony body. White crocks were on her feet that shuffled towards her sister.
The sisters hugged each other and cried as Chance and the nurse stood off to the side, giving them some privacy.
After thirty minutes, the nurse said that she needed to take Leigh Anne to her room. Reluctantly, she let go of her sister and went with the nurse.
“You can do this, big sister.” Rye encouraged. “I love you, Leigh Anne.”
“I love you too, baby sister.”
Before going and getting Michael, they went to North Star. Carly told them what to expect. Gave advice. Listened to their fears and hopes. Helped Rye process through everything.
