Loves Redemption by Kimberly Terry (best books to read for teens .TXT) 📕

“Baby,” Mark paused, and she could hear his frustration. “Maya, because you went out

on one normal activity in all of your young life and something terrible happened to your sister does not mean you’re responsible. Had you been there, he may have assaulted both of you. Or he may have come back when you weren’t around and still raped Allison. The truth is, you were

able to take care of her, and you may have saved her from him hurting her even more. Don’t

keep beating yourself up for participating in a normal adolescent activity.”

“Whether or not you believe I have a place of blame for what happened to Allison

doesn’t negate the fact my sister was raped and her life was changed. Ally had always been a carefree girl, always found something to laugh about. After she was raped, she was different.”

“How so?”

“I told you Ally came to live with me when I left Melissa’s house for college.”

At his nod she continued, “I’d known she had been experimenting with drugs with some

of her friends at school. Whenever I tried to say something to her about it she’d tell me to mind my own business. After what happened with Danny, she also became promiscuous and would

come home from school late with no explanation. When I confronted her about it, she admitted she was doing drugs and she didn’t always have money for it. I think you can guess how she got the money for her habit.”

“I can.” He answered and Maya knew in his line of work, he came in constant contact

with young people who grew up in the type of neighborhood she’d grown up in. To them, crime was a normal way of life--dealing and taking drugs, gangs, and prostitution. Each was a normal component of their everyday lives.

“Maya, I want you to understand I would never take you for granted. You deserve so

much more than to be treated with casual neglect. No, please listen to me. I’m sure Allison loved you. Dalia, I can tell cares a great deal for you. The women at Imani House admire and respect you. I’m not saying no one cares for you. What I see is you give a lot.”

It was hard for Maya to listen to what he was telling her. She was comfortable in the role

of counselor where she was helping someone to get her life on track; she felt confident of her welcome.

But when it became personal, she wasn’t as sure of her reception. She’d learned not to

expect much in the way of return affection. To have expectations was a surefire way to

disappointment. It was the way she’d learned to cope--not to expect too much. That was the way to avoid heartache.

She hadn’t realized it, but with Mark she had been doing the same thing. He was the first

man she had shared so much of herself with. He said things to her no one had ever said.

He did things to her body she’d allowed no other man to do.

He seemed to have a genuine interest in her. He asked her about her life, and wanted to

explore new things with her.

“When I first saw you dancing, I was upset because all I could see was this woman in

your arms, dancing with you. Then I kind of felt it was inevitable.

“What do you mean inevitable? That you would see me with someone else? Baby, I was

only dancing with her,” Mark said gently.

“I know. I guess I’ve always waited for the other shoe to drop. That something was

bound to happen to end this,” she admitted in a low voice.

“I’ve always been honest with you Maya. I’ve told you how I feel, and my feelings

haven’t changed. In fact the opposite has happened. You’ve invaded my heart,” he admitted, and her heart caught at his simple words.

“Sometimes I get a little scared of what’s happening, because it seems like it’s happening

too fast. But it doesn’t make it any less real. I’m not walking away from this, and neither will I let you.” He hugged her close. As he’d come to the last words, he cleared his throat.

“I’m sure along the way one of us will make a mistake, but it doesn’t mean we don’t love

each other. Or, that our relationship is destined to fall apart. It means we made a mistake, and all we do from there is learn from that mistake, not give up on the relationship. Giving up is too damn easy, Maya.”

Maya didn’t think it registered on him he mentioned love. She allowed the slip to pass

because she didn’t want to examine it too closely. What she did examine was his desire to be with her. She was happier than she’d ever been, and she didn’t want to sabotage it through her fears. Fears she carried around like the unnecessary, excess baggage they were.

“You’re right. I don’t want to give up on this. It’s natural for me to withdraw when it

becomes personal, and it’s something I’ve been working on. But I’ll keep trying. That’s all I can promise. I’ll try,” she promised him with a small smile.

“We’ll work on it,” he corrected her.

When she saw him glance at his watch, she realized how late it was. Lately, she would

take one of her weekend days off to spend with him, which meant her Fridays were busy late

nights at the house.

When Mark realized she was working later on Fridays and figured out why, he didn’t try

and talk her out of working late. He simply arrived at Imani House on Friday night when he left the precinct and worked from his laptop or visited with the residents. After Maya finished for the night, they would drive to her house and he would spend the night.

He’d even kept a few of his things in her bedroom over the course of the last few weeks.

“Sweetheart, it’s getting late, why don’t we