Struggle for Liberty by Marline (the giving tree read aloud .TXT) 📕

and let her cry.
“I’m so sorry. So sorry that I wasn’t there to take care of you. I’m so, so sorry.” I whispered to her. After a while I heard the front door open and close and I desperately hoped that Steve had left.
“Do you want something to eat?” I asked Lissa, when she finally stopped crying. She shook her head and sniffed.
“Go to sleep.” I told Lissa gently. “You’re safe here.” I took off her shoes and pulled back the blanket and Lissa curled up in the large double bed. She quickly fell asleep after I tucked her in.

I softly opened the bedroom door and peaked outside, desperately hoping that Steve was, in fact, gone. I saw Jason sitting on the couch in the living room, beer in hand, staring vacantly ahead of him. He looked up when he heard me approach.
“Is she ok?” He asked me, sounding both worried and somehow, a little miserable.
“Yeah,” I said, as I sat next to him on the couch. “Are you?” Jason looked at me with vacant eyes.
“I’ve hurt so many people. I’ve done such horrible things, Liberty, you can’t even begin to imagine how bad. I would understand if you didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.”
Feeling Jason’s anguish, I desperately wanted to make him feel better. I gently lay my hand against his cheek and forced him to look up at me.
“Jason, God will forgive you for what you’ve done, if you but ask him.”
“No,” Jason said, “He could never forgive this. I’ve ruined so many lives.”
“He will,” I said, anxious to make him understand, “He will forgive you. Jesus loves you, no matter what. And so do I.” Jason set his beer down and pulled me into his arms.
“I love you so much.” He sighed. “And I’ll think about what you said. Because if there’s a way that I can know for sure that I will be forgiven… “ He didn’t finish his sentence. “I won’t be able to live with myself if I don’t have some hope.”
“Because Jesus came alive from the dead, you will always have hope.” I told him. “In the Bible it says that God will remove ours sins as far from us as the east is from the west. You can start over, Jason. You already have by bringing Lissa here.”
He smiled ruefully at me. “That’s not much compared to all the horrible things I’ve done.”
“It’s a start!” I said, getting more excited by the second.
Jason laughed at my excitement and wrapped his arms tighter around me.
“I’m so happy that you came in my life.” He sighed. I smiled and then suppressed a yawn.
“Where are we going to sleep?” I asked him, “Lissa is in our bed.”
Jason grinned. “How about here?” He moved us so that we were both lying on the couch. I was pressed against him and his arms were still around me.
“Sounds like a good idea.” I yawned again and then snuggled into him and made myself comfortable.
“Uhum, aren’t we forgetting something?” Jason asked, pretending to sound serious.
“What?” I asked, looking up at him a little shocked.
Grinning, Jason said: “A goodnight kiss.” I laughed softly and then leaned up and pressed my lips against his.
“Goodnight.” I whispered softly. When I was snuggled back against his chest, Jason kissed the top of my head. “Sleep tight.”

Chapter 9

Lissa got the laundry room and Steve was told that he could take a break and go on a holiday. Steve was grateful and didn’t give a second thought to it. Jason had decided that we must still sleep in the same bed just in case someone found out that this wasn’t the case. They might start questioning and that could get ugly.

We spent the day getting used to Lissa’s presence. Lissa barely said a word to me and I understood why, so much had happened to her in her young life. Jason offered to cook but I declined because I needed to do something to keep me busy. I asked Lissa if she wanted to help me but she was lying curled up in bed and didn’t even acknowledge my presence so I decided to let her be. I was stirring the vegetables when Jason wrapped his arms around me from behind and leaned his chin on my shoulder.
“Are you ok?” He asked me.
“I’m not sure.” I answered truthfully. “I’ve never seen her this sad and I don’t know what to do about it.”
Jason turned me around in his arms and put his hands on my shoulders.
“Give her some time. She’s been through a lot. Just remind her that you love her and that you’ll always be there for her and maybe try to distract her a little bit. Tomorrow evening there’s a ball that’s meant to prepare you girls for glamorous events. It might be a welcome distraction.” I smiled slightly, forcing myself not to burst out into tears. I put my arms around Jason’s neck and took a deep breath as I leaned against him.

The evening passed by quietly. I brought Lissa some food but she refused to eat and at first I let that bring my mood down but Jason managed to cheer me up, for which I was grateful. He was so sweet and knew exactly the right words to say. When we got into bed that evening, Jason slipped his arms around my waist and I turned around to face him. I smiled up at him and was suddenly very tempted to kiss him. I leaned forwards and pressed my lips against his. When I pulled away I asked:
“If I kiss you first, then am I allowed to pull away first?”
“No.” Jason said, with a smile playing on his lips. “You are never allowed to pull away first.”
Without a word I placed my lips on his again and before he could deepen the kiss, I pulled away. I smirked at him and he growled softly. He moved us so that I was lying on the bottom and he was hovering over me. He slammed his lips on mine and wanted to slip his tongue in my mouth but I would not let him. Jason poked me in the side and took advantage of my gasp. His tongue touched mine and sparks went through me. I felt butterflies in my stomach and kissed him back just as ferociously as he was kissing me. In the middle of our kiss he suddenly pulled back.
“I pulled back first.” He said smugly.
“Not funny.” I said.
“Oh, so you like me kissing you?” He asked while raising one eyebrow.
“No.” I lied smoothly.
“Liar.” He grinned.
“You’re the one who likes kissing me.” I defended myself.
“You know, I’ll make you a little bet.” Jason suddenly said. “If you kiss me first you will go on a hike with me everyday, without complaint and if I kiss you first…”
I cut him off before he could come up with something.
“You will do the cooking for a week.” I said, remembering the delicious pasta he made the first day I was here.
“Deal.” He said without a second thought. He lay back down next to me and tightened his grip on my waist.
“Urgh,” I grumbled softly.
“Regretting our deal already?” Jason teased.
“No.” I immediately said. Then, after a few seconds of thought I added: “Maybe.”
“Don’t worry,” Jason said as he nuzzled my neck, “Our hikes won’t be so bad.”
“That is, if you win.” I smirked. “And I have no intention of letting you.”

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Publication Date: 08-29-2011

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