Free Love Thief by Teona Bell Page A

out without thinking to smooth the silky mass. Her heart thumped harder, and for the millionth time, she felt tears welling. She hadn’t noticed, but it had been difficult to hold Amaya and love her. Charmaine couldn’t have defined when she started to be afraid of being hurt or loving and touching people, but at some point, that block had crumbled.
    “He did it,” she whispered to the quiet room.
    Somehow in his crazy persistence, over the last few weeks, Elliot had gotten past her defenses and charmed her into not only caring about him, but more importantly loving Amaya. Of course, she had always loved Amaya, and probably on some deep level Stacia. The problem was, she’d been terrified of those feelings because it seemed like they would destroy her.
    “How could I be scared of you?” Charmaine said to the small face, and Amaya opened her eyes. Another wave of love rolled over Charmaine. She’s mine, and I’m not scared anymore. Well, not as scared. Raising Amaya still terrified her beyond belief, but it wasn’t about caring for the little girl. “Hey, you want pancakes today?”
    Amaya’s eyes widened. “Really?”
    “Yup. I know how to make them good. Grandma showed me long time ago.”
    Amaya bounced into a sitting position and then launched herself at Charmaine’s neck. Charmaine gagged. “Easy, if you choke me I can’t make the pancakes.
    Her niece squealed and drew back. “Can Elliot have pancakes, too?”
    Charmaine smirked. “You like him, huh?”
    “Yes, I love Elliot.”
    Simple as that, she admitted it while bouncing. Then Charmaine had a moment of panic. Did Amaya love him because she desperately wanted a dad? And what if they stopped being friends. Amaya would be hurt.
    “Um, Amaya.”
    “What?”
    Charmaine reached out to grab her and settle her down. “Listen to me. First, I want you and me to start over.”
    Amaya blinked in confusion and glanced around the room. “Where?”
    Charmaine laughed. “I mean with our relationship. When you first came, I didn’t pay attention to you much. I didn’t realize I was kind of starting the same trend I came from with my mother and…”
    Amaya’s blank expression said she didn’t get it, but she listened.
    Charmaine took the little girl in her arms and sat up to place her on her lap. “I want us to be able to trust each other from now on.”
    “You mean you don’t want me to steal stuff?”
    “Oh baby, well, yes, but it’s not just you. It’s me, too. You were hurt, and I wasn’t there for you. I know you don’t fully understand what I’m saying, but…I guess I mean I love you, Amaya.”
    Amaya twisted around and faced Charmaine and kissed her on the cheek. She held on, pressing the side of her soft face to Charmaine’s, and Charmaine ignored the awkward feeling inside to soak up the little girl’s love.
    “I love you, too, Aunt Charmaine.”
    “That makes me so happy I’m going to put a smiley face on your pancakes.”
    Amaya whooped and leaped off the bed. She scurried to the living room, and Charmaine yawned, moving slower. “Brush your teeth.” She headed into the bathroom and then paused when she heard Amaya talking. When she walked back out, she found the scamp on the cell phone. Charmaine couldn’t turn her back for a second. “Who are you talking to?”
    Amaya gave an OK sign with her fingers as if that solved it, still holding the phone to her face.
    Charmaine put her hands on her hips, glaring. “Amaya Poe!”
    “First!” Amaya shouted and tossed the phone on the couch and ran ahead of Charmaine into the bathroom. Charmaine just stood there dazed and more exhausted. Start over? She needed a good long nap before she started over and embrace all that came with dealing with Amaya.
    A half hour later, a knock sounded on the door. Amaya went flying toward it. “Freeze, young lady.”
    Amaya froze as if they were playing a game. Charmaine pulled her back and passed her to answer the door herself. Just as she