Catherine placed her hand over his on the table. She’d never met Ansley, but she didn’t need to. Beau’s love for his late sister radiated from him. And as loud as his love for her was, so were his feelings of guilt.
After a long moment, Beau spoke again. “I stopped by because I wanted to pick your big, beautiful therapist brain.”
“I figured,” Catherine said, giving him a knowing smirk.
“Her foster parents were pieces of shit,” he said, anger and frustration twisted in his gut. “Her biological mother was verbally abusive to Palmer… Palmer explained it as she ‘exploded’ over the smallest thing and Palmer never knew when she was going to ignite. Apparently there was no other family for Palmer to confide in.”
Catherine’s expression softened. “Oh, that explains so much.”
Beau nodded, his throat tight. “Her mother specifically told her nobody would love her because she was bad.”
Catherine nodded. “I wondered where those words came from.”
“It seems she was mentally ill and while Palmer doesn’t appear to hold any bitterness toward her, the words of the past weigh on her.”
“That must be so confusing for her,” Catherine said softly.
Beau blew out a breath. “When she was so upset the other day and she was worried Master Grayson was mad at her, I briefly considered maybe she had rejection sensitivity disorder, but after talking to her, I realized it's simpler—sadder–than that. She’s just never been loved in a healthy way. For her, being accepted, being loved, is tied into what she does… or doesn't do. She honestly doesn’t know any different.”
“That’s heartbreaking, but the fact you’re aware of it and already working to help her is going to make all of the difference.The Ranch is exactly where she needs to be,” Catherine said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
Beau cleared his throat and nodded. “Yeah, I’m counting on its magic to heal her heart.”
“It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen for her. She’s got a good Daddy who’s going to make sure of it.” Catherine patted the top of his hand.
Beau let his friend’s words settle over him, wrapping himself in their warm reassurance.
Chapter Fourteen
“D-Do you want some help?” Palmer asked, studying a Little girl in the Butterfly room closely. The Little girl looked so sad. Her eyes were glossy with tears, and her lower lip trembled. It pulled at Palmer’s heart.
“I-I miss my Mommy,” the girl whispered.
Palmer’s own chest tightened. She knew that feeling, she missed Beau so much and he’d only been gone a short while. Making her apple pie had been a nice distraction, but once she was done, her sad feelings had come back.
“That’s okay,” Palmer said gently. “I miss my Daddy too.”
The Little girl looked down to the metal bowl of ingredients in front of her. Her hands hovered uncertainly over the plastic mixing spoon. “Can you help me?” she asked. “I wasn’t really listening when Chef Connor was giving us directions.”
Palmer nodded immediately. “We just need to stir all your ingredients together, and then scoop them into your pie dish,” she explained, trying to make her voice quiet. She didn’t want her new friend to get into trouble for not listening. That was naughty!
The Little girl plunged her spoon into the mixture. “Remember, we need to be gentle.” Palmer mirrored the motionwith her own spoon. “Slow and steady,” Palmer said when the ingredients came too close to spilling over the top. Palmer didn’t want a mess either. Yuck!
“Slow and steady,” the girl repeated.
“What’s your name?” Palmer asked as they stirred.
“Heather. What’s yours?”
“Palmer.”
“Is my first day,” Heather shared. “We’re on a ‘cation for six days!”
“Wow! That’s a lot of days.”
“We came for my birthday,” Heather said, nodding.
“That’s so exciting! What day is your birthday on?”