Peter found the examining room that Davy had been in. He was relieved that nobody else had occupied it yet. He walked in and sure enough there was his jacket. He stood there with jacket in hand and just stared at it. The boutinere that Julie gave him was still on it. He gently rubbed the petals of the flower between his thumb and forefinger as a tear involuntarily slipped down his cheek. Suddenly, Peter thought he heard voices in the next room over. It was Julie's voice! he listened intently.
"I'm ugly! Now I'm even uglier!" Julie screamed as she tossed the hand mirror towards the door. Peter could hear glass shatter. He wanted to run to her, but was almost afraid to face her.
"Darling, you're not ugly. You never were. You're beautiful, inside and out," her father said with a small smile and gave his daughter a kiss on her forehead.
"Oh sure, tell that to everyone else who calls me Cinderugly, four- eyes, and train wreck," Julie began to cry fiercely as each name rendered an emotional scar. There was only one person in the world who thought she was beautiful, but where was he now? He sure wasn't with her. Maybe he didn't love her like she thought he did. How stupid she felt for falling so hard, and so fast.
"Where's Peter? Why isn't he here?" Julie asked her father. Mr. Morris looked to the ground and stood silent.
"Dad?" Julie whispered with questioning in her eyes.
"I....forbad him to see you anymore...or at least until he grows up some more. Julie, he is a nice boy....but he is still a boy, one that acted very irresponsibly tonight," her father explained.
"Daddy no! I love him, and he loves me. He is the only boy who has ever liked me just for being me," Julie pleaded, now crying harder than ever.
"Julie, we'll see. I'm just not sure...you could have been killed tonight," Mr. Morris replied.
"Daddy, Peter defended my honor against someone who was bullying me. I think that took a lot of courage, considering Derk is bigger than Peter, and the fact that Peter assaulted a minor. He risked a lot to protect me. I know this bit of information may not change your mind, and you'll try and tell me that I'm not old enough to know what love is...but I think you shouldn't try to stop our happiness when we are so fond of each other. It's not fair that you're not giving Peter a chance, or our relationship," Julie told him.
"Julie," a voice said from outside the door. Julie looked up and saw Peter. A smile returned to her face. "I'm sorry Mr. Morris, but I just had to see her. I just had to know she was alright, and to say how sorry I am that she's in pain right now. I'll leave, but please, let me spend a few minutes with her," Peter begged.
"Son, I overreacted. After Julie's mother died, I came to the realization that I had to raise my daughter all by myself. If anything ever happened to her that I could have prevented...well, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Julie is all I have. Do you understand?" Mr. Morris asked Peter.
"Yeah, I guess I can understand that. I'm not upset at you either," Peter said as he shook Mr. Morris' hand. Mr. Morris then got up to leave the room.
"Honey," he said to his daughter, "I'll be back when the doctor releases you. I do want you to remember one thing though. God never creates anything that is ugly. If you are beautiful to Him, that's all that matters. Remember the words of Solomon in Proverbs 31:30, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Mr. Morris smiled at this quote. Julie smiled too as she realized that her father had actually referred to her as a woman.
"You know, Julie, I agree with your dad whole-heartedly," Peter said and gently kissed Julie's hand.
Chapter 9
Chapter 11
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