“A CHILD
A MOTHER
SHOULD
LOVE”
Volume One
By Donna Lee Comer
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(C) 2011 by Donna Lee Comer
Smashwords Edition
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Discover other titles by
Donna Lee Comer
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A Book is a Good Place to go and Dream
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CHAPTER ONE
Annie sat on the porch swing clutching Betsy, her doll, as she rocked back and forth. She rubbed the silky ribbon on the doll’s dress between her fingers, a habit she had developed in the past few months. The feel of the fabric gave her comfort in her troubled times.
The bright sun shining through the trees hurt her eyes when she looked up at a bird she heard singing in top of the old oak tree that dominated the front yard. Annie wanted to fly away with the birds. She wanted to go to a place where nobody screamed or called you names and hurt you. She wished she could fly to the top of the tree and live there forever.
Annie hummed a simple melody as she rocked. She didn’t remember the words, only the tune. She loved to watch Big Bird and Elmo on Sesame Street whenever her mother thought she deserved a few minutes of the show. Once she asked her mother to wait until the show was over before she turned the TV off, but a sharp slap across her cheek was her answer, so Annie never asked again. She tried to memorize the songs and sing them to herself when her mother locked her in her room. She would hum the melody and softly sing the words that she could remember as she disappeared into herself.
Annie heard her mother calling her from inside the house and trembled. She knew she should run as fast as she could to find out what her mother needed, but today her legs hurt so badly that she sat still. Annie wanted to pretend that this was a good day in the few seconds she shared with Betsy.
Jill, her mother, was getting agitated. She needed Annie to move a heavy trunk to the other side of the room. Why was that girl so hard to find all the time? It never failed, when she needed her, she was never around. Jill’s agitation grew each time she yelled Annie’s name. Finally, she went to the door and saw Annie on the swing.
“Annie, didn’t you hear me? I was calling for you. I want you to come here this instant. Don’t bring that stupid doll; you know I hate the filthy thing. I threw it away last week. How did you find it? Never mind, just get in here. I need you to move something, now!”
Annie sat the doll in the corner of the swing, slowly followed her mother inside, and waited until her mother grabbed her hand and drug her to the living room. “I want you to move this trunk under the window. I bought this quilt to drape over it. Hurry up, I don’t have all day.”
Annie got down on her knees to push the heavy trunk. It took all her strength to budge it. The carpet rubbing against her blistered knees hurt but she knew she had to ignore the pain and do what her mother told her to do. Jill stood over her but didn’t offer to help. Slowly the trunk started to move, and Annie kept pushing until it was under the window. After she straightened the trunk, she turned to her mother and asked, “Is this all right?”
Her mother got her yardstick and got down to measure each side. The trunk wasn’t centered and she reached out and slapped Annie’s face. The action surprised Annie, but she didn’t shed one tear.
“You stupid girl, can’t you see it’s not straight. Here I’ll hold the stick while you move it. I’ll let you know when to stop.”
Annie got down and scooted the trunk back. After a few pushes her mother was satisfied and smiled widely and said, “Yes, that’s perfect. I’m so glad I thought of putting it here. Now, go away while I fix the quilt.”
Annie slowly walked back out to the porch and picked up Betsy. She crawled back on the swing and rubbed the ribbon while she hummed. The bird sang again, but Annie didn’t hear. She rocked back and forth closing her mind to everything but the song.
Jill had found the quilt at a flea market the week before and just knew that the stars would match the blue in the living room sofa. She painstakingly spent the next half an hour making sure that the pattern was perfectly straight and the quilt was hanging the same distance from the floor on each side. It drove her crazy to see anything crooked. When she had it just right, she stood back to admire it. She saw something on the floor in front of the sofa, and picked it up to examine it. It took a few seconds until she realized that it was a cookie crumb. Jill stormed to the porch and grabbed Annie by the arm pulling her along behind her to the living room.
“Do you see what I see? What’s that doing on the floor? Get down and lick it up. You told me you were careful. I declare you are the world’s stupidest child. I’ll never trust you to eat in here again.”
Annie got down to the floor to lick up the crumb. She thought she was going to escape punishment, but a hard kick to her back caused her to cry out. Her mother waited a few seconds after kicking her, turned, and marched out of the room.
Annie tried to stand but the pain was excruciating. She tried not to cry but the tears started flowing anyway. Her chest felt as though it was on fire and she labored for each breath. The poor child lay on the floor in anguish.
Jill went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, and never once thought of Annie as she scrubbed the potatoes and sprinkled the spices on them. She looked out the kitchen window at the new patio set on the back deck. The striped color of the cushions had worried her at first. At the department store, she wasn’t sure about the green and cream stripes, but now as she looked out, they did blend beautifully with the white mums she’d planted so carefully in each pot.
“Yes, I picked the right color. Why do I always doubt myself?” she asked.
Jill heard her husband’s car pull in the driveway and park in the garage. She quickly set the timer for the chicken and potatoes and went to meet him. She glanced at her hair as she passed the hall mirror and hurried to the door. John, her husband, was getting out of the car when he spotted his wife.
“Honey, I’m so glad you’re home. That daughter of mine has been impossible all day. I don’t know why she never learns. Anyway, I’m making your favorite supper. I can’t wait until you taste the chicken and the potatoes with parsley and butter. I have an apple pie with a crumb top for dessert. Are you hungry?”
John braced himself for the evening; it wasn’t starting out too good. If Jill met him at the door with complaints about Annie, it usually got worse. He never knew what to expect and hoped Jill hadn’t hurt Annie again.
Jill chattered away as she reached for John’s hand to walk with him into the kitchen. She took his briefcase and laid it on the desk along with his suit coat and tie. John had a habit of removing his coat and tie on his way home trying to relax as much as possible before he faced his wife each evening.
John walked to the kitchen and opened the oven door a crack to peek at the food he smelled. Jill would ruin dinner if he didn’t rave about her cooking. He asked about Annie and heard Jill’s statement about leaving her in the living room. The dread of what he would see grew stronger as he headed to the fancy living room that Jill guarded like a soldier.
He spied Annie’s feet in front of the sofa and he hurried to her side. He carefully picked up the young girl and cradled her in his lap. He saw the tear stained cheeks and instantly knew that she was hurting bad. Annie learned not to cry unless the pain was over bearing.
“Annie sweetheart, are you okay?” he asked her. “Where does it hurt? Did your mother do this?”
Annie whispered softly, “I’ll be okay. It doesn’t hurt too bad. Can I lay down a while, please?”
John gingerly picked her up and headed for her bedroom. He laid her on the bed as easy as he could and got a cover from the bench.
“Do you think you should go to the hospital? I'll take you this time. I promise I’ll stay with you. I hate your mother for doing this to you. Soon we’ll leave and she’ll never hurt you again. I’m sorry, Annie.”
Annie took a small breath and shook her head. “Don’t worry daddy, I’m okay. Can I lay here and rest. Please tell mommy I’m not hungry.”
John touched Annie’s forehead and thought it felt hot. He was worried about Annie this time. He hadn’t seen her cry for quite a while. He didn’t want to upset Jill so he told Annie to rest and he would be back to check on her soon. Annie tried to smile as John left the room and closed the door.
John headed back to the kitchen and saw that Jill was taking the food out of the oven and the table was set with her special dinnerware. He wondered what she wanted this time. A request always followed the special dishes. Every time she used her good china, it cost him lots of money.
Jill smiled at him while she finished setting the table. She pulled his chair out from the table and told him to sit down. The wine glasses were gleaming in the sunlight that streamed through the window. The white wine cooled in the bucket in the middle of the table.
He asked, “Jill, what did you do to Annie? She looks bad this time. If she’s hurt, I’ll take her to the hospital this time, and I won’t care what I tell them. What did she do to you? Nothing can be bad enough for you to hurt her this way. Jill, did you hear me?”
Jill looked up from the candle she was lighting. “What do you mean, did I hurt her? She dropped a crumb on the living room floor and I made her lick it up. I can’t help it if she is so messy. I warned her the last time, and she promised me she would never eat in the living room again. I didn’t hurt her. Enough about Annie, sit down and eat.”
“No, you have to stop hurting her. I swear I’m going to take Annie and leave one of these days. Why did I get mixed up with such a crazy woman?” John knew he made a mistake when he saw the redness crawl up her neck.
“How dare you call me crazy? You know what kind of a girl Annie is. She never listens to a thing. She lives in her own world and I only discipline her. I’d never harm my own child. Don’t threaten to leave me John. You can never leave me. What would happen to your precious Annie then? Think about her John, and make sure you don’t use idle threats against me. I know what I’m doing. She’s not your child, and you have no idea how hard it is to be here every day with her.”
John sighed and kept quiet. He knew he could never leave Annie here alone with Jill. He resigned himself a while back to sacrifice his own happiness for hers. Jill would probably kill Annie eventually if he left, and no court in the world would award him full custody of a child that wasn’t his. So he shut his mouth and started eating from the plate Jill sat in front of him. His appetite was spoiled but he made an effort to eat to avoid another screaming fit.
He complimented Jill on the chicken and listened as she talked about her latest project. She wanted to redo the kitchen and install stainless steel appliances that matched the new dishwasher she just had to have. He didn’t care about the money since he had plenty. He wished he could join her enthusiasm but he had grown to hate the woman he married. If only he could take Annie and hide. She didn’t deserve to grow up with a hateful mother. Annie was a sweet innocent child with a gentle heart. She didn’t hate the mother that had kicked her an hour ago.
After he finished eating, John went upstairs to Annie’s room. He sat down on the bed and was shocked at the sight of the little girl’s face.
Her breathing was shallow and she was as white as a sheet. John bent to listen to her chest and felt for her pulse. He could hardly feel her heart beat and he was afraid that she might die.
John ran downstairs and screamed, “Jill bring the car around front so I can take Annie to the hospital. Your child is barely breathing and I don’t have time to argue. Just go get the car.”
He ran back upstairs and wrapped Annie in a blanket. He scooped her into his arms trying to be gentle with her. When he got to the bottom of the stairs, he saw Jill sitting at the table calmly eating her chicken.
“What are you doing? Did you not hear me tell you to go get the car? What’s wrong with you? Do you want Annie to die?”
Jill continued eating and ignored what he was saying to her. She honestly didn’t need to be bothered with a spoiled child. When she didn’t make a move to get up, John carried Annie to the nearest sofa and said, “Annie I’ll be right back. I’m going to back the car out.”
Annie didn’t respond and John was afraid of losing her. “Dear God, help this poor child. She doesn’t deserve this. Please don’t let her die,” he prayed as he got in the car and backed it out. He ran to the passenger door and opened it. He ran inside, carried Annie out, and put her in the backseat. He hoped she held on until they reached the hospital. The thoughts of guilt and shame of not stopping Jill before this happened tore away at his heart as he drove.
It took twenty minutes to drive to the hospital. John parked in the emergency parking and jumped out of his car. He picked Annie up and rushed in and almost ran over a team of nurses. He handed Annie to them and they hurried down the hall with her. Someone directed him to the desk to fill out the forms.
One of the nurses returned a few minutes later and asked him what happened to his daughter.
“She is my step-daughter, Annie Lawson. My wife punished her. I don’t really know what happened. Is she going to be alright?”
The nurse asked a few more questions and told him someone would be out in a few minutes to talk to him. She handed him a clipboard with some forms. John tried his best to concentrate but his eyes were drawn to the door waiting to hear about Annie. He was scribbling down the insurance information when he heard someone come up beside him. He looked up and saw it was a police officer. The officer introduced himself as Officer Thompson and asked, “Are you John Hawkins?”
“Yes, I’m John Hawkins Officer Thompson. Is there a problem? Is Annie okay?”
“Mr. Hawkins, I have to ask you to come with me. I need you to answer some questions, if you don’t mind. There's a room over there we can use.”
John stood and followed Officer Thompson to the empty room and sat down.
“Please tell me if Annie's going to be okay. I need to get these papers finished so I can go see her. I promised her I wouldn’t leave her alone.”
Officer Thompson said, “Mr. Hawkins, I understand you are worried about your daughter. First I need to know what happened to her. Her injuries may involve internal bleeding and the hospital informed us that this isn’t the first time that your daughter has been admitted with suspicious injuries.”
“Annie is my step-daughter. My wife Jill tends to get a little carried away with her discipline. Is Annie going to live? Please let me go to her. Annie will be scared and she needs me.”
“Mr. Hawkins, I have to tell you that the paper work states that you abused your step-daughter in the past and your wife didn’t want to press charges and the other incidents were dismissed. Now, we have a huge problem. Your stepdaughter’s ribs are broken, which caused a collapsed lung. I’m not sure what other injuries she has at this time. I can’t let you near her until we determine if you're a threat to her. Where is your wife, sir? Did she come with you?”
“No, I promised Annie I would bring her this time. My wife wouldn’t allow me to come along the other times. She said she was the mother and she would handle it. Are you telling me that she told the hospital I hurt Annie? That’s not true. I love Annie as though she were my own child, and I’d never hurt her. I want to press charges against my wife. She can’t be alone with Annie and I’m afraid for her safety. I was too scared to say anything before because she said I would lose Annie if I told. She knows I could never get custody because I’m only the step-father.”
Officer Thompson asked John to excuse him and wait while he checked on something. John couldn’t believe that Jill would be cruel enough to tell a lie and say that he hurt Annie. He mumbled to himself in disbelief, “Why would they believe her over me? Don’t they see that she is crazy?”
The officer returned with several files in his hands. “Mr. Hawkins, these are the reports from Annie’s previous visits. I see here that the first time your wife brought in Annie, she had a fractured collarbone. Do you recall this incident?”
“Yes, I came home and Annie was crying and said she fell off the swing I built for her in the back yard. I convinced my wife to bring her here when Annie continued to cry in pain. I believed what she told me. I had no reason at that time to doubt my wife.”
“Mr. Hawkins, are you saying that Annie didn’t fall off the swing? Did you hurt her then?”
“No, I wasn’t home at the time and I didn’t see what happened and when I questioned Annie about it she said she had fallen off the swing. I didn’t question the fall until I saw a pattern, and now I know that my wife hurts Annie. I’m so ashamed to say that all this time I was gullible and believed everything my wife told me. Several months ago, I saw Jill hurt Annie and I started to piece things together and now I’m certain that all of these previous injuries were at the hand of my wife.”
“Mr. Hawkins, please don’t say anymore until you have an attorney present. I’m certain that charges will be filed after this incident for the sake of your stepdaughter’s safety. Can you call your wife and have her come here? I need to get her side of this.”
“No, I don’t want Annie upset. If her mother comes here, it will be worse on her. She's too scared to talk when Jill is in the room,” John told him. “She needs me to be with her. My wife doesn’t care about her. She abuses Annie on a daily basis and I have been too cowardly to stop it. Now, can I please see my daughter?”
“Are you saying that you don’t want your wife here? Are you afraid of what she'll say about you? We can call her, and we will. I don’t care what you say, and I will ask your daughter who has hurt her as soon as I can. Let me ask you about the other injuries. Your wife brought your daughter in six months later with her lips split and teeth missing. Do you know how that happened then?”
“Again, my wife said Annie fell off her bike. I didn’t doubt that either.”
Officer Thompson said, “And the third time, a broken ankle. Later she was treated for burns to her arms and her hands. And then again there was an incident that your wife brought her in and she had a bald spot on her head where her hair had been pulled out by the roots. The doctor noted that it looked as though someone may have pulled the hair out. The list is ridiculous and an investigation is necessary. If you have abused your daughter, you will go to prison. A parent that hurts a child is the worst criminal I can think of. A child loves until someone turns that love to hate.”
“I’m telling you the truth. I didn’t hurt Annie. I promised her I would stay with her. I just want to make this right. I didn’t hurt her.” John leaned over and as his head rested in his hands, he cried for Annie. He silently prayed for her to be okay and that someday she would forgive him for not protecting her.
*****
CHAPTER TWO
In the emergency room Dr. Howard was on call. He heard the buzz about the little girl that had been brought into the ER, and understood the reason for it when he entered Annie’s room. Dr. Howard had a daughter the same age and had an excellent reputation with children. He tried to make Annie feel at ease and joked with her as he checked her injuries.
He sensed the fear from Annie and sent one of the nurses to find the puppet he kept in his desk drawer. The other staff members watched in awe as Dr. Howard changed from serious doctor to Turbo the Turtle. He used the turtle often with children to ease the fear of the hospital. He crept up the side of the bed with the puppet and was glad when he saw a smile on Annie’s face.
“Hi, I’m Turbo the Turtle. What’s your name little girl? I love your brown eyes. I wish my eyes were brown. They’re just turtle green. YUCK!” Turbo said.
Annie said, “Oh, your eyes aren’t ugly. I never talked to a turtle before.”
Turbo replied, “Oh, I talk to girls all the time, but none of them are as pretty as you are. Will you be my friend?”
Annie shyly nodded her head. “Why am I here? And where is my Daddy? He said he would stay with me.”
Turbo said, “I’m sure he had papers to fill out. He should be able to come to be with you soon. Do you mind if I ask you what happened to you?”
Annie turned away and said nothing.
Turbo crawled up on her stomach and said, “Don’t be afraid of me, I want to make you feel better. We need to know what happened so we can fix it. Will you tell me?”
Annie shook her head no. She knew if she told, her mother would hurt her more than she ever had before, so Annie didn’t say a word. Her chest hurt and she was so tired. “Mommy hurts me because I am bad. I wish I could just be good,” she thought.
Dr. Howard used Turbo’s hand to grab onto Annie’s hand. He hoped to settle the child down so he could finish his exam. His gut told him that this little girl had already suffered so much and he needed to reach an understanding with her in hopes that she could trust him. He signaled the nurse to increase her medication running through her IV. The sedative was weak but he wanted to take the edge off the pain he knew she was feeling.
“Annie, would you like me to tell you a story? I promise I will make you better. If you want to, you can tell me a story too,” Turbo said.
“I love stories. Mommy lets me watch Sesame Street sometimes and I try to learn each song that Big Bird sings. Sometimes I forget the words, but I remember all the stories.”
“Well, my story goes like this. Once there was a little girl named Susie. She loved playing with her dolls. She liked the one with red hair the best. It was her favorite of all. But, Daddy didn’t like the red haired doll so he took it and broke it in many pieces. Susie was so sad because she loved her doll. When she cried, her daddy got mad and hurt her. She was hurt so bad, that Daddy had to take her to the hospital. A nice doctor was going to make her better but he needed to know who hurt her. Susie told what happened and the doctor made sure that she was never hurt again.”
Annie’s pulse speeded up when she heard the story. Do other mommy’s and daddy’s hurt their kids too? Maybe I should tell what mommy did. “I just want her to love me,” she thought.
“Will you tell me a story about your daddy? Did he break your doll too? Is that why you are afraid,” Turbo asked.
“No, my daddy loves me and he would never hurt me. I fell down and hurt myself. Mommy tells me to be more careful, but sometimes I don’t listen. I don’t want to get in trouble and I try to do what she says, but I don’t pay attention,” she said.
Dr. Howard didn’t want to upset her so he told her that she needed to go to sleep for a while and when she woke up, they would tell more stories. “Don’t worry Annie; I’ll take care of you now. You just relax and try to sleep, okay?”
He walked over to the IV and increased the sedative to help calm her down. As the drug took effect, he watched Annie drift to sleep. He waited a few more minutes and started to examine her.
Doctor Howard started with her arms and upper body. What he saw made him wonder what this poor little girl had suffered. He saw many scars on her arms that looked as though someone had cut her. From the initial exam, it looked like her right wrist had been broken and never set properly.
When he pulled the covers the rest of the way down to expose her legs, his heart broke. Annie’s legs were red and swollen. After examining her, the only explanation that made any sense was someone had put her into scalding hot water and burned her legs. Who would do this to a child?
Dr. Howard asked the nurses to prepare her for the O.R. He had to inflate her lung so she could breathe. He wanted to put her under anesthesia so she wouldn’t feel the pain. While she was under, he would confer with Dr. Willows. She was the best doctor on the staff to handle child abuse and this case certainly fit the description.
While the nurses transported Annie to the operating room, Dr. Howard put in a call to Dr. Willows to meet him in Operating Room 3. He went to scrub and wait for her.
The nurses had orders to do a complete body x-ray. A technician set up the machine and it took only a few minutes. He told them he would bring the results back in fifteen minutes.
Dr. Willows arrived at the O.R. and immediately examined Annie. When Dr. Howard came in, she agreed that in light of the evidence, someone had definitely hurt this child. They both needed to document every fracture and injury in hopes of making sure that whoever it was would never harm her again.
The technician brought the x-rays while Dr. Howard started the procedure to inflate Annie’s lung. Dr. Willows gasped when she looked at them. Annie's body was riddled with old scarring left from quite a few hairline fractures in her arms and legs. She agreed with Dr. Howard’s diagnosis that the wrist had been broken and the bone had not healed properly. They agreed that Annie wouldn’t have complete and full use of her right hand from the neglect.
When Dr. Howard was finished inflating the lung, he told the nurses to take Annie to the recovery room and he would check on her in a little while. He asked Dr. Willows to come to his office after she finished changing. She arrived shortly after he did and they discussed Annie’s injuries while they enjoyed a much-needed cup of coffee.
Dr. Willows said, “I hate this. It's so unfair when a parent hurts their children. I heard from the nurses that the authorities suspect that the stepfather is to blame. Have you met him?”
Dr. Howard answered, “No, I haven’t met him yet. I might go down to the emergency department and talk to the officer that’s on duty. Maybe he can fill in the details.”
“I have my rounds to do, and I'll contact you to continue my report as soon as I’m done. We have to make sure that this beautiful little girl doesn’t go back into the hands of whoever has hurt her. When I’m done, I’ll call you,” Dr. Willows said.
“Okay, I'll let you know what I find out,” Dr. Howard said. He picked up the phone after she left and gave instructions to the staff that Annie’s legs should be coated with a burn medication. He didn’t think that the burns would leave any scars and for that, he was grateful.
The emergency room at the Holy Spirit Hospital was packed. The nurses did their best to keep the cases moving. In between patients, the talk centered on the little girl named Annie. All the nurses agreed that her eyes held a sadness that was heartbreaking.
The officer on duty called in Social Services and was waiting on Nancy Branson, one of the agents covering that day. When she arrived, the officer filled her in on the events of the evening.
Nancy asked to meet with the stepfather and when she opened the door, she saw John Hawkins pacing around the table.
She introduced herself and asked him to have a seat.
“Mr. Hawkins, I’m Nancy Branson from Children Services. The officer at the hospital called me to review your stepdaughter’s case. I’m waiting on the file from the doctor in charge and as soon as I can, I’ll take your statement. I understand that this isn’t the first time that your stepdaughter Annie has been admitted here.”
“Yes, my wife brought Annie in several times before. I didn’t realize until a few months ago that the situation at our home was this severe. My wife kept telling me that Annie was accident-prone and all her injuries were just that, accidents. She told me that Annie fell off her bike, or tripped on the stairs, or fell off the swing. A few months ago, I saw my wife, Jill, deliberately hurt Annie when she didn’t hear something she told her to do. I was under the impression that Annie was a difficult child. Now, I believe that my wife has abused Annie all her life.”
“So, it is your story that your wife, and not you, hurt your stepdaughter? I'll have to talk to your wife before I allow you to see Annie. I’m in charge of the case now. I'll have guardianship of Annie until we get to the bottom of this. Are you aware that Annie had fractured ribs and a collapsed lung when you brought her in this evening?”
John said, “No, I haven’t talked to the doctor yet. I didn’t know what was wrong with Annie, but I knew when I brought her in that she was barely breathing. I promised Annie that I would stay with her. She isn't used to strangers and I’m sure that she's scared to death. I need to see her; please, she has been through so much. I would never harm her. I love her as though she were my own child.”
“Mr. Hawkins, what happened today that caused Annie’s injuries? Do you have any idea how she got three fractured ribs and a collapsed lung? Remember before you answer, what you say may be used against you later. Please, do yourself a favor and tell the truth now.”
“All I know is that when I arrived home Annie was lying in the living room floor and she asked me to carry her upstairs to her bed. When I went to check on her, she looked terrible and she was crying in pain. Annie only cries when the pain is unbearable. She knows better than to cry when my wife punishes her, it only angers my wife, and Annie suffers more.”
“Are you aware that there is evidence of past abuse and your wife made a statement to the hospital authorities that it was indeed you that hurt Annie? I'll know more when I see the other files on her previous visits, but even if this was the first time, I’m so glad that the hospital reported this. No child deserves to be beaten as Annie has been.”
“I can’t imagine why my wife blamed me. I regret not taking Annie and leaving her long ago. I stayed for Annie. My wife used her as bait for me to stay with her and told me that she would hurt Annie more if I left. How can I prove to you that it was my wife and not me?”
“Mr. Hawkins, I’m trained to protect the child. Whether it was you or your wife, we will remove Annie from your home until we are satisfied she is safe. Do you have a lawyer you can call? Do you want to call your wife and ask her to come here, or should I do it?
“No, I’ll call her. I’ll be glad to have her confronted for what she’s done. I have no love left for her and if you allow me to keep Annie, we’ll leave her. She is an evil and vindictive person, and I will testify to anything if it helps Annie.”
Mrs. Branson noticed the tears in his eyes and wondered if he was acting. In her experience, mothers normally do not harm their own children. Since he was a stepfather, it was more likely he was the guilty one. She hoped for the child’s sake that this would be the last time Annie ever felt fear or pain from either parent.
*****
CHAPTER THREE
Mandy, the nurse in the recovery room checked Annie’s blood pressure. The sweet little girl seemed to be doing fine. As she studied her, she thought to herself that when she had her own daughter, she would want her to look just like Annie. Her light brown hair was shiny and naturally curly and her eyelashes were so full most grown women would pay to have them. She was small for five and a half, and thought her mother was probably a petite woman. Mandy brushed the hair from Annie’s eyes and leaned down to brush her cheeks with a kiss. She said, “Now, what did I do that for? Maybe you just needed a little tender loving care.”
Dr. Howard went to the nurse’s station to find Annie’s charts. He read the information from her previous visits. He was shocked to see the diagnosis and number of times Annie had been hospitalized. The broken bones and extent of her injuries made him think that someone was to blame for not catching this pattern quicker. He wanted to consult with Dr. Willows and hoped that between the two of them they could convince the hospital to protect this young girl from being sent back to the same environment.
As he was reading the last page, he heard someone asking for Annie’s files at the desk. He approached the woman and asked why she wanted to read them.
“And you are who?” she asked.
“I’m Dr. Howard, and I treated Annie for a collapsed lung. I’m going to be taking care of her while she is here.”
“Dr. Howard, I’m Nancy Branson from Children’s Services.”
“So, the hospital called in Children Services? Do you think this is a case of child abuse? I’m not used to treating patients with a history like Annie Lawson. What do you need from me to help protect her?” he asked.
“First, I need to ask you from a medical standpoint if these injuries could be abuse. Have you treated Annie before?”
“No, I haven’t seen her before today. I was just looking through her file, and I’m very concerned. I’m not sure what the guidelines are for abuse. I can verify her injuries that I’m treating her for now. She has three broken ribs, one of them punctured her lung, and I took her to the O.R. for treatment. It could have been from a strong blow to her body. Also, both of her legs have 2nd degree burns.”
“The burns are on both legs?” she asked.
“Yes, her bottom torso is red with some small blisters. The burns probably came from placing her in the tub while the water was too hot. Hopefully, there will be no scars.”
“How could a parent intentionally put their child in scalding hot water? Could it have been an accident if they weren’t aware the water was that hot?”
Dr. Howard thought a moment before he answered. “I don’t want to accuse anyone of neglect if it isn't warranted. I would say in my professional opinion most parents check the water before placing a child in the bathtub. Annie was kept in the water long enough to cause 2nd degree burns. The burns to her lower torso are extensive. She had to be in the water for more than a second. Any child placed in hot water would scream immediately and the parent would take them out of the water.”
“So, you're saying that Annie was forced to stay in the tub for some time and that's what caused the burns to her legs?”
“Yes, that is my first impression. According to her chart, some of her other injuries probably were at the hand of someone else. Either one of the parents, a daycare, or someone that spends a lot of time with her is to blame. Have you met the father?”
“Yes, actually he is waiting for me to return. He says that his wife, Jill Hawkins, Annie’s natural mother, is to blame. I have a report that states Mrs. Hawkins put the blame on her husband John for the previous incidents. We must do whatever it takes to protect Annie and that probably means I will petition the court to be her guardian and neither parent can be with her. In your opinion, would it be possible for her mother to cause the injuries, or would she be too weak? What I mean, would a stronger person have to be to blame?”
“No, a woman is certainly able to harm a small girl in this way. I see no reason to think that a man has to take the blame. But can’t you ask Annie who hurt her?”
“Yes, we can. In most cases, the parent warns the child not to tell or the next time will be worse. I’m not sure Annie will tell us.”
“I can’t believe that any woman, or man for that matter, would do harm to such a precious child. I have my own and my first instinct is to keep them from harm. Will you keep me informed? Annie is asking for her father, and I’m not sure she will stay quiet if she doesn’t see him. Is it possible for her sake to have someone stay in the room while the father reassures her?”
“I’ll see what I can do. If you find it will enable her to stay calm, let me know. I can’t imagine if he were that kind of father, she would want him in the room. Right now, we must put Annie’s well being ahead of anything else. I don’t want the father to be with her right now until I’m sure who the criminal is. Thank you for your help, Dr. Howard. I'll keep in touch with you.”
“Here's my card with my numbers, and my pager number. Call me for any reason if I can help.”
Nancy headed back to the room where she left John Hawkins waiting. When she entered, she saw he'd been crying and it did touch her heart. “This is going to be a difficult case to decide unless Annie is willing to point the finger to the guilty one,” she thought to herself.
“Mr. Hawkins, I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I’m going to have the officer bring you a phone so you can call your wife. As soon as she arrives we'll try to sort this out.”
“Please, can you tell me if Annie is alright? I’m so sorry for what she has endured. I will stay away if it’ll do more harm to her. Right now, she is the most important one in this mess.”
“I spoke to her doctor and he says that the puncture to her lung was corrected and her burns on her legs are being treated.”
“Burns, what burns? I remember Jill giving her a bath last night and I heard Annie scream, is that when she was burned? Jill said she got soap in her eyes and she was being a baby and screamed as if someone was trying to kill her.”
Again, she wondered if Mr. Hawkins was acting innocent. She would wait until she met the mother to decide whom she believed.
The officer brought in a phone and she handed it to him. John dialed the number and as she listened to his side of the conversation, her confusion grew.
“Jill, this is John. The hospital has admitted Annie and they need you to come down to fill out papers. What? Yes, it really is necessary for you to come here. No, I didn’t tell them what you did. I care about Annie don’t you? How can you say that? She’s not a baby. Her lung collapsed from you breaking her ribs. Yes, I know you just kicked her. I want you to come down as soon as you can. No, it can’t wait until tomorrow. Jill, an officer will come and get you if you don’t come right away. Okay. If that’s how you want to play this, I’ll tell them you aren’t coming and they’ll have to come and get you. Are you sure? Yes, I’ll tell them. Good bye.”
John turned to Mrs. Branson and asked, “Did you hear enough? Someone will have to get my wife. She says she doesn’t have the time to come here for something so minute. So, you will have to send someone to the house.”
“Did your wife admit to kicking Annie just now? Did I hear right?” she asked.
“Yes, she told me she kicked Annie for dropping one cookie crumb on the floor. She told Annie to lick it up, and she must have kicked her while she was down on the floor, and that’s where I found her.”
“I’ll contact the police and have an officer dispatched to pick her up. I hate to handle it this way, but Annie’s safety is the utmost priority. I’ll make the call now.”
John asked, “Can I see Annie now? I promise I won’t upset her. I just want her to know I’m still here.”
“She’s in recovery, and I will ask the doctor when she wakes up if you can see her for a few minutes. You understand that if I change my mind, you will accept that decision,” she said sternly.
“Yes, I understand. I just don’t want Annie to think I don’t love her.”
Mrs. Branson went to the desk to use the phone. She called dispatch and asked for a patrol car to pick up Mrs. Hawkins and bring her to the hospital.
*****
CHAPTER FOUR
The officers knocked on the door to the Hawkins home. Jill came to the door and stared in disbelief when she saw them. She didn’t think that John would have the nerve to call the police.
“Can I help you officers?” she asked.
“Mrs. Hawkins, we have orders to transport you to the Holy Spirit Hospital.”
“Why, is someone hurt? Is it my daughter or husband? Was there an accident?” she cried as she held her hand over her heart. She acted as if she was going to faint.
“Mrs. Hawkins, are you alright? No, there was no accident. Your daughter and your husband are at the hospital, but I’m not sure of the details. I think they need you for paperwork.”
Jill quickly sat down in the closest chair. She didn’t want to be bothered going to the hospital. She hoped that she could play up to the police officers and maybe they would feel sorry for her and she could go back to making plans for her new kitchen.
“Mrs. Hawkins, do you need to take anything with you, a purse, or a jacket? We'll give you a few seconds.”
“Oh, I feel faint, and I don’t think I can make it. Do I really have to go? Can I lie down for a minute?” she swooned.
“No, ma’am we need to leave now. If you need your purse I'll wait for you, but please go get it now.”
Jill really didn’t need this crap. She saw the officers meant business and were serious, so she went to get her purse. She changed her attitude with them and they knew she was agitated.
They put her in the back seat of the patrol car and headed for the hospital. One of the officers called dispatch and told them they were on their way and asked where Mrs. Hawkins was to go when they arrived. Dispatch told them to take her to the emergency department and ask for Mrs. Branson.
The officers escorted Jill to the desk and asked to talk to Mrs. Branson. When Mrs. Branson saw Jill, she was surprised to see how beautiful and well-dressed she was. She didn’t show her surprise and walked over to introduce herself.
“Mrs. Hawkins, my name is Nancy Branson from Children Services. I need to ask you some questions concerning your daughter Annie. I have spoken to your husband John, now I need to speak with you. If you will follow me please, we'll find a room so we can talk.”
Jill followed Mrs. Branson to an empty room and sat at the table. She told herself to be careful and be ready to turn on the tears when she talked about Annie.
“Now, Mrs. Hawkins, are you aware that we admitted your daughter Annie tonight? I know your husband did call you.”
“Yes, he told me Annie was staying tonight but I really don’t understand what happened. Were they in an auto accident? I was so scared when the officers arrived at my door, but they wouldn’t tell me what happened.” She started the tears and reached in her purse for a tissue.
“No, your husband and daughter weren't in an accident. Your daughter Annie came to the O.R. with a collapsed lung. Do you know how that happened?”
“No, I don’t know anything. I need to speak with my husband. Where is he? Can I talk to him now?” Jill asked.
“Right now I need your co-operation and then you can see your husband. Do you need something to drink before we get started?” Mrs. Branson asked. She took note that she didn’t ask to see Annie.
“Yes, could I have some coffee? All this stress gives me a headache. And could I have two creams please.”
“Sure, give me one second,” Mrs. Branson said as she went to find the coffee.
Jill told herself to keep it under control. “You can’t let them see that that child gets on your nerves. I have to convince them that John hurt Annie, I just have to,” she thought.
When Mrs. Branson returned, she made sure the coffee was the way Jill wanted it and she pulled the file out of her briefcase.
“Mrs. Hawkins, your husband told me that you kicked Annie tonight and he was the one that decided to bring her to the hospital, and you didn’t want him to. Is that true?”
“Oh no, John is lying again. I told the hospital the last time I was here it was John that hurt Annie. They wanted me to press charges but I was afraid for my own safety so I didn’t do it.”
Jill took time to blow her nose and continued, “I thought he would get better. He promised that he would stop. I hate to see Annie hurt. I tried to stop him but he got angry when he found out she ate the cookie in the living room and knocked her to the floor and kicked her in the back.”
“Mrs. Hawkins, are you sure you’re telling the truth? Your husband said you hurt Annie. He told me he stays to protect her. I must tell you that Annie probably won’t go home with the two of you until the court is satisfied she will be safe. There will be a hearing to decide if charges are brought against either you or your husband, whichever one is the threat.”
“Please believe me when I tell you that I love Annie. I didn’t know John was like this when I married him. I thought we were so happy. Then I saw him hit Annie one day and I have feared him since then.”
“Has Mr. Hawkins ever hit you? Do you try to keep him from hurting your daughter?”
“Yes, I tried several times to get in front of Annie but he just knocks me out of the way. He dares me to interfere, and I know he would kill me and then he would kill my daughter. I wanted to tell someone for a long time, but I’m afraid of losing Annie. I couldn’t stand it if I lost her.”
Mrs. Branson hesitated and wondered how she could catch Mrs. Hawkins in a lie. She was leaning to the assumption that it was Mrs. Hawkins, not Mr. Hawkins, which was guilty.
“Can you tell me about your daughter’s previous injuries? A few months ago, your daughter was here with teeth missing and her lips split open. Do you know what happened that time?” Mrs. Branson asked.
“Yes, Annie didn’t want to eat her green beans and John became so angry he hit her right across the mouth so hard the chair fell backwards and she ended up in the floor. It took almost an hour for me to convince him she needed medical attention. He finally agreed when I told him that if someone else saw her that way, that they might ask questions. I told him that I put in the report that she fell down the stairs. She doesn’t see very well close up and I told him that I told the doctors that’s why she fell. He seemed satisfied so I dropped it and hoped he wouldn’t hurt her ever again.”
Mrs. Branson decided to take a break and asked Mrs. Hawkins to excuse her for a few minutes.
As soon as the door shut, Jill allowed the smug look to take over her face. “I should get an A+ for this performance,” she thought.
Nancy Branson went back to the room where John waited. She told him what his wife had told her. John hung his head and looked completely defeated.
“I wanted to tell you that for tonight Annie is safe here in the hospital. I’m going to wait to talk to her tomorrow. You and your wife are free to leave but this is not over. An investigation will continue through Child Services and I will file a petition tomorrow for guardianship until we decide which one of you is telling the truth. Would you like to see your wife now?” she asked him.
John stood and said, “Yes I may as well get it over with. Will you do me a favor and check on Annie. Would it be possible for me to go and tell her good night? I'd like for her to know I’m still here for her.”
“Yes, I’ll go to the desk and ask for permission for her to see you just for a minute. I’ll find out what room she is in and make sure she’s up to seeing you and your wife. Understand though, I will be in the room with you at all times.”
“I appreciate it, and thank you for caring,” John said.
Mrs. Branson went to the nurse’s station and asked for the room number. They told her Annie was in 3211. Mrs. Branson motioned for John to follow her and she led him to the room where his wife waited. When she opened the door and Jill spotted John she could see the look of apprehension on Mrs. Hawkins’s face. John didn’t say a word to her.
Mrs. Branson led them to the elevator, went to the nurse’s station, and asked if Annie was able to have a few minutes with her parents. The nurse told her that Annie was awake and doing well but they could only stay for a little while.
Mrs. Branson told the two of them to wait until she went in and talked with Annie. When she approached Annie’s bed, her heart went out to the small girl with so many problems. She went to the side of the bed and said, “Annie honey, my name is Mrs. Branson, and I wanted to check and see how you were doing. Would you like to see your parents for a few minutes before they leave?”
She watched Annie’s face and saw the fear and hesitation. “Is my mommy here too? My Daddy said he would stay with me. Can I see him please?”
Mrs. Branson was surprised when she asked for just her Daddy.
“Yes, your mommy and daddy are here. Do you want to see them now?” she asked her.
“I want to see my daddy first. Can I please have some water too?”
“Yes, honey I’ll get your water. I’ll bring your daddy back with me but he can stay only a minute, okay?”
“Okay and thank you.”
She went out in the hall, asked the nurse for water, and told the parents that Annie wanted to see her daddy first. John looked over at Jill with a look of pure hate and followed Mrs. Branson into the room.
Annie smiled when she saw her father and reached up her arms to hug him. He asked her, “Pumpkin, how are you doing sweetheart?”
“I’m fine daddy. Is mommy mad at me? I don’t want her to be mad. I should have stayed at home. Now, she knows I’m in here and she’ll be mad at me.”
“Annie sweetheart, don’t you worry about Mommy. I’ll take care of her. I promised you I would be right here when you woke up. I just wanted to say good night and tell you that I love you. I don’t want you to worry about a thing. You just get better so I can take you to the zoo like I promised. Would you like to go when you get better?”
“Yes, daddy I’d love to go to the zoo. But, will mommy let me go? She never let me go before. I want to see the monkeys. Wouldn’t it be fun daddy? I love you daddy.”
Mrs. Branson was beginning to have little doubt as to which was the evil one in this family. She didn’t see how a child could hide genuine love for her father.
“Annie honey, would you like to say good night to your mommy. She’s right outside,” Mrs. Branson said.
“I guess I can say good night to her. Will you stay with me daddy? I don’t want her to be mad.”
“Yes, pumpkin, I’ll stay right here. Just say good night to mommy. I’ll be back tomorrow to see you. Okay?”