Suffer Little Children

by Freda Hansburg

  One step forward, two steps back.

  It always seemed to end up that way with Ben. After he finally got them into therapy, all hell broke loose, landing squarely on her head. Amber not only stole her bird but accused her of trashing Jaden’s bike. Crazy! And yet Ben ran off, leaving her so he could go make nice.

  It’s not fair.

  Robin picked up the little blue bird and stroked it. She wondered why Amber had taken it. She was only a kid, Ben said. She wished he would spare more of that understanding and compassion for his girlfriend.

  She felt jealous of a ten-year-old girl. Robin wanted Ben’s unconditional love, too, and maybe he didn’t have enough to go around. Perhaps unconditional love was a fairy tale people were meant to outgrow.

  She swirled the last of the Chardonnay in the glass then finished it. Standing, she carried her little bird back to the living room and restored it to its rightful place in the collection.

  Robin retrieved the empty glasses and took them into the kitchen. She opened a can of chicken soup, dumped the contents into a bowl, and put it into the microwave. Some celebratory dinner. How ironic. Over all the years she’d lived alone after the divorce, solo dinners had become no big deal. But she let someone into her life, let him become special, and suddenly eating alone became lonely. Just like those nights when David had worked late. Except he hadn’t been working.

  The microwave beeped. Robin removed her bowl of soup and sat at the counter. She stirred, letting the soup cool, inhaling the bouquet of Progresso. It felt therapeutic, even from a can.

  She reflected as she ate. Ben did act wimpy with his kids but only because he was a decent, loving guy. Unlike David. She would never have to worry about catching Ben in bed with another woman, let alone a nineteen-year-old au pair. What the hell? His kids would get older and less needy eventually. She wouldn’t always have to settle for dinners alone.

  Robin’s thoughts drifted to Will. He didn’t have children. How simple life would be if she were involved with someone without little kids. Then again, dating a workaholic could pose other problems. Maybe any relationship entailed a rival of some kind, be it another woman, young children, or a career. It could be worse. At least Ben wasn’t an alcoholic or drug addict. His only crime consisted of trying to be a good father. It was more than her ex had done for Sean.

  Robin sighed. She resolved to be more patient, try harder, be better.

  Her cell phone dinged with an incoming text. She reached across the counter for it, uncertain whether or not she wanted it to be Ben. She eyed the display and shuddered. Gloria Reyes.

  Trouble with the kids? Could get worse. Time we talked again.

  Robin pushed her soup aside, her appetite gone. Gloria didn’t intend to disappear. Robin replied.

  Are you threatening me? Or Ben’s kids?

  Moments later, her cell dinged.

  Are you helping my kid?

  Unbelievable. The woman was maddening. She texted back.

  What do you want?

  Gloria’s reply appeared instantly.

  Meet me noon tomorrow, Mountainview cafeteria.

  Robin willed the words to disappear. She had no desire to face Gloria again. She wondered how Gloria knew of the trouble with Ben’s kids. Maybe Vanessa had told her. Perhaps Gloria had exploited the incident with Jaden’s bike the way she’d used the situation with Amber and that library book to display her power over Ben’s family. If so, it made her truly diabolical.

  As she deliberated how to respond, Robin’s phone rang.

  She drew a breath. “Ben? Is everyone okay?”

  “It’s under control. What about you? I feel bad for running out on you.”

  Biting back a retort, Robin reminded herself to be patient. She took a breath. “No apology needed. You had to take care of your kids.”

  “I’ll make it up to you, Bird. I promise.”

  “At the very least, you owe me a dinner.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow. And Ben? I’ll try to be more patient but not if you side with your children against me. Okay?”

  “I don’t,” he protested. “Won’t,” he amended.

  “All right,” she said, somewhat mollified. “Listen, why don’t we do something together when you have them this weekend? We can take them into the city, go to the natural history museum and see the dinosaurs, or maybe the Bronx Zoo.”

  “That sounds great. Any of it.” He sounded relieved.

  Robin congratulated herself on taking the high road.

  “Want me to come over?” he asked.

  “I’m pretty tired.” Her feelings still raw, Robin doubted she could sustain the higher ground in person. And she preferred he not see her swollen, bloodshot eyes. “Ben? I just got a text from Gloria. Does—did Vanessa tell her about Jaden’s bike?”

  “I don’t know.” He sounded wary. “Why?”

  “She texted something about trouble with the kids.” It sounded silly, so vague, and yet somehow menacing. “She still insists I help her son. She wants to meet tomorrow.” Robin waited for him to tell her to stay away from Gloria.

  Instead he asked, “Are you going to?”

  “I don’t know.” The weight of the situation sank onto Robin’s shoulders. “Ben, shouldn’t you talk to Vanessa? Let her know what’s going on?”

  “You mean about Gloria’s son? Why would Vanessa need to know about that?”

  “I meant about her threats of trouble with the children.”

  “Bird, I’m not about to get Vanessa all worked up about some idle comments. It’s not like Gloria made a specific threat. They’re friends. It’s not worth stirring up a hornet’s nest. Believe me.”

  What Ben said made sense. Robin wanted to believe it. Yet in the back of her mind, an alarm still sounded.

  “So, what are you going to do, Bird?” he asked again.

  Gloria Reyes was the last person Robin wanted to see, but if she did, maybe she would get a better handle on her plans. And if Gloria made any further threats, vague or not, Robin would insist they tell Vanessa—maybe even the police.

  She swallowed, her throat dry. “I’ll talk with her, I guess.”

  PART TWO

  “Come away, O human child!

  To the waters and the wild

  With a faery, hand in hand,

  For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.”

  – W. B. Yeats, “The Stolen Child”

  FIFTEEN

  ROBIN

  ROBIN SCANNED THE CROWDED hospital cafeteria. Expecting a woman sitting alone, she took a while to spot Gloria. When she did, Robin froze. A young boy sat beside her with a partially consumed sandwich on his plate.

  He looked thin. Even from a distance, she saw the dark shadows under his eyes. The child must be Alex Reyes. Robin’s heart sank, and she wanted to flee, but Gloria waved her over.

  “How nice to see you again. Join us.”

  Robin sat.

  Gloria draped an arm over the boy’s narrow shoulders. “This is my son, Alex. Alex, say hello to Nurse Robin. She’s going to help you get well.”

  Robin flushed, appalled that Gloria had put her on the spot. What a cruel ploy to raise false hope in a sick child. Alex stared at her, his eyes like dark mirrors in his drawn face. Robin willed herself to hold his gaze.

  “Hello, Alex,” she said. “I’m sorry you’ve been ill.”

  The boy watched her in silence. Nine years old, Robin recalled. He appeared a couple of years younger except for his eyes, which had brightened strangely from his cancer. He was a beautiful child.

  Gloria fixed her gaze on Robin. “What have you come up with?”

  Robin bristled. Gloria addressed her like an employee. “I’m sorry, but nothing has changed since our last conversation.” Apart from someone sabotaging Jaden’s bike. Her intuition told her Gloria did it.

  Gloria’s eyes narrowed.

  “I did ask the PI, Dr. Richman, whether we could include Alex in the MATCH tria
l,” Robin explained, “but he insists we follow the NCI inclusion criteria, no one under eighteen.” Robin glanced at Alex, who continued to watch her. “I wish I could do more.”

  Alex looked at the remains of his grilled cheese sandwich. “Mom, can we go home? My head hurts.”

  Robin’s chest ached. It was hard enough refusing Gloria. Doing it a second time in front of her ailing child brought new agony.

  “In a few minutes, sweetheart.” Gloria pressed her lips against his forehead then faced Robin, her eyes steely. “You must do better. You know that.”

  Robin shook her head. “There’s nothing I can do.” She should go. Maybe then Gloria would take the poor child home.

  “You can send a biopsy specimen from Alex to the regional DNA lab,” Gloria insisted.

  Robin’s eyes widened. She tried to recall if she’d described the genetic analysis procedure to Gloria.

  Gloria seemed to read her confusion. “I’ve done some online research about MATCH. Alex’s tumor needs to be analyzed for genetic abnormalities, right?”

  “You’re asking me to arrange a biopsy for him?” Robin’s eyes darted to the boy, who rested his head in his hands. Why did Gloria have to involve him in her heartless shakedown?

  “He’s had a biopsy. The specimen is right here in this hospital.” Gloria smirked. “If you don’t mind keeping Alex company for a few minutes, I’ll sign a release right now, and you can take it.”

  Gloria’s determination amazed Robin. She was a force of nature. “I’m sure a lab would analyze it,” she said. “But I can’t submit a specimen to the MATCH lab unless it’s from a study subject.”

  “You could if you wanted to.”

  “That’s research fraud. I can’t.” That would put her job and nursing license on the line.

  “You’re going to let him die?”

  Robin’s breath caught in horror that Gloria could say such a thing in front of Alex. Clearly, she would stop at nothing to get her way. But that was why Robin had agreed to meet with her again—to learn what she might be capable of. Now Robin knew Gloria was not an adversary she dared underestimate.

  “Save him, Robin,” Gloria whispered. “Haven’t you realized it’s dangerous to neglect children in need?” Her dark eyes bored into Robin’s. “Things can go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye.” She grinned.

  Robin shuddered. Despite the crowded cafeteria, the lunchtime chatter and commotion seemed far away, reduced to a dull hum edged with something strangely threatening. She met Gloria’s gaze. “You did it, didn’t you? You punctured Jaden’s bicycle tires.”

  “And if I did, who’d believe you?” Gloria shook her head. “Not Vanessa. Not the kids.”

  “Ben would,” Robin shot back.

  “He might, but they wouldn’t believe him either.” Her grin widened, a jack-o’-lantern mocking Robin. “Besides, I heard you did that, Robin. It frightens me to think what you might do next.”

  “Leave Ben’s kids alone!” Realizing she’d shouted, Robin lowered her voice. “This has nothing to do with them, Gloria.” She pushed her chair back from the table. “If anything happens to Amber or Jaden, I’ll go to the police.”

  “And tell them what?” Gloria leered. “That your boyfriend’s children don’t want you for a stepmother?”

  She’d had enough. Robin stood, her face flushed at the ring of truth in Gloria’s words. Glancing at Alex, she found his large eyes fixed on her.

  Gloria rose as well. “Stay. Have some lunch, Robin.” She grasped her son’s arm. “Come, dear. Let’s get you home. Nurse Robin has some thinking to do.”

  Alex stood.

  Circling her arm around his shoulder, Gloria studied Robin for a long moment. “I’ll be in touch.” She flashed another wicked grin and steered Alex away.

  Robin sank into her chair and watched them go, feeling as if the breath had been sucked from her lungs.

  SIXTEEN

  AMBER

  GLORIA’S THE NICEST GROWN-UP ever. When I message her cell phone, she doesn’t get mad at all. Call her anytime, she says. I’d like to call or text her lots, but she’s got a sick kid. I don’t want her to think I’m a pain.

  But last night I had to let her know—today’s the day for our big surprise.

  Mom’s taking Jaden for a haircut straight from school. She’ll be amazed when she comes home and finds a clean Old English Sheepdog. Any minute now, Gloria’s coming by for Nina to drop her at the groomer on her way to work. She’s the one who came up with the idea to surprise my mom, and she’s even treating for it. The minute I get home from school, I leash Nina for her beauty treatment. Boy, does she need it.

  Nina and I wait on the front steps, and sure enough, Gloria pulls up. I walk Nina over to her car, and Gloria comes out to take her.

  “Hello, Amber.” She pets Nina. “Ready for your makeover, girl?”

  I spot a little boy in the passenger seat. Gloria notices me staring at him, which I can’t help because he’s so pale and skinny. She taps on his window for him to lower it.

  “Amber, this is my son, Alex. Alex, this is my friend, Amber.”

  She introduced me as her friend. I’m so proud. I want to be super polite and make a good impression. “Pleased to meet you, Alex.” I reach through the open window to shake his hand. He has cold fingers.

  “Hello, Amber.” I swear he has eyes like a raccoon. “Is that your dog?”

  Nina puts her front paws up on the car door, and she nuzzles Alex through the window. He giggles. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Gloria smiling.

  “This is Nina,” I tell Alex. “Your mom is taking her to get a bath.”

  He reaches out to pet her, and she licks his hand. “I wish we had a dog,” he says.

  “Why can’t—”

  “Alex is very ill,” Gloria says. “We can’t afford to aggravate his condition.”

  “I’m sorry you’re sick. I hope you’ll be better soon. Your mom is working on getting you some special medicine, Alex.” I want to show Gloria I remembered that.

  Alex shakes his head. “We saw Nurse Robin at Mountainview Hospital this morning. She promised to give me medicine, but today she said no.”

  The poor kid. He looks ready to cry. Holy cow. Nurse Robin must be my dad’s Robin. She won’t even give Alex the medicine he needs? I don’t understand how anyone can be that hateful.

  Gloria pats Alex’s arm. “We were very disappointed when Robin refused us.”

  “But why would she?”

  Gloria shrugs. “She’s worried she’ll get in trouble with her boss.”

  That’s so lame. I don’t know what to say except that I’m sorry.

  “Thank you, dear.” Gloria reaches for Nina’s leash. “We’d better get going if we want to bring Nina home by suppertime.”

  I give her the leash. What a good person, taking the time to get Nina groomed when she has so much to worry about. Robin’s such a bitch. I’m not supposed to say “bitch,” but she is.

  Gloria puts Nina in the back seat.

  “Bye, Amber,” Alex says. “Hope I see you again.”

  “Bye, Alex. Bye, Gloria.” They drive off. The whole thing is so sad I could cry. But even more, I want to make Robin pay. The world is so unfair—especially to kids.

  SEVENTEEN

  ROBIN

  SOFT CANDLELIGHT FLICKERED AT their table. Ben chose a pricey French restaurant, a peace offering for leaving Robin in the lurch the night before. A crisp white cloth covered the table, and wall mirrors reflected the candle glow, setting a romantic mood. Yet Robin found herself reading the dinner menu for the third time, preoccupied by her encounter with Gloria and Alex. Ben hadn’t asked her about the meeting. She hated to cast a pall over their dinner, but he needed to know Gloria had intimated harm might come to his children.

  As Robin continued to stare at the entrée list, their waiter, Bruce, approached. “Have the madam and monsieur decided?”

  “Bird?” Ben’s face was handsome in the candlelight. />
  “I need a little more time,” Robin said. “Everything looks good.” In truth, she’d scarcely registered the selections.

  Ben addressed the waiter. “While she’s deciding, bring us a bottle of the pinot noir.” He pointed at the wine list. “This one.”

  “Excellent, monsieur.” With a quick head bow, Bruce departed.

  “See anything you like?” Ben asked.

  “Besides you?” Robin reached across the table for his hand. “I’m torn between the trout and the duck.”

  “I’m going with the duck,” he said. “If you get the trout, we can share.”

  “Sounds good. Ben?” Robin withdrew her hand and closed her menu, wondering how to begin.

  His eyes narrowed momentarily. “What is it, Bird?”

  “I met with Gloria today. She brought her son with her. He looked awful. It—”

  “Cloudline Pinot Noir.” Bruce appeared at Ben’s side, flourishing a bottle. He made a show of opening the wine, passing the cork to Ben, and pouring a small quantity into his glass. “Monsieur?”

  Catching Robin’s eye, Ben gave the cork a perfunctory sniff and nodded. Flashing her a wry grin, he swished the contents of his glass like the connoisseur he had no claim to be then sipped. “Mmm.” He gestured to Robin’s glass. “A keeper, Bruce. And we’re ready to order.” As Bruce filled their glasses, Ben told him their selections.

  “Excellent,” Bruce pronounced as if they’d cracked a top-secret code.

  Ben raised his glass. “To us.”

  Robin clinked her glass against his and took a sip. The pinot noir tasted heavenly. She hoped it might fortify her for the conversation ahead. They were still on shaky ground from the previous evening, and Ben had already minimized her concerns about Gloria.

  “What happened when you met with her?” he asked.

  Robin described her bizarre conversation with Gloria and the misery of having the sick boy as a captive audience.

  Ben slowly shook his head. He frowned and looked away then back at her. “That’s horrible. Bird, if you can’t help him, you’d better stay away from her.”