She flinched.
“Hey.” He’d managed to sit now, an elbow resting on one knee, but he continued to look down. “No, I wasn’t asleep. Just thinking about stuff.”
She lowered herself to the edge of his bed. “Why are you crying?”
“I wasn’t crying…I was…just thinking.” He sighed. “My surgeon told me I’m out of the water for six weeks.”
“Six weeks?” Audrey recoiled. “But then you can’t swim at nationals.”
“I know. Matt’s going to be mad.”
“The doctor told me I’m out for a week, so he’ll be mad at both of us.”
“I can’t even get out of this bed by myself,” Leo muttered through clenched teeth. “What a joke I thought I could actually go to practice tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, Leo.” Audrey reached for his hand.
He stroked her skin. “So, you got discharged, huh?”
“Yeah, my mom’s taking me home.”
Leo nodded.
Back in the hallway, Mary mulled over the possibilities for a future that would or wouldn’t include James.
JoAnne shook her head. “That’s a lot to consider, and you look so washed out. I don’t think it’s a good time to make such a decision.”
She gestured to the hospital room. “After they kiss their goodbyes, I’m taking Audrey home. But then I’m returning for you, and you’re coming home with me to rest.”
“I need to stay with Leo.”
“I’ll stay with him…as long as you’re there for Audrey.” Her gaze fell to Mary’s canes. “With his sprained ankle, Leo needs help moving around and, well, that’s easier for me to provide.” Mary wrestled with the idea of leaving Leo. JoAnne cleared her throat. “Mary, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Would you like me to leave?” Marcus asked.
“No, that’s okay. I’d actually like your opinion on this too. I have to return to New Orleans in a couple of days. Their nursing short-age is so severe they could only give me a few days off. What I’m wondering is…would you and Leo consider moving into our house?” Mary felt her eyes bug.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but obviously Audrey needs more supervision, and I just can’t be there for her right now. The bills are killing me, even with travel nursing. And I don’t want you living with James.” Mary thought for a moment. “Marcus and I were just discussing how I need to leave James, and a major stumbling block was figuring out where to live.”
He nodded.
“I’m honored you’d ask me to help with Audrey. But if we do this, you realize Leo and Audrey would be under the same roof, right?”
“Believe me, I thought about that.” JoAnne giggled. “We’ll have to implement a ‘hands to yourself’ rule.” Mary chuckled. “One teenager’s bad enough, but now they might double-team me.”
“I’ve seen you lay down the law with Leo. I know you can handle it.”
Mary sighed. “Okay, let’s do it. I have to talk to Leo about all of this first, though.”
“Yeah, I’m sure he’ll hate living with Audrey.” JoAnne rolled her eyes.
“That’s not the part that worries me. It’ll bowl him over when I tell him I’m leaving his father.”
“I agree,” Marcus said. “Even if James has torn the family apart, it’ll be tough for Leo to lose that stability.” Mary started, causing all three to jump, when she noticed a man dressed in a tan Navy uniform coming toward them.
Mary stood a little taller as the man drew near. “Hello, Captain,” she said, nodding to her former commanding officer. Captain Payson’s short blond hair had grayed since she’d last seen him, lending him an increased air of authority.
“Mary,” he said with a nod.
“Sir.”
He seemed nervous as he turned to JoAnne. “Hello, Mrs. Rose.” She reached out to shake his hand. “Please call me JoAnne, sir.
And this is Marcus…?” JoAnne gave him a questioning look.
“Marcus Shale.” He pumped the captain’s hand. “I’m, uh, a therapist.”
“Cameron Walsh came and told me exactly what happened. I still can’t believe it. Has this been going on for long?” Mary’s tears answered for her.
The captain grimaced. “I’m so sorry.” He cocked his head toward the hospital room. “Is your son in there?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Pensacola PD called, and I was having MPs bring James to my office when Cameron visited me. I thought about ordering a Family Advocacy Board investigation, but I…” He looked down. “I thought it was another fake allegation of abuse — some racist ploy to make James out as the angry Black man.” He shot Marcus an uncomfortable look. “But, but…Leo had to have surgery?” Mary nodded and watched his face sag with regret, a feeling she knew well. “Leo had to have his spleen removed,” she said. “You can go see him if you want.”
Leo and Audrey’s conversation halted the moment Captain Payson entered the room. Leo froze for a second before nudging Audrey. “Stand up.”
Audrey bolted upright. “Um, hi, Captain. Hello, sir.” He took a step closer. “You’re Denny’s daughter?”
“Yes, sir. Audrey Rose.”
Leo blinked up at him. “I apologize for staying in bed, sir. But it’s doctor’s orders.”
“Of course.” The captain nodded. “Do you know who I am?”
“Yes, sir, Captain Payson. You’re my dad’s boss.”
“That’s right. Your father talks about you all the time, Leo.” Leo blushed.
“He tells me you’re a real scholar-athlete. You won two state swimming titles, and you’re in the top five of your class.” Leo shook his head. “No, sir, not anymore. Audrey still is though.” The captain nodded at her. “I have to decide what’ll happen to your father,” he said, returning his focus to Leo.
“Where is he, sir?” Leo felt a catch in his throat as he suddenly wondered if CS was near.
“He’s in the brig for now, at the base.” Audrey paled.
“What is it?” Leo asked.
“My father…” Audrey began. “He’s there too. I hope he doesn’t try anything crazy when he sees him.”
“But your dad doesn’t know anything, and they’ll probably keep them apart.”
Audrey looked away.
“You didn’t tell him, did you?”
“Leo — ”
“Audrey!” He heard his voice shake. “I told you not to tell anyone!”
“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t deal with it alone anymore. There’s nothing he can do from inside prison…” Her eyes pleaded with him.
Leo clenched his fist and sighed. “The whole world knows about this now anyway. What’s the difference?”
“I have to decide what’s going to happen to your father,” Captain Payson repeated. “Son, could I…could I see what he did to you?” Leo’s eyes closed. What possible good could come from parad-ing his bruises and welts? To show how miserable he was at fighting back? To show how much he deserved punishment?
When he opened his eyes he saw Audrey chewing on a fingernail.
Her voice was soft.
“You can’t keep hiding it. He needs to see what kind of man your dad is. He needs to see what he did. Maybe then he can stop him from hurting you again.”
Leo dropped his head. “Nobody can stop him from hurting me.” He waited a few moments, then slowly lifted his shirt, wincing.
Captain Payson’s voice was icy. “You said nobody can stop your father from hurting you,” he said. “Well, I can stop him. I can, and I will. Your father tells me you’re going to the Academy, and I can imagine you’re not too impressed with the Navy right now. But the Navy needs men like you. And, well, you need men like me, to finally do something to protect you. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to see that this abuse stops. Give me the chance to prove it to you, Leo.”
In spite of himself, Leo did feel a shred of hope. Maybe this Navy man wouldn’t let him down. “Yes, sir.” Audrey reached for his hand and gave it
a squeeze.
41. Afterbirth
Denny Rose held his breath as MP Perrick smoothed his hand over the blanket tucked neatly around his mattress.
Inspection time. Denny stood at attention in his cell, hoping his contraband would go unnoticed. His navy blue jumpsuit was wrinkle-free and his bedding taut. The obsessive orderliness demanded by the prison was nothing new to Denny, a Navy lifer, but the daily doses of humiliation were something he hadn’t encountered since his days as a seaman.
Perrick reached under the blanket and yanked it free. A photograph tumbled to the floor. From the corner of his eye Denny watched as the MP crunched his boot on the photo, marking his prized possession with a dirty footprint.
“Pick it up, Rose,” Perrick sneered.
“Yes, sir.” Denny bent down to retrieve it, but Perrick refused to move his foot, forcing him to twist and turn the photo to loosen it.
Finally he snatched it free, ripping a corner in the process. He returned to attention and did his best to keep his fury hidden beneath an expressionless façade. As an officer, Denny would never have allowed an MP to get away with such degrading treatment of a subordinate.
But things had changed. Now Denny was lowest on the food chain.
Jerking the photo from Denny’s hand, Perrick barked, “This is against regulations. No personal items in your cell.” The faded image of his daughter in her pink swimsuit with four medals across her chest undulated as the MP waved it in front of him.
Denny braced himself, unsure of the guard’s next move.
“Drop and give me fifty.”
Denny began his punishment immediately. He wasn’t a young man anymore, and the nine months in prison had weakened him.
As he struggled through the twentieth pushup, he heard Perrick bark to the other MP. “Get rid of this, Ollie. I’m taking the other cons to chow — I’m sick of waiting for this old man.” His arms shaking and his breath coming in quick gasps, Denny finally finished his last pushup and returned to attention.
The remaining MP handed him back the photo. “Will you please hide this better next time?”
Denny stuffed it underneath a cracked tile in the floor. “Sorry, sir…couldn’t sleep so I looked at it last night. I still haven’t heard how she swam at state.”
“I’m sure she did great. C’mon, it’s time for you to force down some of that crap they call dinner.”
As they approached the cafeteria, the MP said, “So I hear you’re no longer the highest ranking officer in here.”
“What do you mean? Who’s here?”
They entered the cafeteria, and Denny had his answer.
He bristled the moment he saw Commander Scott sitting off to the side, slowly eating his chicken and rice while another MP stood guard right behind him. James still wore his khaki uniform and looked out of place in the sea of navy blue jumpsuits.
“What is it?” the MP asked when Denny stopped moving.
The prisoner’s eyes honed in on his former CO, weighing the odds of getting in a few good punches before being restrained. “The commander’s a child abuser. He threatened my daughter. What’s he doing here?”
“Supposedly he beat up his kid so bad he’s in the hospital.” Denny inhaled sharply. His heart pounded.
Perhaps feeling their eyes on him, James looked up and met Denny’s cold stare. He put down his fork.
“I have to talk to him, sir.”
“That’s not a good idea, Denny.”
“I just need to find out if Audrey’s hurt, Ollie. Please.” Hearing no response from the MP, Denny headed for James’s table. The commander stood as he drew near. The guards hovered nearby. “So, you finally got caught,” he said when he was close enough for James to hear. “This time you went too far. You put Leo in the hospital?”
James said nothing.
“You’re still in uniform,” Denny observed.
“I won’t be here long,” James said. “I don’t belong here.” Denny took a step closer. “You’re exactly where you belong.”
“Denny,” the MP warned. “You don’t want to go to solitary over this.”
“You don’t know what I want!”
“You won’t be able to see visitors if you’re in the hole,” Ollie reminded him.
“Just tell me if Audrey’s okay,” Denny demanded, glaring at James but keeping his hands at his sides.
James’s eyes widened. “She’ll be fine.”
“She’ll be fine? What does that mean? What did you do?” Denny eyed him suspiciously. What if James was leaving the brig shortly?
This might be his only chance.
Sizing up the taller, fitter man, Denny scanned for the spot he’d hit first, hoping to unleash nine months of imprisoned emotion in one swift punch.
A radio squawked on the MPs belt: “Visitors for Prisoner Rose.” Ollie grasped Denny’s arm. “Let’s go.” He continued to glare at James.
Ollie stepped in front of Denny, blocking his view of James.
“Hands forward, Rose. I’m transporting you to your visitors.” Denny sighed and drew his hands together at his waist.
Ollie snapped handcuffs in place. “About face.” He guided the prisoner to visitation.
The moment Denny caught sight of Audrey, a wave of relief crashed over him. She was safe. But he knew he’d never seen her so miserable. She looked as unhappy as he felt.
He brought the phone to his ear, waiting for Audrey to mimic him. When she’d failed to visit him on Sunday, he’d suspected her meet hadn’t gone as planned, and her reluctance now only confirmed his suspicions.
He watched JoAnne cajole Audrey but couldn’t hear their words.
Audrey finally picked up the phone and lifted her head.
“It’s okay if the meet didn’t go so well, Audrey girl.” She exhaled. “Well, I won the one hundred breast again.”
“What’d you go?”
“One-oh-two.”
“That’s right near your best. How was your IM?”
“Two-oh-five — I got third place.” She studied his face.
Attempting to hide his disappointment, he then realized how unimportant swimming was in light of current events. “What am I thinking asking you about your meet?” he said. “First I should find out how Leo’s doing. And are you okay?”
“You know what happened?”
“I just ran into James.”
“Did he hurt you?”
Denny shook his head.
“Did you hurt him?”
“No. I wanted to, believe me. But you and Mom got here just in time…two minutes later and I might have been in the hole for some time, unable to see you. So thank you.”
“Leo’s father really hurt him, Dad. He had a splenectomy.” She glanced at her mother, who nodded grimly. “We just left the hospital.”
“I’m glad you visited him there.”
She looked down. “Uh, Dad, I wasn’t at the hospital only for Leo.” She sniffed. “I had a miscarriage.” He felt his mouth fall open.
Audrey’s face crumpled. “It was our first time, I promise,” she sobbed. “I-I didn’t think it would happen. It ruined my meet.” JoAnne wrapped her arms around Audrey.
Denny felt sick. He scooted forward on his chair. “James found out about the pregnancy…” he said softly, replaying his recent conversation with the commander.
Audrey gave a culpable nod. “When he found out, he beat Leo unconscious. I was so scared when I saw L-L-Leo lying there. And then, then it happened — I started bleeding and cramping.” Her tears reminded Denny of another girl crying about an unplanned pregnancy. Cameron Walsh. She’d come to him after a swim meet he’d officiated, begging for his help. He’d helped her the only way he could, and thankfully her parents had forgiven him.
Now looking through the glass at his daughter, Denny longed to help her too. But he couldn’t. He wanted to wipe away her tears and squeeze her tight. But he couldn’t. He wanted to shout barbari-cally and hurl a chair across the small visiting room. But
he couldn’t.
He could only watch the devastation caused by James Scott play out in front of him. He shook his head. By jettisoning Jason from the family and beating Leo unconscious, James had caused the deaths of both his grandchildren.
“Audrey.” Denny was surprised at the steadiness of his voice. “Look at me.”
She glanced up, trembling.
“I love you, Audrey girl.”
Her head dipped back down, and she seemed to cry harder.
Denny tried to keep it together. “Now, please go wait outside while I speak to your mother.”
“Yes, sir.” Audrey walked out, her eyes barely leaving the floor.
JoAnne took the phone and they stared at each other wordlessly.
Denny spoke first. “I sure didn’t see that one coming.”
“She obviously needs more supervision. I wasn’t there for her.”
“This wasn’t your fault, JoAnne. She’s practically an adult, making adult decisions. Even if you weren’t traveling, you couldn’t be there all the time.”
“Denny, I need to tell you something.” JoAnne hesitated. “I have to go back to New Orleans soon. So, I, uh, I asked Mary and Leo to move in to our home.”
“You what?” Denny’s fist clenched. “You just invited the boy who knocked up my daughter to live with her?”
“I didn’t know what else to do!” JoAnne cried. “I’m leaving soon — ”
“And by inviting his wife and son to live with Audrey, you bring the menace of James Scott into our home!” Denny grew even more incensed. “What were you thinking?”
“I’m sorry! You don’t know what it’s like to do this all by myself. I have absolutely no help!”
He closed his eyes. A tense silence hovered between them.
“I already asked Mary, and she agreed,” JoAnne finally said.
“There’s no way I can rescind the offer now. And I won’t send Leo back to that house, back to James. I just can’t do it. You didn’t see him, Denny. You didn’t see how badly he was beaten.”
“The only way I allow this is if Leo comes and talks to me. I have some things to say to him.”
“Well, I’ll ask Mary, but I can’t imagine Leo would willingly come to see you.”
“The only way. You make sure Leo’s here. If he’s man enough to father a child, he’s man enough to talk to me.” A voice broke in on the line to inform them the visit was over.
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