by Rachel Burns
Brian just stared at him. He wasn’t really sure what he was getting at.
“That is the direction that I want to take with this. Spanking yes. Lot’s of servants heard that. Beating no, controlled discipline to relieve her stress, yes. Just like your nurse will describe, and has already testified to under oath and for a lie detector test. You will be taking one too. Jake will be giving it to you. You are getting other help too that I am not at liberty to discuss with you. This will go to court, and you will win. Our strategy is to counterattack her father. His interest began with the grandchild. I know why she is in the psychiatric hospital.”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw the video with her taking the polygraph. Amelia was feeling okay. She was hopeful. She even asked if she could go home afterwards. Then her father grabbed her and takes her back to his house. The police had already arrested you by that time. He never talked to her. No, what he was doing was talking at her. He told her that her children, both of them, could live in her nursery.”
Brian’s eyes widened at the idea of his precious children living in the basement of James Anderson’s cold marble house without heat or even enough blankets.
“He took her upstairs, a first for her altogether and showed her the room that her mother had decorated for her before she died. A room that has been cleaned weekly, but otherwise untouched. Amelia walked in and saw what was denied her all those years, and she passed out. A maid walking by saw it all. She is willing to testify. She said it looked like he had done it on purpose. He isn’t interested in Amelia. I think he wants Adam. It is odd that he was getting information from your house for so long and first acts on it when a male child is born. Brian he is using her to get what he wants.”
“My son?”
“He probably wants someone to mold to take over his business interests. He wants an heir but certainly not a daughter.”
“Are people seeing through this charade? Is that why the judge granted my brother the children and not him?”
“No, that is one of the things that I can’t tell you about. But the contacts you made at school are now the most important contacts you have. Your doctor skills were highly appreciated. You saved more than just Heather’s life. Jake is forever grateful to you, but so are others. I will never forget you helping my Rose and our son. I am so thankful that you came over so quickly.”
“But who, there were so many calls.”
“Yes, even house calls, so I heard. Have a good day, Brian. I’ll see you soon.”
“Walter wait, I need the phone number of Amelia’s doctor. I want to know what he is giving her and how often.”
Walter looked through his notes. He wrote the number down and gave it to Brian. “Don’t make me regret that.” He pointed to the number and then left.
Brian thought about the house calls he had made in that time too. Twice because of beatings that had gone too far, but the girls had tried to runaway. Still, he hadn’t beaten Amelia when she came home. He had punished her, but it hadn’t been a beating, even though she had been gone for so long.
There had been so many things that he had done. He gave all the girls their shots and took care of their general health.
He thought about his Amelia wanting him to come because she scratched her leg up so badly. She called him, and he came.
He wished he could go to her now.
Brian went to the guard in charge of the phone and signed up for a time slot. He would have to wait for over half an hour. He watched TV in that time.
Brian got to see Amelia again. She looked so breakable. He wanted to hide her away at home and take care of her.
Brian kept his eye on the clock. It was his turn for the phone. He cleared his throat and dialed.
“Hello, Dr. Harrison speaking.”
“Dr. Harrison here is Dr. … You are treating my wife. I would like to discuss her condition personally with you.”
“I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
“It’s appropriate on many levels. She is my wife. I am her doctor, and the charges aren’t true. What are you giving her?”
“I don’t feel comfortable talking to you about this.”
Brian told him about the problems they’d had with her pregnancy, and that he refused to give her anything back them because of the baby.
In the end, they discussed her present condition, her medicine, and Brian spoke about her refusal to believe that the baby was alive.
The doctor wanted her to see her baby with trained professionals standing by. He was worried about shock.
Brian explained to him what she was doing when she looked out of the window. The doctor was surprised that she had spoken with him. He had never heard her speak.
“She always talked to me, but now she can’t. I can’t believe her father is doing this to her. He is kicking her when she is already down.”
“I have refused to let him see her again. He has been struck from the visiting list. He shows up here anyway for his photo opportunity, sits in the entryway and has me come to refuse him personally, and then he leaves. To the press it looks like he visited her.”
“Could you testify to that in court?” Brian asked.
“Yes. Yes I could.” The doctor sounded determined.
The two of them spoke daily from then on.
Chapter 20 – Wrapping Paper
“Give me your hands. Aunt Nancy has to wash them,” she laughed. She smiled at her tiny niece. She held the little girl’s adorable baby hands under the water and gently scrubbed the paint away.
Her husband came in and saw them. He laughed too. “I understand why she has paint on her hands, but why does he have paint on his feet?”
“Uncle Martin, we made wrapping paper.” Sarah ran to his leg and held tightly.
“With his feet?” he asked, amused.
“And with my hands, see.” She pointed to a long roll of paper hanging over the nursery door.
“Isn’t it the most precious thing?” Nancy beamed at it.
“That’s really nice.” He laid his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I came to tell you that lunch is ready.”
“Okay, kids. Time to eat. Who’s hungry?” Nancy picked up Adam and gave him a kiss on his fat little cheek. He smiled at her. “Martin did you see?”
“Yes, I did. He is going to be a heartbreaker.” He picked up Sarah and gave her a hug. “I bet you are going to break a couple of hearts too.”
“I won’t break anything.” Sarah said, shaking her head no. Martin laughed and gave her a kiss. “I bet you will. Don’t worry sweetheart, you’re a good girl.”
Nancy fed Adam while Martin tried to keep Sarah in her chair. She didn’t want to eat; she wanted to play.
“Uncle Martin,” she whined, “I want to play.” She stomped her feet.
“First you eat, and then you can play. She sounds just like you did back then,” he whispered to his wife.
“Martin, I’m fine now. Please I don’t ever want to talk about that time again.” She put another spoonful of food in Adam’s mouth.
“You’re right. I’m sorry; I’m just so happy that everything is over now. These two monsters changed everything.”
“I wish we could keep them.” Nancy sighed.
“I know what you mean, but they are Brian and Amelia’s children. We have to appreciate them while we get them.”
“That man called again. They are insisting that we bring Adam to Amelia. I don’t like the idea. What if – ” She couldn’t continue. “Please Martin. He is safer with us. She isn’t right in the head. She never was.”
“Nancy,” his voice warned her not to continue. “I’m sorry, Martin, but I just couldn’t bear it if they had to go away.”
Martin watched his wife’s shoulders shake. He knew that she was crying. These children had worked wonders on his marriage. He loved them both dearly. He was really worried about what would happen when the children left them.
“You know if we ever had to give them back, t
hen we could adopt a couple of our own. I’d liked that.” Martin didn’t look her in the eyes. He looked at Sarah and her plate. Sarah was eating as quickly as she could now. Just to get it over with.
Nancy was still crying. She didn’t like to talk about the children leaving them.
“I think we should visit Brian this weekend. Things have settled down. He needs to see his children too. He should decide what should be done next.”
Nancy cried loud enough for Sarah to hear.
“Aunt Nancy.” Sarah held her arms out to her, wanting to comfort her aunt.
“Sarah, do you want to go and see your daddy?” Martin was trying so hard to do the right thing even if he really didn’t want to, but Brian was his kid brother, and he loved him.
“Daddy?” It had been months since Sarah had seen her father.
“We have to go before she forgets him. I’m sorry too, but it is the right thing to do.”
Brian had been told that he had visitors. Uncle Ned came a lot, but he had a feeling that this was different.
His heart was racing as he turned the corner and saw Sarah sitting on his brother’s lap. She looked so much like Amelia. He wanted to run forward to her, but he had to wait until the guard gave his okay.
Once he was cleared, Brian held Sarah in his arms and petted over her hair. “I can’t believe how big you have gotten. You are such a big girl already.”
Sarah reached for his face. “Daddy.”
He hugged her again.
“Uncle Martin and Aunt Nancy brought us to see you, Daddy,” she told him.
“Wow, you can talk really well.”
“Her IQ is really something. Adam is smarter than normal too. You can be really proud of these two.”
Brian sat down with Sarah on his lap. Nancy laid Adam in his arm. “Careful he can crawl already. If you set him down, he will take off.”
“Sorry, Nancy, but I’ve got to see that. He is just five months old.” Brian hugged his son, and then he set him on the floor. Adam rolled over and crawled off, and then he sat down and crawled back. He went to Brian’s shoe and hit it with his hand wide open.
Brian got a kick out of his children hanging on him. Martin and Nancy moved to another table and just watched them play together. It was heartwarming.
Sarah told him all about their life together with their aunt and uncle. She even whispered that they wanted to keep them.
He nodded that he understood. He hoped that he would get out of here soon.
Brian couldn’t get over how much she looked like her mother. He held them and kissed them and talked to them.
Sarah was very well behaved. She just wanted to sit on her daddy’s lap. She missed him.
Adam fell asleep in Brian’s arm. His other arm was wrapped around Sarah.
“Brian, we get calls from Amelia’s doctor. He wants us to come by with the kids. What do you think we should do?” Martin asked him.
Brian thought about that for a while. The case would be going to trial. Her father was insisting that Amelia take the stand. It wouldn’t do for her to snap out of it just now. It would be better for him if she took the stand, and then they could see that she wasn’t quite right. Maybe the charges could be dropped. He could take care of her then.
“Say no.” Brian nodded, deciding that would be the best for his family.
Chapter 21 – On Trial
Day after day, Brian sat in the courtroom, listening to what he was being accused of. He was guilty of most of it, but his lawyers made everyone accusing him look like fools.
The problem was that James Anderson also had good lawyers. It was a battle of the very best.
Brian remained quiet and looked over at the jury members. They seemed to agree with whoever spoke last. The good thing was that his lawyers got to say the last words.
Brian saw one of his nurses take the stand.
She looked over at him and smiled. She was certain beyond a doubt that her boss was a good man who would never do anything to hurt his wife. In her own words, she described what she had heard in the practice and told them she had spoken to Amelia about everything when they were alone.
When she was finished, she told her boss that they missed him at work, and that all the nurses and patients knew that he was innocent.
The opposing lawyer objected, and the judge told the jury members to forget what they had just heard.
The nurse apologized and left the courtroom, red-faced. She had made a very solid witness for the defense.
Nanny Prim had been called to the stand; charges against her had been dropped for lack of evidence. She answered all the questions in the way she always did, not only answering them but also explaining them so everyone could understand.
She was asked why Amelia had needed a nanny. Nanny was quick to point out that Amelia had never had anyone guiding her in life. She needed someone who was there for her, explaining what was expected of her and why.
Nanny also bragged about Amelia’s intelligence. She told everyone that Amelia should have gone to college but couldn’t because she couldn’t afford it. Her father wasn’t willing to give her a cent.
Nanny explained that she had also had the role of governess, teaching Amelia because she had a need to learn more.
When the lawyer asked what things had been like for Amelia at her father’s house, she told them that she had to work to earn her meals, and that she wasn’t allowed to eat at the table. When she told them about the lack of heat and blankets in Amelia’s basement room, several people gasped.
The lawyer for the opposition tried to get Nanny to say something against her employer, but Nanny stuck to her story.
She was dismissed.
Nanny prayed that she had done the right thing for her Amelia.
True to his word Brian had his men help Nanny Prim board a plane that flew her to South America, to where Amelia would meet her, if everything went as planned. Once again, she folded her hands and prayed that her dear child would soon be able to join her.
James Anderson didn’t personally take the stand. The press was very disappointed. Brian’s lawyer promised to call on him.
There was just one witness left from the prosecuting side. They were calling Amelia to the stand. The courtroom was packed, and everyone was waiting to hear what she had to say.
Brian was nervous about that too. He hadn’t been a great husband lately. Why did this have to happen now when everything was about to change for the better? She had wanted to come home. They would have been a real family.
Martin, Nancy and the children were already out of the country. Brian had been informed that they had landed safely, and they were enjoying a vacation in the house that was next to Cindy and Travis’s house.
Brian had his normal property lawyer buy the house for him. If everything went well, Amelia could be in their new home this evening.
Brian knew that she hadn’t spoken since her break down in front of her own nursery. The blow had been the last straw that had been too much for her soul to bear.
Blood was pumping through Brian’s veins at an exceptional rate. He was about to see his wife close up. He hadn’t seen her in so long.
Silence fell over the courtroom. A nurse brought Amelia into the room. Everyone turned and watched them walk in. Her doctor had protested this, but the judge had said she could take the stand. The judge also had a little girl at Amelia’s school.
Brian saw Amelia come in. His heart went out to her. She looked scared and unsure. She had no idea what was going on. Amelia took the stand. She looked confused at the bible and at all the people there. Her eyes rested on him. “They keep saying that Adam is still alive. Why are they saying that? Why are they hurting me?”
Brian looked back into her eyes. He tried to get up and go to her, but the guard pushed him back down in his chair.
“She spoke,” the nurse said, surprised. She looked at the doctor confused.
Brian just stared at her until he couldn’t take it. “Oh Amelia.” He bur
ied his face in his hands. “She needs me so much. Why are you doing this to her?” He looked over at her father.
“Can I go home now?” Amelia asked.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but not yet. I have some business to take care of, and then we can go home together. Would you like that, sweetheart?” he asked her as sweet as he could. He was trying so hard not to cry.
“But I want to go now. They have me locked up. I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“I know, sweetheart. I’ll hurry. As fast as I can, I will get you home.”
She sobbed quietly on the witness chair. “Sarah.” Her arms wrapped around herself like she was holding a baby.
“Sarah has gotten really big already. She is so smart. And Adam can already crawl. He is just fine, Amelia.”
Amelia burst into tears.
The court went wild. Her doctor came forward and talked to the judge. Amelia turned and stared out of the window, and Brian was wiping tears out of his eyes.
The judge excused her, and the nurse came forward to take her. She led her out of the room.
Brian watched her go. You will be home really soon, sweetheart, he thought. I promise. Daddy is taking care of everything.
A guard took her from the nurse. The nurse protested, but he ignored her.
He led Amelia out of a side entrance to a car that was waiting. Very carefully he helped her into the car, and it drove away.
He pulled out his cell and called in. “She got away from me. We have to find her. She is confused.” Within minutes, police were everywhere looking for her. They believed that she was on foot.
In truth, she was already out of town, heading south to the airport.
***
I looked around the car. I was in the back with Heather’s daddy. He had been to see me in the home a couple of times. I wasn’t sure if I had said anything to him or not, but I was probably in trouble again.