by Lisa Glenn
“Well...I don’t know about any Daniel, but yes, José has been waiting in the lobby for you. He’s anxious to see you. I’ll bring him in, but first I would like to ask you a few questions.”
I rubbed my hand against the clean sheets, feeling their softness and wondered about Daniel.
...wondering and worrying.
“José tells us that you came here searching for your parents?”
I saw the concerned look on his face and knew José the big mouth had already blabbed most of the story to him, but decided to appease the good doc. After all, he was helping me to get better.
I told him everything...well, almost everything. I did tell him about Jack and my mom and how I was scared that he would find me. The doctor patted my hand and told me not to worry; they would take care of everything. I believed him, although I wasn’t sure who they were.
“Thank you for telling me, Shelby. I would like to run some more tests on you, but first the young man is out in the hall waiting to see you.” The Doctor stood and walked to the door. When he opened it to call José in, he was practically bowled over as José came barreling in full-tilt.
I had to smile at the look of concern on his small face and how it lit up, seeing me awake. I had the feeling José had not left my side for more than a few seconds in the past two days.
After the doctor had left, José jumped up onto the side of my hospital bed, grinning from ear to ear.
“Shelby, I was so worried about you, but the doc said you were going to be fine. You won’t believe it, but I already got me a job and a place to live! Do you remember the little church we brought you to? Pastor David offered me a real job as a maintenance person for the church and stuff. It’s so awesome.” He grabbed my hand, continuing his gush. “I told him about you looking for your mom and stuff, Shelbs! He’s going to try and find them for you. Isn’t that wonderful?”
I was a bit overwhelmed by this onslaught and could only manage, “Yeah, José, that’s awesome! I’m so happy for you.”
“For both of us, Shelbs! Everything's going to be okay now...you’ll see.”
I nodded my head and closed my eyes. All I really wanted to do was sleep, but there was one, burning question on my mind.
“Where is Daniel, José?”
José’s face fell. He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what happened to him, Shelby. He disappeared as soon as we arrived at the church. I haven’t seen him since. I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?” I asked, holding back the tears.
He didn’t answer. He bent his head down solemnly, and I hugged him weakly, ruffling his messy hair. “Where’s Oreo?”
José’s face lit up. “She’s doing great. Pastor David found her a cage and now she has a nice home, too. She’s missing you, I can tell,” he winked.
“I’m real glad you found a place, José.” I meant it with all my heart.
The doctor was true to his word. He sent me over to get x-rays and more blood work. A female nurse came into my room later that day and checked me all over. It was embarrassing, but she said it was something all girls went through. I can’t even remember going to a doctor before. I went to the dentist once; I remembered that little experience quite well. I had fallen and broken a tooth and was crying so much, Jack finally yelled to momma. No, not momma, it was Mamie. She was never my momma. "Get that little brat to a dentist before I punch her in the head!" Good times and fond memories, right? Mostly whenever I was sick or hurt, Mamie just took care of me. She seemed always to have what I needed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The News
Pastor David drove ten miles over the speed limit in his haste to reach a well-known prominent couple. He pulled into the driveway of a sprawling ranch-style home. He was out the door before the engine completely shut off. His hand shook as he lifted the gold doorknocker, rapping three times in quick succession.
His grin reached from ear to ear as Elizabeth Adams opened her front door.
“Why, Pastor David! What a nice surprise!” She stepped back, “Come in, please.”
He walked past her into the main hall and turned around facing her. “Is your husband home, Mrs. Adams?”
“Yes, he’s in the den,” she motioned to a glass door on the left and led the way as David followed close behind her.
“Honey, Pastor David is here to see you.”
“Actually, I’m here to speak with you both.”
“Oh! Well, alright then.” Elizabeth sidled up to her husband.
Bobbie Adams held out his hand, “Good evening, Pastor. To what do I owe this honor?” Bobbie was tall and lean with archaic features and a Roman nose. His wife was the opposite with long chestnut hair and doll-like features. Combined, they made the perfect couple.
“Please have a seat; you might need to sit down for this. I have something to discuss that concerns you both.” Elizabeth and Bobbie exchanged a concerned look but did as asked. When they both were seated, David began.
“A few days ago, a young girl was brought into the church by her young friend. She was very ill. Jacob and I took her to the hospital, and they ran some tests on her, including a DNA test upon my request. The girl is fourteen years old.” He clears his throat.
“Mayor, Mrs. Adams, I believe she is Mary Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth stood up; her face ashen.
“I... I... are you sure? I mean, how do you know for sure?” She turned a pleading eye on her husband. “Bobbie? Can it be true?”
Bobbie Adams stood up next to his wife. “Are you sure, Pastor?”
“It’s not one hundred percent positive yet, but I would bet my life on it. We need your DNA to make a positive I.D., the doctor used some of yours from your last lab work, but he said he needed a fresh sample to make sure...but I have no doubt it’s her.”
“What makes you think it’s our Mary beyond a refutable DNA test?” Bobbie's voice was thick with emotion as he asked hoarsely, “What makes you so sure it’s our little girl?”
“Because Mayor, she is the spitting image of your wife. Second, she came to the very same church that she was kidnaped from, and third, because the boy who brought her told me she had been kidnaped as a toddler, that’s why.”
The Mayor grabbed his wife before she hit the floor; fainting.
An hour later sitting in his car still in front of the Adam’s home, Pastor David called Doctor Morris.
****
The next morning, the Doctor held his office door open to a couple walking towards him. He held out his hand when they reached him.
“Mrs. Adams, Mayor Adams, thank you for coming.” He preceded them into his office and shut the door behind them. He turned around and smiled. “I have good news. Our mystery girl is, in fact, your daughter.” His grin widened as the shock registered on both their faces.
Mrs. Adams burst into tears. Bobbie, with tears in his own eyes, enfolded his wife in his arms. Over her head, he asked, “How is this possible, after all this time?”
“You won’t believe it, but before I tell you how, there's something you should be aware of. Please have a seat.” He motioned to the two chairs in front of his desk. He walked behind his own desk and sat down. He nervously shuffled papers for a moment waiting patiently for Mrs. Adams sobs to quiet down so she could understand him clearly.
“Shelby has been through a lot for a girl her age," Doctor Morris said softly. "After the testing we had done, we discovered she had been physically abused."
Mrs. Adams’s head popped up. “What?” The anger on her face shook him to the core.
Bobbie Adams grabbed his wife’s hand. “What happened to our little girl, Doc?”
“We took Mary down to x-ray and ran some tests on her. We also did a physical exam.” Doctor Morris cleared his throat. This was the part he hated. He always hated giving out bad news, but knew it was his responsibility to give it.
“Her right leg has been broken at some point, my guess by the sloppy mending job about four years ago. H
er hip, her pelvis, and her left arm have also been broken at one time, or another.”
Mrs. Adams stared at the Doctor, her fists clenching and unclenching. If José had seen her do this, he would know exactly where he had seen this action before. She jumped up.
“By Who?” Her shriek of anger echoed off the walls and bounced back.
The Mayor kept his eyes on the doctor, waiting for the rest. He knew there was more. The doctor wasn’t finished. He grabbed his wife’s hand and pulled her down next to him. “He has something more to tell us.” His hands were shaking.
Doctor Morris stood and came around the front of his desk. He half-sat on the edge. “Mary has been sexually assaulted. She has a lot of scar tissue. She’ll never be able to carry a child.”
They both froze. The doctor could see the stark reality sinking in then out; settling, then coming back like the surge of the surf. Both Bobbie and his wife took a deep breath. Elizabeth swiped at her cheek, wiping the tears away now looking at the Doctor stonily.
“After looking carefully over her chart, I saw the callous formations or a better term, hairline cracks in her bones, where they had been broken at a younger age. She has developed scar tissue or adhesions around her uterus.” He looked up and met their eyes. “After she gets settled, I want to run some more tests. Surgery can possibly fix the problem with the scar tissue, but I’m not sure the extent of the damage yet.”
Doctor Morris sat his file down on the desk and looked at them both compassionately. “With that being said, and out of the way, I want you to know something. Mary is strong! She is brave, and she has traveled over two thousand miles to find you. What she needs now from the both of you is to show her that you love her, no matter what. She doesn’t need your pity. She’s going to need your help to cope and put this behind her. That will take time... time and love.” He stood.
“One more thing. After talking with her, I don’t believe she can remember much of what happened to her. Her brain has blocked most of it."
Doctor Morris took out a card from his breast pocket and handed it to Elizabeth. “I would like for you to set up an appointment as soon as possible with Doctor Avery. She’s the most qualified in her field and works especially with children.” At Mrs. Adams questioning look he continued, stating firmly but gently, “She’s a psychologist, Mrs. Adams.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips. “What about the people who did this?”
“I gave all the information to the police. They'll handle it from here. From what I gathered, the woman who took her died recently. The other, a man, is still out there.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Home
I gazed out the large plate-glass window that’s facing a parking lot. The bed I’m in is foreign to me; too soft and comfortable after spending a month upon month on hay, dirt and old blankets either José, Daniel or myself managed to find. I heard the soft whirring of the air conditioner as it kicked on. It pushed cool tempered air into the room, and I marveled over it. A cool breeze at a touch of a button!
I missed Daniel. I wondered why he left me. I just couldn’t believe that he would abandon me, but he did. I lowered my head and cried a little. I miss my chicken, too.
I heard the door open and turn toward the sound. A woman and man walked in. A scent of cinnamon follows. I met her eyes.
I know that face from somewhere, I think curiously. Her hair is shoulder length and the same color as mine, but with some light gray streaks that seemed to highlight her natural color more than make her look older. I wait...
There it is. She smiled at me. Yes! Yes! Her eyes sparkle. I can’t speak. I try, but nothing comes out. Instead, I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. My hands are trembling, but they don't say anything.
Why? What's wrong with me now? I try to lower my eyes in shame and make myself look smaller in my bed, but there's nowhere to go.
I can’t take my eyes off her. The handsome man beside her speaks. My eyes dart to him suspiciously. He smiles awkwardly at me. They both shuffle closer to my hospital bed. The man moves forward. His knuckles touch my cheek, making me flinch. His eyes match mine. They are brownish-green in color and so soft.
Oh...they are so soft.
“Mary...” Tears form in his eyes. “I...” he stammers, “I mean we.” He looks over at the woman, then back toward me. I watched him warily, waiting to see if he was going to try and touch me again. Something inside me told me it was okay, though.
Something...
“We've missed you so much. I don’t know even where to begin.” With that, he began to weep.
I still can’t speak. My vocal cords have betrayed me. So instead, I timidly reach my hand out. He takes it in his. His bleary gaze softens even more.
Movement catches my eye. The woman moves in. The man lets my hand slip from his. He steps back. She comes closer, taking his place at the side of my bed. She doesn’t speak, just looks into my eyes. I see the pain there and something else.
“Mary, I’m so sorry!” She breaks down. She sobs into her hands in braying, unleashed anguish. I could feel her pain coming off her in waves. I had a sudden urge to make her feel better.
The only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I love your hair.”
The woman stops sobbing and gently takes my hand. I felt something like an electric jolt shoot through me, but pleasant; like something that was twisted in my very soul just unraveled and smoothed out. The woman smiles down at me. “You are so beautiful!”
“She looks just like you,” the man said smiling.
I looked up at her as the dawn of realization rushed over me. I gripped her hand tightly, forming the words that took me three tries before they came out.
"Momma, is it you?"
"Yes, baby... you made it home. You made it home to me."
The world closed its eyes gently, allowing me a moment with my mother and father. If the world could have stopped spinning, if the skies could have paused their march of clouds, if the very fabric of time could have ceased to exist in those few minutes that followed... they did.
I closed my eyes as my mom and dad hugged me and for the first time in my life; I felt completely safe.
Chapter Twenty-Five
A New Beginning
Three months have passed since I had found my parents. There were days I felt as if I were dreaming. The town had welcomed me and joyfully took me in as one of their own. For the first time in my young life, I felt like I belonged. In one more week, I was to start back to school. I’ll be a freshman in high school. I missed the first half, but mom and dad felt it would be best if I rested up before another big change.
José took to the Pastor like butter spread on bread. The Pastor and his wife were talking about adopting him and were well into the process of hunting down the proper authorities. I was truly happy for him. He deserved some happiness more than anyone else I had ever known.
The police still haven’t found Jack. The old house had been abandoned for a while, they said. My parents took care of all the legalities of it. The house was now in my name. They are working with a real-estate firm to try and sell the place and put the money in a college fund. A little part of me still felt the loss of the woman who abducted me, and I supposed it always would. I didn't feel anger anymore, though. I felt a great, swelling pity, instead.
I must go see a special doctor, Mrs. Avery, once a week to help me adjust, (at least that's what she told me) but I know why, and it scares me. I don’t want to remember but she told me that if I didn't bring the icky stuff to the surface and deal with it, it would always come back in my nightmares where I had no control over them.
I know now that Mamie had taken part in the abuse. I still don’t remember a lot of it. The doc said I would eventually remember, and that it was okay.
I hoped not.
I sat on the cold cement bench waiting while my mother ran inside the post office to pay some bills. Even in January, the weather was nice. No snow! Christmas was a bit scary for me.
I received a huge number of gifts. I was still getting used to the idea of new clothes, much less a laptop computer, an iPod, and a cell phone, a Kindle Fire, a Tablet, and my own account to the Amazon bookstore, (my parents found out early my love for books... especially romance and fantasy)
There’s a bite to the air. I slip my hands into the pockets of my new red blazer and as always, reflect on the old Army jacket José had once scrounged for me from the bin of a Goodwill drop box, what seemed like years ago.
My eyes scan the surroundings. Goose bumps rise on my arms. An eerie feeling washes over me. I turn my head and smiled. My heart skips a beat. Moisture fills my eyes.
“Where have you been?” I asked softly, nervously.
Daniel sits next to me and smiled in return. “You didn’t need me anymore, Shelby. You,” he picked up my hand, “are going to be okay.” He rubbed his lips against my palm. “I wanted to say good bye.”
“But... where will you go?” My arm tingled. “Will I ever see you again?”
His eyes look past me. “No,” he whispered.
“Who are you really?” I asked.
His eyes locked onto mine. “I think you already know.”
I nod my head. Yes, I knew. He was my guardian angel sent to guide my way. I leaned in and pressed my lips against his cheek.
“I love you.” My voice cracked. “I will always love you,” I whispered.
“I know, and I love you.” He let my hand drop. “You clean up real nice! I knew you were going to turn into a great beauty,” he smiled at me. Daniel stood up and glanced down. “Goodbye, my Mary Elizabeth.”
I watched him fade away. If it weren't for him, I never would have found my real mom and dad. Everything was going to be okay. He said it. I felt as if my heart was breaking and mending at the same time.
I finally figured out his magic trick to just disappearing.
“Mary, are you ready to go home?” My mother asked when she walked out of the post office.