Page 10 of Guarding Over You
He nodded his head and left. “Leave this door open.”
She knew the rules but appreciated it more when he went to the nurse’s station and talked to the charge nurse. They both looked over and she saw the older woman nod. As if he were lining up the troops to be on alert.
“When can we leave, Mom?”
“Soon,” Arden said before Mrs. Oliver could answer. The woman was on her phone texting as if her fingers had nitro in them rather than consoling her daughter.
“What grade are you in, Abigail?” she asked.
“I’m going into third grade.”
“Do you like school?”
“I do,” Abigail said.
“What’s your favorite subject?”
“Abigail, stop talking,” Mrs. Oliver said, not even lifting her eyes to make contact with her child.
That was fine. Arden could sit here quietly if that was the way they wanted to play.
The minute a man walked in, she knew right away, this wasn’t going to be quiet.
“What the fuck is going on?” Tony said.
Yep. She jumped.
Like she did when a man raised their voice now.
She hated herself for that.
Hated she couldn’t control her reactions like she used to.
But staying composed was better for everyone.
“I need to talk with Mrs. Oliver, if you can stay with Abigail. Security will show you to a private room and then I’ll return for her.”
“No, we are getting an attorney,” Tony said.
“That is your right, but he will also inform you that the hospital is within their rights to ask questions as mandated reporters. We can have this discussion here or we can take it somewhere else private.” She was holding firm and security moved in closer now, flanking her.
She thought for sure that being a social worker in the hospital would be milder than for the county. Guess not.
“Let’s just get this over with,” Mrs. Oliver said. “They can’t keep us here.”
She wouldn’t be so sure of that, but it was highly unlikely at this moment.
She and Abigail’s mother moved through the corridors to a private room and took a seat, the door shutting, her laptop out. “I’ll be recording this for both of our protection. Abigail stated that her younger brother Corey is physically and emotionally abusing her.”
“She doesn’t even know the meaning of those words to say them. You’re making shit up.”
“Let’s see here,” she said, typing into her computer. “Abigail spoke with both a nurse and the doctor, same stories. Her younger brother Corey often kicks her legs, leaving multiple bruises which will be photographed and recorded before she is discharged.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“I’m telling you now,” she said. “She also said that Corey killed her fish at Christmas by pulling it out of the water and stepping on it. Is that correct?”
“Abigail is exaggerating. Corey took it out of the water and it fell on the floor, then he accidentally stepped on it.”
