Page 8 of Guarding Over You
“I’m Arden Bellamy. I read the notes quickly.”
“I’ll be adding to them and concurring with what the nurse wrote.”
Arden nodded. “And the mother?”
“Talking with Maddy.”
This woman didn’t appear soft and gentle. The no bullshit attitude was going to scare his patient.
“I’d like to talk to Abigail if you don’t mind?”
“Do you want me to stay with you, Abigail?” She nodded her head yes.
Arden didn’t seem to mind, pulled out a stool and reached for the stuffed teddy bear next to the little girl. “What’s his name?”
“How did you know it’s a boy?”
“Because of the blue shirt,” she said. “My daughter, she’s got an orangutan named Marshall. Carries him everywhere. He’s got a blue band on his wrist so no one thinks he’s a girl. Tells everyone that Marshall is sensitive like that.”
He’d heard the name Gracie but hadn’t seen the child Arden was talking about. He’d been trying not to intervene but was damn close to it with the way the asshole was talking to her yesterday.
Not just the words but the stance. One that could tip the scales of veiled control to regrettable rage in a snap of the fingers.
Abigail giggled. “His name is Theo.”
“I bet Theo is a great companion,” Arden said, her voice low, soft and soothing. Exactly what a scared child would need.
“He’s always with me. Corey will take him if I don’t have him with me.”
“Corey is your brother?” Arden asked. “Is he older than you?”
“Younger. And he’s mean.”
“Is he mean to you?” Arden asked.
Blaze stood there when he should be with other patients, but he couldn’t leave. The woman talking to this child was nothing like the woman who gave a man twice her size what-for.
Abigail’s mother came back into the room five minutes later. Maddy had bought them more time than he’d expected.
“What’s going on in here?”
“Mrs. Oliver,” he said. “This is Arden. She’s a social worker with the hospital. We are going to have to ask you to stay and answer some questions concerning the welfare of your daughter in regards to the other children in your house.”
“You have no right to do that!”
“Actually,” Arden said, “we do. This is just a conversation. It will go easier and be less traumatic for you and your daughter if we could keep it peaceful.”
“I don’t need to keep anything peaceful. We’re going.”
“I can’t let you do that,” she said. “Abigail is a minor and she hasn’t been discharged. We are mandated reporters and until we are satisfied, Abigail will not be allowed to leave. We can involvelaw enforcement if we choose, or you can have a conversation with us to clear some things up peacefully.”
Damn. This was the woman from yesterday.
Her tiny frame braced and ready for battle. He stood in front of the door, crossing his arms, and joined her.
3
THAT WEIGHT LIFTED
