Page 25 of Alexander's Heart

“Ohh, that’s wonderful news. Will she be okay now Doc?”

“Yeah, she will, Janelle, Elizabeth is a fighter and will recover fully. I do have to speak to you about Caroline though.”

“What’s wrong? Is she okay?” Janelle asks in an alarmed voice looking between us with worried eyes.

“Physically Caroline is doing really well but I need to ask if you feel ready to see her? I think it’s important but only if you feel you are strong enough to see her, I feel that you are strong enough to see her and think that it’s time.”

As much as Janelle wanted to see Caroline eight weeks ago, she soon realized that she needed to work with Doc first and trusted him to choose when to see her children and what is best for everyone involved.

“I do, I’m feeling much more myself, and I think I can handle seeing Caroline.” Janelle says nodding.

“Good, I think you are strong enough now. Caroline is struggling to trust and open up we think having her family, especially Elizabeth with her would really help her.” Doc exhales a breath, “however, I need to know that Caroline isn’t going to blame or seek to harm Elizabeth, so I was thinking the best way is to have you spend time with her first. Balancing this is not easy, and if you feel like you need to leave you tell me immediately because I don’t want your progress to lapse.”

Janelle gives a small smile, “I know, Doc, you’re a good man and have only ever been so kind and wanted to help me and my family. I’d like to try, and I will be honest and tell you if it’s too much.”

Doc returns her smile, “Great, at any time you feel like it’s all too much we’ll leave because Caroline is going to be angry and will have blame and as hard as that is, it is also very understandable.”

“Yes, I can only imagine how she feels, I’ll do my best to make her feel safe and hope she feels my love.”

I lead the way to the other side of the nurses station where Caroline’s room is and when I open the door, I’m not surprised to see Tiny sitting in the corner of the room, he is here with Caroline most of the time. I’ve allowed it because Caroline does need to be protected, and better to have a steady familiar face than a multitude of different people. Tiny nods and I step over to him and take a seat beside him and Doc moves slowly toward Caroline but she shrinks back into the bed, still wary of him.

‘Hi, Caroline,’ Doc says gently as he takes a seat next to her bed.

‘I’d like to bring someone in to see you,’ Caroline’s eyes shift to Doc’s and at first look hopeful but then wariness clouds her blue eyes.

‘Your Mom is here; she’d love to sit with you, and maybe you will feel comfortable talking with her. Would that be, okay?’

Caroline’s eyes widen and she nods slightly, then flicks her curious eyes to the door, I stand slowly and move towards it to let Janelle inside.

All I can hope is that their reunion goes well and Caroline doesn’t turn to violence and lash out. Janelle enters the room passing by me and when I turn around, I see Caroline’s face changing to bright red, she’s angry but Janelle rushes forward and just wraps her arms around her, and Caroline lets out one of those long soul crushing deep animalistic screams.

I look to Doc and he raises a hand and I notice Caroline isn’t fighting back she is allowing the touch of her mother.

‘Caro, it’s me, Mom, I’m here baby, you’re safe.’

Caroline slowly raises her arms and wraps them around Janelle awkwardly, we’re all just watching with bated breath.

‘These men, are good people, Caro, they have helped me and Elizabeth so much.’

At the mention of my angel, Caroline sobs.

‘I-I d-don’t w-want t-to see her, I s-shouldn’t h-have b-been t-taken, it w-wasn’t m-meant to be-be.’

My chest tightens at Caroline’s words, at what she believes. I step forward to let her know the truth but Doc shakes his head knowing I was about to correct Caroline.

‘Caro, no one should have been taken or hurt.’ Janelle implores.

‘Elizabeth w-wasn’t hurt s-she was f-fucking home w-with you, w-while I w-was in hell with the devil.’ Caroline grinds out, her voice vibrating with anger as she tries to pull away from Janelle.

‘I h-hate you, l-let me g-go, I d-don’t have a f-family anymore.’

Janelle lets Caroline go and hangs her head, the words obviously hitting Janelle hard in the next breath Caroline raises her fist to hit her mom. Tiny moves swiftly and is there in an instant catching her arm while she screams and thrashes.

“Leave, now.” Tiny says in a calm low voice.

I swing my gaze to his and can see he means business, I don’t argue and neither does Doc. Caroline detests Tiny always being with her but it seems as if they have bonded, she’s not fighting him really, just lashing out.

Doc nods and guides Janelle toward me and the door and just as we’re leaving, she turns around and says, ‘I love you, Caroline. You are allowed to hate me, but you need to know that it won’t stop me from loving you.’

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