Page 50 of Stay for Me
“Well, that’s just unfair.”
“Maybe so, but it’s a burden I’m willing to carry.”
I laugh softly. Melanie is watching the baby while Hadley helps Sebastian with the play. It is really cute, and I love that even though they’re not the same age, they seem to get along.
We chat a bit, and then Connor kisses her cheek. “I’m going out to work on a project.”
“You mean on the tree house?”
“No, I mean to work in my office.”
She laughs. “Okay. I love you.”
“I love you,” he replies as he leaves the room.
“Sorry about that,” Ellie says to me once he’s gone. “He’s been working so hard on his new company and doing things with the girls.”
I remember those days. “I get it. It’s hard to juggle it all.”
She nods. “But it’s what we all must do, right?”
“Right. So, about the child you want to discuss . . .”
“Yes, thank you for reminding me.” She grabs the paper from her stack and hands it to me. “I asked them to write a fictional story based on some part of themselves. I wanted them to blur the lines between fiction and non-fiction, forcing the reader to decipher where the author’s truth blends with their imagination. This one, I don’t know, it just . . .” She takes a pause. “I feel that there is very little fiction.”
I start to read and can see why Ellie is worried. Here is a story about a girl whose father touches her, makes her feel uncomfortable, but she doesn’t know what to do. I read, feeling the knot in my stomach tightening the farther I get.
“I think you were right to bring this to me,” I tell her.
“The thing is, writing wise, this is brilliant. I can’t tell if it’s a call for help or she’s an amazing writer who has an ability to make me believe the fiction. Do you know what I mean?”
I nod. “It was the assignment.”
“Yes, and her set up is that she lives in a small dairy town, which she does. She has the same hair color, build, and some personality traits. That would be enough non-fiction for the assignment. I don’t know, Brenna, it just made me uncomfortable, and I wanted to bring it to you and see what you thought. Also, I’m going to see Mrs. Symonds tomorrow to report it. I don’t have much to go on, but I’d like you there as well.”
“When girls write about things like this, it’s often a call for help. I want to at least pick up the phone. You’re doing the right thing.”
Ellie breathes a long sigh. “What do we do now?”
“Well, I’m going to talk to a few of her teachers to see if there is anything else I should be aware of. If she’s had anything in the past, it’ll be in her file, and then Mrs. Symonds and I will talk to her as well as filing a report based on what she tells us.”
“If you land on the last one, please tell me. I’d like to help her as well, plus, Sydney knows everyone in the judicial system here and can help us if we need it.”
We may need all the help we can get. In a large city, dealing with child abuse is difficult, but I imagine that in a town where everyone knows everyone, it’s even harder. Working in the district I did before, I only had one abuse case that we couldn’t prove, and it about broke me.
Sebastian comes running in the room. “Can we go to Hadley’s tree house?”
“If it’s okay with Mrs. Arrowood.”
Ellie smiles warmly. “Of course, Hadley, be careful and don’t be bossy.”
The little girl with beautiful green eyes bats her long lashes. “I’m not bossy.”
A loud scoff comes from behind her. “That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one.”
“Uncle Jake!” Hadley rushes toward him, wrapping her arms around his middle.
“Hi, my sweet little Hadleybutt.”
