Rex extended his hand. “Thank you, Doctor.”
“You can come see your daughter now.”
They followed him through the doors to Nadine’s bedside. Sharon looked down at her daughter. “She seems so peaceful now.” She turned to the doctor. “Is she in any pain?”
“Not at the moment, and that’s going to help her body.”
Sharon leaned down and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “I love you, sweetie. We’re here for you, and we’ll get through this together.” Her voice began to crack, and she quickly turned away.
Rex knelt next to Nadine, took her hand in his, and kissed it. “No one is ever going to hurt you again. I love you, baby girl.” He struggled to keep from crying as his voice started to quiver, then turned, put his arm around Sharon, and left the room.
The drive home was difficult for both of them. They didn’t want to leave their only child, but they were exhausted. The doctor was right. If they wanted to stay strong for Nadine, they had to take care of themselves.
Sharon couldn’t erase the vision of her daughter, nor stop the endless flow of tears. Rex wasn’t much better. He fought against exposing his anger and guilt and tried to stay strong for his wife and daughter, but inside, he was seething.
Sharon curled up on top of the bed, and Rex sat in the recliner, and eventually, both drifted off to sleep.
Rex had Nadine’s cell phone in his pocket. Suddenly, the sound of a text startled him. He bolted out of the chair and pulled out her phone. He gritted his teeth, slammed his fist against the side of the chair then opened the text.
Max: ‘Honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Why did you make me do that? If you hadn’t instigated a fight, none of this would have happened. Please call me. I love you.’
Rex held the phone in his hand waiting for it to ring, but it didn’t. He clicked on the call icon on the message, and it began to ring. Max’s voice answered. “Baby, you know I love you. I’m sorry.”
“This is Rex Branson. If you ever come near my daughter again, you’ll have to answer to me. You got that, you son-of-a-bitch?”
“Let me speak to Nadine.”
“Nadine can’t talk right now. You nearly killed her. You’d better pray she lives through this or they’ll never find your low-life body.”
“This is between Nadine and me.”
“Did you not hear what I just said? Do you even care how badly you hurt my daughter, you bastard?”
“It was Nadine’s fault. I was only defending myself.”
“Why don’t you come over here and say that to my face?”
“Do you think I don’t know what you’re up to? I come over there, and the minute I step my foot into your house, you try and kill me and make up some crazy-ass lie that I attacked you. I see where your daughter gets her craziness from.”
“Well, then I’ll come to you, you coward.”
“You step one foot in my place, and I’ll have you arrested.”
Rex immediately hung up the phone and called the police. “Detective Lang, you can find Max Morgan at home.”
“Mr. Branson, I want you to stay away from him. Let us do our job. We’re sending a car over there right now.”
Rex fell back into the chair, dropped his head in his hands and wept. “I’ve never felt such anger. I’m afraid that bastard is right. I would have found an excuse to kill him after what he did.”
“Rex, who are you talking to?” Sharon walked into the living room and sat down next to him. “It’s okay. You need to let it out too.”
“I couldn’t protect my little girl.” He cried harder. “I will never forgive myself if she doesn’t pull through this. I knew Max was bad news from the beginning.”
“Nadine has always been set in her ways, and if she sets her mind on something, she doesn’t give up. I think she believed she could change him.”
Rex looked into his wife’s swollen eyes. “I only pray that now she sees that she can’t.” He got up from the chair and headed for the back. “I need to shower.”
Sharon bowed her head in prayer. “Dear Lord, please let our daughter be all right.”
She pulled out the photo album of Nadine as a young child and slowly relived all those innocent years. “Hang in there, sweetie.” She took a deep breath.
#
Nadine remained in a coma for three days. Rex and Sharon rarely left her side. They took turns returning home for brief rests and to change only to head right back to the hospital.
Doctor Bentti came in late on the third day. Rex was still at home cleaning while Sharon sat beside her daughter sharing stories of her childhood and all the fun they had while Nadine was growing up.
“How’s our girl this evening?”
“You tell me, Doctor.”
“We ran more tests this morning, and she’s responding well. Her bodily functions are showing normal activity. We’re going to reverse the coma slowly this evening. I don’t want you to worry if she doesn’t respond right away. As I told you before, it could take up to a few days for her to be alert.”
“How are her vital signs and wounds?”
“Her vital signs are good. There is no infection and physically, she’s healing better than expected.”
“What do you mean physically?”
Doctor Bentti motioned her out of the room. “Your daughter has endured a traumatic experience not one she can overcome easily. My suggestion is to seek some emotional support for her when the time comes.”
“We’ll be here for her.”
“I know she’ll appreciate that, but she might need professional help.” He bit the inside of his cheek then reached over and touched Sharon’s arm. “The beating she took was not a one-time incident. Nadine has suffered ongoing abuse.”
“What are you saying?”
Doctor Bentti took Sharon’s hand in his. “Nadine has scars you wouldn’t see when she dressed. Her abuse has been going on for some time.”
Sharon dropped her head and cried out loud. “Why didn’t she come to us?”
“Sharon, I have someone I’d like you and Rex to talk to later. She deals with families who have experienced this.”
“I don’t know if Rex will go for that.”
“I understand, but it might help you both cope with what happened, for Nadine’s sake. And Nadine will need help understanding that it was not her fault.”
“Oh, dear God.”
Rex came down the hall, and when he saw Sharon crying, he thought the worse. “No!” he hollered.
Doctor Bentti dashed toward Rex as he crumbled to the floor. “Rex, Nadine is okay.”
“When I saw you with Sharon, I thought…”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve waited until you two were together. I was just telling Sharon that Nadine will recover from her physical injuries, but may need counseling. She experienced a terrible ordeal.” He helped Rex to his feet. Rex was still shaking and didn’t hear everything the doctor said, except that Nadine was recovering.
“Whatever it takes to get her well, Sharon and I will do.”
“Catch your breath then let’s go in and see your daughter. As I was telling Sharon, we’re going to start reducing the medication. Nadine should slowly come out of her coma. As far as her wounds, it’s going to take some time for them to heal completely, but she will recover. However, it’s her emotional state that concerns me. I’ve given Sharon a name of a colleague of mine. I’d like you both to talk with her.”
Rex glanced over at Sharon, who was clasping her hands, then back at Doctor Bentti. “Whatever it takes.”
“Good. You two can go in now. The nurse and I will be back in a minute to start reversing the medication. Can I get you something to drink?”
Rex nodded his head. “I’d love a cup of coffee, black. Sharon?”
“Yes, please, with one cream,” she responded as she slowly walked up to Nadine’s bed.
They waited by the bedside until the doctor and nurses arrived and then the procedure to reverse Nadi
ne’s coma began.
Sharon held Rex’s arm tightly. He glanced down at her and gave her a slight smile, but there was a lump in his throat and words escaped him.
When the procedure was over, Doctor Bentti turned to them. As I said before, it could take awhile. They forced a smile and thanked him, then stood looking down at their daughter.
Hours went by with no change. Sharon turned to Rex and whispered. “Why is it taking so long?”
“The doctor said it could take days. We have to be patient. Why don’t you sit down here?” He pulled up a chair for her next to the bed.
She reached over, took Nadine’s hand, and stroked it. “We’re here for you, sweetie. Mom and Dad are waiting for you.” She turned and looked up at her husband. He put his hand on her shoulder. She reached up and patted his hand then returned her gentle hold on Nadine’s.
It was nearly 9:00 p.m. and still no sign of Nadine returning to consciousness. The doctor on the night shift came in with his clipboard in hand. “How’s she doing this evening?” he said, never taking his eyes from his notes.
Rex turned to him. “No change, Doctor.”
“Well, we’ll keep monitoring her.” He smiled, turned and walked out.
Sharon finally fell asleep in the chair with her head on the bed. Rex was dozing in the Geri-chair in the corner of the room. There was a gentle knock at the door. Rex opened his eyes to see Doctor Bentti enter. “Good morning, Doctor.”
Doctor Bentti put his hand on Rex’s shoulder. “You two need to get some rest, or I’ll have to admit you for exhaustion. Now, let me see how Nadine is doing.”
He walked over to the bed, checked her pulse, blood pressure and O2 stats. Sharon lifted her head, and he smiled at her. “How’s your neck this morning?”
“My neck?”
“I take it you slept in that position all night.”
She stretched her neck from side to side. “A little stiff, but I’ll work it out. How is she?”
The doctor pulled up a chair next to Sharon. “All her vitals are good.”
“Then why hasn’t she come out of her coma, yet?”
“I know you’re concerned, but these things take time. Each patient reacts differently to the medication. When they admitted your daughter her body was struggling to survive. Her internal injuries were serious. However, now she’s doing remarkably better. Let’s give her some time. Why don’t you and Mr. Branson go home and rest? I promise if she begins to come out, I’ll make sure someone notifies you immediately.”
“But…”
Rex put his hand on Sharon’s shoulder. “Baby, let’s go. We’ll clean up and take a rest, so we’ll be fresh when she wakes, okay?”
“Okay. Promise me, Doctor Bentti, you’ll call us if there is the slightest change?”
“I will.”
They left the hospital and headed home. “Rex, I feel like there should be something we should be doing to help her.”
“There’s nothing we can do but be here for her when she comes through this and she will.”
“Will she?”
“Of course she will. You have to have hope.”
“I’m just worried she’ll want to go back to Max. His hold over her is strong, and he has a way of convincing her that he’ll change.”
“Not this time. As much as I hated it, when the police came to photograph Nadine’s injuries, I took pictures too. I’m going to show her that what Max did was not love.”
Sharon looked down at the card Doctor Bentti gave them. “I think we should call this doctor. Maybe she can help us convince Nadine. I’ll do anything to prevent her from going back to that animal. Rex, I’m afraid if she does, he’ll kill her next time.”
“There’s not going to be a next time. We’ll get our daughter all the help we can.”
Sharon stared out the window as they drove the rest of the way home. When they arrived, Sharon headed for the bedroom then soon fell asleep on the bed. Rex was resting quietly next to her when her cell phone rang. She jumped out of bed and grabbed her cell off the nightstand. “Hello.”
“Mrs. Branson?”
“Yes.”
“Doctor Bentti asked me to call you the moment there was any change with your daughter.
#
Rex and Sharon raced back to the hospital. They rushed through the doors to the elevator. Sharon’s heart was pounding hard, and her hands were shaking. Rex tried to remain calm, but inside he was trembling.
The elevator doors opened, and they ran down the hall to their daughter’s room. Doctor Bentti was standing over the bed while nurses fidgeted with the monitors and fluids attached to Nadine.
Sharon swallowed a gulp of air and slowly approached the bed with Rex by her side. Doctor Bentti turned to them and smiled then back to Nadine. “Nadine, can you hear me? If you can, I want you to squeeze my hand.” Nothing happened.
Tears escaped from the corner of Sharon’s eye as she held her breath. She was too nervous to ask anything. She stood watching the doctor.
“Nadine, I want you to squeeze my hand.”
Sharon leaned over the bed. “Honey, squeeze the doctor’s hand, please.”
Nadine’s eyelids flickered, but she didn’t open them.
Sharon stared down at the doctor’s hand and waited.
Nadine’s hand slowly made a small grasping movement. “That’s my baby girl,” Rex whispered as his voice cracked.
Nadine squeezed his hand again then slowly opened her eyes.
Her parents smiled down at their daughter. “Hi, honey. How are you feeling?”
She looked around the room and squinted her eyes. She then furrowed her brow and tried to speak. “Why am I here?” she whispered in a weak voice.
Doctor Bentti leaned in closer. “You’ve been injured.”
She looked up at him. “How?”
He smiled at her. “We can talk about that later. How are you feeling?”
“I’m confused. Why do I hurt all over?”
Her mother took hold of her hand. “You just focus on getting well. Your dad and I will be right here.”
Nadine glanced around the room. Sharon’s heart began to sink. Oh, dear Lord. I hope she’s not looking for Max.
“Mom, how long have I been here?”
“A while, but you’re getting better each day.”
“I’m so tired.”
“You just rest now. Your dad and I will be here.”
Nadine turned her head to the side and closed her eyes. Doctor Bentti motioned the Bransons to the hallway.
Sharon looked up at the doctor. “Why doesn’t she remember what happened?”
“She’s probably blocked it for now. It might be better that she doesn’t remember at this time. It’ll help her heal if she doesn’t associate her injuries with the abuse, but Nadine will have to face it at some time. Rex, didn’t you tell me they arrested the man who did this?”
“Yes, he was, but is out on bail now.”
“We’ll pass his photo around on the floor and make sure he doesn’t try to approach Nadine. It would be best for her not to see or hear from him. She might ask for him or at least want to know about him, but the less information you volunteer, the better. Did you call that doctor I suggested?”
Rex tilted his head. “We were going to wait until we got her home.”
“I suggest the two of you call and talk to her as soon as possible.”
“We will,” Sharon affirmed as she held onto Rex’s arm.
“Good. I’m going to tell Doctor Chapel to expect your call.”
“Okay.”
The doctor left, and they returned to the room. Nadine still lay there with her eyes closed but didn’t appear asleep as the nurse changed the IV solution and checked the monitors.
Rex and Sharon pulled up chairs next to the bed. They glanced at each other then back to their daughter. Rex mouthed to his wife. “She’s going to be okay.”
She mouthed back. “I’m praying she will.”
A MONTH LATE
R
Nadine had been home at the Branson’s for nearly a month recovering, yet still had not mentioned Max, and her parents didn’t mention him either.
Max was out on bail and had called the house several times wanting to talk to Nadine, but Rex would hang up on him after telling him she didn’t want to talk to him. The last time Max called, he threatened Rex saying nothing would keep him from seeing her.
“You stay away from my daughter and my home. If you step one foot on this property, I’ll have you thrown in jail.” Rex slammed the phone down.
“Dad, who are you talking to?” Nadine was standing in the doorway.
“Nobody important, honey. You better get back in bed. You shouldn’t be walking around on your own yet.”
“Yeah, I think I should. How am I going to get better if I stay in bed all day?”
He smiled and escorted her into the living room. “You’re right. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Do we have any of that sweet tea Mom always makes?”
“Let me see. I’ll be right back.”
Rex walked into the kitchen. “Your daughter wants to know if you have any of that sweet tea you always made.”
“Rex, I haven’t made any of that in years. We only drink unsweetened tea. Nadine is the one who talked us into cutting out the sugar in tea.”
“I know, but I didn’t know what to say to her.”
“Let me talk to her.”
Sharon walked into the living room. “Well, look at you up here in the living room. Dad said you wanted some iced tea. I haven’t made any yet, but I’ll brew some bags.”
“You always make the best, Mom.”
Her mother smiled. “Do you remember how I made it?”
“Of course. I’ve helped you make iced tea for years.”
“How much sugar should I add?”
Nadine crinkled her nose. “The same as you always do, two cups.”
“Okay, honey.”
Sharon headed back to the kitchen. She turned to make sure Nadine was still sitting in the other room. “She thinks I still make it with sugar. Why would she think that?”
“I don’t know.” Rex glanced at the doorway then back to Sharon. “She just must be confused.”
Betrayed: Powerful Stories of Kick-Ass Crime Survivors Page 28
