Rick laughed. “Well, I don’t mind if you don’t.”
I smiled. “Nope. Come on in.”
As we walked into the bedroom, Barb looked concerned. The last time he had come late at night, it was to tell us about Katherine. I could tell that Barb was hoping this wouldn’t be another round of bad news.
Rick sat down on the bed and confided, “I just couldn’t sleep tonight. There’s something bothering me, and I need to talk to the two of you about it.”
“We’re all ears, partner.”
“Well, I’ve made a difficult decision.” Rick looked down and was silent for a moment. He swallowed and continued. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I took a long hike up Deep Creek this afternoon to think some more, and it’s become clear to me — crystal clear.”
“What, Rick?” Barb asked.
Rick took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then looked at me. “I’ve decided to leave the private practice of medicine, Walt.”
“What!” Barb and I exclaimed in unison.
“You’re kidding?” welled across my vocal cords. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Rick was an incredible doctor — heck, he was our family doctor — and an amazing partner and friend. He couldn’t be leaving.
“Nope,” he replied. “Like I said, I’ve been thinking about it for quite a while.”
“Is it the other doctors?” I asked.
“Is it Katherine?” Barb inquired.
“Neither,” Rick answered.
“Something I did?” I queried.
Rick smiled. “Nope. Not even your dressing up as a woman more than once!”
We couldn’t help but smile weakly, as tense as the moment was.
“It’s not you all or Bryson City or the other docs, or anything like that. It’s the private practice of medicine. I just have trouble with the business end of practice. It’s distasteful to me to have to charge people for what we do. It’s hard to explain, but I think I want to be in a health care system where I can just take care of folks without worrying about the money and the business.”
“Wow,” I responded. “You’ve never mentioned this before.”
“That’s right, Walt. I think I just figured it out this afternoon. And not only that, but I’ve realized how very much I love it when I go over to Asheville to teach at the family practice residency.”
I smiled, because I shared that love of educating doctors in training. Rick and I would each take a day a month and travel the sixty miles to Asheville to supervise the residents as they saw patients at the Mountain Area Health Education Center. These young family doctors were exceptionally bright and sharp. They loved learning, and we loved teaching them. They asked lots of questions, which always kept us on our toes.
Rick continued. “I think that’s where I want to be. I think that’s where my heart is telling me I need to go.”
“Is it the social situation here, Rick? The isolation?” Barb asked, still incredulous.
“Oh, no!” Rick responded. “I love the peace out here. I love the wilderness. I love my friends. I couldn’t imagine better friends than you and Walt, George and Elizabeth Ellison, and Mike Sharp. This isn’t a social issue or a relational issue or a practice issue; it’s a heart issue. I can’t explain it any differently than that.”
We were quiet for a few moments — each lost in our thoughts. My thoughts focused on the implications of solo practice in a large building.
“When do you want to make the move?” I asked.
“No time soon, Walt. Maybe we can work together to recruit someone to come join you. Do you think John Hartman would reconsider coming up here?”
During my first rotation of my intern year at the Durham County General Hospital, John had been the third-year family medicine resident assigned to supervise my training in internal medicine. A couple of years before, John and his wife, Cleta, had visited us in Bryson City. John had thought seriously about joining Rick and me in practice, but the reality was, if it weren’t for state subsidies, we couldn’t keep a private practice going for two of us — much less three. So John began a practice in Kissimmee, Florida, with an old Navy buddy. They had since added a third doctor and were looking for a fourth.
“Rick, I think John’s real happy. His practice is doing great.”
“Well, maybe the Office of Rural Health can help us recruit you a new partner.” Rick was quiet for a moment and then added, “Besides, there aren’t any openings at the Asheville residency for faculty now as it is.”
“Are you sure about this?” Barb asked her dear friend.
“I am, Barb. I wasn’t until this afternoon, but my time in the mountains helped me understand what I was feeling. I’m sure now. I need a different path.”
“Then,” Barb added softly as she looked at me, “if it’s right for you, Rick, it’s right for us.”
chapter thirty
THE SHOCK
It wasn’t unusual for Barb and the kids to come to the office to visit me in the afternoon. What was unusual was for Bonnie to pull me out of an exam room to see them.
As I stepped out of the patient’s room, Bonnie whispered, “You need to go to your office. It’s Barb, and she’s pretty upset.”
“What’s going on, Bonnie?”
“I don’t know, Dr. Larimore. She just said I should come get you.”
I walked to my office and closed the door behind me. The kids were sitting on the couch, looking down. They didn’t jump up to give me the happy hugs I was expecting. I looked across the room at Barb, who was standing and staring out the window across the recreational park toward the crest of the Smokies.
I could tell immediately that she was upset — very upset.
As I moved toward her, she turned toward me and collapsed into my arms. I could feel her take a deep breath and then slowly let it out. I glanced at Kate and Scott, who kept looking down.
What was wrong? I thought. I stepped back, with Barb still in my arms, and sat in my armchair — gently easing her onto my lap. She kept her head buried against my shoulder for a few moments. I waited. Finally she sat up, sniffled, and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Bad day?” I asked softly.
Barb tried to smile. “You have no idea,” she whispered. Then she stood and walked across the room to sit next to the kids on the sofa.
“Honey,” Barb began, “Scott told me a story this afternoon that’s very upsetting, and I think you need to hear it right away.”
Scott looked so innocent with his legs straight and sticking off the edge of the sofa. I pulled the chair in front of Kate and Scott, who were both still staring down at their laps.
“Scoot?” I uttered. “Scoot” was my favorite nickname for my son. He didn’t look up.
I reached out and gave his leg a squeeze. “Go ahead, Scott, tell me what’s going on.”
Scott’s lips quivered as he spoke in a trembling voice. “I told Mom about Mickey, and she got upset.”
“What’d you tell her, partner?”
Scott looked up at his mom.
“Go ahead, Son,” Barb encouraged.
Scott looked back at me, took a deep breath, and began a story that would change our lives forever.
“Mickey said if me or Kate told you guys, he would come back and hurt us real bad.”
“What?” I asked. “Why?”
Scott nodded. “That’s what he said, Dad. But I told Mom anyway. I think he’s a creep.”
I was pleased with our strong-willed little boy who was obviously comfortable letting us know exactly what he thought.
“Tell me about it,” I encouraged.
“Well, after you all left last night, Mickey took us on a walk around Hospital Hill.”
“Then we came home and watched some TV, and then Mickey had us take our baths and get our pajamas on,” Kate recounted. “Then — ” Kate’s head dropped.
“Then he read to us,” Scott began. “And then — ” he paused for a second and continued haltingly. “Th
en it happened.” Scott’s eyes began to mist, and his lips began to quiver. He dropped his gaze again.
Kate sniffed loudly and picked up the story. “He took us to the bathroom,” she began. “He lifted Scott up on the counter and had me sit on the toilet seat. Then — ” Kate’s eyes teared up as her lips quivered.
I looked at Barb, who had tears streaming down both cheeks. I turned to Kate and took her hands in mine. “Go ahead, precious. You can tell me. You’re safe now.”
“Daddy — ” Kate’s voice was tremulous.
I could feel the fury building inside. I took a deep breath and swallowed my emotion. “Kate, honey, I will keep you safe. You can tell Daddy. What happened? What did Mickey do?”
“I’ll tell,” Scott bravely began. “Mickey said he had something special he wanted to show us. So he unhooked his belt and pulled down his zipper. He took my hand and made me touch him. I pulled my hand away and told him, ‘No way!’ ”
Horrified inside, I also felt proud of my little boy’s gumption and courage.
Kate added, “I think Mickey got mad, and he reached down and grabbed my hand. He pulled it up and made me touch him. He wanted me to rub him, Daddy, but I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t even look at him. And when I jerked my hand away, he got mad and began to yell at us. Then he picked us up and took us to your bedroom. He threw us on your and Mama’s bed, and he made me lie on my back. He pulled up my nightgown and then he made Scott lie on top of me.”
My rage was building. I could feel my heart rate rising rapidly. My first thought was, How dare this deviant boy accost my children! And then the skeptical scientist took over. Wait a minute! Could this just be childhood imagination? There’s no way a fine young guy like Mickey would ever do such a thing! Finally, my family physician’s and father’s heart spoke reason to my soul. You’ve got great kids. There’s no way that both of them would lie about something like this. This is horrible! Horrible!! And on my bed, no less!!!
I felt Barb reach over and lay her hand on my arm. It was her way of saying, Careful. Be calm! I took a deep breath and tried to keep my composure.
“What did he do then?”
“I don’t know,” Kate answered. “The room was dark. He was standing there and rubbing himself and was making some sounds. We were scared, Daddy. Then we heard a car pull up in the driveway. I was praying it was you and Mama. Mickey pulled his pants up, and then he picked us up and ran us to our bedroom. He told us to get in bed — quick. Then he told us to keep our game a secret, and he told us that if we ever told you anything about this, he would hurt us real bad. He told us to go to sleep fast. Then he left our room just as you and Mama were coming in the house.” Kate began to cry. “Oh, Daddy, I was so glad it was you and Mama!”
I pulled her into my lap and hugged her tight as she wept in my arms. On the one hand, I was relieved the abuse had not been worse; on the other hand, I was furious. I felt violated. And, I felt terribly guilty for leaving my children with such an animal. I wanted to scream, and then I wanted to go find the little creep and strangle him.
I took a deep breath and looked at my children — my precious children, children whose innocence and purity had been stolen.
“Come here, Scott.” He stood, and I pulled him to my chest, next to Kate. “Kids, your daddy is so proud of you. You are very brave to tell Mom and Dad what happened.”
“Are we in trouble?” Kate asked.
I smiled. “No way, honey. I’m so pleased with your and Scott’s courage. And you did nothing wrong. Mickey’s the one who did wrong.”
I looked both my children in the eyes and smiled reassurance to them. I hugged them close for what seemed an eternity.
Finally I looked up at Barb.
“What are we going to do?” she whispered.
I thought for a moment and then knew what we would have to do. But before starting down that path, I also knew the critical first step. “First let’s talk to God about it,” I said.
I led my family in prayer. I asked the Lord for comfort and wisdom. In the days ahead, I would find that I needed both in abundance.
chapter thirty-one
THE PUPPETS
I closed my office door behind me and walked across the hall to my dictation station and sat to think for a moment. My mind was swirling, confused — full of a thousand questions. My emotions varied between fury and a desire for revenge on one end of the spectrum, and pity on the other for this sick, perverted boy.
But if there’s one thing a doctor gains in the grueling training of medical school and residency, it’s how, in the midst of life-and-death circumstances, to quickly and efficiently consider all available options, make a choice, and then act decisively.
I knew that as a health care professional the law required me to report all cases of actual or suspected child abuse to the local authorities, even though Mickey lived in another county. Nevertheless, I also suspected there would be no way to keep this secret. It was likely to sweep across the town’s gossip lines like wildfire. And as the “flatlander” and “outsider” my motives would be intensely scrutinized. I felt nauseous as I considered the options and their implications. Yet, almost immediately, I knew what I had to do.
I stood and walked to the nurses’ station, where Bonnie was working at her desk. “Bonnie, how many patients do I have left?”
“Just two, Dr. Larimore. They’re waiting in the exam rooms. Both are colds, I think.”
“While I’m seeing them, call down to Social Services. If Tim’s available, ask him to come up here as soon as possible.”
Bonnie cocked her head. “What’s going on?”
“Barb and I need to talk to him about something.”
To her credit, Bonnie didn’t push the issue. “I’ll get him up here for you.”
“Thanks.”
Tim talked with Barb and me, privately, in an exam room. As we related the story to him, I could see him become visibly upset. When we finished, he stood and looked out the window for several minutes. His face, which I could see from the side, was drawn. He finally turned back to us.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to the kids — alone. Would that be OK?”
“They’re pretty scared, Tim,” Barb pleaded. “It was hard enough for them to tell us.”
“I can only imagine,” Tim softly commented. “But it’s important. I won’t press them on any of the details. I just need to see their faces and expressions. I think I can tell pretty quickly if they’re telling the truth or not.”
Tim could see I was taken aback that he was considering the possibility that my kids might not tell the truth. He reached out to place his arm on my forearms, which were crossed across my chest.
“Walt, I can’t tell you why just yet. But I don’t doubt this story one little bit. Still, this is a critical juncture. I’ve got to know in my heart — I’ve got to be 100 percent sure. OK?”
I thought for a moment and realized he was right. If I was in his shoes, I would want to do the same thing. I looked at Barb, and our eyes communicated agreement with each other. I turned back to Tim and nodded, and then I took him to my office and introduced him to the kids. I explained who he was and that his job was to help us. I asked them to tell Tim what they had told us and assured them that we’d be just across the hall.
I closed the door behind me and went back into the exam room to join Barb.
“How are you doing?” I asked. She couldn’t speak. As her eyes filled with tears, I held her close.
After what seemed an eternity, there was a knock on the door. Tim opened the door and motioned for us to follow him to my office. The kids looked calm. I was relieved. As Barb and I sat down, Tim sat on the edge of my desk.
“Walt and Barb, I’ve got to tell you, I’m impressed with Kate and Scott. They are exceptionally bright kids and very observant. They’ve been through a terrible experience, and I’m amazed at their courage.” He smiled at the kids, and they smiled back. At that moment we knew Tim believed them.
/> “I’ve called down to the office and asked two of my colleagues to stay and help me out. What I’d like to do is for all of us to go down there. Kate and Scott have agreed to tell their story to my friends. I think we need to do this right now, before supper. OK?”
Barb looked at me with a glimmer of fear in her eyes. We were caught in a storm that was getting ready to increase in intensity and fury. We had no choice but to move forward.
Smoky Mountain Mental Health was located in an old river-rock building on Main Street. During our short trip down Hospital Hill, we had all been caught up in our individual thoughts. When we pulled up, there were no cars in the patients’ parking lot. Tim parked his car next to ours, and the five of us quickly entered through the staff entrance, and he whisked us into his private office. We were crowded in the tiny space, but I felt safe here.
Tim left us alone for a few moments. I could tell the kids were nervous. I wanted to reassure them and let them know everything was going to be all right, but I just wasn’t sure. I had no idea where the path we were on was going to lead.
Tim entered the room with two colleagues — a male and female. Each squatted down to eye level with the kids and introduced themselves. I could see that they were skilled at working with kids and that the children were immediately comfortable with them.
“Kate and Scott,” Tim began, “I’ve asked my friends to take each of you to a game room. We’ve got a problem, and we need your help.”
The children’s attention was fixed on him.
“We’ve recently gotten some puppets in our special playroom. And our problem is that the puppets don’t have any names. Would you all be willing to help us out while I talk to your mom and dad?”
Scott jumped to his feet. “I will!” he exclaimed. “I’m good with puppets.”
I smiled as he left with the man.
“How about you, Kate? Will you help me?” the woman asked kindly.
Kate struggled to her feet and looked at Barb, who nodded at her. Then she took the counselor’s hand and left.
Tim gave them a moment to get down the hall and then closed the door and sat down.
Bryson City Secrets: Even More Tales of a Small-Town Doctor in the Smoky Mountains Page 22
