by Tinnean
“Daddy?” Matt stared up at him, his eyes huge. On each side was a sister, clinging tight to him. Sarah was crying silently, and Bethany, her head on her older sister’s shoulder, had her thumb stuck in her mouth, something she had outgrown when she was two.
Luke launched himself at his father and held on.
“Mom isn’t feeling well. Sometimes after a woman has a baby, she can react that way. She’ll be better tomorrow.”
“You promise, Daddy?”
“I….” The word caught in his throat, but he forced it out. “I promise.” Oh, Maggie, don’t make me have lied to our children! “Let’s go home, okay?”
III
MATTHEW HAD crept down the hall and stood in the doorway of his mother’s hospital room, unnoticed by the adults. Why was Mom so upset?
Was something wrong with their new baby brother?
The nurse’s aide spotted him. “You’d better wait outside, son.”
Matthew stared up at him and nodded jerkily.
He had heard enough to know whatever had happened, Mom blamed Dad. What had Dad done?
He joined Luke and their sisters by the nurses’ station.
“What’s going on, Matt?” Luke asked.
“I… I don’t know. I think….” He didn’t know what to think. Moms and dads were supposed to be in control; that was why they were the parents.
“Beth had an accident,” Sarah whispered, and she glanced toward the wet spot on the floor. A big orderly was mopping it up.
“I’m sorry!” Beth said in an agonized little voice. She looked like she was going to cry. “I got so scared.”
“It’s all right, Bethie,” Matthew assured her. “Hospitals can be scary places. Oh, look! Here comes Dad!”
Matthew understood why Bethany had wet herself. He was afraid he was going to have an accident himself. Dad was pale and his hands were shaking; he looked like an old man.
In spite of his position as the oldest, Matthew found himself reverting to the childhood name: “Daddy?”
“Mom isn’t feeling well. She’ll be better tomorrow.”
“You promise, Daddy?”
“I….” For a second, Dad looked like he was ready to cry. He gathered Sarah and Bethany into his arms, reached for Luke and himself. “I promise.”
MATTHEW LAY in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Something was very wrong.
Dad was lying.
But what was the matter with Mom? It had sounded like she hated Dad, hated the baby.
And if she did, might she start hating him too?
No, he couldn’t believe that. Mom loved them all, but he knew deep down she loved him best.
He wouldn’t worry about it. He was the oldest; he had to be strong.
But he was only a little kid, he thought resentfully. He shouldn’t have to be the strong one. That was Dad’s job.
This was Dad’s fault, his and the baby’s! If the brat hadn’t come, everything would have stayed the same; everything would have been fine.
Matthew slid out from under the covers and knelt beside the bed, his hands folded. “Dear God, please don’t let Mom hate us.” He thought for a moment. “And please make the baby go away.”
He wasn’t completely satisfied with the prayer, but he didn’t know what else he could do.
No, wait a second! There was something else! Mom had told him once, “If anything happens to me, you call your grandfather.”
Dad’s father had always been “Grandpa,” and Matthew had known she meant her own father. They’d never seen him, but Mom had told them stories about when she was a little girl, and he sounded like a man who would know what to do.
Mom had given him a piece of paper with a phone number on it and made him promise not to tell Dad. “This is only for emergencies!”
A glance at the clock told him it was 3:05 a.m. Everyone should be asleep. He tiptoed to his door and cracked it open.
Everything was dim and in shadow. The nightlight in the hall was the only source of light. All the bedroom doors were opened a little bit, even Dad’s. Matthew remembered from when Sarah and Bethany were born, Dad did that in case any of them had nightmares while Mom was in the hospital.
He slipped out of his room and down the stairs to the kitchen. Pepper, the shelter dog Dad had brought home one Saturday—and boy, had Mom been unhappy about that!—raised her head from the dog bed.
“Shhh. Go back to sleep.”
She gave a soft woof and lowered her head to her paws.
HE FELT better once the phone call was made. Grandfather hadn’t minded he’d called, even though Matthew had woke him up.
“I’ve been expecting this,” he’d said in a deep, rumbly voice. “You did the right thing by calling me, Matthew. Now you go back to bed. Your uncles and I will be there in the morning, and we’ll take care of everything.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“Good night, Matthew.”
“Good night, sir.” He didn’t call Grandpa or Dad “sir,” but somehow, with this man, that felt appropriate.
He went back to bed, certain between God and Grandfather everything would be back to normal.
IV
THE NEXT day, shortly after the kids had finished lunch and were putting on their fall jackets, getting ready to visit their mom, Ben opened his front door to find his father-in-law standing there.
“Mr. Crist.” He hadn’t seen this man since he and Maggie had returned from the justice of the peace who’d married them, and his fury had been overwhelming. If Ben’s father and brothers hadn’t been there, who knew what Crist would have done? “Uh… Maggie had our fifth child last night. I was just about to take the kids to the hospital to see her.”
“I’ll take them. Magdalena doesn’t want to see you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you think you could keep her sedated forever?”
“What? Of course not!”
“I’ve spoken to her! She told me all about last night.”
“She was so upset. Last night—”
“I knew you were no good,” Crist sneered. “You, your family, the entire—”
“You’d better leave. I won’t have you talking like that in front of my children.”
“You lost the right to call them yours when you gave my daughter that thing!”
“Don’t you call the baby that! He’s an innocent child!”
“He’s an abomination! He should be exterminated like so much vermin!”
“You’re insane!”
Dark gray eyes, so much like his wife’s, like his children’s, glittered. “Do you think so?” He gave a signal, and men Ben hadn’t even realized were there came forward.
Ben swallowed. He’d last seen Maggie’s seven brothers thirteen years before, but time hadn’t changed them. They were still big, bulky, and numerous.
“Daddy?” His baby girl clung to his pant leg, while the other kids hovered around.
“I’m your grandfather, children.”
Beth looked at him in confusion. “No, you’re not! We know Grandpa, and you’re not him!”
“I’m your mother’s father.” He frowned at her, and she stuck her thumb in her mouth. “I’ll be taking you to see her.”
“Mr. Crist, if you’re going to the hospital, you’re welcome to follow us,” Ben lied. He’d much prefer if the man would return to the Pennsylvania town he’d come from. “We were just about to go.”
“You don’t get it, do you, Small? I’m taking the children, I’m taking my daughter, and we’re all leaving this town.”
“What are you talking about? Maggie is my wife!”
“Not for much longer. You were able to keep her away from her loving family for all these years, but she’s come to her senses and she’s leaving you.”
“You can’t do that! Besides, Ty is too small to leave the hospital yet!”
“Who?”
“Your youngest grandson.”
“These are the only children of my daughter Magdalena. T
hat abomination is none of ours! Boys!”
It should have been ridiculous hearing grown men referred to as “boys,” but Ben was too shocked by the enormity of what was happening to laugh. A few of his wife’s brothers surrounded the kids and started herding them toward the minivan parked at the curb.
“No! You can’t do this! You can’t….” The kids looked back at him, scared and confused. “These are my kids!”
“Dad’s got a paper that says otherwise. Magdalena signed it, giving him the right to take them.” Simon-Peter, Maggie’s oldest brother, sneered.
“That’s not—She had no right!” Oh, Jesus, this couldn’t be happening!
“Y’know something? I’m tired of hearing your yammering.” Simon-Peter grabbed his wrist and twisted it high behind his back.
“Dad!” Luke was struggling, but he was no match for the man who caught him around the waist and threw him into the van.
“Don’t you hurt my kids!” Ben tried to jerk free, tried to get to his children, but his arm was wrenched higher and there was a sickening pop. The brothers surrounded him and began pounding and kicking him.
Wave after wave of burning pain inundated him, and he crumpled to the ground.
V
GETTING A call from your oldest son to learn you had another grandchild never got old.
Getting a call from… someone else… informing you your oldest son was being taken to a hospital it would take you hours to get to… not so much.
Joe Small had been working on a jobsite when he received that call, and it was an experience he could live without repeating.
“Your son Ben has been attacked, Mr. Small.” He’d never heard that voice before, but there were tales of it, like cool silk being drawn over your skin. He knew immediately who it was—it might be early afternoon here in the States, but it was past sunset in Romania. “His right elbow is dislocated, and he’s been badly beaten. He’s being transported to St. Michael’s Hospital in Charleston. Meanwhile, we’ll be looking into this, rest assured.”
Within five minutes, the police called, telling him pretty much the same thing, but ending with, “I’m sorry, that’s all the information we have at this point.”
He’d called his other sons. Dave lived in Greenville, like Joe did, but his job was an hour away. “I’ll be there ASAP, Dad. Does Maggie know? And who’s got Matt, Luke, Sarah, and Beth?”
“I’ve got no idea about Maggie, Dave, but I assume Mrs. Kuhn has the kids.” The Kuhns, a middle-aged couple, lived next door to Ben and Maggie, and Mrs. Kuhn would watch the children on occasion.
“I’ll find out, Dad.”
“Thanks, Dave. I’ve got to call Phil now.” His youngest son, who’d moved when he was eighteen, lived in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, an airline flight away. It would take some time before he arrived.
“Okay. Do me a favor and drive carefully, okay?”
“Shouldn’t I be telling you that?”
“I got my lead foot from you. I’ll pick up the kids from Mrs. Kuhn and meet you at the hospital.”
“All right. Bye, Dave.”
“Bye, Dad.”
Joe drove like a lunatic to get to St. Michael’s—when Ben regained consciousness, he’d find his father watching over him—and fortunately the cops were busy elsewhere.
He was also fortunate enough to find a parking space right off the emergency room. It was a tight fit for his SUV, but not as bad as it could have been. He’d have climbed out of the window if he hadn’t been able to open the door.
Joe jogged through the parking lot, dodging cars, and then had to wait until the doors to the emergency room slid open. A harried nurse pointed out the bay where his oldest son was being treated, and he rushed to it and moved aside the curtain.
Oh Jesus! Ben looked like death warmed over. His arm was splinted and in a sling, his left eye and cheek were turning green and purple, and his nose had a bandage over the bridge. Had it been broken?
A doctor stood at the side of the bed, making notes in Ben’s chart and talking to the nurse who was adjusting the IV line.
“I’m Joe Small. This is my son. What can you tell me about his condition?”
“Fortunately, he regained consciousness long enough to give me verbal permission to share that information with you. Right now we’ve given him something to make him comfortable.” The doctor observed him seriously. “I won’t try to sugarcoat this. Your son has taken quite a beating. His kidneys have been pummeled—”
Joe put a hand to his face. That probably meant Ben would be pissing blood for a week.
“—and his testes….” The doctor shook his head. “I’m sorry. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to father any children. On the plus side—”
“There’s a plus in the middle of all this shit?”
“Yes. An X-ray reveals no bones are broken, and the arteriogram of his arm shows no arterial infringement. There doesn’t seem to be any damage to the nerves, and he should be out of the splint in two to three weeks.”
“Will he have to stay in the hospital for that length of time?”
“No. You know how it is with insurance companies. In the meanwhile, he’ll stay here in the ER until a room becomes available. If you need anything, the nurses will get it for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Dr. Holly to bay 8.”
“Sorry, that’s me. I have to go. Mrs. Cross, would you get a chair for Mr. Small?” The doctor gave him a preoccupied nod and hurried away.
The nurse brought a chair for him and he sank into it. She rested her hand on his shoulder. “He’ll be all right. We’ve had men here in the ER who’ve been beaten worse, and they walked out.”
“All of them?”
She shrugged, and he was grateful she hadn’t lied to him. “As Dr. Holly said, let me know if there’s anything you need.”
“Can I… can I hold his hand?”
“Of course. Talk to him also. It will give him some comfort, even if he doesn’t seem to be aware.”
Joe took his son’s hand. He wasn’t a praying man, but he didn’t think it could hurt.
“DAD. HOW’S Ben?”
“Dave!” His middle son had arrived. Joe surged up and hugged him. “He’s pretty beat up.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Dave stared at his brother in horror, then touched Joe’s arm and lowered his voice, although no one was close enough to hear what he had to say. “I’ve been up to see Tyrell.”
“How is he?”
“Quieter than they’d like, but he’s eating and pooping, so they’re just keeping an eye on him.”
“And the other children?”
“They’re not with Mrs. Kuhn. Mr. Kuhn said she’s out of town visiting their daughter.”
“They must be with one of Maggie’s friends, then. Have you seen Maggie? How is she taking this?”
“I’ll be damned if I know, Dad. She checked out earlier, AMA, according to a pretty ticked-off PA.”
“What?”
“Against medical advice.”
“I know what AMA is, David. What I want to know is why?”
Dave shrugged. “A big, white-haired man left with her.”
“Crist?”
“It sounds like it.”
It suddenly hit Joe. “Wait. Maggie left the baby?”
“Yeah.”
Joe bit back a curse. He’d never liked the man, hadn’t liked any of that family, and he’d regretted that Ben had fallen in love with Magdalena Crist. He’d hoped her family’s beliefs would prevent her from running away with Ben, but she’d been too enraptured by him. When they returned from the justice of the peace after a whirlwind courtship, Noah Crist had been rabid with fury, and Joe knew he wasn’t being over-the-top with that description. Crist had been literally frothing at the mouth and threatened all kinds of dire punishments. Joe had had no choice but to get the two young people out of town.
Their kind tended to stay in one place, but he’d decided he couldn’t take any chances with h
is other two boys, especially given what Phil was. Joe had told Dave and Phil to pack what they’d need. Because the garage was attached, no one had seen them pile boxes and suitcases into Joe’s SUV, and as soon as night fell, he’d gotten them out of the house in Pennsylvania, where they’d grown up. Eventually they’d settled in Greenville, a town near the South Carolina/North Carolina border, a little more than a three-hour drive to Ben and Magdalena’s place in Charleston. Joe would have preferred to be closer, but if Crist was determined enough to track him down, he wanted as much distance between his oldest son and his wife as he could provide.
“Dad!”
Joe looked over his shoulder to see his youngest son barrel into the room. “Phil!”
“I got here as soon as I could.”
Joe didn’t ask how Phil had managed to arrive so quickly. The owner of the voice that had informed him of this disaster had no doubt ensured Phil got transportation.
“Thank you.” He had never been reluctant to show affection to his sons, and he would have hugged Phil now, but he didn’t. He hadn’t touched him since Phil had turned thirteen and developed an aversion to being touched. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“Dave!”
“Hello, little brother.” He made no attempt to touch Phil either.
“How’s Ben?”
Joe nodded toward the bed, and the three of them approached it. “He’s pretty battered,” he said again.
“I went up to see the baby,” Phil said. “They’d only let me look at him through the glass. I tried to tell them I was his uncle, but something had happened….”
“Crist was here,” Dave told him, and Joe frowned at the tightness that suddenly appeared around Phil’s mouth. “And Maggie’s gone.”
“She left the baby?” Phil sounded as appalled as Joe had been. “How could she do that?”
“That’s the $64,000 question. And how did Crist find out where they were?” Joe demanded, although he knew neither of his sons would have an answer.
“Maggie called him.” The voice was low and hoarse.
“Ben!” He returned to the bed. He’d worry about his daughter-in-law later. His son was all that mattered right now. “Do you want some water?”
