Chapter Three
Casey frowned as she spread out the sleeping bag out on the floor in front of her bed. "Did you ever have a sleepover on a school night before?" she asked Alex. She had to know. Was this a second grade thing?
Alex shook her head.
Casey shrugged. "Well, okay, it's a little late, but don't worry, Alex, I can still make this the coolest sleepover party ever. I promise!"
Alex shook her head again. "Thanks, Casey, but I just want to go back to sleep, okay?" She curled herself up in a ball on top of the sleeping bag Casey had rolled out for her. Of course, there was no way she was going to be able to sleep, but she was not in the mood to talk or paint her toenails.
Casey looked over at Alex. She frowned, looking at her friend. Something was wrong. Alex was sad. Casey thought back to what had happened. Alex had been sad when she got there. This was not a regular sleepover. "Okay," Casey said as she grabbed her blankets off her bed. She spread them out on the floor next to Alex's sleeping bag. She lay down and wrapped her arm around Alex's body. "I'm sorry you're sad, Alex," she said.
Alex rolled over towards Casey. "Thanks, Casey," she whispered.
The two of them lay there in silence. After a few minutes, Casey began drifting back to sleep. Alex wanted to move to the door. She wanted to be able to hear what her mother was talking about downstairs, but she also did not want to look like a spy. Henry said it was rude to spy on people.
Downstairs, Diane began heating up water and fishing for some tea packets. She and Stephanie were gathered in the kitchen, and Stephanie was seated on one of her kitchen stools, ripping a napkin to shreds on the counter.
"And now, I don't know what to do," Stephanie finished, eyes focused solely on the napkin bits in front of her. "I wanted to wait until I had more of a plan, but when I saw what he was doing-"
"What 'what' he was doing?" Diane asked, reaching a mug down for her friend's tea.
Stephanie drew in a breath. She could not bring herself to admit it. She was without a doubt the worst mother in the country. Her ex-husband should have every right to argue for full custody of Alexandra. He deserved to get it, too.
"Steph, it's not your fault," Diane said. She handed Stephanie the mug of tea. "I can't even begin to image what you're going through, but I know this is not your fault."
"I wasn't paying attention," Stephanie countered. "She's my own daughter, and I couldn't see the signs that what he was doing to me, he was also doing to her." She shook her head, wiping back tears. "She must hate me. No wonder she was always begging to come over here."
Diane shook her head. "Please, she's eight. All little girls just want to play with their friends instead of their boring old moms. Alex adores you."
"She shouldn't," Stephanie said. "I screwed up – big time." She reached for the mug and blew across the top to cool it off. "When I was doing Alexandra's laundry this afternoon, I nearly threw up. There was blood in her underpants, Diane. Blood." She wiped her eyes again and reached for anther napkin. "I couldn't bring myself to ask her about it, but when she was over here, I…I snuck into her room and I read her diary. I know, I know, it's awful, but she wouldn't talk to me." She closed her eyes. "Not that I deserve to have her talk to me," she choked out. "This has been going on for months. Since we moved out here, maybe even before."
Diane stood there in shock. She never would have known. Alexandra was always a ray of sunshine when she saw her. She was so eager to play with Casey, help her with her homework, watch movies, anything. This was the little girl who never raised her voice to anyone, even when Diane knew her knuckleheaded sons probably deserved it. And Stephanie, man, Diane thought she was the ideal standard for Westchester County mother.
"Kids have a way of keeping secrets," Diane offered. "They think they're protecting us."
"But I'm her mother," Stephanie repeated. She propped her head up with her arms against the countertop. "I'm just at a loss of where to go from here."
"Well, think back. You said you wanted to have more of a plan before you took off," Diane coached. "Did you have any pieces thought out?"
"My brother Bill," Stephanie said. "He's a lawyer in New York City."
"Okay, okay," Diane said, thoughts scrambling in her head. "Okay, Mark works in the City, too. He can get you two down there."
"Henry can't see us," Stephanie panicked.
"He won't," Diane promised. "Mark keeps his car in the garage, and with five kids, you know that thing's never clean. We can hide the two of you in the backseat easily. Plus, Mark usually leaves before Henry does anyway. And to be sure, I'll make him leave extra early tomorrow."
"He'd do that?"
"Honey, the man may be the head of the household, but the woman is the brain. Trust me, he'll do it."
"Still, I'd hate for anything to happen to you because you're trying to help."
"Girl, I grew up with seven brothers, no sisters, and a whole slew of cousins. I can handle my own, believe me," Diane assured her friend. "And what's important to me is that you and your precious little girl are safe." She reverted herself into Mom mode. "Clothes?" she asked.
"I have Alex's school uniform and one change of clothes, but that's about it," Stephanie admitted. "I just wanted to get her out of there. I slipped a sleeping pill into Henry's after dinner coffee and prayed for the best when I snuck us out of the house."
"Don't worry about it," Diane said. "Five children, we have a ton of hand-me-downs. Most of it's going to be boy clothes, but-"
"All the better," Stephanie said, finally feeling some sense that things were going to work out, at least for now. "I want to make this as hard as possible to recognize her."
"And I know I don't sport the latest fashion picks, but you're welcome to anything in my closet," Diane added. "The boys sure have enough sports bags we can use to hold everything."
"Diane, I can't even begin to thank you."
"Hush, no thanks necessary," Diane scolded. "Now, the bigger question. Where should I have Mark drop you off? Your brother's law firm?"
Stephanie shook her head. "No, I think I need to get Alex to a doctor. Whatever that sick bastard did to her, I need to know, and I need there to be proof."