Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 21 – Worries

Adam flicked through his paper absentmindedly. He had rung the emergency department and arranged to have the day off so he could take Nita to see her parents. He wasn't too sure about this being responsible and looking after someone else's daughter business. He didn't really do kids and he had no idea how to look after a teenager properly. He slightly regretting saying he would look after her. How was he supposed to come close to filling Kirsty and Warren's footsteps? He couldn't turn her away though, after all this was Kirsty's daughter, he reminded himself as he took a gulp of coffee from the mug lying on the table, he felt partially responsible for this mess, he should have taken the pair of them in or done something to help Kirsty escape the abuse before it went this far.

He choked back tears as he debated the ways he could have prevented Kirsty from being hurt for a moment feeling horribly responsible for the whole messy situation. There was nothing he could do now but wait and hope she was ok. He dabbed at a stray tear with the sleeve of his jumper. At least by looking after Nita he could repay Kirsty slightly for not being able to protect her and for not forcing Warren to get help right away. He turnedhis attention back to the news paper, he just had to keep his fingers crossed and keep strong for Kirsty and her teenager who had fallen into his care.

As he turned the page he heard the door creek open and looking up he spotted Nita standing nervously in the door way still dressed in her pyjamas.

"Do I have to go to school?" her voice was subdued

"No, not today." Adam placed the paper down on the table and looked over at her. "I thought you might like to take the day off to get your head around things and we can go see your parent's if you want to?"

"Yes please." Nita replied simply

"Would you like some breakfast?" He offered

Nita shook her head.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded but stepped forwards into the kitchen.

"Adam?"

"Yes Nita?"

"Why is my Dad so horrible?"

He hadn't really expected this question. He paused trying to find the write words to answer the teenager. Right now he had a lot of hate for Warren, he was convinced that it had been Warren that had stabbed Kirsty, but Nita was his daughter and Adam could not say exactly what he thought of the man without upsetting the already worried looking girl in front of him.

"Your Dad hasn't been very well, his condition causes him to lash out." Adam explained not enjoy defending Warren "I guess he is a volatile person anyway and if something upsets him he reacts to it. Although he has done some bad things he is not a completely bad person." Adam said simply before chancing a question wanting to know if Nita could confirm his fears "Do you know what happened yesterday?"

"There was a scream and Dad ran upstairs. He had stabbed her. When I went downstairs Mum was unconscious with a knife in her side and there was no one else there so it had to be him." Nita confessed "I know it was him." She added bluntly before looking up into Adam's eyes "Is it my fault? Do you think I could I have stopped him?"

"No, Nita this is not your fault at all!" Adam said shocked that the teenager was actually blaming herself "Not at all, your Mum will tell you that herself when she gets better." Adam reassured her. "There was no way you could have known what was happening or stopped him, Kirsty would not have wanted you to get hurt trying to stop him either."

Nita nodded and paused thoughtfully looking down at her feet and shuffling them nervously Adam watched unsure what to say next.

"Will I turn out like him? Will I hurt people too?" She asked her eyes snapping up to meet his as the thought crossed her mind.

"Of course not!" Adam immediately reassured her. The information from Nita sinking in, it was pretty obvious what had happened but without being there he couldn't have guaranteed that someone else hadn't been involved. "We all make choices in life Nita and your dad has made some bad ones letting his anger get the best of him. You will be your own person and you will not hurt people." Adam said calmly although inside he could feel the anger building at the mere thought of Warren hurting Kirsty.

"Do I have to hate him?" she asked sounding confused

"No Nita, he is your Dad no matter what." Adam reassured her "People make mistakes sometimes if they make a bad mistake you have a right to feel upset or hurt or angry but there is nothing that says you have to hate them."

"I love him but I don't love him when he hurts Mum and I don't like what he did." Nita explained

"That is understandable." Adam replied wisely

"Will he hurt me?" she added nervously

"From what I have seen and heard Nita he really cares about you so I don't think he would, your his daughter and that makes you special to him but I'll be honest, I'd never rule it out because he has lashed out before." Adam explained sensitively "Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes." Nita nodded "I don't think he would hurt me."

"I don't think he would either." Adam said his voice wavering slightly, if Warren could hurt Kirsty so badly then he could easily hurt Nita but she wanted to believe the best in her Dad and he wasn't going to ruin that for her. "I'll tell you what, if you don't want breakfast why don't you go get ready and we'll go and see your parents?" Adam suggested

"Ok." Nita nodded "Thanks Adam."

"No problem." He replied as she turned and left the room

He watched her go. He was actually quite surprised he hadn't found himself comforting the girl as she cried. She was obviously as good at putting up a front as her mother. He had a feeling that she wouldn't be able to lock all her thoughts and worries down for long though and that they would eventual over spill.

But she had confirmed his thoughts. Warren had definitely attacked Kirsty.

He closed the paper and sat up.

He had to put on a strong front and take Nita to see her father. He personally had no intention of visiting Warren but Nita had every right too and Adam suspected she needed to. He did however feel the need to see Kirsty, who was still stable when he had called earlier in the morning. Nita had the right to see her mother too as, god forbid, it could be one of the last chances she would get.

He pushed that thought away and poured the rest of his coffee down the sink placing the mug on the counter and leaning on the edge of the sink and breathing deeply.

However much he hoped that it wouldn't be he half knew he had to accept the possibility.

"Ready."

He spun around to see Nita stood in the door fully dressed and ready to go, obviously keen to see her parents.

"That was super quick, lets get going." He said straightening up and offering Nita a forced smile. He couldn't let his thoughts show.

He suddenly realised why Kirsty was so good at playing pretend and hiding her problems, because of having to hide them from Nita. He picked up his keys from the side and led the way out of the house. Today was going to be a long day.