Chapter 8
After an early morning and cereal for breakfast Arizona drove to the social workers, Sofia had a follow up interview with a social worker and detective. Arizona had now been able to pass on a name, and with Sofia opening up more hopefully she'd talk.
"Sofia, I want you to tell the truth, no matter who you think it will upset it's really important you say everything honestly. Nothing you say will ever make me love you less. You are my world." Arizona promised standing outside. She knew it was preferred if Sofia went alone but wanted to be close in case her daughter needed her.
It was 2 hours before they emerged from the room. Arizona tried waiting patiently, tried pacing, even tried candy crush desperate to distract herself from the waiting. Finally, the door opened the detective left first then the social worker,
"Sofia will be out in a minute, but we wanted to talk to you first" the social worker began. "She named Penny as her abuser, and doesn't think Callie knows anything of the abuse, she says Callie was working lots, and Penny threatened to hurt both of them if Sofia said anything. We are investigating that now as Penny has named Callie as the abuser. So, for now its Sofia word against Penny's. Callie lawyered up and is so far refusing to co-operate with the investigation. We are gathering witness statements and evidence, but this takes time, so we haven't pressed charges yet. As per your wishes Penny has been served with a restraining order. You have primary custody, and we are recommending supervised visits for Callie, this doesn't have to be at a centre but can be yourself or a trusted family friend." The social worker explained
"It wasn't Callie, Callie would never hurt Sofia, she'd rather die" Arizona replied adamantly. "I don't know how she missed it, but I know she didn't do it"
"I understand that, but we need to prove it beyond reasonable doubt" the detective explained. "We have found a belt with blood on it, in the blood there are fingerprints so we are waiting for DNA and fingerprint results which will give us more evidence, we have estimates of when the bruising occurred and where and are matching it to schedules. For now, we ask you keep the details of the investigation to yourself. I know you have a lot of mutual friends any evidence you share could harm our case and Callie's defence"
"I understand. So far, our counsellors, my boss and Sofia's regular Paediatrician know. We are going to look at schools' tomorrow, so I'll need to tell her teacher."
"That's fine if they need any more details, they can liaise with me" the social worker offered. Arizona gave her a grateful smile. It was one less thing to worry about.
"Mommy, I coloured" Sofia ran out of the room the advocate unable to hold the whirlwind that was her daughter any longer.
"Wow, Elsa, Anna, Ariel and Cinderella" Arizona listed looking at the pictures,
"And I told the truth mommy like you told me and they weren't mad, and said I was brave"
"Well done, this calls for a treat for being so brave, what would you like to do this afternoon?" Arizona asked, Sofia bit her lip thinking carefully, the option to do anything was one to rare to squander.
"Can we do a Princess tea?" Sofia asked, referring to their little dates at a café where the waitresses dressed as Disney princesses and the cakes were all themed. All attending the party were encouraged to dress up and on arrival all Princesses and Princes were issues Tiara's or crowns and had a choice of multiple Disney character costumes.
"I will ring and see if they have any space if not, I promise we will go as soon as they can fit us in" Arizona promised. Sofia nodded,
"Can Zola come too?" She asked,
"I'll ring Meredith and the Princess café and try get us in,"
"Ring now Mommy" Sofia demanded. Arizona laughed picking up Sofia carrying her out. Sometimes she was just like a mini-Callie especially when it came to waiting for anything.
"Okay little miss" Arizona loaded her in the car calling the princess palace, they had a cancellation that evening. Knowing it was after school she rang Meredith getting her permission to collect Zola, Bailey and Ellis to take them along. Meredith had immediately consented she had back-to-back surgeries and had no idea what time she was finishing. Spending time at a Princess tea party beat day care anytime.
"Right, we need to go to the hospital and pick up the car seats and spare keys in case we get home before Auntie Mer, then we can go have lunch and play in the park with Ellis while we wait for Bailey and Zola to finish school."
"Yay," Sofia cheered. "Princess party, can we have princess music on please?" She asked politely Arizona obliged playing the Disney CD that was played non-stop when her daughter visited.
At the hospital Arizona and Sofia went in heading straight for the surgical floor, Meredith had promised to have her car keys waiting at the desk. Instead, Meredith was there charting.
"Hey Meredith" Arizona greeted.
"Arizona, Sofia, I hear you're taking my kids and feeding them" Meredith replied grinning
"Were going to have a princess party." Sofia announced bouncing slightly, twirling around,
"Wow, do you want to swap cars?" Meredith asked, she had 3 car seats in hers, Arizona nodded,
"It's probably easier, I can drop them at yours after or keep them at mine until you have finished." Arizona offered
"Mine is probably easier, I'm going to be late, but Maggie or Amelia should be home, if not call the sitter. Here is my spare key."
"Thanks" Arizona took the offered key,
"So, Callie called last night, she had some interesting things to say" Meredith mentioned. Arizona winced, placing a hand on Sofia's shoulder, hinting to Meredith that what Callie had or hadn't said shouldn't be repeated in front of young ears.
"I'm sure she did, but we need to go, I'll pick Ellis up from day care and take her to the park too" Arizona offered.
"Ellis would love that, when I'm home you and I are having a wine and catch up, Sofia can stay overnight" Meredith insisted.
"Sofia run ahead to day care for me" Arizona ordered; Sofia obeyed running the 100metres down the corridor out of earshot. "Meredith don't push this" Arizona insisted, "You'll find out, everyone will but right now it is none of your business."
"But Callie said you're not letting Sofia return to New York, that you took out a restraining order against Penny and her."
"Sofia is my daughter I have full custody rights, I'm choosing to keep Sofia in Seattle where she belongs if Callie has a problem she can come here and argue her case. The restraining order is not against her, and if she stopped yelling at me long enough, she'd get the whole story" Arizona replied snapping at Meredith, "Now can I take your kids out for dinner so Sofia can play with her cousins or not?"
"Take them, but Arizona you have a village. Let us be that village" Meredith offered. "We are friends after all"
"I don't need a village and we are colleagues not friends, friends talk outside of work." Arizona said sadly. Even though it had been months ago she was still hurt that so many people had sided with Callie but especially Meredith who had an adopted daughter, one Arizona had fought hard to get into the country and spent hours helping with paperwork, ringing contacts both in Malawi and social services here. "I'll make sure I have your children back by bedtime" she promised walking away leaving Meredith even more confused. Arizona had denied nothing but hinted it was more complex than Callie had led her to believe.
After a busy time at the park, then the Princess party, Zola had dressed as Belle, Sofia as Moana, Bailey as Sven and Ellis as a mini sleeping beauty. Arizona had been persuaded to put on the adult Cinderella dress. They had then had sandwiches, cut up veg and cake with magical potions. There had been a lot of Disney music, dancing and actors pretending to be Anna, Elsa and Christoff. The kids had an amazing time and Arizona had taken hundreds of photos.
Afterwards exhausted they'd gone to the changing room, Arizona had slipped off the Cinderella dress first then changed Ellis. Sofia and Zola were independently changing, Sofia took off her top showing the bruises and cuts, Arizona looked around hoping everyone was distracted. Zola saw too but said nothing. Driving back to Meredith's Arizona distracted the kids with more Disney music.
Pulling up outside the house it was dark the windows closed. Arizona let herself in. This wasn't new to her, when Meredith had been attacked, she'd taken the kids home and stayed for weeks. With Amelia drinking, Alex, Maggie, Richard, Jackson, April, Callie, Penny and Ben staying at the hospital doing the long surgery to save her life. Arizona had taken Sofia, Zola, Bailey and Ellis to Meredith's figuring they may as well sleep in their own beds. One night had turned into a month, with Maggie and Alex staying occasionally when not at the hospital with Meredith. Luckily Meredith had a nanny who'd been a life saver picking the kids up from school and day care, helping to feed them, bath them. When Meredith had been discharged Arizona had spent the day cleaning the house, putting fresh sheets on the bed and stocking up on healthy foods, knowing from experience on discharge the last thing you felt like doing was shopping. It was just another reason it had hurt so much when Meredith had sided with Callie. Saying Callie was the better mother when just months earlier Arizona had filled that role for her own kids.
Still, none of that was Zola, Bailey or Ellis's fault and Arizona had genuinely missed them which is why now Sofia was home she used every excuse to take them out and treat them. Plus, Sofia loved playing with her cousins.
"Okay Bailey, Zola and Sofia can you get your pyjama's out, and pick a story while I bathe Ellis, please" Arizona asked ushering the children inside. Running the baby bath for Ellis before getting her bottle and putting her to bed. Next was Bailey while Sofia and Zola playing with Zola's Princess castle. After a bath and a story, he too was out like a light. Returning to the girl's room she could hear them talking,
"Soph, how did you get those bruises?" Zola asked, stopping Arizona in her tracks, part of her wanted to interrupt and stop the conversation but another part stopped her, Sofia deserved a friend to confide in.
"I can't say it's a secret," Sofia whispered
"I'm good at secrets, remember the vase, I haven't told anyone" Zola reassured, Arizona smiled, they'd known it was one of the girls who'd broken the green vase, luckily it had not been a favourite vase so it being broken wasn't a loss.
"Okay….but you have to pinkie promise not to tell anyone" Sofia said seriously,
"I promise"
"Sometimes Penny gets really mad and hits me. She said I can't tell anyone, but Mommy guessed"
"Your Mommy is really smart"
"Yeah, she said Penny was naughty cus you're not allowed to hit, so I had to talk to a policeman and Penny will go into a time out for a really long time"
"How long?" Zola asked her eyes wide,
"Like a week!" Sofia exclaimed, a week was a really long time to spend in time out.
"Woah," Zola agreed, the longest time out she'd had was 7 minutes one minute for each year.
"And Mommy says I don't ever have to see Penny again cus grown-ups aren't allowed to hit kids" Sofia said triumphantly. Arizona decided now was a good time to interrupt, the issue of both girls wanting to share a bath solved now Zola knew about the bruises there was no need to hide them.
"Okay guys, bath, then story then bed" Arizona ordered at times like this she was grateful to be raised in a military household with high levels of organisation. It wasn't long before both girls were in bed fast asleep, Arizona was grateful that Bailey had pull ups meaning Sofia could borrow one.
With all 4 children asleep Arizona headed downstairs to wait for Meredith, Amelia or Maggie to return home. Her leg was sore, so she removed it massaging what was left of her thigh. Feeling tired Arizona lay down covering herself with the blanket, planning to rest her eyes just for a minute.
She didn't hear Meredith, Amelia and Maggie come home, or feel Meredith pull the cover over her more.
"I wonder why she didn't just take one of the beds like she did last time?" Maggie asked confused.
"Because we don't have a spare room" Meredith pointed out.
"Yeah, well she just slept in your bed" Maggie recalled
"When was this?" Meredith asked confused she'd remember sharing a bed with Arizona,
"When you were in hospital, Arizona moved in to take care of the kids" Maggie explained
"I thought you were doing that" Meredith gestured to her sisters
"Hey, I was looking after you full time" Maggie defended,
"I was fighting sobriety, I helped but Arizona wouldn't let me be on my own with the kids until she knew I was sober"
"What about Alex?"
"He was with you" Maggie explained, "Arizona really stepped up, I thought you knew"
"No" Meredith snapped. No wonder Arizona didn't consider them friends. She'd spent months with her kids without so much as a thank you or an acknowledgement of her help. They needed to talk; first thing tomorrow Meredith planned.
It was early when Arizona felt something tug her blanket,
"Mommy I wet again" Sofia whispered embarrassed to be wetting herself at her friend's house.
"Okay bug let's get you cleaned up" Arizona quickly put her leg on changing Sofia's pull up pants checking the bed it was still dry. Sofia was like a limpet clinging desperately to Arizona,
"Mommy can we go home," Sofia asked tiredly, she wanted to cuddle her mommy and her teddies. She wanted to cry without her friends seeing. Arizona didn't protest, despite it being 3am having woken up on the sofa she was feeling stiff and sore and desperately wanted to stretch out in her king-sized bed and shower in her easily accessible shower.
"Let's go" Arizona was still fully dressed, Sofia was in her pyjamas, so she wrapped her in a blanket, grabbing her own car keys from where Meredith had left them driving home. They had a busy day tomorrow checking out schools then shopping for the school.
After a busy day of picking a school. They ended up choosing the same one as Zola and Bailey, shopping, ice cream and playing at the park both girls arrived home exhausted. Arizona had switched her phone onto silent after several missed calls from Meredith who hadn't been happy to find her guests MIA in the morning. Now she just wanted a quiet night with her daughter, those plans were ruined as she pulled up onto the drive only to find Callie sitting on their porch.
Oooo, Callie is in Seattle, is she still annoyed? Will she let Arizona speak? What will Sofia think now Mama is here? Where is Penny?