Adventure of a Lifetime
Trusting You
She could hear his footsteps walking slowly down the corridor. She hugged her blanket tighter and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. Maybe then nothing would happen to her. The door swung open and she could hear the footsteps get louder as he approached. She knew that it was going to happen, no matter what.
***
Ashleigh opened her eyes and looked fearfully around the room, her heart pounding. She knew it was a dream but it had seemed so real. Maybe because it had been real a few weeks ago. She dreaded going back to sleep because there she knew what was going to happen. She needed to be in the comfort of her parents' bed because they could protect her. However, she was too terrified to go by herself. Ever since she was abducted she was too afraid to go anywhere. Working herself into a panic about what had happened, she began to cry.
***
Christian opened his eyes when he heard the sound of crying. After having two children he could wake up instantly one started to cry. He looked at Satine who was still sleeping except now she was stirring slightly. He kissed her shoulder and whispered,
'It's probably Skye, I'll go.' Satine nodded and snuggled into her pillow. Christian swung himself out of bed and grabbed his dressing gown from the back of the door. He opened it and padded lightly down the corridor to Skye's room. As he passed Ashleigh's door he automatically looked in as he always did. She wasn't in her bed. Panic swept over him. Ever since they got her back he and Satine would always fret if she wasn't where they were expecting her to be. Taking three deep breaths, his gaze swept the room. She was sitting in the embrace of her giant teddy which sat in the corner of the room. Christian walked over and sat down next to her. Ashleigh crawled into his lap and continued to cry.
'Did you have another bad dream?' He asked softly. Ashleigh nodded. 'Did you want to come into our bed but you were afraid?'
'He could have taken me again!'
'As long as you are near me no one is ever taking you again.' He told her, kissing her hair.
'Promise?'
'I promise.' He vowed. 'Now come on, let's go and squash Mummy!' He stood up and carried Ashleigh into their room. Placing her on the bed, he turned to close the door.
'Leave it open. Leave it open!' She began to shriek and cry.
'Ssshh, darling. Ok, it's open.' He left the door slightly ajar and climbed into bed. 'Lie down.' Ashleigh obediently did so, her arms and legs spread out so that they were touching each parent. Satine woke up at the cold touch and opened her eyes. She looked down at Ashleigh who had fallen asleep instantly. Then at Christian.
'Bad dream.' He mouthed. Satine nodded and kissed the little girl on the head. This seemed to be the reassurance that Ashleigh needed because she then curled herself into a ball and sighed happily. Her parents looked at her with worry. They hoped that she wasn't going to be scarred for life after what happened. She hadn't told her parents anything but refused to be parted from them for any length of time and kept on having bad dreams.
'Poor love.' Satine gently stroked her cheek.
'I know but it won't help us to help her if we worry about it at the moment.'
'You're right. Night.' She leaned over and softly kissed him before rolling over. Christian was surprised, maybe even a little hurt. That was the first time she had ever fallen asleep without facing him. She once told him that she liked listening to him breathe and breathing in his scent. Blinking away a few tears he closed his eyes and attempted to fall asleep.
Satine knew he was hurting but she couldn't face him and fall asleep. Every time they had fallen asleep in the same bed they had always been in an embrace. That was why she couldn't face him. At least with her back to him she could pretend that she wasn't missing anything. Except she was, she longed so much to be in his arms, to look upon his face, to breathe in his scent as she slept. She opened her eyes, ready to turn over and apologise, and found a pair of green eyes gazing into hers.
'I'm sorry but I couldn't not sleep with you in my arms.' He whispered.
'That's why I turned over, so I could pretend that I wasn't missing anything.'
'Did it work?'
'No.'
'That's why I'm here. Move up.' Satine gently moved Ashleigh along and scooted up herself to allow Christian to climb in next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair before they both closed their eyes and managed to finally fall asleep.
***
Satine wiped Skye's face and fingers one final time before pulling her out of the highchair and placing her on her hip.
'Come on, darling, it's bath time.' She said to the little girl who smiled happily. She loved her baths unlike her sister who, at the same age, used to hate them.
'Ow!' Ashleigh yelped when her mother accidently trod on her fingers. Satine knelt down quickly.
'I'm sorry, darling. I didn't see you down there.' She picked her hand up and kissed it. 'Come on, you can help me with Skye.' Ashleigh stood up and held her mother's hand as they walked from the dining room to the stairs.
The three of them turned to go up the stairs when the doorbell rang. Satine let go of Ashleigh's hand, only to have it moved to her leg, and opened the door. A young woman, probably only 16, stood there. She was petite with brown hair and blue eyes. A sweet smile was on her face and her eyes shone.
'Excuse me, Mrs Carter?'
'Yes. Yes I am.'
'I'm Heather Jones, from the councilling office.'
'Oh, right. Come on in.' Satine held the door open and Heather stepped inside, wiping her feet on the mat.
'Thank you.'
'Sweetie, why don't you play here for a second while I talk to Miss Jones?' Satine said, turning to Ashleigh. 'I'll leave the door open to the study.' Ashleigh seemed satisfied and sat down with her doll. Satine showed Heather into the study. 'No offence but my husband and I were expecting someone a little older.'
'None taken.' Heather said cheerily. 'You see, we believe that if the incident in question was done by an adult it can take the child a long time to trust any other adult other than the parents. That is why we send young adults so that the child sees them as an authoritative figure but not as a threat to them.'
'How clever.' Satine commented.
'Also children are less likely to open up to people who tell them that they want to help. That's why the last councillor didn't help because she was trying to force the answers out. You have to let them come to you. That is why I am here meerly as a friend for Ashleigh.'
'Well, she does need to learn how to get on with other people other that me and her fater. Christian, that's my husband, was wondering why she hasn't told us anything.'
'The people closest to you are the people you don't want to hurt. Ashleigh feels she can't tell you because if it caused her a lot of pain then it would cause you even more pain. She thinks she is helping you by shielding you from the truth.'
'Will you be able to get it out of her?'
'I'm not going to force it out of her. I will build my trust up with her.' Heather replied. Satine led the way back into the hall.
'We were just going to give Skye a bath.' Satine explained, shifting Skye to the other hip. 'Ashleigh, do you want to play with Heather while I do that?' Ashleigh's eyes widened and she shook her head, burying her head in the folds of her mother's dress.
'That's all right. Maybe I could help as well?' She asked, looking at Satine. It was important for Heather to get involved with Ashleigh's activities.
'Of course.' Satine told her. Then she lead the way up the stairs.
***
By the time Christian had come home at 6 o'clock Ashleigh had built up enough trust in Heather to play with her if Satine sat next to her. She wouldn't speak to her but Heather wasn't discouraged. She talked about her family and her interests, giving her yes or no questions. Ashleigh's head must have moved at least a hundred times.
Christian walked down the hall and turned left into the living room. Satine stood up, quickly followed by Ashleigh. Satine gave Christian a loving kiss and Ashleigh wrapped her arms around his legs. He picked her up and swung her around. Heather stood up, brushing her skirt down.
'How was your day, darling?' Christian asked Satine as he set Ashleigh down.
'It was fine. Honey, this is Heather Jones, Ashleigh's...friend.' Satine couldn't think of what else to call her. Christian looked at her strangely and then understood what she meant.
'Oh! Hello, I'm Christian.' He said, shaking her hand. 'Have you two been having fun?' This question was directed at Ashleigh who made no attempt to answer. Christian raised his eyebrows at Heather.
'Yes. Thank you. Also thank you for my room, it's lovely.'
'You're welcome.' Christian smiled pleasantly. Ginnie entered and announced dinner. Christian offered his arm to Satine and they led the way with Ashleigh clinging to his leg and Heather walking behind.
***
After dinner was cleared away they all retired into the living room where Christian and Satine had a little drink. They offered some to Heather who politely declined.
'My mother said no drinking until I was of the appropriate age.' She told them. Ashleigh played quite happily on the floor next to Satine's feet. Heather tried speaking to her again but still she got no answer. She decided not to push it any further. Not tonight. She said a pleasant goodnight to everyone and retired to bed. As she was laying in the dark she knew that she could help Ashleigh. She just needed to know how.
She could hear his footsteps walking slowly down the corridor. She hugged her blanket tighter and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. Maybe then nothing would happen to her. The door swung open and she could hear the footsteps get louder as he approached. She knew that it was going to happen, no matter what.
***
Ashleigh opened her eyes and looked fearfully around the room, her heart pounding. She knew it was a dream but it had seemed so real. Maybe because it had been real a few weeks ago. She dreaded going back to sleep because there she knew what was going to happen. She needed to be in the comfort of her parents' bed because they could protect her. However, she was too terrified to go by herself. Ever since she was abducted she was too afraid to go anywhere. Working herself into a panic about what had happened, she began to cry.
***
Christian opened his eyes when he heard the sound of crying. After having two children he could wake up instantly one started to cry. He looked at Satine who was still sleeping except now she was stirring slightly. He kissed her shoulder and whispered,
'It's probably Skye, I'll go.' Satine nodded and snuggled into her pillow. Christian swung himself out of bed and grabbed his dressing gown from the back of the door. He opened it and padded lightly down the corridor to Skye's room. As he passed Ashleigh's door he automatically looked in as he always did. She wasn't in her bed. Panic swept over him. Ever since they got her back he and Satine would always fret if she wasn't where they were expecting her to be. Taking three deep breaths, his gaze swept the room. She was sitting in the embrace of her giant teddy which sat in the corner of the room. Christian walked over and sat down next to her. Ashleigh crawled into his lap and continued to cry.
'Did you have another bad dream?' He asked softly. Ashleigh nodded. 'Did you want to come into our bed but you were afraid?'
'He could have taken me again!'
'As long as you are near me no one is ever taking you again.' He told her, kissing her hair.
'Promise?'
'I promise.' He vowed. 'Now come on, let's go and squash Mummy!' He stood up and carried Ashleigh into their room. Placing her on the bed, he turned to close the door.
'Leave it open. Leave it open!' She began to shriek and cry.
'Ssshh, darling. Ok, it's open.' He left the door slightly ajar and climbed into bed. 'Lie down.' Ashleigh obediently did so, her arms and legs spread out so that they were touching each parent. Satine woke up at the cold touch and opened her eyes. She looked down at Ashleigh who had fallen asleep instantly. Then at Christian.
'Bad dream.' He mouthed. Satine nodded and kissed the little girl on the head. This seemed to be the reassurance that Ashleigh needed because she then curled herself into a ball and sighed happily. Her parents looked at her with worry. They hoped that she wasn't going to be scarred for life after what happened. She hadn't told her parents anything but refused to be parted from them for any length of time and kept on having bad dreams.
'Poor love.' Satine gently stroked her cheek.
'I know but it won't help us to help her if we worry about it at the moment.'
'You're right. Night.' She leaned over and softly kissed him before rolling over. Christian was surprised, maybe even a little hurt. That was the first time she had ever fallen asleep without facing him. She once told him that she liked listening to him breathe and breathing in his scent. Blinking away a few tears he closed his eyes and attempted to fall asleep.
Satine knew he was hurting but she couldn't face him and fall asleep. Every time they had fallen asleep in the same bed they had always been in an embrace. That was why she couldn't face him. At least with her back to him she could pretend that she wasn't missing anything. Except she was, she longed so much to be in his arms, to look upon his face, to breathe in his scent as she slept. She opened her eyes, ready to turn over and apologise, and found a pair of green eyes gazing into hers.
'I'm sorry but I couldn't not sleep with you in my arms.' He whispered.
'That's why I turned over, so I could pretend that I wasn't missing anything.'
'Did it work?'
'No.'
'That's why I'm here. Move up.' Satine gently moved Ashleigh along and scooted up herself to allow Christian to climb in next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair before they both closed their eyes and managed to finally fall asleep.
***
Satine wiped Skye's face and fingers one final time before pulling her out of the highchair and placing her on her hip.
'Come on, darling, it's bath time.' She said to the little girl who smiled happily. She loved her baths unlike her sister who, at the same age, used to hate them.
'Ow!' Ashleigh yelped when her mother accidently trod on her fingers. Satine knelt down quickly.
'I'm sorry, darling. I didn't see you down there.' She picked her hand up and kissed it. 'Come on, you can help me with Skye.' Ashleigh stood up and held her mother's hand as they walked from the dining room to the stairs.
The three of them turned to go up the stairs when the doorbell rang. Satine let go of Ashleigh's hand, only to have it moved to her leg, and opened the door. A young woman, probably only 16, stood there. She was petite with brown hair and blue eyes. A sweet smile was on her face and her eyes shone.
'Excuse me, Mrs Carter?'
'Yes. Yes I am.'
'I'm Heather Jones, from the councilling office.'
'Oh, right. Come on in.' Satine held the door open and Heather stepped inside, wiping her feet on the mat.
'Thank you.'
'Sweetie, why don't you play here for a second while I talk to Miss Jones?' Satine said, turning to Ashleigh. 'I'll leave the door open to the study.' Ashleigh seemed satisfied and sat down with her doll. Satine showed Heather into the study. 'No offence but my husband and I were expecting someone a little older.'
'None taken.' Heather said cheerily. 'You see, we believe that if the incident in question was done by an adult it can take the child a long time to trust any other adult other than the parents. That is why we send young adults so that the child sees them as an authoritative figure but not as a threat to them.'
'How clever.' Satine commented.
'Also children are less likely to open up to people who tell them that they want to help. That's why the last councillor didn't help because she was trying to force the answers out. You have to let them come to you. That is why I am here meerly as a friend for Ashleigh.'
'Well, she does need to learn how to get on with other people other that me and her fater. Christian, that's my husband, was wondering why she hasn't told us anything.'
'The people closest to you are the people you don't want to hurt. Ashleigh feels she can't tell you because if it caused her a lot of pain then it would cause you even more pain. She thinks she is helping you by shielding you from the truth.'
'Will you be able to get it out of her?'
'I'm not going to force it out of her. I will build my trust up with her.' Heather replied. Satine led the way back into the hall.
'We were just going to give Skye a bath.' Satine explained, shifting Skye to the other hip. 'Ashleigh, do you want to play with Heather while I do that?' Ashleigh's eyes widened and she shook her head, burying her head in the folds of her mother's dress.
'That's all right. Maybe I could help as well?' She asked, looking at Satine. It was important for Heather to get involved with Ashleigh's activities.
'Of course.' Satine told her. Then she lead the way up the stairs.
***
By the time Christian had come home at 6 o'clock Ashleigh had built up enough trust in Heather to play with her if Satine sat next to her. She wouldn't speak to her but Heather wasn't discouraged. She talked about her family and her interests, giving her yes or no questions. Ashleigh's head must have moved at least a hundred times.
Christian walked down the hall and turned left into the living room. Satine stood up, quickly followed by Ashleigh. Satine gave Christian a loving kiss and Ashleigh wrapped her arms around his legs. He picked her up and swung her around. Heather stood up, brushing her skirt down.
'How was your day, darling?' Christian asked Satine as he set Ashleigh down.
'It was fine. Honey, this is Heather Jones, Ashleigh's...friend.' Satine couldn't think of what else to call her. Christian looked at her strangely and then understood what she meant.
'Oh! Hello, I'm Christian.' He said, shaking her hand. 'Have you two been having fun?' This question was directed at Ashleigh who made no attempt to answer. Christian raised his eyebrows at Heather.
'Yes. Thank you. Also thank you for my room, it's lovely.'
'You're welcome.' Christian smiled pleasantly. Ginnie entered and announced dinner. Christian offered his arm to Satine and they led the way with Ashleigh clinging to his leg and Heather walking behind.
***
After dinner was cleared away they all retired into the living room where Christian and Satine had a little drink. They offered some to Heather who politely declined.
'My mother said no drinking until I was of the appropriate age.' She told them. Ashleigh played quite happily on the floor next to Satine's feet. Heather tried speaking to her again but still she got no answer. She decided not to push it any further. Not tonight. She said a pleasant goodnight to everyone and retired to bed. As she was laying in the dark she knew that she could help Ashleigh. She just needed to know how.