Part Twelve: Magistrates, money and the prosthesis

'Charlotte!' Natalie bounded through the door and threw herself at me. I grunted as she landed pretty much on top of me, but really I didn't mind. It was nice to have something happy in this sorry excuse for a room.

'My gosh Charlie, how are you feeling?' Her big blue eyes were wide. I smiled. Natalie always came across so much younger than she was. I felt as if she were my age.

'Not too bad.' I said, groaning as I used the pulley to hoist myself up. I looked at my stump of a leg. 'Been better, I suppose.'

Natalie nodded. 'Yeah. So, fill me in. What's the latest?'

'Well, I have to wait until it's fully healed up before they can think about putting some sort of false leg on. That could take a while, they said. But then after that, I don't know. A prosthesis leg would be best, but it would be really expensive.' I sighed. Mum and Alex were doing everything they could, but with the large hospital bills and the time they'd had to take off work, our financial situation wasn't looking good.

I felt so guilty, putting them through this. Since I'd been here, I hadn't once seen them smile at each other, or even speak properly. I know Mum blamed herself and Alex for my accident, and it was obviously driving them apart.

'Charlotte.' Peter gave a soft knock at the door. 'How are you, sweetie?'

'I'm okay.' I flashed him a grin. Peter had come to visit often, almost as much as Mum. I guessed it was easier, seeing he lived around the corner.

'Don't worry, I'm doing everything I can to get you out of here.' He promised.

'Sorry?' I was confused. I wasn't going to be able to leave the hospital for a while yet.

'The magistrate. I'm getting him to review the custody case, so you can come home.'

'What?!' Now I was downright shocked.

'Between you and me, it shouldn't take long. The magistrate never really liked your mother, but under the circumstances there wasn't much he could do. This time will be different.'

'Peter…' I started, wanting to set him straight.

'What's wrong, Charlotte?' Natalie said. 'Don't you want to come home?' She looked a little hurt.

'It's not that, I love visiting you guys. But I don't know if I want to-'

'And I've had a talk to your doctor, Charlie.' Peter continued, interrupting me. 'He says in a few days we can start physiotherapy and later think about putting a prosthesis leg on. Then your physio will start teaching you to walk again.'

'It sounds pretty expensive.' I bit my lip, thinking of Mum.

'Rubbish, you can't put a price on freedom. I'll take care of it.' Peter nodded.

Gee wiz, now I had a dilemma on my hands. It was one thing to pay half the hospital bills and let me visit on weekends, but it was another thing entirely to buy me a new leg and force me out of home. Obviously I was going to have to handle this very carefully.

'It's very kind of you, Peter. But I don't think I can accept it.' I said, feeling brave. I wasn't really sure what to say.

'You're too much like that mother of yours. Neither of you can take a helping hand. Would you honestly rather be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life? Please, Charlotte, be reasonable. It could change your life entirely. Without it I can't see you running around Drover's or taking care of that horse of yours.'

Blackmail. It was emotional blackmail, I was sure of it. When he put it that way, I could see the sense in it.

'And it would be easier on you living closer to everything, in the suburbs.' He said gently. 'You'd be within reach of school and the doctors, and our house is much more appropriately structured for you than Drover's Run is. Think about it.'

With a sinking feeling I realised the magistrate would see it that way as well. I was going to have to work really, really hard if I wanted to stay at Drover's, I was sure of that.

Peter left me to think and went to get a sandwich from the shop across the road. While he was gone, Mum came in with Alex.

'Hello sweetheart. Hi, Natalie.' Mum gave my sister a smile. Alex tipped his hat in greeting, and rested awkwardly on the doorframe. Natalie said hello, and excused herself.

'Mum.' I blurted out, not really knowing where to start. Instead I pulled her down to me, wrapping my arms around her and giving her the biggest hug. She looked a little surprised but of course she hugged me back, giving me a tight squeeze. Tears filled my eyes.

'What's gotten you this worked up?' She said softly, wiping my eyes with her thumb. 'Come on now, tell me.'

'It's just…' I looked out the window, seeing Natalie and Peter crossing the street. 'It's my dad.'

Alex jerked in the doorway; it was the first time he'd made any movement at all. 'What did he do?' He demanded. 'Charlotte, did he hurt you?'

I blinked. 'No. No, Alex, what are you talking about? Peter's never done anything to hurt me.' Not yet anyway, I thought.

'Then what?' Mum asked, her eyes questioning.

'He wants me to live with him. He's going to the magistrate tomorrow.'