Chapter 3:
The road to recovery
After spending four long months in the hospital Katie was ready to go home, if she could, and if she had a home to go to. Katrina had only one family member in England; her mother's sister Margaret Carnegie. Unfortunately, Katie's aunt seemed to despised her niece. It wasn't that Margaret hated her niece. She hated Katie's father and his relatives. She had always seen the Sloans as a stuck up family who always wanted to be better than everyone else. This was not true, but Margaret believed it, and that was all she needed to convince herself that it was true. Because Katie had the last name of Sloan instead of Carnegie, Katie's Aunt Meg had grown to despise her niece. Now it seemed that Katie was doomed to live under her aunt's roof. "At least I'll be able to finish high school here in England," Katie thought.
Finally, after six painful months of healing, Katie was released from the hospital, and moved into her Aunt Meg's home in Bristol. Thankfully, it was close to the high school that Katie was attending, and Meg Carnegie was more than willing to send her niece away to school every day.
The next year of high school was miserable for Katrina. Not only was she struggling to keep her grades up, but her aunt was making life miserable. She never told Katie that she loved her, and frequently called her niece a worthless, good-for-nothing child. Meg never beat her niece, at least not literally, but she never passed up an opportunity to give the girl a good tongue lashing. Katie struggled through her life in her aunt's home day by day. The only thing that allowed her to not become completely overwhelmed, was her faith and daily dependence on God.
Finally, just as Katrina thought it couldn't get any worse, Margaret gave her niece a tongue lashing that would scar the girl for life. Katie was studying for an up-coming senior final, when she heard her aunt call, "Katrina, please come in here."
Katrina obeyed instantly out of fear. She hurried into the library where her aunt sat with an older gentleman dressed in a black suit. The man had a black leather briefcase at his feet and had papers strewn all over the coffee table. He looked to Katrina like some sort of social worker.
Katie stood quietly as her aunt introduced her visitor. "Katrina, this is Mr. Johnston. He's the social worker in charge of the girls' home in London."
Katie's eyes flashed with anger as she realized what her aunt was telling her. She was being sent to an orphanage! Katrina's thoughts began to come so quickly, that they hardly made sense. "Where am I to be sent? What is going to happen? Aunt Meg can't do this to me!"
Katie didn't remember much about the visit with the social worker except for the seemingly endless questions that he asked, and the various comments that were made about her. "She's a bit old to be living here," "Scrawny isn't she?" "Don't know that she is adoptable material," and worst of all, "These orphans are worthless, especially this one. The only home that will take her is in America. They'll take any trash I throw at them."
As the social worker said these things, Meg watched with a cruel satisfaction as she noticed the hot tears flowing down Katrina's cheeks. "I can get rid of this girl," she thought, "and I can even ship her out of the country and never have to worry about the little scum again."
Finally, Katie couldn't stand it anymore. She rushed out of the room, fearing that if she remained in the room another moment her red-headed temper would get the better of her. She didn't care if her aunt scolded her for leaving. Katie just wanted to run. She wanted to be anywhere but in the house now. Katie knew she wasn't allowed to leave, and as much as she wanted to disobey her aunt, she couldn't break a household rule. Katie ran upstairs to her room, slammed the door, threw herself on the bed and began to sob.
Had she realized what her aunt was doing downstairs, Katrina would have been horrified, and surely lost her temper. Meg Carnegie was treating Katrina as if she was her prized possession, and that it was so painful to send "her" baby away. She acted as though she loved Katie with all her heart and the social worker fell for the lie hook, line, and sinker. He promised Margaret that Katie would be taken care of, and he gave her the choice of where Katie would be sent in America. The social worker said that there was no room to board Katie in London, but at her Aunt's request, she was to be sent to Los Angeles, California. Meg seemed to be devastated that she had to send the girl so far away, but gave her consent. In all actuality, Meg was overjoyed. Little did she know, God had big plans for Katrina in LA, and Margaret was only helping those plans along.
Meg acted as though she loved Katie, but when the social worker left, Meg's attitude toward her niece changed drastically. As she climbed the stairwell to tell Katie where she was to be sent, Meg congratulated herself for the perfect plan that she had come up with. When she reached the door to Katrina's room, she opened it and coldly said, "Well, don't just lie there sobbing like a ninny. Go back to your studying. It's not like I'm shipping you out tonight or anything. You won't be leaving for America until you have finished this last year of high school."
Katrina lifted a tear-streaked face and her eyes flashed with anger as she spoke. "Do you mean to tell me that you are going to ship me off to America like an unwanted package? Is this your way of taking care of your family?"
"You ungrateful wretch! If it wasn't for me, you would have had no home to live in these last three years. You would have dropped out of school and become a street urchin. No one wants you, Katrina, so you had best get that thought into your head now. You heard the social worker. All you orphans are unwanted trash. Especially you." Meg paused for a moment, and smiled with satisfaction as she watched her niece's face pale. "That's right, Katrina," she continued, "You are nothing but unwanted trash. Not even your own uncle in America will want you. That's why he hasn't contacted you. Although it's just as well that he hasn't."
"How can you say that?" Katie challenged defiantly.
"Because your father and his family were, and still are, a bunch of stuck-up snobs who think that they're so much better then us Carnegies because they're so wealthy. They're a group of good-for-nothing people," Meg paused a moment before continuing to make sure that Katrina was getting everything that she was telling her.
"The only reason I took you in was because I'm your aunt. Now that was a mistake from the beginning! You have less Carnegie and more Sloan in you than I have ever seen in any one person. I don't want anything to do with those stuck-up Sloans or you for that matter," her aunt said coldly.
"How dare you talk about my family that way!" Katrina snapped.
"Katrina! If you don't learn to control that temper that matches your red hair, you'll never get anywhere in life," Aunt Meg said, "Now go finish your studying. You have a big test tomorrow."
Katrina shot a cold stare at her aunt and replied coolly, "I'll finish my work once you have left my room. And as for who's stuck-up, and cold-hearted, the Carnegies have no one who could possibly top them. I don't know why you hate me, Aunt Meg, but I'll have you know that even though you are doing a wicked thing to me, I will never hate you. I am grateful for what you have done for me, but I think that I will move over to my old house until I leave for America. You shouldn't mind because you don't care for me anyway."
"That's fine with me. I say good riddance to you. It's you house anyway, and the sooner I get rid of you, the better. You can move all of your things tomorrow. Goodnight, Katrina," Meg replied coldly.
After Meg closed the door behind her, Katie threw herself onto the bed and began to cry.
The next day at school, Katie relayed what had happened the night before to her closest friend, Mary. "Katie, that's awful! When do you have to go?"
"Well, I'm moving back to my own home tonight, and I leave for America the week after graduation."
"What will I do without you? We've grown up together, and I don't think that I can bear college without you, Katrina!"
"Mary, you'll be fine. I'm going to write to you at least twice a week, and I can always e-mail you."
"Do you think someone will adopt you?"
"I'm hoping to get in contact with my Uncle Mark, and his son, Steve, once I reach LA. I don't know if they'll take me, but it's worth a try."
"I'll pray for you every time I think of you, Katie."
"I appreciate it, Mary. Now come on. We're going to be late for classes."
By the end of the day, everyone seemed to know that Katie was leaving. Katie was bombarded with questions, which she calmly answered. She talked to her friends about the situation and explained all of the details that she could.
All things considered, Katie's day really wasn't bad. She didn't cry the entire day, until her best friend, and high school sweetheart, Peter Barry, walked her home. He helped her move all of her belongings into her home, and comforted her on the way. The two friends took the long way to Katrina's home, so that they could spend as much time as they could together.
Peter and Katrina talked about all that had happened since they were children: the meeting in the sandbox, playing together in Sunday school, the time between the fourth and sixth grades when they thought that girls and boys liking each other was gross, and finally noticing each other again in ninth grade. Then there were the picnics on the hills behind the Sloan's home, the "unofficial dates", and moonlight rides.
They laughed and cried about all of the memories they had together, and finally, Peter dropped Katie off at her home, and said goodbye. Although she would not be leaving for two weeks, Katie had a hard time saying goodbye to her best friend.
Katie continued to work hard on her school work, so she could finish at the top of her classes. As finals ended and report cards were passed out, Katie saw that she had tied with someone else in her class for valedictorian. At first Katie was disappointed at the fact that she hadn't done well enough. As she glanced at her report card lost in thought, Katie felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up to see Peter smiling down at her. "Could we be any closer to Anne of Green Gables, Carrots? We tied just like Anne and Gilbert."
Katie smiled. "Well, "Gill", I don't think we could, but couldn't you let your Carrots beat you on just one test?"
"I like you a lot, Katie, but not that much. I think you should have sacrificed a test question for me," Peter teased, "You want to go to lunch with me after school? It's half day, you know."
"I'd love to, Peter. I'll meet you out at the front gate after school."
"See you later."
Katie smiled. Tying with Peter wasn't too bad. They had both worked hard for that grade. Katie glanced at her watch. It was eleven o'clock, and she didn't have any more classes to go to. "I think I'll go see Mrs. Stevens. I have to say goodbye to her," Katie said to herself.
Katrina smiled as she thought of her favorite teacher. Mrs. Stevens had taught Katie in elementary, and in high school, but Katie had known her since second grade. Mrs. Stevens was not only a wonderful teacher, but one of Katie's most trusted mentors, and closest friends.
When she reached Mrs. Stevens' room, Katrina peaked in and saw that her friend was not teaching a class, so she softly knocked on the door. Emily Stevens looked up from her desk and motioned for Katie to enter.
"Good afternoon, Katie!" Mrs. Stevens greeted her young friend warmly.
"Good afternoon. I had to talk to you before I left this school for the last time," Katie said with a sad smile.
"Of course, Love. I always have time to talk to you. What's on your mind?"
Katrina smiled and began to talk to Mrs. Stevens about everything that she was thinking about. She asked questions about what to expect in America, and how to handle her situation. Mrs. Stevens provided the answers and counsel she could.
What Katie liked the most about Mrs. Stevens' counsel, was that it wasn't only hers. Emily Stevens often directed her students to God's Word for counsel and guidance. Emily never wanted her students to take her word above God's.
After an hour of talking, laughing, and crying together, the two friends finally said goodbye. Katie left Mrs. Stevens' office promising to write every week. As Katie walked down the hall with all of her belongings, she vigorously wiped the tears from her cheeks. She wanted to remember everything about the school that she had attended since kindergarten; the big heavy oak doors, the dark gray metal lockers, the chipped, yet always clean, tile floors.
Katrina stopped in front of the principal's office and smiled. She had many memories of that office, and actually, they weren't bad. Katie had often gone to the principal's office just to say hello to him, and give him a smile to brighten his day.
Katrina finally reached the front door, and turned around for one final look at her school. Katie tried to act as though everything was as it usually was, but in the back of her mind was a nagging thought; "You are unwanted trash, and you're being sent away in two weeks."
As tears began to flow down her cheeks again, Katie hurried out the door, and ran to the front gate to meet Peter. She smiled as he beeped the horn of his fancy American convertible and pulled up to the curb. He got out of the car and walked around to open the door for Katie. After she got in, he walked back around to the other side of the car, and got into the driver's seat.
"Peter, where are we going?" Katie questioned.
"You'll see."
"Oh, come on. Please tell me."
"No, you just have to wait and see."
After a few minutes, Peter pulled up to Katie's home, and parked. "We're going to have a picnic like old times, m'lady," Peter said.
"Oh, Peter, you're so sweet."
The two friends spent several hours on the hills behind Katrina's home. They first planned a party that Katie was going to hold for her friends the next week, then they just enjoyed each other's company. As it began to get dark, Peter walked Katrina to the house, and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"I'll see you soon," he said.
Katie, began to cry again, and could only nod in response.
The night of the party was the hardest for Katie, because she knew that she had to say goodbye to all of her friends. Around eleven o'clock that night, after all the guests had left, Katie walked up to her room and began to pray.
"Lord, thank you for loving me no mater what. Please, keep me safe tomorrow as I leave for America. I don't want to go, Lord Jesus, but I know that you must have a plan in all of this. Please help me to understand that. Help me to sleep well tonight, and give me a peace about this situation, in Jesus' name, amen."
The next morning, Katrina finished her final packing, and waited for the taxi to pick her up to take her to the airport. As she waited, she pulled out her diary and began to write.
Dear Diary,
Today is the last day that I will ever see my beloved England again. I will be sent to an orphanage as soon as I reach America. I don't know anyone there, except my Uncle Mark and cousin, Steve. I hope to contact them when I reach LA. For now, all I can do is pray and trust God for the strength I need. The taxi has just pulled up to the curb so I will close for now. I 'm sure that I will have more to say once I am on the plane. Well, here we go.
Yours Truly,
Katrina Evangeline Sloan
Katie's eyes filled with tears as the taxi driver helped her to load her things into the trunk of the car, and drove her away from her beloved childhood home. She didn't want to leave England. This was all that she knew! She knew no one would want her in America.
The only chance that she had of staying out of an orphan's home was to reach her Uncle James at Community General Hospital where he worked. Perhaps he would take her in. Maybe Aunt Meg was wrong, and someone really did love her. He had always promised to make her a doctor there someday. Maybe now was the time. She could work at the hospital, and live with her uncle and cousin "I hope I can reach them," Katie thought.
When Katie reached the airport, she was pleasantly surprised to see Peter there. He had wanted to surprise her by seeing her off.He helped her check in her bags, and walked her to the gate.
"So when does your plane leave?" Peter asked for the seventh time that morning.
"At ten o'clock. I still have three hours. You aren't worried about me are you?" Katie asked with a smile.
"Oh, no!" Peter replied sarcastically.
"I'll be fine, Peter. I'm just sorry that you can't come with me."
"I'll keep in touch. I hope to get into medical school soon, but I don't think that I'll come to America to study with you even though I would love to. I've been offered a job here as an intern at the London Hope Hospital. Some day, I'll be a doctor by your side."
"Really? You want to work with me even though we've been rivals all through school?"
"Where ever you are is where I want to be, Trina."
"Peter, you know I hate that nickname," Katrina scolded.
"Which is why I love using it," Peter teased.
Katrina and Peter talked until it was time for Katie's plane to leave. The two friends cried as they had to say their final good-byes, and Katie almost didn't get onto the plane. She finally boarded, however, and was on her way to her new life in America.
Katie slept for a few hours of the flight, but most of the way, she made conversation with a lady who sat to her left. Katie found out that the older lady was a grandmother of five. She had been visiting them in England, and was headed home. When Katrina asked where her home was, the lady told her it was on the beach near LA.
"Really?" Katie asked, "That's where I'm headed."
"Do you have family there?"
"Yes. I'm hoping to live with my uncle and cousin."
"So are your parents already there?"
Katie smiled sadly at the lady. "No, my parents and my sister died in a fire four years ago. My uncle is the only family that I have left, and I haven't been able to get in contact with him. He doesn't even know that I'm coming. I'm actually going to a girls' home."
"Oh, I am sorry."
"Oh, it's all right," Katie stopped and thought for a minute. "This could lead to an opportunity to witness to this lady," she thought. "My family is in a better place now."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, my parents knew that when they died, they would go to heaven. When they were both little children, they accepted Jesus Christ as their savior."
"Can you explain that?"
"Yes, Ma'am, I can."
Katie pulled out her Bible and began to show her seat mate how she could become a Christian. The lady had many questions, and Katie was glad that the flight was long so she could take the time to fully answer each one. Katrina talked with her new acquaintance for almost three hours, and after that time, Katie had the privilege to lead her to Christ. After the lady looked up from praying, she smiled.
"I have never felt so peaceful before. Thank you."
"Don't thank me," Katie smiled, "Thank Jesus."
"You know, I never got your name. I'm Mrs. Sarah Madison."
"I'm Katrina Sloan."
Mrs. Madison stared at Katie. "What did you say your last name was?"
"Sloan."
"Katrina, you're going to think this is crazy, but I am the care taker at the Stonewall Girls' Home where you are being sent."
Katie only smiled. Only God could have planned something so wonderful. The rest of the trip was so enjoyable. Katie had a new Christian friend, and she knew that God was going to take care of her.
Mrs. Madison took Katie to the orphanage, and helped her carry all of her things into the building. She gave Katie a room right next to her own, and introduced her to the other girls, who immediately took a liking to Katie. Mrs. Madison promised Katie that she would do everything that she could to make the home feel like a home instead of an orphanage.
Over the next few months, Mrs. Madison did everything she could to help heal the damage that had been done in Katie's life. One day, however, she saw that something was still bothering her beloved Katrina.
"Katie, something's troubling you. What is it?"
"Mrs. Madison, you have been so wonderful to me, but I wish that I could be with my Uncle Mark. I know he would truly love me, and take me in, but I have no way of
contacting him."
"Where does he live, my dear? I will do everything I can to get you two together again."
"I'm not exactly sure where he lives, but I do know that he works at Community General Hospital."
"Katrina, you are in luck. That hospital is not far from here, and I am going there today for some tests. You are welcome to accompany me if you would like."
"That would be wonderful!" Katie said.
"Good. I will call there now, and let them know that you are coming with me," Mrs. Madison said as she briskly walked out of the room to make her phone calls. Katie hurried into the next room to tell her friends that she may be going to see her uncle that afternoon.
"Katie, I'm so happy for you!" one girl said.
Another piped up, "I'll miss you, Katie, but I hope you get adopted."
Later that day, Katie was standing in front of her uncle's office. His secretary, Delores let her in. Katie stood staring at all of the books he had in his library. As she looked around, her eyes fell on a picture of her parents and herself.
"That was a long time ago," Katie said to herself, "I was only five in this picture!"
"And look at my precious angel now. Isn't she beautiful!" said a voice from behind her. Katrina whirled around to see her Uncle standing in the doorway, while Mrs. Madison stood behind him smiling. Katie ran to her uncle and started to cry. He held her in his arms and said, "Its okay, baby. You're safe now."
Katrina began to explain to her uncle, everything that had happened to her during the last three years. As she talked, she shared her fears, thoughts, hopes and dreams with him. This was the first time that she had felt comfortable sharing so much with someone since her parents were killed. Katie didn't realize it at first, but she was beginning to feel at home here.
Mark walked over to the window seat with Katie as the young girl continued talking. As Mark sat quietly listening, he began to see what damage had been done in his sweet little niece's life, and began to think of how he could help her. He listened patiently to all that she said, and when she had finished, he said, "Well, Katrina, no matter what you have been told in the past, I love you, and I always will. You will always have a home with me."
"Thank you, Uncle Mark." Katie moved closer to her uncle and leaned up against him. After a moment of silence, she sighed.
"What is it Kate?"
"Uncle Mark, is it true that orphans are worthless trash?" Katie asked after a long pause.
"No! Where in the world would you get that idea?"
"Aunt Meg told me that."
"No, Katie. You are not unwanted trash by any means!"
"Good," Katie said with a smile. She was soon talking about all sorts of different topics with her uncle. They talked about school, and what Katrina wanted to do for college; what their favorite games and pastimes were; their favorite foods, pets, books, and every other possible favorite thing; and anything else that they had to catch up on since they had last seen each other. After a few hours had passed, Katie was disappointed when she learned that she would have to go back to the orphanage that night. Mark assured her that he would file for her adoption as soon as he could.
Katie went back to Stonewall Girls' Home that night, happier than she had been in years. She now knew that she was loved, and that she would soon have a home to go to. Katie prayed and thanked her heavenly Father that night for taking care of her so well. She felt so peaceful as she laid down that night, that sleep came easily.
Katrina stayed at the girls' home for three more weeks until the paper work could be signed for her adoption. Waiting was the hardest thing the she faced at that time. She prayed constantly for patience to wait for God's timing.
Katrina was glad that during her wait, she was able to help Mrs. Madison grow in her Christian walk. Katie taught her friend how to do her devotions daily, and learn more about her Savior. Katie was thrilled to see Mrs. Madison begin to love her relationship with God even more than she had when she was first saved.
During her last three weeks at the home, Katrina also built friendships with the other girls. She soon found that the waiting was easier when she had friends with whom she could spend her time.
Finally the day came when Katie was able to go home. She was so excited to see what God had in store for her, and she didn't want to wait any longer to find out.