Here is the next chapter. Enjoy, R&R and make me happy :D
"Abby, I'm so sorry for dumping them on you."
"Seriously, it's not a problem. We'll have fun, won't we guys?"
"Yeah!" Max and Freya grin up at her, and Meri claps her hands. I kiss each one of them on the head and wave goodbye to Abby as we drive off. Alex is listening to music on his CD player so I turn the radio and hum along to some of the songs.
I decided to fly out there instead of driving the whole way-for some reason I get the feeling time is of the essence. It's a relatively small plane and luckily it's full of business men and not screaming kids. Alex falls asleep half way through the flight and I drift in and out of sleep until the pilot announces we're landing. Once we have all wheels on the ground, we get out quickly and grab our bags then make our way to the taxi rank. I'm planning on renting a car for the few days we're out here but it's 11.30pm and Alex is nearly falling over with tiredness.
The driver takes us to a little B&B and we traipse in. The owner is waiting for us, the last ones in, and she chats to us as she shows us to our room, a twin room with springy beds and a kettle. Alex would probably have sneered if he had enough energy but as it is, he collapses half dressed and I leave him to sleep.
Steve scowls and stumbles off. I clutch the side of my face and roll my jaw to check it's not broken. It's tender and bruising already, I wince as my fingers probe the area. This is the second time this week he's hit me for no reason, and it's getting scary.
The smell of whiskey hangs above me and I retch. Indy reaches out to me from her crib but doesn't cry. She knows he's still in the house, my baby has already learnt her crying gets me hurt. I swore I'd leave him if he touched India, I'd find a way to get out. But I never said anything about him touching me, and he knows it.
I hear his footsteps come up the stairs and I stand up, pretending to be doing something with Indy so he doesn't see the tears in my eyes.
"I'm going out." I nod but don't turn round. "Aren't you going to give me a kiss goodbye?" His hand encloses my upper arm and he yanks me towards him. "Bye sweetheart."
"Bye." He kisses me, squashing his lips to mine. A hand caresses my cheek and I have to stop myself from flinching as it presses against the already purple bruise on my jaw. Then he's gone and I can let the tears flow. I know he won't be able to climb the stairs when he gets back so Indy shares my bed. We cuddle up to each other in this old draughty house, with half the windows gone and no central heating. This isn't the way I wanted my beautiful baby girl to grow up, but I can't risk my life to get out: I know what would happen to Indy, and it's my duty to protect her from him.
My therapist says Indy should have started talking by now. I asked why she hasn't but I wasn't ready for the response.
"She's traumatized. She's learnt, through watching Steve beat you up, that her crying or talking increases the violence. You need to remove her from that situation. Sam, you need to get her, and yourself, out of there."
"Excuse me sir, does a Samantha Taggart work here?"
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"Excuse me, do you know Samantha Taggart?"
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"Excuse me, who can I speak to about getting records?"
I drop into a seat and sigh. I've been around every hospital in Rochester, and it's getting beyond a joke. I don't know how to find her, let alone where. Saunders directed me to the police department here and apparently someone will ring me if they find anything.
"Dr Kovac-were you looking for Samantha Taggart?" I look up and nod. The girl speaking has dark straight hair and the bluest eyes. She smiles at me and I smile back, hopeful she has a lead. "Are you a family member?" I bite my lip.
"Well, I'm her fiancé." The girl's smile fades.
"Oh, erm…I'm sure I would have remembered you. If you're her fiancé how come you don't know where she is?" I roll my eyes and look back at her.
"She left 2 years ago…but I know she wants to see me again."
"I'm sorry, but surely if she wanted to see you she would have sent you her address." The girl looks disbelieving, unsure of what to do.
"Look…"
"Vanya."
"Look Vanya, I don't care about myself, I think she has a right to see her kids." I hold out the pictures of the twins and Meredith. "She's in danger, that's why she can't contact me." Vanya looks at the pictures and smiles then suddenly her head springs up.
"I remember her."
"You do?" Vanya nods, something clouds her face.
"Do have ID? I believe you are her fiancé-these kids look like her and you seem truthful. You're a doctor right?" I nod. Vanya looks round. "I can get you her files if you can say she's a patient or something." I grin and whip out my ID card, plainly saying I'm an employee at County General Hospital, Chicago. "Follow me."
"Steve, I'm just taking Indy to the park."
"Alright."
I unfold the rickety old buggy and attempt to squash her into it.
"No Mama!" Indy shrieks, screwing her face up and howling.
"Sam! Shut the baby up, I'm watching the game." Steve yells from the living room.
"India shut up. India! India Taggart, be quiet!" It slips out of my mouth before I can stop it, and I hear Steve walk up behind me.
"I thought I told you, It's India Curtis." He grabs my wrist and I swing round. His hand moves faster than I can and it falls on my cheek, an angry red mark appearing. Indy looks up with those mystical eyes and shuts her mouth, tears welling up and streaking her cheeks. Without a second word Steve spins and re enters the living room. I take Indy out and lay her on the stairs, where she watches me in silence as I fold the buggy back up and put it in the broom closet.
"Come on Indy bug, wanna wear your reins and we can walk to the park." I pull on her hat and clip on the blue harness that insures she doesn't run off. I splash my face with water and the mark fades slightly. I wish the scars on Indy's mind would fade that easily.
I shiver as we step out the door, my coat being too thin for the freezing wind that whips my hair around. I attempt to pull it round me but nothing helps. Indy toddles along slowly for a while, then gets bored so I carry her the rest of the way, thankful for the warmth she gives me.
"You wanna go on the swings?" She nods but I want her to speak. "Indy, can you say swing?" She watches me thoughtfully and then when she's sure Steve isn't around, she smiles.
"Swing."
We spend the next hour playing on the park. Once, when Indy is on the slide, I think I see Alex but I tell myself to stop being stupid. Why would he be here?
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