Surprises

Chapter 23

"Katie; he knows something is wrong. He just doesn't know what. I've told him you miss your mom but he isn't buying it. He was convinced that you hate him." Maddie said as she talked to Katie. Katie was just looking out her bedroom window.

"No, I don't hate him." Katie said.

"Katie…I know you don't know me that well but you have to talk to someone. If not your dad, then talk to me. I think it would be easier to talk to your dad but he has to know what is going on. We don't want to involve Hannah." Maddie answered. She noticed how Katie flinched at that remark and knew she had hit on something.

"No, don't talk to Hannah!" Katie said.

"That was abrupt." Maddie remarked. Katie sat down on her bed and stared at her hands. "Katie, whatever secret; it might feel better if you just talk about it." Maddie told her as she sat down next to her.

"He'll hate me." Katie answered.

"Your dad? He is worried sick about you. He loves you, no matter what. You don't have that to worry about." Maddie assured her.

"Mom…died not long after Lucas died. We just kind of wondered around. I read that Dad was still on the James and found a Naval recruitment center. Suddenly, these guys in suits showed up and told Hannah and I they would keep us safe until Dad got back. We met this lady…Allison Shaw." Katie explained before pausing.

"She was a lunatic." Maddie encouraged.

"At first she seemed nice enough. Made sure Hannah and I had plenty to eat. Safe place to sleep. Then something changed. One of the guys 'protecting' us mentioned that I had nice breasts. Course he said it different. She…let him…you know?" Katie asked. Maddie could tell that she was embarrassed.

"Honey, it will help to verbalize it." Maddie said gently.

"He…raped me. I didn't understand but one of the girls that helped us once we lived on the street…when I explained it to her, called it that. Once he was done, Allison Shaw said that if I wanted to blame anyone, to blame Dad." Katie said.

"Do you?" Maddie asked. She could have pushed for further details, but that was best done by a counselor.

"I…don't. He's just big and strong. I've hugged him a few times but I don't like it. I still don't understand what rape is." Katie said.

"Did…your mom explain how a woman gets pregnant?" Maddie asked.

"She explained that when I started having periods." Katie said.

"Okay. So…rape is when a man forces a woman to have sex without her wanting to. It can be a bit more detailed then that…but its really making a woman do sexual things they don't want to…or a young girl, in your case." Maddie answered.

"I didn't want to." Katie admitted.

"What he did to you and what Allison Shaw allowed was wrong, but it was not your fault, or your dad's." Maddie said.

"What happened to her?" Katie asked.

"Do you remember Tom Chandler? She had his father murdered and kidnapped his two kids. Tom killed her and got the kids back." Maddie explained.

"Is it wrong of me that I'm glad?" Katie asked.

"No. Normally, it is not right to wish ill of someone who did you wrong, but in this case, I think you are justified." Maddie said.

"It hurt. So bad. But Hannah never knew. She knows something happened to me but I'm not sure she would know how to explain it." Katie said.

"And she wasn't hurt?" Maddie asked, knowing Mike would want to know.

"No." Katie answered.

"Do you feel better now?" Maddie asked.

"A little. I didn't think I wanted anyone to know but it feels better." Katie said.

"Good. Now, I am going to tell your dad. I can't and I won't keep this a secret." Maddie warned.

"He'll be mad at me." Katie insisted.

"Why do you think that?" Maddie asked.

"I didn't fight back. I was just so scared they would hurt Hannah. She was always Dad's favorite. He barely put up with me but if Hannah had been hurt…" Katie explained.

"I don't know what went on before but I've seen how your dad is around you now. He adores you. He wouldn't have been so worried if he didn't. Now; just relax. He might ask you some more questions and I am going to look for a female counselor. I also will get you into an OB-GYN to have some tests done. Some of it will be uncomfortable but it is a need." Maddie said as she stood up.

"OB-GYN?" Katie asked. Maddie nodded, remembering how naïve Katie was.

"An OB-GYN is a doctor that delivers babies but also checks women to make sure that their female organs are alright." Maddie said.

"I didn't have a baby." Katie said.

"We just have to make sure you are okay." Maddie assured her.

"Can…that doctor be a woman too? And can you go with me?" Katie asked.

"Of course." Maddie answered. She patted her cheek before leaving the room. Now, the hard part was going to be telling Mike. He was going to be a wreck.