“You were sexually abused as a child?” Eveline asks, although her tone is more a statement than a question.
“What? No, why would you say that?” I fling defensively at her.
“Molly,” Dad says as gives me a small pleading look.
She nods her head, and interlocks her hands. “You were sexually abused as a child. Who by?”
I struggle to hold in my tears. I look up, trying to contain them. Tell her.
“Do you know how hard this is?” I say as I finally meet her hardened eyes. “Talking about this isn’t something I was prepared to do today. I thought we were here for Tina.”
“We are here for Tina. But now, we’re here for you too. Tell me who it was. Have they been arrested? When did this happen?” The barrage of questions is overwhelming. I can hear Kate, AJ, and Neve all coming closer to the surface. Soon, they’ll want to talk to Eveline, and I have to take control if I want them to step back.
“It happened when I was in my foster home. He was a foster kid too. Neve dealt with him the most.”
“Neve is who?” She starts typing on the computer, not looking at me but listening.
“Neve is one of my alters. She’s young, and the one who took the abuse.”
Eveline nods her head. “Who else is there?”
“AJ, and Kate. Kate’s always been pretty quiet, but she’s quite vocal today.”
“And AJ?”
Let me tell her. AJ whispers.
“No, I’ll tell her.” I look back to Eveline who’s watching me closely. “AJ is my protector. He’d go to Neve when it was time.”
“And the foster kid, what happened to him?”
I shrug. “He aged out and left. But I want to find him.”
“Right.” She sits back again, staring at me. “Recently there was a case in Australia where the female had been horribly sexually abused for many years by her father. She developed over two thousand personalities because of the magnitude of the trauma. She tried to get help for many years, and she couldn’t. Until, she met a police officer who not only believed her, but started the proceedings to have her father arrested.”
“Why are you telling us this?” Mom asks slowly.
I’m not sure where Eveline is going either.
“Are you seeking any professional help?”
I nod. “I’m seeing a psychotherapist. I’m learning a lot about them, and about me.” I shrug. “I buried them, for many years. They all came to the surface the night the police came to our house and told us what happened to Tina.” The last of the sentence is barely whispered.
“If it’s okay with all of you, I want to speak with the therapist. I mean, all of you.” She pointedly looks to me.
Maybe she can help us. Neve says.
AJ replies, I like her. She’s tough and doesn’t bullshit around.
My answer is yes. Let her talk to Amelia.
“It’s not your decision, it’s mine,” I snap at Neve, AJ, and Kate.
“What’s happening?” Eveline asks.
“They want you to talk to Amelia. But it’s my decision, not theirs.”
“Look,” Eveline starts. “I want to talk to Amelia, who I assume is your therapist, is that right?” I nod. “Let me talk to her. If nothing further happens, then that’s where we’ll leave it.”
I shrug. “What’s the purpose of all this though? What difference will it make?”
“The difference is, I want to get some background on you, Kate, Neve and AJ. And I think, we can make sure this guy, if he’s still alive, is brought to justice.”
I furrow my brows. “You believe me?”
“I just sat here and watched you have a conversation with people we can’t see or hear.” She points to herself, then Mom and Dad. “Do I believe you? There’s no question about it.”
“Sweetheart, let her help,” Dad urges me.
“If you’re okay with Eveline talking to Amelia, then your father and I are okay with it.” Mom grasps my hand, and squeezes.
The door opens, and I turn to see Dylan walking in. He quickly looks around the room, and protectively comes to sit beside me. “What happened?” he asks.
“Eveline knows.” I tap my head. Dylan gives me a small nod of acknowledgment. “She wants to talk to Amelia.”
“Why?” Dylan questions.
“Because I’m the best district attorney in this state. And I want to make sure that both Preston and the foster brother are dealt with.”
Dylan’s lip slightly twitches. “My cousin will do whatever’s necessary to find him.”
Eveline smirks. “Good.” Something seems to have happened. There’s a shift in the room. “Now back to Preston and the preliminary hearing. It’s like a mini-trial, I’ll admit evidence, and call witnesses. If the judge concludes there’s probable cause, then we’ll go to trial, where there’ll be a jury. His mother will try to say he was insane. It’s my job to prove he knew right from wrong, knew what he was doing was wrong, and I have enough evidence to prove it.”
“What happens if the judge thinks he’s innocent?” Dad asks.
“The judge can dismiss the charges.”
“What?” I scream. “He can be let off? He killed my sister. Wrapped his hands around her neck and strangled her. He killed my fucking sister!” I yell louder. Slamming my hands on the table, I stand and begin to pace.
Kate’s in my head. She quickly talking, but I’m pushing her out. Calm down, M.
“Shut up, Kate. Just shut up!”
M, you need to calm down. I’ll send Kate in to give you a chance to settle down. AJ says.
“Don’t you dare tell me what you’re going to do. You have no right. He killed my sister. And he might get away with it.” I hit the side of my head.
Kate, go in.
On my way.
“No!”
I feel weak in the legs, and sit. Everything becomes foggy and clouded. I’m tired, so damn tired.
Opening my eyes, I look around the room. Yawning, I stretch my arms. A huge smile tugs at my lips.
“Hi!” I say as I look around at everyone. I feel tired, but I should be okay in a moment or two. “Oh yeah, you’re pretty cute,” I say to M’s boyfriend.
“Are you Kate?” he asks.
I hold my hand out so he can kiss the top of it. “I sure am, cutie. I like you.” I wink at him. He takes my hand and slowly brings it to his lips. “Oh, soft lips. I like that.”
“Kate, is it?”
I drag my eyes away from Mr. Eye Candy for a moment. “Oh, you’re that lawyer we’re all arguing over. Hell yeah, you can talk to Amelia. She’s totes cool. I like her. You’re a hard-ass, right? You’re not going to let that Preston guy get away with killing M’s sister, are you?”
“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure he sees the inside of a prison cell for a long time. What can you tell me about this foster brother of Molly’s?”
“Neve’s the one to talk to about him. Mind you, we all know what he used to do to her. Neve had it the worst though. She had to be ready for whenever he played the song.” I feel my happiness quickly dwindling. I hate talking about him. I’m the happy one, God damn it. I don’t like being sad.