One Last Fight Page 5

The sirens are right outside the door. I have no idea if I’m in the view of the police officers or not. I know Drake would have told them I was in the store with Melissa. They won’t know what’s going on in here.

  “Melissa, give it up. We already have Madison.” I speak calmly with my hands still raised. I hope if the police barge in, they’ll see no one is in immediate danger.

  The wooden steps outside the door creak just before the screen door flies open.

  “Police! Hands up,” someone yells. Melissa quickly reaches into her purse and then I hear shots being fired. I watch as Melissa gets hit in the chest with a bullet. It seems to happen in slow motion. She looks frightened as she falls to the ground. I watch in horror. I want to run to her, but so many people are already surrounding her.

  Someone touches my arm and says, “Come with me, we are taking your daughter to the hospital.”

  Leah

  I watch as Adam and Molly lead Chelsea and Caden out of the command post through the doors leading to the main chapel. This is Robert’s and my church so I know where the doorway leads.

  I text Robert, but I don’t get a reply. The command post is mostly quiet since people left with the search warrant. I look for Bruce, Dad, and Walter, but I don’t see any of them so I pace the room, holding Gracie close. I silently talk to Jamie and pray to God that the police will find Madison and that she will be rescued safely. I try to not let my mind wonder what things Madison endured while she was gone. I try to imagine she was loved and cared for, but I know this isn’t likely. The black cloud of depression hovers, but I try to ignore it. I draw strength from Gracie. She needs me and I need her. She is starting to coo and we make eye contact. Gracie gets the biggest smile on her face. She is beginning to recognize me, and I swear I could melt with the love I have for my daughter.

  “Hey, baby girl. You like Momma?”

  She coos at me and that is her answer. I want to squeeze her tightly, but I squeeze her softly instead.

  “They found her and she’s alive,” someone yells.

  The room erupts with cheers, hugs, happy shouts, and laughter. I cry tears of joy and Gracie coos. Steve leaves the room in the direction of the chapel. Mom and Margie are nearby and hug each other before hugging me. I sit down when my legs feel like they can’t support my weight.

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  A detective comes over and says, “They want the parents to go to the hospital. We have a car that can take you.”

  “The hospital? Is she injured? Is she hurt?” I cry and my lips tremble.

  “Ma’am, I have no idea. These are the only orders that came through to me.”

  “I’ll get Chelsea, Caden, and Steve,” Mom says as she walks towards the chapel.

  “Leah, think about it. I’m sure it’s just protocol. I’m sure they just want to get her checked out,” Margie says and I know she’s right. “There is no way they would just let her return home without getting her health checked first.”

  I wipe away my tears when I see Chelsea entering the room. She runs over to me and we hug. We cry tears of joy and relief, but we still feel fear. They found her, but in what condition is she? I can’t even think about it.

  “Ma’am, the car is ready to take you both to the hospital,” the officer says.

  “I’ll take Caden with me,” Steve says, picking him up and holding him.

  “And we’ll take Gracie with us,” Mom says, taking the baby from my arms.

  I nod because I don’t think I can speak. My stomach turns, and I feel like I could throw up. Chelsea and I hold hands as we walk out of the church/command center. It is clear that we need each other’s strength to get through this.

  “Do you think she’s okay?” Chelsea whispers, and I wonder if she wants me to answer her.

  I don’t know. I hope so. I won’t be able to handle it if she’s not. I can’t say those things, so I don’t say anything. I squeeze her hand instead. I pray for my mind to think of anything else other than what Madison may have endured. I know what some human beings are capable of, and my stomach turns at the thought. I close my eyes and continue to pray.

  We arrive at the emergency room entrance, and Robert, Bruce, Dad, and Walter are waiting outside the double glass doors. Robert opens the car door for me and hugs me as I cry into his shirt. I can’t form the words to speak. I want to know about Madison, but I can’t ask. I’m too frightened to ask what happened to her. I’m not strong enough to handle it. I look and see two ambulances with their emergency flashers on parked at the emergency doors, for emergency vehicles only.

  “Drake is in there with Madison,” I hear Robert say. I know he’s talking to Chelsea. He holds me as he slowly walks us up to the sidewalk out of the road. I hear Gracie squeal and it is a glorious sound. My healthy and happy baby is here. I wipe away my tears and finally get the courage to ask, “How is she?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her. Drake rode with her in the ambulance here.”

  “I need to see her,” Chelsea cries.

  We all follow her inside of the hospital. No one is in the waiting area, but us. The television is on and I hear the phrase “suicide by cop.” I turn my attention to the television and I see recorded footage of the rescue of Madison. The cops and the news crews are still on location. It is showing the coroner’s van outside of the store where Madison’s rescue took place. The headline on the TV reads, “Melissa Simms is Dead: Suicide by Cop. Madison Sinclair found safe.” I watch as the police place a body bag on the gurney and wheel it away.

  “Were you there for this?” I ask Robert.

  “Yes, for some of it. I left shortly after Drake rescued Madison from the car. Drake rode in the ambulance and I followed them with my flashers on. We had a police escort on the way from where Madison was rescued to the hospital.” Robert walks over to the television and shuts it off. “I’ll explain in detail when we get home.”

  “Chelsea Sinclair?” someone yells.

  I watch as Chelsea follows the nurse back to a treatment room. We all take a seat in the waiting area, and I watch as Mom and Margie make a fresh pot of coffee.

  “We may be here awhile,” Robert whispers.

  “We’ll stay as long as it takes,” I confirm. I hear Gracie’s squeal and I look to see where it is coming from. Dad is holding her as Walter talks to her. She smiles at them and I smile at her.

  “Chelsea told me that Madison looked like Gracie at birth,” I tell Robert while never taking my eyes off of Gracie.

  “So, we had two punk rock stars,” he smiles. He is referring to Gracie’s spiked black hair.

  After several hours of waiting, Drake finally comes out of the treatment room. He looks exhausted. He says, “Other than Madison being dehydrated, the doctor didn’t find anything else wrong with her.” You can feel the relief in the room. He tells us they are going to keep Madison overnight for observation.

  “Robert and Leah, do you want to see her?”

  “Yes,” we say in unison. We both stand. Robert holds my hand and we follow Drake back into the treatment room. Chelsea is sitting on the bed, holding Madison’s small hand. She is sound asleep. We slowly walk into the room and Chelsea looks up when she hears us. She is crying. I give her a small smile. Although Robert and I are her parents, I feel like an outsider. I want to run up and kiss and hug Madison, but I don’t. She doesn’t know us. If she woke up and saw us that close to her, I know she would be frightened. Robert also keeps his distance from her, too.

  “How is she?” Robert asks.

  Chelsea stands and says, “She’s good. She’s dehydrated and is refusing to eat, but she’s fine. The I.V.’s will feed her fluids and nutrition until she gets her appetite back. She is exhausted,” she adds.

  “Was she…?” I begin to whisper, but I can’t finish my question. Was she molested? Was she tortured? Was she treated inhumanly? But I can’t say any of those words. I can barely even think about it.

  Chelsea shakes her head, “No, thank God, she wasn’t
. From what I understand, Melissa treated her as if she were her own daughter. Madison isn’t saying much, but there are no signs saying she was treated badly.” I close my eyes and thank God.

  “Melissa did cut her hair. I’m sure it was to disguise her looks,” Drake says with a tic in his jaw.

  Robert and I both look at Madison and her hair is cut similar to mine and to Melissa’s.

  “She’ll be here until morning for observation.”

  “We’ll let her sleep.” Robert and I walk over closer to the bed and I lightly touch her short black hair. It looks like she is sleeping peacefully. I want to kiss her and hold her tightly. I want to tell her how much I love her and that I’ll do everything in my power to protect her, but I don’t. I kiss my fingers and gently touch her hand. I don’t want to scare her by kissing her. I’ll take small steps as long as I need to for her.

  “We’ll be in the waiting area,” I say. “I imagine Steve and Caden want to come in and see her.”

  I don’t take my eyes off of my daughter who is sleeping peacefully in a faded hospital gown. I want her to wake up and smile when she sees me. I want her to be glad that I am here with her. I’m her mother. I’m the one who is supposed to be here with her, but it won’t be me or Robert she wakes up to. Chelsea and Drake will be the ones who will offer her love and comfort. I want to demand that Robert and I be allowed to stay here with her and to help her overcome this traumatic event, but Madison would be the one to suffer from my selfish acts. And it’s because of the love I have for her that I’ll bow out graciously as if I’m nothing to her.

  “We should leave, Robert. She needs her rest.”

  Robert

  Mom and Dad took Gracie home with them, and Leah and I stayed at the hospital. Madison is still our daughter, and if Jamie were in the hospital, we would have stayed with her, even if we waited in the waiting room and she had no idea we were here. Leah rests her head on my chest as she sleeps. Everyone else has gone home for the night. Drake comes out from Madison’s room and sees us in the waiting area on Madison’s floor. “You’re still here? I thought everyone had left,” he whispers as he sits down across from me.

  Leah doesn’t wake. “We didn’t want to leave our daughter in the hospital.”

  “I’m sorry,” Drake says, apologetically. “Why don’t you guys come in and sit with us?”

  “Leah doesn’t want Madison to wake up frightened because strangers are in the room with her.”

  “This is pretty messed up, isn’t it?” Drake asks as he leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees.

  “It is.”

  Leah wakes up and asks, “Is there any news?”

  “Madison is still sleeping. She is at least taking sips of water. So that is an improvement.”

  “That’s good. How’s Chelsea?”

  “Fine; she hasn’t left Madison’s side. I want to thank you for everything you did yesterday for Chelsea, Caden, and for me.”

  “Chelsea helped me just as much as I helped her.”

  “Do you want to come back with me? I need to get a coffee first.”

  “No, we don’t want to frighten Madison. If something changes or happens, you’ll let us know?”

  “I sure will. I’ll let Chelsea know you’re out here.”

  “No, don’t. She’ll feel like she needs to come out here with us. Just have her tend to Madison’s needs — that’s all we want.”

  Drake nods and walks away towards the elevators.

  Later that day we learn that Madison is being released to go home. Leah and I are thrilled. Drake comes out and insists that we go back and see her before she leaves. Leah and I go into the gift shop and buy a few balloons and a stuffed animal for Madison. Of course, we got her a stuffed rabbit that looks like Jamie’s stuffed rabbit, Jack.

  When we go into the hospital room, Madison is sitting up in bed. Drake and Chelsea are sitting beside her. Madison looks thinner than I remember, but she looks good. No cuts, no bruising, no signs of trauma. I breathe a sigh of relief. I try to smile, but I’m not sure I do.

  “Hi,” Leah says softly.

  Madison raises a hand to wave.

  Leah smiles shyly and says, “We hope you’re feeling better. We brought you these. It’s not much; the gift shop didn’t have much to choose from.”

  “Thank you,” Madison whispers. I slowly walk up to her and lay the gifts on the hospital tray that is closest to her bed.

  I watch as she slowly picks up the stuffed animal and tucks it safely beside her.

  “She loves stuffed animals, don’t you, Madison?” Chelsea asks.

  Madison only nods. She looks at the covers on the bed and doesn’t make eye contact with us.

  “We need to go, but we wanted to make sure everything was all right,” Leah reluctantly says.

  “Thank you, we appreciate you both coming to see her.” Chelsea stands up from her chair as does Drake.

  “Call us if you need anything, and Madison, I hope you feel better real soon,” I say.

  “Thank you,” Madison whispers.

  Leah tries to smile and she slowly walks away towards the door. Chelsea walks us to the hallway and Drake sits back down beside Madison. I turn around and Madison is looking at her stuffed animal. Drake is pulling on the strings of the helium-inflated balloons, making them dance.

  “Melissa really did cut her hair?” Leah asks.

  Chelsea nods, “She did. I guess she was trying to disguise Madison’s looks or trying to make Madison look like her, by giving them the same haircut.”

  I say, “It sounds like she was planning on keeping her and raising her.”

  “I believe so. She must have been pretty messed up. Myakka is such a small community. Did she really believe that no one would notice that she now has a six-year-old daughter when she didn’t have a child before?”

  “Not unless she was planning on keeping her hidden,” Leah begins to say. She shudders. “She’s home and she’s safe. That’s all I care about.”

  “Me, too,” Chelsea agrees. “Thank you for staying. We appreciate it.”

  “Did you hear how Melissa got Madison out of the house without her screaming?” I ask.

  “I was afraid she had drugged Madison, but Madison said she held a cloth over her mouth to mute the cries,” Chelsea explains.

  “Please, call us if you need anything,” I stand tall and place my hand on the small of Leah’s back. “If we can help in anyway, please let us know.”

  “We will and thank you both. I think for now we’ll keep her close to home and let time heal her. Hopefully, it won’t take long.”

  When we get home, Leah immediately feeds Gracie. Mom is in the kitchen cooking and Dad is sitting at the bar reading the newspaper. I shower quickly and then tend to Gracie while Leah showers.

  “How is Madison?” Dad asks.

  “She’s well enough to go home. Chelsea said they’ll be keeping her at home while she recuperates.”

  “She’ll need some time to heal,” Mom adds.

  “She will. Nurse Melissa cut Madison’s hair. It almost looks identical to Leah’s.”

  “That’s why I decided to let my hair grow out,” Leah chimes in behind me.

  I turn around and Leah is standing there in a pair of black yoga pants and a hot pink top. “Have I ever seen you with long hair?” I ask. Leah has only had short hair.

  “I don’t think I have ever had long hair,” she says, walking to the refrigerator to get a bottle of water. “I’m afraid that every time Madison sees me, she’ll remember Melissa.”

  “Oh, that poor child,” Mom says, sadly.

  Leah takes a small sip of her water and says, “It’s bad, but it could have been so much worse.”

  “Yes, it could have been,” Dad agrees.

  “Lunch smells wonderful. What is it?” I ask.

  Mom answers, proudly, “Pasta with clam sauce.”

  “My favorite,” I smile.

  “Ace, is that on your diet?” Leah asks.

/>   I turn to look at her. She is petite and toned, looking all badass. I love it when Leah gets all bossy with me. “It is today,” I tease.

  “I’m also making a spinach salad,” Mom adds as she takes the fresh spinach out of the crisper in the refrigerator.

  “Starting today, Ace. No more cheating and you’re starting to work out today, too.”

  “Okay, Sweets.” I know this is Leah’s way of getting us and everything else back to normal.

  Leah and I set the table while Mom and Dad dish out the food into serving dishes. Gracie sleeps. Sue and Tim pull up so we add two more place settings to the table. During our late lunch / early dinner, Leah announces that she is planning on returning to work next week, after the court date. Mom and Sue both excitedly offer to babysit.

  “Is the court date still scheduled for Monday?” Sue asks. “It’s only a few days away.”

  “Bruce hasn’t called to tell us it’s been changed.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if they postpone the custody hearing for a week or two. What Madison has been through…”

  Leah interrupts and says, “She has been through so much already.”

  I say, “If the courts feel a postponement is in the best interest of Madison, then we’ll accept that.”

  “We only want what’s best for Madison,” Leah insists.

  Chelsea Sinclair

  Madison has been home for a week now. The courts postponed the custody date for one month. Madison is making progress slowly, but any progress is better than none. We keep her home and surprisingly Drake has been working from home. He had a high-tech alarm system installed in the house and a security fence installed around the property. He isn’t taking any chances. His dad, Steve, comes by every day and plays with the kids.

  Steve is such an amazing man, and I can never thank him enough for doing everything that he does. I feel like life has cheated him out of so much and it’s not fair. He lost his one true love to bone cancer a few years ago and has spent all of his time being the best grandfather to Madison and to Caden that he can be. I wish he would date or do something for himself, but he refuses. He says that spending time with his grandkids is doing something for himself. There isn’t anyone else he would rather spend time with. He seems happy and content, so maybe he’s doing all right.