took a major step. You trusted, you put your feelings first rather than your fear. That’s healthy.” Dr. Gibbons handed her a mirror. “Look at you. What do you see?”
“I see healing. I see happiness.” She put the mirror in her lap.
“That’s not what I saw when we first met.”
“What did you see?” Maggie asked, regretting it the minute it came out.
“I saw a woman who, without telling her story displayed self-doubt, some serious mind control, and intimidation. But look at you now. There has been progress in every area.”
“But what about Jack getting out of prison.”
The doc adjusted her seat. “There is nothing you can do about that. You have taken all the precautionary measures. All you can do now is move on with your life. Tomorrow is promised to no one.”
That night, after Eli was in bed, Maggie pulled down the cord to the attic where she stored their decorations. The sound of the springs brought back a memory. She eased her way up to the opening, every step an inch closer to her fear. When the police photographed the attic she passed out. She recalled the weapons and how it showed evidence of Jack’s neurosis. But the judge didn’t take that into account when he sentenced him. He was evaluated in therapy and given a light sentence.
Maggie took a deep breath and reminded herself that she was in a safe place now. There was no evidence that jack had found her, in fact the odds of that happening were less than 15 percent.
She dragged down a few boxes, careful to hide the wrapping paper so Eli wouldn’t see it.
How she managed to protect the child from the madness she had no idea. It was like trusting a ghost. She followed the advice of the professionals and she kept her composure as much as possible. But the composure had a dark side. She was able to hold a poker face with Jack. It became second nature. She could wield his moods with her body and her words, all the while being terrified.
She repeated her safe sentence. “I am safe now, we are away now. God is here. I am okay.”
She lined up the bins and boxes along the wall in the dining area, it was still empty. Why did she need it anyway, it was just her and Eli. They didn’t have many guests other than Claire, and now Ben.
Speaking of Claire, she needed to call her. She left a voicemail and hoped her friend called back. It had been three days since everything went down. Claire would know what to do— if she could just get a hold of her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Vala slept outside the door. Maggie’s dreams were restless. She turned here and there, hoping to get comfortable. She reached over to feel for Eli multiple times. Each time she felt his soft curls, her mind eased back to sleep. She could hear his soft breathing as she nestled into the pillow and dozed off.
Like most women, her mind kept wandering. It was three weeks before Christmas and she still had no official plans. Her shopping was restricted to online and who knew how many packages had showed up at the post office. She needed to check. How many more holidays would she stay away from home? Celebrating with just the two of them was boring. Last year, Clarie had made it to Maggie’s for dinner, but that was after her girls left to see their dad. Eli had no one to play with.
She hadn’t asked but maybe Ben’s aunt would invite them over; Eli would love that. Or maybe a flight home would be the best way to put this behind her? She let the ideas resonate and left the warmth of her bed for a cup of tea.
A quick glance out the window had already showed the remnants of a late night snowfall, maybe 4-5 inches.
Maggie pulled out her journal and sat at the table with some tea. Vala was snuggled up by the fire. For the first time since the bird incident, she felt at ease.
Her pen eased its way across the page as a new poem flittered off her fingers.
The darkness stepped back,
when the light in my heart began to spread.
And
“I see healing. I see happiness.” She put the mirror in her lap.
“That’s not what I saw when we first met.”
“What did you see?” Maggie asked, regretting it the minute it came out.
“I saw a woman who, without telling her story displayed self-doubt, some serious mind control, and intimidation. But look at you now. There has been progress in every area.”
“But what about Jack getting out of prison.”
The doc adjusted her seat. “There is nothing you can do about that. You have taken all the precautionary measures. All you can do now is move on with your life. Tomorrow is promised to no one.”
That night, after Eli was in bed, Maggie pulled down the cord to the attic where she stored their decorations. The sound of the springs brought back a memory. She eased her way up to the opening, every step an inch closer to her fear. When the police photographed the attic she passed out. She recalled the weapons and how it showed evidence of Jack’s neurosis. But the judge didn’t take that into account when he sentenced him. He was evaluated in therapy and given a light sentence.
Maggie took a deep breath and reminded herself that she was in a safe place now. There was no evidence that jack had found her, in fact the odds of that happening were less than 15 percent.
She dragged down a few boxes, careful to hide the wrapping paper so Eli wouldn’t see it.
How she managed to protect the child from the madness she had no idea. It was like trusting a ghost. She followed the advice of the professionals and she kept her composure as much as possible. But the composure had a dark side. She was able to hold a poker face with Jack. It became second nature. She could wield his moods with her body and her words, all the while being terrified.
She repeated her safe sentence. “I am safe now, we are away now. God is here. I am okay.”
She lined up the bins and boxes along the wall in the dining area, it was still empty. Why did she need it anyway, it was just her and Eli. They didn’t have many guests other than Claire, and now Ben.
Speaking of Claire, she needed to call her. She left a voicemail and hoped her friend called back. It had been three days since everything went down. Claire would know what to do— if she could just get a hold of her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Vala slept outside the door. Maggie’s dreams were restless. She turned here and there, hoping to get comfortable. She reached over to feel for Eli multiple times. Each time she felt his soft curls, her mind eased back to sleep. She could hear his soft breathing as she nestled into the pillow and dozed off.
Like most women, her mind kept wandering. It was three weeks before Christmas and she still had no official plans. Her shopping was restricted to online and who knew how many packages had showed up at the post office. She needed to check. How many more holidays would she stay away from home? Celebrating with just the two of them was boring. Last year, Clarie had made it to Maggie’s for dinner, but that was after her girls left to see their dad. Eli had no one to play with.
She hadn’t asked but maybe Ben’s aunt would invite them over; Eli would love that. Or maybe a flight home would be the best way to put this behind her? She let the ideas resonate and left the warmth of her bed for a cup of tea.
A quick glance out the window had already showed the remnants of a late night snowfall, maybe 4-5 inches.
Maggie pulled out her journal and sat at the table with some tea. Vala was snuggled up by the fire. For the first time since the bird incident, she felt at ease.
Her pen eased its way across the page as a new poem flittered off her fingers.
The darkness stepped back,
when the light in my heart began to spread.
And
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