Free Until Today by Pam Fluttert Page B

hospital and walk up to the pediatric ward.
    â€œKat, you’re here! Thanks for coming in.” Aunt Sheila grabs my arm and directs me to an empty room.“I need to talk to you.”
    She closes the door behind us. This is serious if she needs privacy to talk to me about my duties for a shift. I sit on the edge of the hospital bed, running my hand over the white sheet. Aunt Sheila paces in front of me.
    â€œThere are some terrible people in this world, Kat. As a doctor, I’ve seen some dreadful things done to children, but sometimes it’s too close to home.”
    Sheila looks away, staring out the window. What could have happened? I’ve never seen her so agitated. Her gaze swings back to me.
    â€œWhy do you kids think we can’t see what’s happening in front of our noses? I spoke with your mom, Kat. I know what’s going on, and I can’t be wrong.”
    I freeze. How could she know? How could she possibly know what Greg has done to me? I feel faint, thinking about Sheila speaking to my mother about Greg. Why wouldn’t Mom stay to talk to me this morning? Why didn’t she hug me and tell me that it’s okay because she still loves me? Why didn’t she promise she would side with me over him any day?
    An image of Greg’s hands touching me last night flashes through my head. I worked so hard this morning to block that out and not think about it. The embarrassment of Amy finding Greg with his hands on my skin makes me feel like I’m going to throw up. Anybody seeing that would have a hard time believing that I didn’t want him touching me. Nobody would take my side. Would they?
    â€œSheila, I need to explain—”
    â€œShe’s here,” Sheila interrupts me. I’m confused about who Sheila is talking about.
    I sit straight on the bed again and look at Sheila. “Amy’s here?” Amy is the only person I can think about who would confront me with what happened.
    Aunt Sheila looks at me. “Amy? Why would Amy be here? Does she know Taylor?”
    â€œTaylor? She’s back?” My heart pounds, as I wait for her answer.
    Sheila nods and starts pacing again. “She looks awful. He really did a number on her this time, and they can’t explain this one with a fall.”
    Relief floods through me. She didn’t speak to my mom about Greg. She doesn’t know what’s happening.
    Sheila stops pacing again. “I had to talk to your mom, Kat. Of course, I can’t tell her what has happened, but I had to find out what she thinks of the man. Am I way off base this time? I figured that people would have to see what he’s really like. Your mom works with him every day. She sees him interact with kids at the school, yet she didn’t have one bad thing to say about him. Worst of all, she says the kids love him and he loves them. How could such a brute put on a front like that?”
    You have no idea, Aunt Sheila, how big a front some people can put on. I remain silent, stunned at the anger my usually laid-back Aunt is displaying. I’m shocked that Mom could be so blind. She would never believe me if I told her about Greg.
    â€œWe need to get Taylor to talk, Kat. It’s the only way we can help her. I’ve had the family investigated once, but Taylor wouldn’t talk and her injuries seemed to match their story. I’ll do it again because I’m sure I’m right about this one. I don’t think anything will happen unless she talks.”
    â€œHow bad is she?”
    â€œShe’s pretty black and blue. She has a concussion and two broken ribs. No child is klutzy enough to fall down the steps twice in such a short period of time. Her arm isn’t even healed yet, for Pete’s sake.”
    Aunt Sheila continues, “Nobody deserves that. Every child is beautiful and special and deserves love and protection. It disgusts me that people can get away with something so