A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) (3 page)

An hour later Karla was lying on a bed in a curtained area in the emergency room of one of the largest hospitals she’d ever seen. Mrs. Jones sat in the chair beside Karla’s bed. The doctor hadn’t been in yet, but the nurse had looked her over and ordered x-rays for her ribs.

              “Karla, honey, do ya need something to drink? I can get the nurse to get ya a Coke or some water.”

              “No thank you Mrs. Jones.” Karla said then continued. “Mrs. Jones. I’m scared. I don’t know what’s gonna happen now. What are they gonna do with me? What’s gonna happen?”

              Mrs. Jones, not knowing what to say, grabbed Karla’s hand and gently squeezed it. Just then the doctor walked in. He was a tall man with dark chocolate colored skin, hazel eyes and a shaved head. He looked scary, but he had a kind smile. “Karla, I’m Doctor Peterson. Want to tell me how you got those bruises?”

              “My mom’s boyfriend.”

              After a quick examination Dr. Peterson spoke to Karla. “Okay Karla. I’m going to have Nancy, the nurse who talked to you earlier, take you right down the hall to the x-ray room and get some pictures of those ribs. Are you okay with going with her?”

              “Yes, but I have a question first. Where am I going to go when I leave here?

              “I can’t answer that Karla. That’ll be up to Mr. Jennings and Captain McGraw. I do know that you won’t be going anywhere tonight. We’re going to keep you here and make sure you get something to eat and a safe place to sleep.”

              “But..but..but.. I’ve never stayed in a hospital before. I’ve never even been to the hospital before except when Grams died.”

              As soon as the words left Karla’s mouth Nancy walked in. “We can discuss this more after your x-rays.” Dr. Peterson said before he turned to Nancy. “Nancy, I need x-rays of her ribs and left collar bone. Make sure they get several angles of her ribs. When you get her back here order a private room in the pediatric wing for her. I’m probably going to keep her overnight.”

              “Yes, sir.” Nancy responded to Dr. Peterson then she turned to Karla. “You ready sweetie? We’re just going right down the hall. Wanna follow me?”

              Karla reluctantly let go of Mrs. Jones’ hand and followed Nancy out of the room and down the hall to the x-ray lab.

              After she left Dr. Peterson turned to Mrs. Jones. “How long has that child been with you today?”

              “’Bout two and a half hours. Why?”

              “Has she eaten anything in that time?”

              “Just some milk and cookies.”

              “Thanks Mrs. Jones. I’m going to order her a tray of food. For a fourteen year old she’s excessively underweight. I don’t know what was going on with that mother of hers, but I’m glad she’s away from her now and can get the care she needs.”

              “Dr. Peterson, I think she’s been through Hell, but she’ll never admit it. She’s such a sweet child and her mama treated her, or let her be treated, like a punchin’ bag. That just ain’t right.”

              “I agree. She’s been abused and neglected more than any child should ever be. I just hope Bob can get her into a good home.”

“So do I doctor, so do I.”

              Fifteen minutes later Karla was back in the room and a tray of food was delivered. Karla’s eyes lit up at the amount of food placed in front of her. There was a ham sandwich, potato chips, fresh fruit, a salad and chocolate pudding. There was also chocolate milk, apple juice and sweet tea to drink. She was afraid to eat and afraid not to at the same time. Mrs. Jones was watching her so she slowly lifted half the sandwich to her mouth and took a small bite. Her stomach rumbled loudly as the food hit it and she took another bite.

              “Child, don’t be afraid to eat in front of me. Ain’t nobody gonna take that food from you.”

              Karla nodded and dug into the food vigorously, finishing all of it in a matter of a few minutes. When she was finished she felt full for the first time in a very long time.

              She had just laid back and closed her eyes when there was a soft knock on the door and Dr. Peterson walked in. “Glad to see that you ate Karla. How are you feeling?”

              “I’m feeling some better. Thank you for the food.”

              “All part of the overnight package sweetheart. While you were eating I viewed your x-ray films and you’ll be staying with us for at least tonight, possibly tomorrow night too. You have two cracked ribs on your left side and your left collar bone also has a small crack in it. No complete breaks, which is good, so they should heal quickly and completely.”

Karla smiled softly, laid back in the bed and closed her eyes again. She was asleep instantly.

An hour later Karla was awakened by Mrs. Jones, who had been sitting in the chair beside Karla’s bed watching her sleep. “Karla, honey, they have your room ready. Do ya want to walk or do ya need a wheelchair?”

              “I can walk. Just give me a minute please.” Karla slowly rose up, after being still for so long she was stiff and in a lot of pain. After she was in a sitting position she slid her legs off the bed and stood up slowly. Once she was standing she was okay again. “Okay, I’m ready now. Just hurting a little.”

              “We’ll get you something for the pain once we get you settled.” Nancy said as she walked into the room with a soft smile.

              “No. I don’t want anything. I’ll be okay.”

              “Alright. If you’ll follow me I’ll take you to your room.”

              Karla and Mrs. Jones followed Nancy to the elevator and up to the 16
th
floor. When Karla entered the room she gasped audibly in surprise at how big it was. It was almost as big as the apartment she lived in with her mom and Garrett. Nancy left the room as Karla walked over to the window and stared out at the city.

              “Diane was sixteen when she found out she was pregnant with me. My father was eight years older than her and was in Dallas on a business trip when they met. He’s originally from Puerto Rico and his name is Alexander, that’s all I’ve ever known about him. When I was little I lived with my grandparents while my mom did whatever she wanted to do. When I was six Grams got really sick and had to go into the hospital, she died a few weeks later. Pops tried, he really did, but I was little and he couldn’t do it alone so he got in touch with Diane and she came back. We lived with Pops and everything was still okay. Diane drank, but Pops wouldn’t let her hit me. It all changed when I was eight and Pops died. Diane sold Grams’ and Pops’ house and we took off in their old Ford. She told me how much I was ruining her life and how she wished she’d had an abortion like Grams and Pops said she should. I never believed her when she said that. Grams and Pops are the only two people who have ever loved me.” Karla paused and wiped the tears that were running down her cheeks.

              She took a deep breath and continued. “I don’t know where we stopped, but it was somewhere north because it was cold. Diane enrolled me in school and got a job at a bar, leaving me with a neighbor while she worked. It wasn’t bad at first. Diane would get me ready for school every morning and sleep while I was gone. Then when I’d get home she’d be there and we’d eat dinner together before she dropped me off and went to work. One night, when she picked me up she’d been drinking, she was always mean when she was drunk. When we got to our apartment she slapped me across the face and told me I’d messed up her life. She continued hitting me as she told me that I was the worst child ever and she wished I was dead. By the time she passed out I had bruises on my arms, legs and face.”

Now that the words were coming out she couldn’t stop them. “I didn’t go to school the next day. That night she stayed home from work, packed us up and we left. She’d lost her job so we had to leave. What I didn’t know at the time was she’d been stealing alcohol from the bar and had gotten fired. For the next two years it was more of the same. We’d live somewhere for a few months while she worked at a bar or a club or, one time, a casino until she lost her job for drinking or stealing. Then we’d take off again, usually skipping out on rent. One night when she came home she had a man with her. I was still awake when they came in. She saw me sitting in the corner of the room, on my blanket, on the floor, smiled at me and then started taking his clothes off. I buried my face in my knees, but I could still hear everything they did. That was the first time I ran away.”

“I was picked up the next day for stealing a pack of peanut butter and crackers from gas station. They took me back to her and she beat me so bad I couldn’t walk for two days. It was three years before I ran away again.” She stopped talking and just stared out the window for a few minutes before she started again. “For the next few years we moved from place to place, following whatever guy Diane was chasing at that time. Every time Diane and whoever she was with split up, I’d be punished. Somehow it was always my fault. She was mean when she was sober, but she was evil when she was drunk. She was drunk a lot. About four months ago she met Tony.” She stopped and shook from head to toe for a minute as fear and disgust consumed her.

After taking several deep breaths to calm herself she proceeded with her story. “Tony was the worst. He would watch me when I showered or changed clothes. When he would hit me he’d say things to me. Dirty things. One night, about two weeks before we left Daytona, Diane was working and Tony was off. He’d been drinking the cheap whiskey he’d stolen from the bar. I was laying in my bed when he came into my room. He told me he was finally going to have what I’d been offering and no one was going to stop him. He hurt me worse than I’d ever been hurt before. I can still smell his breath, feel his hands. When it was over I threw up in the trash can beside my bed, curled up and laid there until the sun came up, too afraid to sleep.”

When Karla stopped again Mrs. Jones got up, walked over to her and wrapped her arms around her, holding her tight as they cried together. After crying until she didn’t think she could cry anymore Karla started talking again. “I told Diane, but she didn’t believe me. Tony had already told her that I came on to him, that I wanted it, and Diane believed him. Two weeks later Tony took off with someone else and we headed to Tennessee. On the way here Diane picked up Garrett at a rest area and it was more of the same. Until today, when they never came back.”

When she was finished talking Karla released Mrs. Jones, walked into the bathroom, washed her face and laid down on the bed. She immediately fell into a restless sleep. Mrs. Jones sat in the chair by the window and watched Karla sleep until the sun started rising over the buildings behind her. 

When Karla awoke the next morning she saw Mrs. Jones asleep in the chair by the window. She slowly got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. Once she finished relieving herself she washed her face and looked in the mirror. She studied her reflection; taking in her long, raven colored hair, sharp green eyes, soft, mocha colored skin, small, slightly pointed nose and full lips, and wondered what was going to happen now. She had no family, nowhere to go.

              When she walked out of the bathroom Dr. Peterson, Mrs. Jones and Mr. Jennings were all standing around a tray of food that had been delivered while she was in there. “Good morning. Can someone please tell me what’s going to happen now?”

              Mr. Jennings looked at her and nodded his head. “That’s what I’m here to discuss with you. We need to talk about a few things before any decisions can be made.”

              “Okay. I’m ready when you are.”

              “Why don’t you eat your breakfast while I tell you what options we have? Will that work?” Karla nodded and Bob continued. “First, we could put you in a group home and look for your biological father. If we’re able to find him we can see if he wants to take responsibility for your care until you’re eighteen. Second, we could put you into a foster home until we can find him. Third, we could put you into a group home or foster care until you’re eighteen. I’m going to talk to your mama in about an hour and see what information she can give me on your father. Hopefully she’ll be able to help.”

              Karla burst out laughing at that last statement. When she got her laughter under control she looked at Bob and shook her head. “Diane never cared what happened to me when I was her responsibility so I doubt she’ll care now that I’m not.”

              “Before any decisions are made we have to talk to her though. As your legal guardian she has to be informed in every decision made.”

“Bob, Karla needs medical care for at least the next twenty-four hours so you’ll have time to make whatever arrangements you need to make.” Dr. Peterson interrupted Mr. Jennings before he could continue.

              “Alright. I guess I’d better get to the jail to meet with Diane. I’ll be back to chat with you more later Karla.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Jennings. I’ll be here.” Karla mumbled around a strawberry she’d just put in her mouth.

              An hour later Bob Jennings was seated across a small conference room table from Diane Hall. “Good morning Ms. Hall. I’m here to discuss your daughter, Karla, with you.”

              “What about her? She ain’t my responsibility anymore.”

              “Ma’am, legally she is still your responsibility. Just because you’re in jail doesn’t negate your responsibility for your child.”

              “I never wanted the brat anyway. Y’all can have her. Even after I’m out I don’t want her anymore. She just cramped my style and spread lies anyway. Stupid brat.”

              “Ma’am, I’m here to ask you about her father. What can you tell me about him?”

              “What’s he gotta do with this? He didn’t want her when she was a baby, why’d he want her now?”

              “We have to try and contact him, give him the opportunity to take responsibility for her care.”

              “His name is Alexander Figueroa. He lives in San Juan Puerto Rico and is 39 years old. Anything else?”

              “No ma’am. That’s all I need from you about him. I do have a few other questions for you though. First, has Captain McGraw came to see you?”

              “Oh yeah. He’s been here.” Diane answered with a sneer. “Tryin’ to charge me with stupid shit that brat’s lied about. I can’t believe that ungrateful little witch went to the police after everything I’ve done for her.”

              “Ma’am, Karla is in the hospital at the moment with two cracked ribs and a cracked collar bone. The charges against you will stand.”

              With a huff and a sneer Diane rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. “Stupid brat deserved whatever she got. Lyin’ about Garrett being with another woman while I was at work. I smacked her around a little before I left for work, but I didn’t hit her ribs; I smacked her face and busted her ass for lying.”

              “So Garrett is the one that cracked her ribs and her collar bone then. Got it. Can you tell me Garrett’s last name?”

              “Now wait a minute. I ain’t saying’ Garrett did anything. I’m just saying I didn’t. I’ll tell you his last name though. Just ‘cause I’m done with him anyway. His name is Garrett Kent and he’s 36 years old. Anything else or can I go back to my cell? It’s almost lunch time and I’m hungry.”

“I’m done with you for now. I’ll be back though. Enjoy your lunch.” Bob watched as Diane was led from the room. When she was gone and the door was shut behind her he pulled out his cell phone and called John.