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All our heads snap up to the sound of Jasmines door opening. The three of us sitting on the floor jump to our feet as the doctor walks out and closes the door behind him.
“How is she?” Christian asks standing in front of the doctor.
“Physically, she has a possible bruised rib, broken nose, and bruising and rope burns on her ankles, wrists, face and neck. She also has a nasty bump on the back of her head as well as being dehydrated and in need of a few good meals. She is sleep deprived and he caused some minor damage below, she says she wasn’t raped and that he used his hand and I believe her. I reset her nose.
She is coping with the physical pain better than the emotional. She went through a lot and her mother didn’t help. She’s struggling to get her head around everything and is rightfully a little emotional. I’ve left some pain relief as well as sedatives if she needs them.”
“Thanks, Colin. I appreciate it,” Christian says holding his hand out. The doctor shakes it before taking mine.
“If you need anything else, please shout. She’s a sweetheart and so strong and brave, she’s been through a lot. I hope she can rest now knowing she is safe,” he says before turning to the twins and shaking their hands.
“Thank you,” I add as he turns and sees himself out.
I look at Christian to find him staring at the bedroom door. He still blames himself and I know there is part of him that wants to let her go, but he won’t be the one to walk away. Because, like the rest of us, we don’t want to lose her.
The bedroom door opens again, and Mrs Brown walks out. We all look at her and can see her eyes are bloodshot from crying.
“She’s okay,” she reassures us holding her hands up before any of us can ask. “She’s had a bath, and the painkillers the doctor gave her have helped her to calm down enough to start working through a few things. She’s ready to see you all, but take it slow. She has been through hell and I’m glad that mother of hers is dead because otherwise, I would kill her myself.”
I never thought I would hear Mrs Brown mutter a bad word about anyone other than our father. Whatever Jasmine has told her about Carol must be bad. It’s a subject we are going to have to approach carefully for the time being, if at all.
She walks up to Christian and cups his cheek, “I know you want to go barrelling in there demanding answers and to know what happened and she’s ready to tell you. But let her do it in her own time. She needs her loving daddy right now not the one that disciplines her.” Mrs Brown looks at the rest of us with one arched brow. “That goes for all of you. Be gentle, let her deal with this in her own time, give her time to adjust and if she swears let it go,” she shoots Christian another look and we all nod.
“Yes, ma’am,” the four of us reply together. Mrs Brown is like a mother to us, and we have so much respect for her and love how much she cares for Jasmine.
Mrs Brown gives us all a soft smile and walks away, no doubt heading back down to the kitchen to make Jasmine her favourite food. I look at my brothers and we all have the same look on our faces. We are all terrified of what we are going to find behind that door. We have been the ones in control for so long that to have no control of a situation has been a tough lesson. We want to do the best for Jasmine and that means being here for her and whatever she needs.
Christian lets out a deep sigh and heads to the door. He places his hand on the door handle and stops with his head bowed.
“No matter what she says, we need to control our anger. If you feel like you are losing it, walk out and come back once you are calmer,” he says quietly.
“And if she wants us to let her go?” Sean asks quietly, voicing our greatest fear.
“We do as she asks,” Christian replies before opening the door.
Christian
I can’t handle this. I don’t know if I can be the strong daddy she needs. I’m dying inside and I’m terrified. I swallow deeply trying to clear the lump that’s formed in my throat before opening the door and walking into Jasmines room.
I look up and find her sitting on her bay windowsill looking out over the garden. She has a cushion on her lap which she is fiddling with and looks lost and broken and I hate it.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I say softly as I walk into the room and head towards her, too scared to get close in case I upset her further. She turns to look at us and gives us a soft smile, that doesn’t reach her red, swollen eyes. I hadn’t noticed how bruised her face was before, I was just so glad to see her breathing. But now I look at her face I can see the bruising and swelling around her broken nose, eyes and neck. I’m about to turn and walk out, unsure if I can control my temper yet. I want to find every single person who has ever caused her harm and kill them over and over again. I want to beat them until there is nothing left. As I decide to leave, I hear her soft broken voice.
“Hey, Daddy.”
Those two words are a reminder of the promise I made to look after her. She needs me to live up to that today more than ever. It doesn’t matter how I feel right now, it’s about her. It has been since the day she walked into our lives, it will remain that way until I take my last breath.
“Do you need anything, Jazzy?” Jason asks next to me. Jasmine shakes her head and turns back to the window.
“No, thank you.” Her reply is so quiet that we only just hear it. For a moment we all just stand looking at her not knowing what to do or say. I don’t like this, I don’t like seeing her looking so small and lost. It’s Sean who steps up and sits down next to her taking her hand. She looks down at their hands entwined before looking up at him.
“Do you need more time, princess? You tell us what you need, and we will give it to you, no questions asked. But for us to help you need to talk to us.”
Jasmine nods and looks at us all. “I don’t want to be alone, but I don’t know where to start, there’s so much to say.” I see a small tear slip out of her eye and slide down her cheek. Jason sits in the chair next to the window and takes her other hand between his.
“How about we all sit in here and you tell us in your own time? If you need a break we can stop,” he suggests and she nods. I walk over to the bed and move an old shoe box out of the way so I can sit down. I catch Jasmine looking at it before letting go of the guys hands and holding the cushion to her chest.
“Are the girls all, okay? I heard gunshots,” she whispers. I nod offering her a small smile.
