“Yes, Donna.” He placed a pen in his pocket and leaned against the counter.
“Can you call your brother for me? Brooke here, needs to talk to him.” She began moving as he nodded and we rounded the corner.
“Who’s his brother? A doctor for the baby?” I scrunched my brow and it caused my head to throb.
“His younger brother is a cop. He can get the paperwork started to get you away from your husband.” She said it so matter of factly as we entered a room with gowns stacked by the door. “I’m gonna drape this over you. It’s to keep everything sanitized in the NICU.”
She wheeled me through the next set of doors, and I was faced with rows of incubators. There were beeps of all different speeds; some bassinets had signs, some didn’t. Three nurses moved around with precision, checking each baby, and making notes. A young woman sat in a rocking chair in the corner, cuddling a baby to her chest. She was humming quietly as a man stood behind her. He looked so scared, but you could tell he was trying to hide it.
“Morning, Maggie.” Donna waved. “We’re here to see baby Ellis.”
“She’s right over here.” She led the way to an incubator in the far corner. “She’s been doing well so far, no apnea.”
I stared at my daughter through the glass. She was covered in tubes and wires. She was so tiny, barely two pounds. Her little arms twitched every few seconds like she was searching for something. The cap on her head barely fit. There were these little fabric sunglasses covering her eyes, and the diaper was as big as she was.
“It looks worse than it is at the moment. She’s a fighter.” Maggie smiled softly as she opened one of the little portals. “Would you like to touch her?”
I needed this. I wanted to hold her, but we weren’t there yet. I slowly lifted my arm. It felt like a lead weight was holding it down as I stretched it out and reached inside. I carefully touched her arm. She flinched, but then settled as I started talking to her.
“She knows your voice,” Maggie encouraged.
My daughter settled as I told her I loved her, and then she wrapped her tiny fingers around mine. “She’s holding on.” I started to cry.
“She’s your purpose,” Donna whispered from behind me. It was like déjà vu. My world paused before starting to spin once again. I’d heard this before, but it wasn’t here.
“You told me that the last time.” I glanced at Donna. “That she was my purpose.”
“She is,” Donna reaffirmed. She didn’t tell me I was wrong or question what I was talking about. She let me be right in this moment. “What’s her name?”
“Ava,” I whispered back. I let my thumb slide lightly over Ava’s hand. “I love you.” I sniffed as I leaned impossibly closer. “I’m gonna protect you, and you’re going to have a great life.” Her fingers twitched again, and I knew she understood me.
It was that moment that changed it all. I wasn’t going to live in fear ever again. I was going to flourish on my own. I had a purpose, a reason to leave, and that purpose was her. I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I will. Today was the beginning, the beginning of a new life, a life away from pain and fear.
Chapter 6
Brooke
My days have been spent going from my room to the NICU. I spend as much time as I can with Ava, but I’m still healing myself. It’s been three days since I arrived at the emergency room. Dr. Douglas, or Dr. Blake as the nurses call him, has been by every day to check my head. I’ve had several scans, and he says I’m healing well. I can’t help but feel attached. He looks just like Officer Blake, but he doesn’t act like him.
I’ve been able to sort more out in my head and determine what was real, and what wasn’t. I still can’t remember how I ended up in the hospital the first time, but Dr. Blake says it takes time to remember sometimes. Warren’s been by once, but security stopped him. I decided to press charges, so a police officer is supposed to be coming by later to take my statement. Donna says it’s a long process, but she’ll stay with me as long as I want.
“Mrs. Ellis?” I looked up to see a man in a suit knocking on the doorway to my room. “I’m Detective Douglas. I’m here to take your statement.” He smiled softly and I could see the family resemblance.
“You’re Dr. Blake’s brother.” I smiled back. It was the first time I’d smiled in a long time.
“Yes.” He chuckled. “I hope he hasn’t been talking about me too much. Mind if I come in?”
“Sure.” I pushed a few buttons to make the bed sit up a little straighter. I was still pretty sore, but I’d been getting up and walking since last night.
“You can call me Cal.” He held out his hand for me to shake.
“Ok, Cal.” I nodded as I shifted on the bed. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do. “What’s next?”
“Well, the first thing we’re going to do is press charges for battery. We can’t really prove that he was trying to kill you, but he was trying to hurt you. The most important thing that you need to remember is, we’re on your side. He may try to intimidate you once we move forward, but you need to stay your ground. We’re going to use this as evidence when we file the order of protection. The fact that this fall caused you to have to deliver early, and the baby was premature is going to work in our favor. I’ve got reports from your doctor, the emergency room staff, and the nurses in the NICU. I have a good feeling that you’ll be granted the order.”
“How am I going to keep him away?” I twisted the sheets in my hand.
“Once the order is granted, he’ll be served. If he doesn’t comply, he can be arrested. If he breaks the order, you call the police.” Cal jotted a few things down on a piece of paper before looking back over at me. “Do you have a place to go when you’re discharged? A family member or friend’s house?”
“No. Warren made sure I didn’t have any friends, and my parents died years ago. I’m an only child.” I shook my head as I looked away. “He picked me because of that, didn’t he? I’m weak,” I growled.
“You’re not weak. He is.” Cal’s eyes were sad as he watched me. “Men like him are the weak ones, that’s why they beat women. It makes them feel powerful.”
“I should have left a long time ago.” I punched the mattress beside me.
“You’re leaving now. That’s what matters. Here,” he handed me a card, “this is the number for a local women’s shelter. They take women and children. They’ll help you get back on your feet until you find a place to live on your own.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.” I took the paper and squeezed it in my hand.
“Survive. That’s thanks enough.” He smiled. “I’m going to get a few more things from your doctors and then I’m going to head over to drop it all off with the DA. You should have that protection order by tomorrow night.”
“Thanks, Cal.” I waved as he left. It was the first time I ever felt like someone was really on my side. He believed me, and offered me support. I hadn’t had that in a man since I was little and my dad helped me.