Saved by Silence

Chapter 5

                                                                                             Kaley

    Pulling into my parents driveway, it’s around seven at night. I had driven, about an hour out of town, to go to my favorite hiking spot around a reservoir. The place is always quiet and gives me a piece of mind. As I got out of my car, I noticed another car parked in front of the house. I just wanted to get Everly and go home. I walked up the porch and knocked on the door before going to enter. What’s weird is the door is locked. My parents never lock the door, especially if they are expecting me. I pull out my keychain and use the key for my parents house. Entering I give a shout “Why was the door locked?”. 

    I head towards the kitchen and see my dad and Mrs. Zaines, the social worker from earlier standing by the counter. My dad walks toward me and gives me a kiss on the forehead, “Hey baby girl, there is some stuff we need to talk to you about.” He sounds exhausted and almost defeated.

    “Okay, but where is Everly and Mom?”, I ask while taking a seat at the counter.

    “Well right now your mom is in the living room, with Arabella. Everly is upstairs in her playroom watching a movie” he says while watching for my reaction. 

    “Okkaaayyy? What is going on Dad?” I am starting to get really confused. Especially as to why Arabella and her social worker are here.

    “I need you to just listen and ask questions after, okay?” he starts and I nod motioning for him to continue. “So I can’t tell you much since it is an ongoing investigation and yes this investigation involves Arabella’s mother” he tells me when I give him a puzzled look. “Given Arabella’s current mental state and what we learned today, Social Services and I have decided the safest environment for Arabella is here.”  The shock on my face is clearly visible as my dad rushes on, “You know your mom and I are certified to foster children, so it made the process that much easier. With your mother's background in child psychology it seemed like the only option.”

    Wow, I was stunned and trying to take it all in. On one hand I am happy Arabella will be in a loving and nurturing environment. I also am very concerned as to why her safety is in question. “Okay, so I know better than to ask in depth questions. I do have one simple one though”, my dad nodded and I continued “why is Everly upstairs and not down here with mom and Arabella?”

    “Ahh, that would be, because we don’t want to overwhelm Arabella. Your mom thought it would be best if we limit contact for right now, especially after the day she has had. Plus your mom is trying to work her magic with Arabella and see if she can learn anything to help her” my dad finished off with. 

    That explained a lot and my mother did have a way with helping kids in need. It is what made her so great with all the foster kids that came through here when I was growing up. “Okay, well I am going to grab Everly and get her home for the night. Please call me if you need anything. I want to help Arabella as much as I can” and with that I nod say my goodbyes to Mrs. Zaines and my dad and go grab my daughter.

                                                                                             Stella

    When my husband called me on his way home, over an hour ago, and told me to get Everly’s room here ready for a guest, I was shocked. This was out of nowhere and Michael and I had agreed we didn’t want to foster again for a while. I didn’t question him, but grabbed Everly and told her that Mema and Papi were going to be having a guest and we needed to get her room ready. 

    Everly being the loving and helpful kid she is, had no problem with this. She also has her own play room here with a pull out bed so she wasn’t giving up much. When Everly was first born, we decided to turn one of the rooms we used for foster children into a bedroom for her. It has a bunch of clothes and anything a child her age could need. When Kaley first found out she was pregnant, it was not the news any of us wanted to hear. However, we all rallied together and for the first 4 years of Everly’s life they lived with us. It was the best way we knew how to support Kaley through such a difficult time. My amazing daughter took it all in stride and loves Everly with everything she has. 

    Grabbing clean sheets from the closet, I walk to Everly’s room and see her picking up the books and toys she had out earlier. “Thanks, Ev’s. I know this is gonna be new for you, but I am incredibly proud of you for letting someone use your room”.

    With a shrug she looks at me, “Mema,. Mamma told me about all the kids you and Papi used to help. She always tells me we need to help people who need it. I just want to help like you and Papi”.

    Out of the mouth of my beautiful eight year old granddaughter. Walking to her I grab her up in a hug, “you are the best granddaughter and we are so blessed to have you in our lives”, I place her down with a kiss on the cheek. 

                                                                                         ……………………….

    Everly had eaten, finished her homework, and was now up in her playroom watching a movie, when Michael came home. Before I could get a word out, he walked to me, pulling me to him for a hug. “Rough day honey?”.

    “You have no idea” and he let go to grab a glass of water. “So, the social worker will be here any minute with Arabella, is Everly still here?”

    “Yeah, she is watching a movie in the playroom”, I explain as I go to grab the spaghetti that Everly insisted we make for dinner. I place it in the microwave before turning back around to face my husband. “So what is going on?” 

    Michael goes on to explain what he knows about Arabella and gives me some background information. “The poor child” I say, placing my hand to my chest, “I am glad they agreed to let us foster her. I know we didn’t want to foster for a while, but I agree this is definitely an exception”. Just as I finished talking there’s a  knock at the door and Michael goes to get it. I grab the food from the microwave and place it on the counter. Everly and I definitely over did it on the amount of spaghetti we made.   

    As I walk toward the front door, I catch sight of Arabella. He was right. She is too small and looks incredibly frightened. Walking up next to Michael, he introduces me to Mrs. Zaines, Arabella’s social worker. I keep my distance, but get down on my knees and introduce myself to Arabella. “Hi Arabella, my name is Stella and this big clown over here is Michael” I point up to my husband. She doesn’t even react. 

    “Do you mind if we talk before I head out?” Mrs. Zaines directs toward me and Michael. 

    Michael and I agree and as Michael walks Mrs. Zaines into the kitchen, I motion for Arabella to come with me to the living room. She timidly follows me and I let her know she can put her stuff down on the chair and have a seat on the couch. From what I noticed there was almost nothing in her bag and hopefully something of Everly’s will fit her. 

    Grabbing the T.V. remote I look at Arabella, “is there a favorite show you like to watch?”. Knowing I probably won’t get and answer, I had to try. I decide to put on Everly’s favorite Netflix show and tell Arabella we will all be right over there in the kitchen. She gives me a slight nod and I go to talk to Mrs. Zaines and my husband. 

    As soon as I walk in Mrs. Zaines starts in “We don’t know much about her still and she does not have a lot of stuff. We secured a few clothing items and her school stuff, but that is about it. Also, she at times seems to be favoring her side” with a big sigh she continues “however, the second someone gets too close to her or even reaches out to touch her she flinches and retreats even more into herself.”

    I look back toward the living room to see she at least seems to be looking at the television. With a big breath I start talking, “It’s probably for the best that nobody pushed the issue. It could make everything ten times harder. This little girl” I stop and point toward her “needs to get her trust back. Especially towards the adults around her. From what I see, the people who were supposed to care for her failed and we need to show her we won’t fail her”. With that I grab a juice box from the fridge and head back to the living room with a small bowl of pasta and the juice box. 

    “Hey Arabella, I have some pasta here and a juice box if you are hungry,” placing the food on the coffee table in front of her. I don’t push her, but just sit and wait for her to make the first move. While I sit and wait, I hear my daughter enter and go to the kitchen to talk to her father. 

    It took some time, but Arabella eventually sat on the floor in front of the table and ate some of the food. Then, once Michael and I were the only ones left in the house with Arabella it was time to give her a tour of the house. 

    “Hey sweetie, how about we show you around a little bit and then we can show you where you will be sleeping okay?” I look at her and with a nod she stands up with me. We showed her the kitchen and bathroom on the first floor. From there, we went to the second floor and showed her the play room and bathroom that she would use. I point toward that door where Michael and I sleep down the hall. I show her the spare bedroom that used to be Kaley’s and finally we enter the room she would be staying in. 

    Placing her bag on the desk chair in the corner, I grab some pajamas from the drawer and walk Everly to the bathroom. “Would you like to take a bath or shower?” I asked knowing she probably needed one. Surprisingly, she shook her head yes. “Shower?” and again she just gave me a nod. I walk her to the bathroom, pull out a tooth brush for her and show her how to work everything. 

    I couldn’t bear to leave her alone, so Michael and I stand outside the door and listen to the shower run, then turn off. By the time she was ready for bed it was well after nine and she must be exhausted. Michael says goodnight to her and walks to our room, as I walk back to her room with her. Reading her body language, I know she doesn’t want me too close to her and I wait for her to get into bed and carefully tuck her in. “Do you need anything honey?”, no response. “Okay, just come get us if you need something. I was thinking maybe you don’t go to school tomorrow with everything going on”, still not even an eye twitch. She lay on her side staring at the wall. Taking that as my que, I walk toward her door, turn the night light on and say goodnight leaving her door open a crack.