BETRAYED. Jacqui Rose

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ made her feel even more nervous. There were paintings of men in gilded frames on the wall, looking superior and mocking. It surprised her to see the doctor’s office void of any medical books, but instead filled with trinkets and thank you cards. She jumped as the glass door opened.

      ‘Hello, I’m Dr Berry, we’ve spoken many times on the phone. Thank you for coming.’

      Refusing to take the outstretched hand, Bronwin’s mum thought the doctor looked like he should’ve retired years ago. His white hair and stooped shoulders made her feel as if she was paying a visit to her granddad rather than a child shrink.

      ‘I’ve been trying to come for a while now, but then you’d already know that, wouldn’t you? What I want to know is when can I take Bronwin home?’

      ‘Well, that might be a problem. Bronwin doesn’t want to come home. She’s a very troubled little girl.’

      Bronwin’s mother flinched. ‘I don’t want to hear about bleedin’ problems mate. I just want to take her home where she belongs. She’s my daughter, not yours, and I don’t believe she don’t want to come home. I want to see her.’

      Dr Berry went round to the other side of his desk. He pulled out his chair slowly, staring moodily over his rimless glasses. ‘How do you feel about your other daughter’s death? Kathleen, wasn’t it?’

      ‘I ain’t here to talk about me other daughter. In fact, I ain’t here to answer any questions at all. Just give me Bronwin so we can get out of here.’

      As was his habit and his arrogance, the doctor ignored the interjection and continued to talk. ‘Do you feel responsible for your daughter’s death?’

      Bronwin’s mother stared ahead, painful, angry tears about to fall. She didn’t know if it was her imagination or not but she was sure she could see a tiny smirk on Dr Berry’s face as he asked about Kathleen.

      She was pleased to hear her voice was steady as she made a concerted effort to stay calm. Her words punctuated the air. ‘I’m not responsible for her death. It wasn’t me who killed her.’

      ‘But you were the one who let your daughters out. Surely you must hold some sort of guilt?’

      Bronwin’s mother blinked away the tears as she felt them burning. She bent forward, holding her stomach, and whispered almost inaudibly as her gaze found the window. ‘Of course I do. Of course I do.’

      ‘Then let us help you. You do want some help, don’t you?’

      Bronwin’s mum nodded, trance-like.

      ‘I still don’t really know why she’s here.’

      Dr Berry’s expression was patronising. ‘I think you do, but if you need reminding again, why, I’ll tell you. Myself and social services thought it was for the best, especially in the light of your past history with children’s services. It’s our job to make sure children are safe from harm. You know Bronwin is still very confused with what happened and who was there that night in the woods. Like I said before, she’s a very troubled little girl. She insists on telling these lies.’

      ‘Bronwin ain’t a liar. That’s one thing she’s never done is lie. If she’s telling you something then it must be true.’

      ‘That’s as maybe, but she’s a child and all children lie.’

      ‘She don’t.’

      Dr Berry sighed. ‘Do you want us to help her and at the same time help you?’

      ‘Of course!’

      ‘I had another meeting with her social workers and they’re in agreement with me that it’s probably best for all of us, you as well, if Bronwin stays here with us. Permanently.’

      Bronwin’s mother stood up. Her body shook with fear and fury. ‘Oh no you don’t. You ain’t going to mess my little girl up.’

      ‘We won’t be doing that; what we’ll be doing is untangling the mess that has already been put there in her short life.’

      ‘That ain’t going to happen. You ain’t going to take my daughter.’

      ‘Of course not. That’s why I’m asking you to sign these papers.’

      ‘I’m not signing nothing. I want my daughter and I want her now.’

      ‘I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible. We’ve had an extension of the interim care, which means you can’t take her.’

      The shock and hurt on Bronwin’s mum’s face was naked. Dr Berry turned away quickly as the shouting began.

      ‘You bastards. You fucking bastards.’

      ‘We’re not doing this to upset you, we’re doing this for Bronwin’s benefit. You’ll be able to get on with your life, knowing Bronwin is getting the help she needs. She’ll thank you in the end, I know she will. You can give her what you didn’t have yourself. You can give her a chance and a start in life.’

      ‘But I’m her mother. She should be with me.’

      ‘Yes, but only if it’s right for her – and at the moment, it isn’t right.’

      Bronwin’s mother headed for the door, catching Dr Berry raising his eyebrows at her skirt. She pulled it down quickly.

      ‘Well I’m sorry, but no way. I would never hand my child over to the likes of you. I might not be what you think a good mother should be, and I’m not saying I haven’t got my faults, but I love Bronwin. I loved both my kids.’

      Dr Berry’s face was twisted with cruelty. ‘Fight us? Fight me and you’ll lose – and then you’ll never see Bronwin again. Do it this way and you’ll be able to see her. It’s your choice.’

      ‘You … you can’t do that.’

      ‘We can and we will. Do you really think the courts will agree to you keeping her after both myself and the social workers give evidence of you being unstable and incapable of giving Bronwin what’s needed?’

      ‘I love her. Ain’t that enough?’

      ‘In an ideal world it is, but then we’re not in an ideal world, are we? Can you excuse me one moment?’

      Not waiting for any sort of reply, Dr Berry picked up the phone on his desk. He spoke quietly into it. ‘Would you mind coming in now?’

      A moment later the glass door opened. The man who walked in didn’t bother to introduce himself. He stood with a frozen frown on his face as Bronwin’s mum stared at him. ‘Who’s he?’

      Once more, Dr Berry chose to ignore a question he saw as irrelevant. He walked over to Bronwin’s mum, picking up the papers as he passed his desk, then reached out with the pen that was always kept in his breast coat pocket.

      ‘Sign them. It’s for the best. If you say you love her, which I believe you do, you’ll listen to me. No one’s the enemy here.’

      Bronwin’s mother took in the doctor’s face. Deep entrenched СКАЧАТЬ