Chapter Fourteen
Rosie knew she was supposed to stay with Marcy. And because she liked the woman, it wouldn’t be hard to do. But today was different. Today her daddy was in the hospital, and he needed her. How she knew it, she didn’t understand. Yet everything told her it was true.
And so she’d left Lance’s house. But before she did, she went to the cupboard he’d showed her last year where he kept extra cash. She’d come across him putting dollars in the fancy box and surprised him when she’d teased, “Are you hiding money, Uncle Lance?”
He’d laughed and picked her up in his arms before smooching her neck with his whacko smack kisses before letting her get away. Before he could catch her, she’d opened the box with flowers decorating the outside and looked in. “Wow! There must be a million dollars in here?”
Grinning, he’d taken the box from her and put it back into the wall unit cupboard where he stored it.
Then he’d picked her up in a piggyback style, saying, “Remember it’s there for emergencies.
If you ever find you’re in need, take what you want but always leave me a note, so I know you’re not a thief robbing me. Deal?”
“Deal.”
It had been easy to agree because in her childish mind, she could never imagine a time when she might need his money. Until today. Painstakingly, she’d printed her note. I need $10. It’s me. Not a thef. Rosie xx.
She’d taken the money in one dollar bills and headed to the bus stop. When she asked the driver if he was going to the hospital, he’d been busy and didn’t spend much time reassuring her. “Yeah honey, but not for a while. You getting on?”
She’d paid her money and sat near an older lady. Scared but determined, she sat quietly and stared out the window. After a little while, the woman smiled and began talking. The first question she asked her was how old Rosie was?
“I’m ten. Well, almost eleven.”
Seemingly shocked, the lady looked at her closely. When she spotted the bruises Rosie got from falling off of her skateboard numerous times, she made pitying noises before gently patting her leg. Feeling strange, Rosie covered her wounded knees.
“Does your mommy know you’re taking a bus by yourself?”
Flippantly, Rosie replied, “She wouldn’t care.” Of course, she didn’t mean it badly, but somehow Rosie knew inside that her mother would understand about her little girl’s determination to see her daddy. Her mom wouldn’t be angry.
Suddenly, the lady became weirder, smiling strangely and this time patting Rosie’s arm. “Don’t you worry sweetie, there are people who will take care of you.”
Not understanding yet feeling uncomfortable, she wished she hadn’t begun talking to the lady.
Sure, she seemed nice at first, but now Rosie sensed a difference.
When the lady smiled her goodbye and got off at the next stop, Rosie felt glad.
Watching for the hospital, she moved closer to the window and kept her face turned away.
Maybe that’s why she didn’t see the uniformed policewoman who approached her seat. “Hi there.” The young cop crouched down next to where Rosie sat. “Where are you off to today?”
Looking around her and seeing the inquisitive stares, Rosie felt instantly in danger.
Not understanding why she would be getting this kind of attention; she refused to speak.
Instead, she just shook her head and turned to look out the window, her way of hinting for the woman to leave her alone. Only she didn’t.
“We’re going to take good care of you, sweetie.
Don’t worry.” Next thing she knew, the officer took her arm and forcibly pulled her from her seat, made her follow her to the door, and before she knew what happened, she was in the back of a police car.
Now she was scared. She’d seen movies where kids were treated badly, taken from their parents who never found them again.
Sobbing inside yet refusing to let her fear show, she held her hands tightly, bit her lip, and became a rock. They would get nothing from her.
She had no doubt her mommy would never give up looking for her little Rosie and neither would Uncle Lance. So she blinked, swallowed, prayed, and refused to say a word.