Chapter 14 #2
“I don’t know what happened or anything more than that the children came down alone this morning, had breakfast and went to school.
When Arnelle checked on Debbie, she didn’t answer the door, so I used my pass key to gain access.
That’s when we found her. The coroner has been called, and I’ve contacted Debbie’s mother in Arizona.
She’s on her way to be with the kids. I’m also required to report Debbie’s death to the Department of Children’s Services. ”
“Are you all right?” Kate asked softly.
“I’ve had better days.”
“I can ask Reid to come over to help.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t think there’s anything he can do.”
“He could be there for you.”
“I’m all right. The staff is here, and we’re doing what needs to be done.”
“Will you please call me back when you can and let me know how it’s going?”
“I will.”
“Sending you a big hug and so much love. This is above and beyond.”
“Whatever it takes. I’ll call you in a bit.”
“I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
Maggie ended the call, and since she couldn’t do anything else until the coroner arrived, she took a second to glance at Brayden’s text. It was a picture of him holding a big fish and grinning widely.
She sent back a thumbs-up and then went into the kitchen to tell Mitch what’d happened.
“That poor woman,” Mitch said. “She tried so hard. She talked to me some about her struggles with drugs. I wonder if she was using again.”
“I’m sure her family will request an autopsy.”
“I think it might be required any time there’s an unexplained death.”
“I’m learning a lot of things I never expected I’d have to know.”
“Such is life in the social services business, or so I’m told. I have friends who’ve been in this field for years, and the stories they could tell…”
“I’m sure.”
“That’s going to be us now. We’ll be the ones with stories to tell.”
“I guess so.”
Mitch and the rest of the staff were well aware of the need to protect the privacy and dignity of their clients. Each of them had signed robust nondisclosure agreements before starting their jobs.
A short time later, the sound of sirens in the distance alerted Maggie to the arrival of the police and coroner.
The next few hours passed in a blur of conversation, details and heartbreak.
Maggie conferred with Ruth Stapleton at DCS and let her know that the children’s grandmother was on her way with documentation to prove her daughter had made her the emergency guardian for the children should the need arise.
When the children came home, they were told their mother wasn’t there and that the police were doing an inspection. The other moms stepped up to help supervise Mandy and Patrick in the playroom and through homework and dinner until their grandmother arrived at eight o’clock.
Maggie made the conference room available to Karen and the children so she could have privacy to tell the children the dreadful news. Maggie was thankful that she wasn’t asked to be in the room for that.
In the meantime, she helped the staff prepare a different room for Karen and the children to sleep in that night, since the McBrides’ room hadn’t been released yet by the police, who were still working the scene.
It was well after ten before Karen had the distraught children settled in their new room.
Maggie went upstairs to check on them and met up with Karen coming out of the bathroom. She was petite but had a stocky build, short dark hair and a round, pretty face. “Do you have everything you need?”
“We do. Thank you so much for everything you and your team have done today and over the last couple of months. You helped to make Debbie’s final weeks so much more peaceful than they would’ve been otherwise.”
“She was a lovely person. We were happy to have her and the kids. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll let you try to get some rest. You have my number if you need anything during the night.”
“You’re a godsend, Maggie. Thank you again for everything.”
“You’re very welcome.” As Maggie headed for the stairs, she heard voices coming from the residents’ lounge and went to check on them. All the other mothers were there, and Maggie was happy to see that Corey was among them. “How’re you all doing?”
“We’re shocked,” Niki Ross said. “Debbie was right here with us last night.”
“I know. It’s hard to wrap your head around it when something happens suddenly like this.”
Zara, another of the younger moms, cradled a baby monitor between her hands. “I just think about how her mom came and what would happen to Marcus if I died. My mom wouldn’t come.”
“I’d take him,” Trish said.
Zara stared at her in disbelief. “You would?”
“Of course I would.”
“I would, too,” Kelsey said. At thirty-six, she was the oldest of the mothers in residence.
After the day she’d had, Maggie had needed this, to see the mothers supporting one another, forming a community they’d have to lean on long after they left Matthews House.
That was one of the central goals of the program, and to see it happening before her eyes was indeed validating.
“I hope you ladies are able to get some rest.”
“You, too, Maggie,” Trish said. “Good night.”
As Maggie went downstairs, she took a call from Jill. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Ashton and I are outside. Can we come in for a minute?”
Maggie wasn’t at all surprised that they’d come to check on her. “Sure. Come to the kitchen door.” She turned the light on and met them there a minute later.
Jill came through the door and wrapped her arms around Maggie in a fierce hug.
“Um, is it okay if I come in, too?” Ashton asked.
Keeping Maggie in her tight embrace, Jill shuffled them into the kitchen.
Ashton followed, closing the door behind him.
“Are you okay?” Jill asked.
Maggie closed her eyes and gave in to her sister’s comfort when she might normally chafe at the thought of one of them thinking she needed babying. “I’m hanging in there. It’s been quite a day.”
“Dude, you’re the master of the understatement.”
“What can we do for you?” Ashton asked.
“It’s nice of you guys to come by. Did Kate send you?”
“She might’ve asked us to check on you since she’s stuck at home.”
“And I haven’t had a chance to call her with an update.”
Ashton squeezed Maggie’s shoulder. “My dad wanted to come running when he first heard the news, but Poppy was fussy, and Kate’s been in a lot of pain today.”
Jill finally let go of Maggie and took a step back to lean against the massive island in the middle of the kitchen.
“Is Kate okay?”
“She’s fine, just sore.”
Maggie’s phone rang, and she declined the call from Brayden, even though she very much wanted to talk to him. She’d call him back after Jill and Ashton left.
“I can’t stop thinking about that poor woman and her sweet kids,” Jill said. “They must’ve been so shocked.”
“It was awful.”
“Does anyone have any idea what might’ve happened?”
“Nothing definite. She’s had drug issues in the past. We’re not sure if she was using again. The cops didn’t find any sign of drugs in her room. We’ll have to wait and see what the autopsy uncovers.”
“Thank God their grandmother was able to get here quickly,” Ashton said.
“I know. It was so hard to keep them busy until she arrived. Mandy knew something was going on and was asking a lot of questions.”
Jill sighed. “Those poor babies. Life as they know it will never be the same.”
After having their own mother suddenly wrenched from their lives, Maggie and her sisters certainly understood how Debbie’s children were feeling. While Clare didn’t die, she might as well have for the three years she was lost to them.
“We’ll go and let you get some sleep,” Jill said. “You must be exhausted.”
“I’m pretty tired.”
“Mags, is it too much? Seriously, you’d say so if it was, wouldn’t you? We all worry about you.”
“I’m really okay, rattled after today, but overall, I’m good. I love the job and helping people and learning so much every day. I’ll let you know if you need to worry. I promise.”
Jill hugged her again, as long and as hard as she had when she first arrived. “We’re here if you need us.”
“I know, and that helps.”
Ashton kissed her forehead. “Hang in there, kiddo. You’re doing a great job.”
Maggie appreciated him saying that. Someone dying on her watch had shaken her confidence.
She saw them out, shut off the light and activated the alarm before going into her apartment, closing the door and releasing a deep breath.
If she’d survived this day, she was fairly confident she could get through just about anything.