CHAPTER TWELVE
C rystal was sleeping comfortably when she was awakened by pounding on the door. Startled, she sat up in bed.
“Open up,” came a voice she recognized.
She hurried out of bed and to the door. Cracking it open, she peered out to make sure all was safe. “Misty! What are you doing here?” She stepped back. “Come on in, honey. Are you alright?”
“No, I need to hide,” said Misty. “There was only one place I could think of where I knew I’d be safe.” She squinted at Crystal. “What did you do to your hair?”
Crystal turned on the living room lights, glanced at her sister, and let out a gasp. “Oh, my darling! What happened to you?” She had a black eye and a bruise on her cheek.
“A bad boyfriend,” said Misty, crying as Crystal wrapped her arms around her. “Can you believe it? I’m going to end up like our mother who was beaten up regularly.”
“No, you’re not,” Crystal said, quietly, firmly. “Have a seat and let me get a careful look at you.”
Wearing jeans and a T-shirt, Misty lowered herself on the couch and covered her face in her hands. “I should’ve ended it after the first time he hit me. But, Crystal, he seemed nice, and he came from a wealthy background. I thought I would be safe with him, that he’d take care of me.”
“You’re a strong woman, Misty. You don’t need someone to take care of you. That’s something that Mom thought she needed. You’re much more courageous than that.”
Misty lifted her face and Crystal caught her breath as she assessed the black eye and bruises marring Misty’s pretty brown face. With one finger, she lightly traced Misty’s cheek. “Where else did the bastard hit you?”
Misty caught her swollen lip. “I’ve got a few other bruises ...”
Crystal checked her clock. It was almost six. Emmett would be up or close to it. “I’m calling a friend. The new doctor in town. While it’s quiet, I’ll take you to see him without causing any embarrassment to you.”
“I don’t need ...” Misty began.
Crystal gave her a withering stare. “I’m not going to let this go. Can I get you a glass of water? Anything?”
Misty shook her head and began to cry. “I love you,” she managed to get out.
“I love you, too, sis.” She went into her bedroom and grabbed her cell, then quickly returned to the living room where she could keep an eye on Misty.
Emmett answered the phone sleepily. “Hi, Crystal. What’s wrong?”
Crystal explained that she needed to bring her abused sister to him to be checked over.
Alert now, Emmett asked, “Is a hospital needed?”
“Not that I know of, but I want you to examine her. I’ll take photos for any necessary legal records. I want to give Misty some privacy by coming to your practice early.”
“Understood,” said Emmett. “Come now. I’ll meet you at the office.”
“Thanks,” said Crystal, holding in her emotions as memories of her mother in similar circumstances swirled around her. She thought of the times she’d protected her sister from being abused and now, here she was.
Crystal handed her sister a bottle of water and a couple of cookies. “When did you last eat?”
Misty shrugged. “I got a couple of snacks on the road, though I didn’t want to waste any time getting here.”
“After we meet with the doctor, I’ll fix you a nice hot meal at the Café,” said Crystal leading Misty outside to her SUV.
On the drive through town to Emmett’s practice, Crystal felt as if she was reliving her painful past. But determined not to show the horror she felt, she patted Misty’s shoulder gently. “We’ll sort this out. You know you’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”
“I brought my belongings from the apartment I share with my friend Maddie. She’s out of town, but I trust her to pack anything I’ve left behind.”
Crystal pulled up to the medical building and went around the back of the car to help Misty. She’d seen a few bruises on her arms but wanted to know the full extent of her injuries.
A light snapped on inside the building, and Emmett came to the door.
The concerned look that crossed his face seeing Misty brought a sting of tears to Crystal’s eyes. He was such a decent man, a sympathetic doctor.
“Emmett, this is my sister, Misty. Misty, Dr. Chambers.”
Emmett shook Misty’s hand. “Hello, Misty. I’m here to help you in whatever way I can. Please come inside.”
Misty stared at his bruised face but remained quiet.
“He and I were in an auto accident,” explained Crystal. “I’ll tell you about it later.”
Emmett led them through the reception area and into an examination room. “I’ll check your pulse and temperature and then get a look at those bruises. Want to tell me what happened?”
“My boyfriend got mad,” mumbled Misty. She studied the floor.
“Does this happen often? His hitting you?” asked Emmett as he began taking her vitals.
Misty shook her head. “It just started a couple of weeks ago. He said he couldn’t help it. But I know better. Two days ago, he hit me again. After he stormed off, I packed my things as quickly as I could and drove here.”
“I believe I heard you live in Florida—
Misty lifted her face and cut him off. “Lived in Florida. No more. I won’t go back.”
Emmett and Crystal exchanged glances.
Crystal gave her a nod of approval. “Good for you, Misty. You know you have a home here with me for as long as you want.”
“I know,” Misty said softly. “You’ve always taken care of me.”
“Heart, pulse, and temperature fine. Now, let’s get that look at you,” said Emmett. “Please strip down to your underwear and put on a robe. I’ll leave the room and come back when you’re ready.”
He returned moments later. He studied Misty’s face and gingerly touched the areas around the blackened eye and then the rest of her face. Her tan skin had grown darker from the sun in Florida, but even standing away from her, Crystal could see spots of bruising. Her stomach filled with acid.
Emmett softly spoke to Misty as he examined her torso. “Did he ever hurt you sexually?”
Misty shook her head and glanced at Crystal. “It’s just like Mom all over again, huh.”
“My mother used to get beaten by boyfriends,” Crystal explained to Emmet and turned to Misty. “You’re not the same. You were smart enough to get away, and you’re not addicted to drugs and alcohol.”
“My boyfriend never hit me sober. He always got angry after he’d been drinking.”
“Your mother was unable to get help for her addictions?” Emmett asked.
“She wouldn’t accept it,” said Crystal. “Believe me, I tried. She’d go on a binge and wake up not remembering anything. That’s why Misty and I have two different unknown fathers. I was eight when Misty was born.”
“And who took care of her?” Emmett asked, his expression neutral, though Crystal could tell from the tightening of his jaw he already knew the answer.
“Crystal has been like my mother,” said Misty, her dark eyes shiny with tears.
“She was my baby in many respects. I loved Misty and cared for her. I didn’t want her to be taken away from us by social workers,” said Crystal. “I’ve always been her big sister watching out for her.”
“That’s very admirable of you,” said Emmett as he checked the last of Misty’s limbs. “Nothing is broken but it will take a while for your bruises to go away,” he said to Misty. “Most are on your torso, and in checking you out, you don’t appear to have any excessive pain in that area. Are you having any trouble with your teeth?”
Misty shook her head. “No, but if I’d stayed, I know things would’ve gotten worse. Like I said, it only happened twice before I took off. I knew enough to get away.”
“I want to take photographs of your face and torso,” Crystal said to Misty. She snapped a few from her cell phone while Emmett began typing information into his computer.
“What are you going to do from here?” Emmett asked, turning from his computer to Misty with a sympathetic expression.
“I’m staying with Crystal. I think I might want to live here for a while. It was great to leave Lilac Lake and be on my own, but maybe it’s time for me to come home. I’m a very good teacher. I know schools are always looking for them.”
“It sounds like a good plan.” He stood. “There’s nothing more to be done for you. You probably already know you’ll be sore and stiff for a while. Take a light painkiller if necessary and get some rest. I know you’ll have some excellent food from the Café.”
“Thank you, Dr. Chambers. I appreciate your seeing me,” said Misty, standing before him.
“Yes, Emmett, thank you. I wanted Misty to have some privacy before facing old friends. It was good of you to see her before your day has officially started. Want to come to the Café for breakfast? It’s on me, of course.”
Emmett grinned and checked his watch. “You know what? I’ve got time. I’ll be right there.”
Crystal and Misty got into her car and headed back to the Café.
“What is Emmett to you, anyway?” Misty asked her.
“He’s a friend. Someone new in town,” Crystal answered, trying not to give away her feelings for him.
Misty studied her. “Uh, huh. Just a friend? I saw the way you two were looking at one another.”
“No matter what I think about him, it will come to nothing. His father is Senator Chamberlain, and his mother hated me before she even met me.”
“Wow! I’ll do anything to help you. I owe you big time. And I don’t mean just for this,” said Misty.
“We’re sisters. We take care of one another. Like always.” Crystal reached over and squeezed Misty’s hand.
Misty nodded and gave her a shaky smile. “Like always.”