An Innocent Baby by Cathy Glass
Author:Cathy Glass [Glass, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2021-06-21T21:28:14+00:00
That afternoon was one of the longest of my life as the minutes slowly ticked by and we waited for Shari and the police to arrive.
âCan I have the television on?â Haylea asked after a while.
âYes, of course, love.â
She switched it on and I stayed with her in the living room with Darcy-May on my lap while she watched a childrenâs programme.
Did Darcy-May look like Hayleaâs abuser? I wondered, as we sat there. It would have been insensitive of me to ask. I could see some likeness between Darcy-May and Haylea, especially around the eyes. But what did Haylea see? Her father or another abuser? Sheâd barely looked at Darcy-May since that first meeting at the Family Centre. Sheâd asked to see her and had wanted to take a photograph but had then changed her mind. Had she seen her abuser mirrored in her babyâs face? Is that why she had totally rejected her and couldnât even bare to look at her? If so, it was surprising sheâd wanted to live with me, but then again, sheâd managed to block out Darcy-May, probably as sheâd had to block out years of abuse in order to survive. Would Haylea ever be able to see Darcy-May for the adorable baby she was without thinking of her abuser? I had no idea.
I touched Hayleaâs arm and she didnât recoil. âAre you OK? Youâre doing very well.â
âAm I, Cathy?â she asked quietly, glancing at me.
âYes, love. Youâre being very brave.â
âI donât feel brave,â she said. âIâm a mess.â
She returned her attention to the television and I watched it too for a few minutes. I could see how the brightly coloured, fast-moving childrenâs programmes could distract her from the reality of life. They drew you in.
Darcy-May began to gurgle at Haylea, trying to attract her attention, but she remained oblivious to her. So fragile, innocent and unaware of the horror of her conception â would Darcy-May ever learn of her past? I didnât know, but certainly she must never feel ashamed. I loved Darcy-May and felt very protective of her, and Haylea. I would do all I could to help them both.
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