A Reason (A Reason, Season, Lifetime Series) Read Free Page B

Ms. Doyle, the Social Worker from the office earlier. Shit. What the hell?
    She laughs, and as soon as she does, I know immediately who she must be. I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier. “Are you okay, son? Your mouth got ahead of you again, didn’t it, darling?”
    “Yes, it did. You’re Ryan’s mother?” I say, telling her more than asking.
    “Yes, I am. He uses his father’s last name. What my darling son meant was that we have known for some time what is going on at your home. Danny has been talking to me, trying to find a way to help. Ryan was so upset and worried after Eva’s arm, that we knew we had to do something. We started talking to Lara Rivers then. We have a large home, as you know, just less than a mile down from your own. It is just the two of us. What he should have explained nicely, after we were all together, is that you and Eva are welcome in our home anytime. We have an extra room that I have put two twin beds in. I know tonight will be scary, we have no idea what set your father off to hurt your mother so bad that she needed surgery. We don’t want you and Eva going home until he has had time to calm down. Your mother is being kept in the hospital for the weekend. I’ve called and checked in there. We are keeping it very quiet that this is a domestic violence case. Only her immediate nurses know. They are adjusting the chart to show a fever and possible infection that will require her to need observation for at least three days. That is all we can do for now, this time. We allow him to calm down, and hope that when you go home he feels bad about what he’s done, and you get a break until something else sets him off again.”
    “So, what was this about being the shiny toy shared between two dogs?”
    “Shut up, Danny.” Ryan and I say at the same time.
    “If you want me to stay over at Ryan’s with you this weekend, I’m there.”
    “No, you can’t. You have Holly’s wedding remember? Your sister?” Ryan speaks up.
    “Right. Crap. Well you’ll have Eva with you. And Ma here will be there to make sure Ryan behaves himself. I’ll call and check in when I can. You’ll be safe there. Will you go? Please?” Danny is begging me with his big brow n puppy dog eyes. I suck at saying no.
    “Yes, we will. Since you all have gone through so much trouble, we will. I would like to start training this weekend. The sooner I can protect them, the better.”
    “I hate that you have to protect anyone. It makes me sick to think what we are training you to do. I hate knowing his hands will hurt you again someday. I am so glad that you trust me enough to trust them. I know you’re angry I told people, but something had to be done.” Danny says, wrapping his arms around me.
    “I know. Thank you for trusting the right people. It scares me that more people know, but at least it seems to be the right people to help me this time. We have like twenty minutes left of gym. I want to lift a bit before it’s over.” I hug Danny back, and walk over and hug Ms. Doyle.
    “I know this could risk your job. It must. You’re not reporting what you know to be true, in order to protect us. You’re going behind the crooked cops backs, and you’re opening your home to my sister and me. I don’t know how I will ever t hank you, but someday I will, Ms. Doyle.”
    “Mary, please, and someday you’ll call me Ma like everyone else does. It is my pleasure to be able to do something for you. Now that I know the whole story, from the boys and Ms. Rivers, I know that we were brought here for a reason. If it’s to help you, then by God’s will, so be it. Everything happens for a reason. Thank you for agreeing to let us help you. I hear you can be quite stubborn. The more I hear about you from these boys, and Lara Rivers, the more I love everything I hear. We’ll be old friends some day, I just know it.” She hugs me again, kisses my cheek, and she and Danny walk out. I sit down on the leg press bench and