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1967
Jan 29, 2005 22:11:32 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 29, 2005 22:11:32 GMT -5
"Auntie Louisa? It's me, it's Dani. Is Ellie ok?" she felt tears well up in her eyes and she started to cry softly. "I'm at the police station." The officer tapped her on her shoulder. She looked up at him and handed him the phone. He took it "Good Evening, this is Officer Parsons. Your neice came in and told me everything. She'll be here for you to get and-" he turned away from Dani and talked in a softer tone. "Get her to a doctor. I think she's in shock or something like it, and she was raped, but refused to sign a statement, said something about an ellie..."
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1967
Jan 29, 2005 22:54:20 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 29, 2005 22:54:20 GMT -5
“Dani! What?” Louisa asked in shock when the Officer told her about Danielle being rapped. She couldn’t hear more. Louisa simply moved the phone receiver away from her ear, rested on the wall and slid down to the floor.
“Louisa, are you alright, what happened?” Anton rushed over to her. She didn’t reply, words wouldn’t come out of her mouth.
Anton tried to hold Louisa and at the same time get the phone, but Andrew came to help him. Andrew answered the phone and heard to what the officer had to say on the other side of the line. He was as shocked as Louisa, but he managed to keep himself stood. He thought of the best way to tell the bad news to the others, who got equally stunned. Out of shock and despair, Louisa started to cry, and Anton tried to calm her down, bringing her to the sofa. Georg went to the living room, where he found Maria, Liesl and the children. While the children played on the corner, he told the women about Danielle. It’s unnecessary to say how they reacted. They all decided that Liesl and Andrew would pick Danielle, while Maria and Georg stayed with the children and Anton with Louisa.
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1967
Jan 29, 2005 23:13:17 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Jan 29, 2005 23:13:17 GMT -5
When Andrew got off the phone with the officer, he went in the living room to check on Louisa. He found her with Anton at her side. "Are you alright?" he asked and walked to her.
"Listen, Louisa after this, we don't have to worry about that guy anymore. The officer told me he's on his way to the hospital now in the middle of being charged with all sorts of felanies. He was hit by his own car. I think when Danielle tried to drive herself to the police station. He didn't tell me his condition, because they can't tell yet." Andrew walked toward Anton who seemed worried still. "I'll go pick Danielle up, me and Liesl I mean." Anton nodded. "In the mean time, don't tell the children anything, not even that Danielle is at the police station." The both of them nodded.
Liesl stepped into the room. "Andrew, are we going for Danielle?" "Yes, yes, could you get our coats?" Liesl went to get them.
Dominic was evesdropping on the whole thing. He knew everything. He was listening from the kitchen, pretending he was cleaning the counters.
"I'll see you all in a bit." Andrew said and followed Liesl to the hallway.
As soon as he made sure his father was out of the room, Dom stepped in. "Where is Danielle's father? Jail or the hospital?" He was asking Anton. Dominic always felt his uncle was more like his friend. He always saw himself as one of the grownups so he tried to establish a friend like relationship with all of them.
He went over and held his aunt's hand, to comfort her.
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1967
Jan 29, 2005 23:28:07 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 29, 2005 23:28:07 GMT -5
Louisa couldn’t help but smile at Dominic, even if it was a weak smile. She felt slightly better, but still not completely recovered from the shock. “How could that horrible man do such thing to his own daughter? How could he?” Her mind went over to Danielle. “She is a little girl, God. How will she ever be able to recover her dignity again, to live her life as a healthy child?” Louisa thought in grief.
“Anton, that’s so horrible,” she let out, only half aware of Dominic’s presence there. The boy knew everything, anyway, so Anton didn’t bother to talk about that with Domic. “He is old enough to comprehend the situation,” he told himself. He could even use Dom’s help.
“Listen, Dom,” Anton started, staring firmly at his nephew. “We all have to be very strong. Please, help your parents, and specially your cousins. They’ll be needing your support, and I know you can do that, mate.”
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1967
Jan 29, 2005 23:53:44 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Jan 29, 2005 23:53:44 GMT -5
Dominic nodded. He was well aware everyone had to stay strong. That's what kept them together, love and strength. "I'm going to go let Ellie know her sister will be home soon, she'd like to hear that." Dom smiled at the two of them then left the room
Meanwhile, Liesl and Andrew arrived at the police station. A cop came over to them as soon as they arrived. "We're here for Danielle Delaney." the cop nodded and said he'd be back in a moment.
"Andrew, I can't even bare to think how Danielle feels. She must think we betrayed her or something." Andrew held her. "I don't think she'll think that. Anton tried to catch the car and save her, I think she might have even saw him come running. I should've gone too-" "You were in a completely different room, you didn't know-" "I know I know. Listen-we have to get someone to check on Danielle. I can't do it since I'm not that kind of doctor. I'll have to call up my good friend. We have to wait till tomorrow though." Liesl nodded
The cop came out and interrupted "Here she is." he turned to Danielle who waved shyly at Liesl and Andrew. "Nice meeting you Dani, take care." He patted her head and walked back into the other room.
At first noone moved, they all just looked at eachother, trying to think of what to say. Tears could be seen hiding in Dani's eyes. At the site of this, Liesl went up to her and held her. "Oh darling, I'm so sorry. We're going home now. You have nothing to worry about anymore."
It was true, Liesl wasn't exactly 20 anymore so she wasn't really as energetic as she used to be but she somehow managed to pick the eleven-year old up and walk out of the police station. She held tight to Danielle, who needed to be held. Andrew didn't really say anything but got in the car and started it. Liesl sat in the back with Danielle.
They pulled up to the lodge and Andrew got out and opened the car door for them. Liesl walked out and put out her hand for Danielle. They walked inside. Liesl hoped everyone wouldn't rush up to Danielle, it would only make things even more uncomfortable.
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 0:15:39 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 30, 2005 0:15:39 GMT -5
Dani had been sitting on a cot that was much too big for her, a wool blanket around her shoulders and a cup of tea in her small hands. They always did that for victims, the receptionist said. A cop came out back and called "Delaney?" "Most call me Dani." She said and stood up, leaving the blanket and tea behind. She followed him out of the back and he opened a door and she saw Liesl and Andrew. "Here she is," he said and Dani waved, nervous. What would they think of her? Would they send her away and call her a whore? Tears went to her eyes and she fought them. She couldn't cry. Not now. "Nice meeting you, Dani, take care." he patted her on the head and returned to the back.
Dani didn't know what to do. Should she make the first move? She hadn't hugged someone other than Ellie since before Mummy died. Her Aunt stepped forward and held her in her arms. "Oh, darling, I'm so sorry. We're going home now. You have nothing to worry about anymore."
That was a lie. She had plenty to worry about. Did they catch him? Or is he gonna come after her again? Then there were the usual worries, about school and Ellie. She was pulled out of her thoughts when her aunt picked her up and carried her out of the police station. Dani clung to her, not out of fear of being dropped, but out of plain fear. They got into the backseat and they drove home.
Once they got there, Andrew pulled the door open and Liesl climbed out and offered her hand to Dani. Dani took it and they walked inside.
The second the door opened, everyone in the room looked over at Dani. Ellie was the first to run over and hug her sister and start chattering. About what? Dani couldn't tell you. She was sore and just wanted to go to bed. So she picked up Ellie, and deposited her in Georg's lap and she climbed the steps slowly and she got changed into a nightie and climbed into her bed and cried. She didn't realize the door was open.
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 12:52:06 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 30, 2005 12:52:06 GMT -5
When Liesl and Andrew returned with Dani, everyone in the room stared anxiously at the girl, feeling extremely bad for her. All of them wanted to rush over to her and hug her, but only Ellie did. They watched Dani embrace her sister, place her in Georg’s arms and climb up the steps.
At that time, lunch had been long ready and was more than cold, but nobody had even cared about that. They simply didn’t feel hungry, they could eat later if appetite returned. That was how the adults felt, but the children, though scared, couldn’t really realize the meaning of all that, and probably still felt like eating.
“Come here, Dom,” Maria called her grandson. The boy came and listened to her. She asked him to help her and Georg take the children to the kitchen, where they finally could have lunch.
Andrew and Anton didn’t return to work that day. They couldn’t leave the family alone. Besides, if they went to work, they’d never be able to concentrate on it. Andrew only called his friend, explained all the situation to him and they arranged that he would come to see Danielle the following morning.
Anton called the rest of the family and told them everything. After getting shocked reactions from each of them, he told them not to come over that night. The dinner that would take place to welcome Danielle was potsponed. Andrew and Liesl didn’t go to their house, they spent the night in the Lodge, in the suite that had become their place when they were there. Even Dominic had his bed there.
Anton and Andrew decided that it would be wiser to move Dani to a room closer to the suite Anton shared with Louisa. That way they would be able to keep a closer eye on her. Louisa agreed and asked her husband to go check on Dani and see how she was. Meanwhile, Andrew prepared a cup of tea to both Liesl and Louisa, who waited in the living room.
Anton carefully opened the door to Dani’s room, realizing she hadn’t locked it. If she had, he would have been able to open it anyway, because they always had two copies of every key in the Lodge, and Anton kept Dani’s with him, as he did with all the keys to the children’s rooms. The girl was fast asleep, and, as Anton thought, seemed more at peace. He closed the curtains, took a last glance at Dani, left the room and gently closed the door behind him, locking it.
On his way to the living room, Anton met Georg and Maria in the hallway. They were taking the children to the playing room upstairs, where they spent the rest of the day till dinner time. When he reached the living room, Andrew was already there with Liesl and Louisa, who were drinking their tea.
“She is alright, darling,” Anton said to Louisa, trying to tranquilize her a bit. “Sleeping,” he added, putting his arm around her shoulders.
“What will we do now?” Louisa asked disheartened, handing him her empty cup and resting her head on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Andrew and I will move her to the new room as soon as she wakes up,” he replied, and felt her nod.
“And his friend will come here to see her tomorrow. She will be fine,” Anton said, even though he himself wasn’t very sure about that.
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 19:46:57 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 30, 2005 19:46:57 GMT -5
Dani had cried herself to sleep, dozing in and out, not sure what was real and what was just a dream. She could've sworn that she saw her mother standing over her, and picked her up and held her. When she awoke and reality came back to her, she realized it was only a dream. Her mother was dead.
She climbed out of bed, wincing when she moved. It hurt alot, especially her lower areas. She went to the mirror and made a face at her reflection. There were a few nasty bruises on the side of her face and her eye had been blackened again. Her nose had bled, but that had stopped, which was noticeable. She needed a bath. She felt filthy and needed to wash up. But where were the towels? She carefully walked to the door and unlocked it and went down the stairs and stopped when she heard them talking.
A man said "She is alright, darling. Sleeping." That must be her he was talking about. Aunt Louisa asked "What will we do now?" The same man's voice said "Don't worry, Andrew and I will move her to the new room as she wakes up." So that must have been Anton, Louisa's husband. He continued, "And his friend will come here to see her tomorow. She will be fine."
Dani couldn't help but add her opinion. "Of course I will be. I always pulled through before, when he did this shit. I'd like to take a bath. Where's the towels?"
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 20:03:55 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Jan 30, 2005 20:03:55 GMT -5
"They're in the closet in the upstairs hallway. Do you need help?" Liesl spoke and walked to her. "I'll show you." She led Danielle back upstairs to where the closet was.
"Oh and Dani, I know it will be hard, but try not to use foul language so much, we do have younger kids around." Liesl saw she was confused, it must've been the way she was raised.
"You remember where the bathroom is, just turn the knob on the left for hot water and the one on the right for the cold. If you need anything let us know."
Danielle walked to where the bathroom was.
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 20:10:05 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 30, 2005 20:10:05 GMT -5
Dani turned on the hot water tap and while the tub filled, she pulled the nightgown off and hung it up on a hook and put the towel on the table by the tub. She stepped into the tub, wincing as she sat down and rubbed the sore areas with soap. She washed her hair, careful of the bruises and she got out and dried herself with the towel and put the nightie back on and returned downstairs. The adults looked at her with pitying eyes.
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 21:14:20 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 30, 2005 21:14:20 GMT -5
Dani’s situation had been afliging Louisa so much...When the girl had gone downstairs it was clear that she was hurt not only physically, but emotionally as well. Louisa understood why she felt so bad. Something the girl had said disturbed her even more, “I always pulled through before, when he did this shit.” Not the bad laguage. It was not right, of course, but what had disturbed Louisa was the fact that, judging by the way she talked, her Father had done it to her before. Again, how could he? And why hadn’t Dani told them?
When Dani returned downstairs, washep up, Louisa felt slighlty better, or slightly less bad, to see that the girl seemed to be reacting. Louisa saw her look from side to side, as if looking for something, or someone.
She summoned up all her strengtt, and asked, “Darling, you must be hungry. Do you want something to eat?”
The girl looked at her in a suspicious way, or that was how it seemed to Louisa.
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 21:18:18 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 30, 2005 21:18:18 GMT -5
Dani had looked around the room, wondering where Ellie was, all the children. Did Da get her? But surely they'd tell her. Aunt Louisa spoke "Darling, you must be hungry. Do you want something to eat?" Dani nodded slowly, eyeing her. She got up to get her some food and Dani followed her "Where's Ellie? Is she ok?"
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 22:29:29 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 30, 2005 22:29:29 GMT -5
Louisa led Dani to the kitchen, and asked her to sit while she prepared something for her to eat. Actually that lunch had been meant to be special for Dani, as they had prepared her favorite food, but now it was ruined. Louisa hoped that the girl would still enjoy the meal. She also prepared a glass of milk, which Ellie had told them she liked too.
"Where's Ellie? Is she ok?" Dani asked when Louisa put her plate on the table, along with the glass of milk. She noticed the girl hadn't sat.
Louisa thought it was nice how Dani worried about her sister. That was comprehensible, after all, Ellie had been all Dani had after Gretl’s death.
“Ellie is well, dear, don’t worry,” Louisa said smiling, her heart aching. “She is upstairs with Grandma and Grandpa and your cousins. You can go there when you finish your meal.”
Danielle didn’t speak nor did she move.
“Come on, Dani, sit here,” Louisa called, sitting on the table herself. She didn’t know if she should stay there, if her staying there would make the girl uncomfiortable. At the same time, though, something told her that she should stay, to make Dani feel they worried about her, to make her feel they were her family. She didn’t have to feel intimidated by them. Louisa knew it wouldn’t be easy for Dani to trust them wholeheartedly. But she would work on that, all of them would.
Dani finally stepped forward and sat at the table.
“I hope you like it, Ellie told me pasta with buttersauce is your favorite. And we have milk too,” Louisa said waiting to see how Dani would react.
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 22:37:26 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 30, 2005 22:37:26 GMT -5
Dani glanced at the plate of pasta and milk. Her very favorite. Ellie must have told them. "Ellie is well, dear, don't worry," Her aunt replied and Dani let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "She is upstairs with Grandma and Grandpa and your cousins. You can go there when you finish your meal.” Dani wondered if she wanted to, the adults were worried, so the kids probaly were too... “Come on, Dani, sit here,” her aunt said, pulling her out of the thoughts. Dani sat down and picked up the fork and started to eat. “I hope you like it, Ellie told me pasta with buttersauce is your favorite. And we have milk too,” her aunt said. Dani nodded "It's real good. I love the milk. Real treat. Usually, me and Ellie, we drink beer. We like milk better though."
She glanced up and saw her aunt watching her worriedly.
"Y'don't gotta worry 'bout me. I pull through." Her aunt didn't stop looking so worried. "I'll eat it. I'm not Jenny. I don't starve meself."
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 23:02:06 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 30, 2005 23:02:06 GMT -5
“Oh, God, what now?” Louisa wondered utterly worried, and she thought Dani must have noticed, because she certainly couldn’t hide it. But her worry wasn't whether or not the girl would eat the food.
Louisa was filled with questions; she knew she couldn’t simply ask all of them, but some things she had to know.
“Darling, why did you and Ellie drink bear?” she asked carefully, trying not to seem rude nor anxious.
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