July 5th 2020
- Karlie -
"She's only fourteen, Kar, how could someone do that to her?" When we finally got to bed last night, Taylor couldn't sleep. She was up and down with Auggie, and she would try to sleep until he woke up again, but she just couldn't. Eventually, when the sun started to rise she grabbed Lilah's file from the office and decided to read it. "Someone very sick and who's going away for a long time, baby," I hold her tight as I kiss her forehead.
The social worker didn't give us much, but reading her file told us that Lilah has been living with her step-father since her mom passed away four years ago, and she's been physically and emotionally abused and neglected for the last four years. The abuse only coming to light when a neighbour heard her screams earlier in the day, after her stepfather came home heavily intoxicated and decided to use the innocent girl as a punching bag once again.
"She's safe now, my love, and we just need to focus on making her feel safe and welcome for as long as she's with us," Taylor cares so much for everyone and that's definitely not a fault but it makes things like this a lot harder for her.
It's seven thirty already, so the kids are going to start waking up soon, so since we're already awake, we decide to get a head start. Taylor disappears into the bathroom to shower and get ready, something she's mastered doing in less than ten minutes since the kids came into our lives. So I grab some sweatpants and a shirt and quickly get changed, we've got no plans for today so I'm keeping it as comfy as possible.
"Good morning, little man," I hear Auggie waking up so i go to his bassinet, "let's get you out of this," I undo his swaddle and as soon as his arms are free he takes a big stretch and it's the cutest thing on the planet. Usually Ro has appeared by now, the little blonde never misses a chance to cuddle in our bed in the morning, but I just assume that she's extra tired after her nightmare last night and change August's diaper.
Taylor appears soon after and she seems just as confused about Rosie's absence in our bed. "Come on them, little buddy, mommy will wake your bottle while mama goes to find your sister," she swoops in and steals August, the little guy is all cuddles in the morning and I think Taylor needs that more than I do today.
"Ro, it's breakfast time, sleepyhead," I keep my voice gentle as I walk into Rosie's bedroom, but I'm surprised when I find her bed empty. I check the bathroom and don't find her so I start venturing downstairs, but before I make it I spot Lilah's door cracked open and it certainly wasn't that way last night.
I walk back along the hallway and knock gently on the open door, finding Rosie curled up beside Lilah, holding the teenager's hand. "There you are, how did you end up in here, monkey?" I smile gently as I walk around the bed, keeping my voice low as I assume the teen is still sleeping but she's not. "She was sad, mama," Rosie frowns as I perch on the end of the bed and I give her a warm smile, she's the sweetest little kid. "Mommy's downstairs making breakfast, why don't you go and join her and I'll be down in just a second," Rosie nods and climbs over the bed to get to me, so I kiss her cheek and then put her down on the floor, letting her run off to find her mommy.
"Did you sleep okay?" I give the teen a soft smile and she pushes herself up, shaking her head as I take in her exhausted looking appearance. "I couldn't sleep," she's still nervous but more vocal than she was last night, "that seems to have been a common problem last night, I'm sure being in a new place with people you don't know is scary - Ro had nightmares for weeks when she first came to us." I don't want her to feel like she has to be completely okay straight away, or even at all. She's been through so much. "She's sweet," I nod as I smile, "she's a ball of energy but she means well."
