How To Fix A Broken Heart

Chapter 16

"Dawn sweetpea" Esme slowly approached the cowering child "it's alright" Dawn had run and hid after hearing a plate smash as Alice had a vision "Alice just dropped a plate" Dawn slowly moved over in her den making space for Esme who joined Dawn slowly wrapping her arm around the shaking child before bringing her into a hug.

"I l... l... love you, mummy" Esme's eyes filled with venom, this was the most Dawn had ever said most of the time it was just one or two words.

"I love you to sweetpea" Dawn smiled at the nickname her mum had given her, Dawn brushed her hand against Esme's hair leaving a day lily, the Chinese symbol for mother.

Esme leads her out into the garden, they sat in the swing, Dawn gradually speaking more to her mother, a smile spread across her face when she heard the crunching of gravel. Dawn ran through the house and flung open the door as Carlisle started to walk up the front stairs. He put his bag on the ground and crouched down opening his arms, Dawn ran into them, he picked her up encircling her in a hug lightly kissing her forehead.

"Hello sweetheart, did you have a good day today" he chuckled noticing the smile spread across her face but what he failed to notice was that she only held her teddy not her notebook

"I missed you, daddy" 

"I missed you too sweetheart"

He left his bag on the patio as he took Dawn into the living room he slowly put Dawn on the sofa as his phone began to ring, he went to cancel the call before he realised who was calling him "it's your social worker" he said to Dawn, making her brow furrowed at the mention of the woman who had brought her to abusive care homes regularly "hello" he said pretending not to see his daughters reaction

"Hello Dr Cullen, I was hoping if I could have a word with you, Mrs Cullen and Dawn tomorrow"

"Yes may I ask why" he was worried that the meeting would bring bad news

"Dawn's parents are being released from prison soon"

"Oh thank you, I will see you tomorrow have a nice evening" as soon as he hung up he went back to playing with Dawn, he knew he would have to explain to Dawn what her social worker had said.

Dawn sat down for dinner Carlisle and Esme sat with her "it was Miss Heather"

"What do you mean sweetheart," Carlisle asked

"You asked me who cut my tummy, it was Miss Heather"

Carlisle and Esme could not understand why someone entrusted with the care of children with unimaginable pasts would ever do that, they were both beyond angry "thank you for telling me Dawn" Carlisle hid the venom in his voice "your social worker wants to talk with us tomorrow"

"Why" 

"Well your birth parents are being released from prison soon" Carlisle kept a calm tone as to not fright Dawn

"NO" Dawn started crying, both Carlisle and Esme went to comfort her

"Sweetheart we won't force you to do anything you don't want to we are just going to talk to your social worker" she slowly nodded her head

Skip to the meeting with the social worker

"Hello Dawn how are you," she asked, Dawn hid behind her teddy and lead back on the sofa so Esme and Carlise created a protective barrier between her and Mrs Smith her social worker "so I have been speaking to both Dawn's mum and dad and both have been attending support groups and parenting classes both of them want a relationship with Dawn, now, of course, we would have to take things slowly but it could work" Mrs Smith continued to talk about how good a relationship with Dawn's parents could be.

Dawn kept getting angry when Mrs Smith kept referring to those people like her parents "NO" was all Dawn could shout before she jumped off from the sofa and ran upstairs hiding in her room

Carlisle and Esme quietly entered Dawn's room, Dawn was hidden away in her den "Oh sweetpea what on earth is the matter" Dawn tried to speak but no words came, Esme gently pulled her quaking daughter onto her lap

They finally got Dawn to calm down before asking again "what is wrong" but Dawn could not tell her parents what was wrong, Carlisle quickly picked up the notebook on Dawns dresser 

'I don't want to see them you are my parents' she scribbled down

"Sweatheart we would never make you see them if you don't want to" Carlisle whipped the tears streaming down her red cheeks

They all went back downstairs to where the social worker was waiting for them 'I don't want to see them' Dawn showed her social worker

"But Dawn they really want to see you and make amends for what happened" Mrs SMithe lightly pressured

Dawn shook her head tears welling in her eyes again "Dawn has expressed that she doesn't want to see them her wishes should be respected and there is no making amends for what they did to her" Esme was struggling to contain her anger

"Thank you for coming Mrs Smith" Carlisle stood up signalling the end of the meeting, he led Mrs Smith away from his daughter and wife.