Wreckage

Chapter Three

Chapter 3

It's not real

TW Grooming, SA, Child Abuse attempted suicide

Marjorie's POV

I drove myself to work today, because I have an appointment with an old friend of mine Vicky, we were at university together, she was studying to become a social worker whilst I was on the child psychology course we hit it off on day one. We ended up sharing a flat for the four years we were at university, she is heading up the safeguarding review of three siblings who all attended the nursery, the older 2 are now in primary school, the youngest is still with us. There had been concerns in the past, but somehow the sibling's parents explained everything away, but last week the youngest Billy was admitted to hospital, after he had been dropped off the mum didn't do handover with either Winter or Charlotte and within 10 minutes of him being dropped off I was called to go into the toddler room, he had collapsed and when Charlotte went over to check him there was blood coming out of his ear and he was covered in bruises.

He was taken to hospital, I rang Vicky at social services and the police, the sibling's parents were arrested the older two were placed as wards of the court and in foster care. Today was the safeguarding meeting and the decision as to what was happening with the three children.

I was glad to be alone, I still needed to process what was going on with me, and my nightmares, I hadn't had them in 20 years, and now they were creeping back. I stopped at Costa and got a large tea and a chocolate muffin. As I left and headed to my car, I heard someone calling me, it was a voice I hadn't heard for a long time. I turned around and looked standing there was my mum, she hadn't changed one bit, she is a little taller than me, straight red hair, fair skin, freckles, and deep blue eyes.

"Marji, how are you?" she asked

The memories came flooding back, the hospital, the shouting, the denial of everything that happened 20 years ago.

"I'm, I'm okay" I replied

"Are you still working at that nursey?" she asked

I hold my head up and reply "Yes, I am, I'm the manager there, I have been for 15 years, I have a great life now, I have great friends"

I could see the look of pity in her eyes "don't pity me, I love my job, I love my staff, and I have a wonderful boyfriend who loves me," I said.

I turned and walked to my car, got in and drove off, I was determined not to cry. I got to Vicky's office and went in.

"Alright Marj" I love Vicky's accent; she was born and grew up in Liverpool, but she decided to stay down here after graduation as she had met her now wife Laura and had put roots down, like me she had a tough childhood we bonded over our experiences and what had happened to us. She has never lost her Liverpool accent, and she also got me to support Liverpool fc as well, she is the only person who can call me Marj.

"Hello, my love" I replied back

"What's up?" she asked

"What? Nothing" I reply

"Oh, Come on Marj, I know you too well, has that sexy bloke of yours upset you? Hasn't he given you your morning romp?" she asked laughing

"WHAT!!!, no I have just bumped into my mum" I replied

"OH fuck, did she say anything?"

"She asked how I was, and if I was still working at the nursery"

"Did you tell her you are shagging the boss's son, and you are helping him, and his sister take over the company?" she asked

"No because I know she runs in the same circles as Reece's dad, and we don't want him to get wind of our plans" I replied

"So, when are you and Laura coming round for dinner?" I ask

"Are you cooking?" she asked

"I'll supply the alcohol; Reece will do the cooking, and I will have the match on, I talked Reece into getting the full sports package on Sky "I replied

"Well in that case I will see when Laura has a weekend off from the hospital and we will arrange something? Will you be getting the karaoke out?"

"Of course, and Just Dance, I think Reece will need it, he is so stressed and overworked with the takeover he will need a night of us two being idiots"

"Oh, Marji that sounds like a plan, he can sit with Laura, and they can shake their heads at us?" she laughed

"Definitely they haven't done that for a while, as we have been on our best behavior when we have been out with them" I replied

We wait in her office talking about nights out we had, when creepy men would come on to us, and the night me, Vicky and Laura pretended we were a throuple to get away from one creepy bloke. Vicky kissed me just to make him go away.

Then the meeting got under way, after everything was discussed, it was decided that for the safety of all three children would be placed in foster care, they will be placed with a wonderful couple called Helen and Jude, they have been fostering children for years they have been bringing the children they foster to the nursery. Vicky went through the details of the case it was discovered that the eldest child, Sophie, was being groomed by her father and his friend and had been sexually abused by both. she's10 years of age, the middle child Beth who is 7 had been physically abused and locked in a cupboard for three nights with no food or drink and of course there was Billy who is 3 was still in hospital with serious head injuries and Dr's still don't know if he will have any long-term brain damage. Helen and Jude already had Sophie and Beth at home, and they visited Billy every day, it was a long road to recovery for all three of them, but they were safe now.

I headed back to the nursery, the memories of my own childhood had now come flooding back, my own experience and living hell at the hands of my stepfather and his best friend, the fact that nobody believed me when I tried to speak out. My mum dismissed what I said, then my stepfather slapped me across the face and called me a liar, seeing her today didn't help. Then the baby and what happened to my daughter. She was ripped from me moments after I gave birth. I walked into my office, shut the door and started crying and rubbing my thighs.