Hard Life

Beth

It's been weeks since the police woman went to look for Lilly and Logan. She had almost given up hope with the many horrible things that she thought was happening to them. She was frightened that someone would find them dead one day and she'd be the one called to come see the bodies. For months on end, she searched for them but she had no luck. She went as far as she could looking for these kids but something happened that made her turn back. For all she knew the kids made it all the way to Mexico by now.

"Beth you need to calm down. We'll find them. Don't worry," her husband told her. What did he know? She had been searching for months and she had just started to give up. She's been worried sick each day. Now he wants her to calm down? How could she, Lilly and Logan are still out there somewhere.

"Dave, I don't think I can do that. Those kids would have been ours if we just told them what was going to happen from the start. I blame myself for them running away," she said putting her hands in her face to stop her from crying.

"Think of it this way, we haven't found any bodies so we can't be sure that they're dead. Every day you are given a chance to look for them," his voice soothing her sobs.

"What if by the time I..." she was cut off by the wave of Dave's hand. "Don't think about the what ifs, don't think about the worst. Find the good and the world and think you'll find them alive and well. Think of the day we can awake and find them safely in the beds we have provided."

She nodded and hugged her beloved husband. She turned out the light and finally got some rest.

The next morning she walked into work all happy and joyful for she believed that today was that Lilly and Logan would be coming home. What she didn't know was that some other police man, that was placed in the town over for patrolling a few nights, has found them. She sat down at her desk and got some work done before asking the chief to let her search for the kids once more.

When she was almost done with the small stack she was working on her phone rang. She picked it up on the second ring, "Hello, Officer Beth speaking." There was no voice speaking back at first just load cheering in the background. One thing was for sure was that someone was having a party, maybe it was just a prank call. "I'm sorry for contacting you so early in the morning, but we have been trying to get a hold of you last night. We didn't have your phone number but someone who said he worked at your station offered up your desks phone number," The voice spoke from the other line.

"So what is this about?" she asked intently. "We have found Lilly and Logan," the man said. Before the man could say anything else, Beth started spilling out a whole lot of questions. "Wait, wait, wait," the man said cutting Beth off, "Listen, listen, listen. Before you do anything rash, I need to tell you a few things. Just before I give you our location." Beth calmed down and waited for the news.

"Logan is badly injured. He has three broken ribs, a few broken toes, and has many scrapes up and down his body. He seems to have been beaten pretty bad through the past year." Beth was on the verge of tears hearing such bad news. She was close to hanging up the phone but she knew there must be good news in this terrible phone call.

"He's still alive but in a coma," The man continued, "His sister seems to be just fine though. She's been sleeping most of her visit. The only thing we have on her is a scraped up knee and a little cut on her cheek." Beth was relieved to hear that Lilly was okay but was in tears hearing Logan's condition. One of her close friends at the station saw Beth was in tears and hugged her letting her know she wasn't alone.

"I'm glad to hear that she is doing just fine, but may I ask how this happened to Logan?" Beth spoke into the phone softly hopping not to sound too sad. It was getting harder for her to talk for her throat became very dry. "We only know how he got the broken bones. The rest is a mystery to us. I wish there was more I could tell you.... Oh there is one other thing we can tell you, a lot of the scars are so strait that the doctors believe that it's from knives the others seem to have been from being beaten so bad. He has gone through a lot, Beth."

"Is that all? .... If that's so I'd love to come see them for I have worried about them ever since they ran away. Maybe take Lilly home with me? I'll understand if she wouldn't want to leave her brother, so if she chooses she can stay with her brother till he is healed," Beth started to talk fast again for she really wanted to see her adopted children. She was also a little load for now everyone in the police station knew what her phone call was about, and everyone was listening in. It was now clear to her that everyone was worried about the kids not just her.

After her conversation came to an end, the man gave Beth the location and went to go ask her boss to go see them. Her boss understood what she was going through. He allowed her to go but he expected to see her bright and early tomorrow morning. As she was driving to the location she called up Dave and told him what was going on. She could tell he was excited as well to hear that they had found the kids alive.

She pulled up the hospital and went to where Lilly and Logan were. She lowly entered the room only to find Lilly was gone. Beth knew she might be somewhere else in the hospital or maybe grabbing an early lunch.

Beth took off her jacket and hat, placing them on a chair near Logan's bed. She Turned to look at Logan and started to cray at the look of him. She felt so bad that this had happened to Logan. She softly paced her hand on Logan's face and spoke, "This will never happen again for I will protect you when you come home. I track down the man who did this to you and put him behind bars. I will do everything I can to keep you and your sister safe and happy."

"Get away from my brother!!" a strange voice behind her screamed. Beth spun around fast shocked. Beth's eyes laid on Lilly's face. She had grown so much from the last time she had seen her. Lilly mustn't have recognized Beth from afar. "Did you not hear me?" she asked getting mad. "I heard you. I heard you," Beth said softly as tears still streamed down her face. Lilly stood with a shocked look, she knew this voice but couldn't place it.

Lilly slowly made her way to this officer at Logan's bed. "Who are you," Lilly asked politely. "I'm Beth. You met me about a year ago or so, in the town over. I mean you two no harm I promise," she spoke. Lilly walked to Logan's side and grabbed ahold of his hand. Beth studied every movement she made. "So are you going to take you to an orphanage once he gets better?" Lilly asked looking down at Logan's face, not really wanting to hear the answer.

"No, I want to take you two with me. I want to welcome you two to my home. If that's alright with you. My husband and I have already made rooms for you two." Lilly didn't expect Beth to say those words. Lilly just looked at Beth shocked. "Would you like to come home with me today?" Beth asked calmly and softy not wanting to make Lilly mad. Lilly just shook her head, "I wish to stay with Logan. I don't want to leave his side." "I understand," Beth replied the left the room.

Lilly really didn't care to know why Beth wanted them. Beth didn't even know them that long. Lilly refused to ask any questions on why Beth had wanted them for she knew that, even if Logan was unconscious, he could still hear everything said around him.

Beth walked out of the hospital satisfied that she was able to tell Lilly what was going on. She hopped into her car and her close friend called her, "So how did it go? Is Lilly with you?" Beth sighed, "No. She wanted to stay with her brother. I don't know what she has seen or done, but she is so protective of him."

The two talked for a bit then Beth decided to head home. Beth couldn't stand the silence in the car. I wish I could have children of my own, but my body is too weak she thought to herself. Her mind slipped into the doctor's appointment she had not long ago, they told her there was nothing that could be done to prevent it.

The whole car ride home Beth just wanted to think about what it would be like when Lilly and Logan finally move in.