Wrecked

FIVE

A dark haired man with a height that reminded you of basket ballers stepped into the hallway and said. "Where are the parents of Victoria Howard?"
Steve stood up. "I'm her father."
Jody ignored his unspoken meaning that the mother didn't matter just like she ignored him when he had walked in and pretended he had never seen her or her mother and Jody made no attempt to talk to him knowing he'd ignore her.
"How is she doing?" Jody asked, unable to keep quiet.
The doctor's eyes rested on her and he smiled, looking relieved. "You must be the famous Mrs Howard. I almost thought for a moment that you couldn't come."
"Please call me Jody. And yes, I'm Tory's mother. What did you mean by famous?"
Steve looked furious. "Can I see my daughter now?"
"No. Only her mother can see her right now."
"What? Is that supposed to be a new rule around here or what?" He barked
"Because, Mr Howard, your daughter's been crying for her mother for more than an hour now. And while Jody is talking to her daughter, I would like to talk to you about your daughter's health."
Jody's heart almost failed due to fear. "Health? Isn't she fine? Why won't you tell me too?"
"Fine. Long story short, your daughter is gradually falling into depression."
"What?" Jody and Steve were shocked.
"What about? My princess is only six."
"And old enough to know what's going on around her. Look, I'm a pediatrician and I've dealt with lots of kids in my seven years of practise and I know that most kids with divorced parents are emotionally unstable. Out of a hundred kids from broken homes, statistics shows that over fifty percent are depressed. Ten of that fifty percent succeed in committing suicide every year."
"My daughter is happy. She cannot want to end her life."
"Not yet, Mr Howard. And if you are willing to do something about it now, its not going to get to that. For now, you are going to allow her mother see her or you are going to be losing Tory sooner than you think."
"I don't appreciate you interfering in my personal life." He scowled.
"And I don't appreciate you treating your child like a robot without emotions of her own. Do you know where she was going all alone?"
"I've not had time time to ask." Steve replied.
"She was going to see her mother."
A pause.
"What? How come? She doesn't even know where I...never mind."
"Live? Its okay. Can you see her now?"
Jody nodded. "Of course. Thanks. Mom if you can't wait---"
"Oh please, do you think I'll leave you here? I will call your father and update him."
"Thanks."
There was something about seeing your child vulnerable and not be able to do a thing about it that could break a mother's heart.
"Baby, its mommy." She said standing at the foot of her bed.
Tory's brown eyes fluttered open and her lips tugged into a smile. "Mommy, you came."
She went closer and brushed her hair soothingly. "Of course I came. I'm your mommy and I love love you."
"Really?"
Her eyes filled with tears and she swallowed. "Of course. You made mommy very worried."
"I won't do it again. I just wanted to see you. Daddy said I couldn't come and I begged a-and begged." Her voice broke and so did Jody's heart. Tears slipped down both mother and daughter's cheeks.
Jody sat on her bed and carefully hugged her and pulled her to her side.
"Mommy."
"Yes, princess."
"Can you get me a cardboard and glue and color pencils?"
Jody refrained herself from asking why. "Yes, princess. Does it have to be right now? Because Mommy does not feel like leaving her princess."
Tory giggled. "Really?"
She hugged her daughter tighter
Tory groaned in pain
Tory cringed and pulled away. "Oh, sorry princess."
"I love you, mommy. Please don't leave me here."
Jody frowned. "Of course I won't leave you here."
"Thanks." With that she dozed off.
She sighed. Oh no. It looks like her absence had really affected her daughter. What was she going to do now? Steve would never allow Tory stay with her for a while and she couldn't even afford it now. Tory might love her now but she would hate her if she took her to leave in her tiny house when she was probably living in a mansion.
Maybe if she bought the things Tory wanted she would forget about coming to stay with her. She moved to leave but Tory held onto her. She smiled and tears filled her eyes, if only things had been different.
She moved to leave again but Tory still held on to her muttering in her sleep. "Please don't leave me."
A tear slipped down her cheeks and she leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I won't."
"I hope you will be keeping that promise."
She looked up to see the doctor at the threshold of the room.
"I hope I can, Mr.... Oh I don't know your name"
He smiled. "It's John Paul."
"It's nice to meet you."
"I can say the same. And I'm more than glad to be a help to you and Tory. She's adorable."
"Yes." Tory smiled and glanced lovingly at her daughter. "I'm so lucky."
"I'm glad to know you know that. I'm going to recommend that Tory spends more time with you."
"I will try to do that."
"I wish you could be more certain about that.  I like your daughter and I'd rather not see her here again."
"It's just... " She swallowed her pain. "I have to work and all and...." She trailed off, her later thoughts remaining in her mind.
"I understand. I wish you luck in convincing your husband to allow you spend time with her."
She nodded speechless.
"I will leave you alone now. Tomorrow at two,  come  and sign the papers so you can take Tory home."
"Of course,  I will do that." A new voice joined in the conversation.
Tory looked up to see Steve and tensed immediately wondering how long he had been standing there.
The tension in the room was palpable. "Have a good day Mr and Mrs Howard." Dr John left and Jody suddenly wished he hadn't.
"I will pick my daughter tomorrow myself and I will stay overnight."
His dismissal was obvious and embarrassing but Jody stood her ground,  taking advantage of the situation. "I think it'd be good for my daughter's mental health that I see her tomorrow. I was hoping you would still be smart enough to realise that."
Jody saw the shock in his eyes before he quickly masked it. She couldn't help but smile inwardly.
Good. She wasn't going to be a walkover just because she was poor. "I will be here earlier to be with my daughter. Come exactly two pm OK? I don't want to subject my daughter to the awkwardness that accompanies your presence." She kissed Tory's hand and pried it gently away from hers. "Excuse me."
"Since you will be spending tomorrow afternoon with her,  you won't be allowed to see her on Saturday. I will be busy with my daughter, she will doing... What rich kids do,  I don't expect you to understand though. You are excused."
Tears pooled in her eyes.
She knew she wore cheap clothes because she could barely fend for herself and her son and she was used to people staring at her posts clothes in disdain but she had never expected Steve to mock her lack of wealth and social status. She swallowed her tears and walked away. She could only hope her absence wouldn't affect Tory so much because now she was more than sure that Steve would never allow her near his daughter more than the agreed time.
It was certain.