“You have sex with your Dad?”
Beth nodded, “I love him as a man. He’s the only man I trust completely.”
“Doesn’t it feel weird?”
“To be weird, you have to know normal. I was a physical virgin when I was raped. They took my ability to conceive a child. I don’t know normal. I gave my Dad my real virginity.”
“Real virginity?”
“Honey, we’re women. The little piece of tissue, our hymen, can be broken easily by accident. A friend broke hers water skiing when she fell and did the splits. You become a woman when you give yourself, your love and soul. Men can force your body to have sex, but no one can force you to make love. It’s one of the great powers a woman has. When to first make love.”
Sandy was quiet for a time.
“You remembered everything?”
Beth nodded sadly. “It’s part of the healing process or so I’ve been told.”
“When you talk to Alice does she tell anyone what you talk about?”
“No Honey,” suspicion began to grow inside Beth, “You can tell her any secret and she will keep it safe.”
“What about you?”
“Most times I would, but if I thought keeping something a secret could hurt you or someone I love, I’d probably tell.” Beth would not lie to her.
“Okay, but it would hurt a lot of people if you tell.” Sandy took a deep breath, “I’m not a physical virgin. My uncle, my Mom’s brother, forced me a couple of years ago.” Sandy’s eyes filled with tears.
Beth’s eyes widened, connecting the possibilities and dangers. She forced herself to be calm, “Honey, then I think you should have Jennifer examine you. You should also talk to Alice,” Beth saw fear in the little girl’s eyes, “or do you want me to tell her?”
“Could you?”
“Of course,“ Beth said, getting up, “let’s go see Jennifer and your Mom.”
While Jennifer examined Sandy, Beth found Alice.
“I think you’ve got another patient. Sandy just told me her uncle raped her.”
Alice nodded sadly. “She asked me to tell you,” Beth said, knowing Alice would never betray a confidence.
Alice’s eyes showed gratitude. She could now treat Sandy. Then she snapped. This was Beth talking to her! Beth had just gone through vividly reliving her horrific rape and sodomy. Beth who would not leave her room for 36 hours.
“How are you doing?”
“OK, not great, but OK. I could have lived without feeling that damn broom handle shoved inside me again, or the broken arm or a million images, smells and pains from that night. I’ll deal with it, so long as you’ll help me.”
Alice smiled at Beth’s ultimate compliment. She went to find Nancy in the infirmary.
Alice arrived as Sandy was leaving an exam room. Sandy looked unhappy; Nancy looked devastated.
Jennifer looked at Nancy, “Mind if Alice listens in?” Nancy shook her head no, “How about you Honey? Can Alice listen?”
Sandy nodded.
“Honey, I think you have Gonorrhea. The tests will confirm it. Many women are asymptomatic – they have no symptoms. You also have a little damage to your vaginal floor that we should repair.”
Jennifer paused, “You understand?”
“Why does my period hurt so much?”
“It may be from the STD, but we’ll have them check when we go to Brisbane.”
At the mention of Brisbane, Sandy’s head snapped up. She smiled broadly remembering all the things to do in Brisbane, the walk around outside mall and all the boys!
Even Nancy smiled.
“Sandy, Beth told me your secret. She said you asked her to tell me?” Sandy nodded.
“Honey, do you want me to tell your Mom?”
“She just told us,” Nancy said with a haunted expression.
“How is Ted going to take it?” Alice asked Nancy. Ted inspired terror. Alice prayed he did not take this out on Nancy.
“I think Tim or Michael should tell him,” Alice said, thinking, “probably Michael. He had to stop from killing the boys that raped Beth because she needed him. Ted respects him.”
“Nancy, do you or the girls want to stay in the main house tonight?” Alice asked obliquely asking if Ted would hurt her or the girls.
“Ted would never hurt me or the girls.”
Michael spoke with Ted that evening before dinner. While outwardly tough, inside of Ted was a gentle, loving man. His girls defined his world and it was crumbling around him. It was his job to protect Becka and Sandy. He’d failed them miserably. Michael recognized the look, feeling the man’s pain.
Ted also suffered from PTSD. He’d been off his meds for some time, giving him the illusion that he had control without them.
He ate dinner with his girls, gently kissed them goodnight. When Nancy asked him to come to bed, he said he had some things to think about.
A single gunshot reverberated through the compound a little after midnight.