In The Family

Chapter Five

There was coldness in the air this morning. Zoey sat on a stool in the kitchen and blew on her mug of hot chocolate patiently. Today would be Les and Toby’s first day of prep school and they‘d have to be up soon. After finally meeting them, she could hardly wait to see how this would go. Neither had been particularly enthusiastic about the thought of not spending their days with Jed and Abbey, but they’d accepted it with minimal sulking. Meeting Zoey had been just the distraction they’d needed to take their minds off their mutual separation anxiety. However, their first encounter didn’t go quite as planned.

Zoey had arrived after that night in the East Wing to find two apprehensive little ones waiting anxiously outside for her arrival. They’d been between running to greet her, as they felt they already knew her; and running from her, because she was a complete stranger to them. As she stepped out of the car, they came to a consensus. They had looked at Zoey, then, at each other, and…next, they ran.

In a heartbeat, a dozen bodies took off after them. They didn’t get very far since Toby was not too quick a runner and Lesly slowed herself down so that he could keep up. Milo scooped Toby up into his arms, bringing Les full stop. She wasn’t going anywhere without her baby brother. She loved him too much. Someone had to.

Toby then whirled into a frenzy, thrashing and screaming to be released. No one catching him had ever led to anything other than agony and humiliation. It was all supposed to be over now. So, why did it all feel the same? He screamed bloody murder at the top of his lungs. At last, he knew what love was and he was counting on love to save him.

Their own souls crying out in answer to their son‘s distress, they freed him from his defender’s grasp and held him securely between them, beckoning Lesly to join them. The dark-suited sentries stationed themselves to the four winds around the trembling group as Zoey watched worriedly from the outside. She’d never been one to inspire fear. She didn’t want to start now.

Soon, the fevered whispers of comfort slowed to a tense and weary silence and they disbanded, clinging loosely to each other with joined hands. Toby sucked apprehensively on his lips and clung to Abbey’s hand thoughtlessly. Abbey represented safety and he needed that right now. He took a step towards his sister as manners dictated and whispered a rough, “Hi.”

Despite her best efforts, Zoey failed to not start when confronted with her very own eyes staring back at her. Still, she tried to smile so as not to alarm him further. She’d never seen any child throw a fit quite like that one. That wasn’t unruliness or insolence. That was fear, fear for one’s very life. Someone so young should never know fear such as that. But he did. His eyes told a story. A story of trauma, and neglect, and so much unhappiness. And she wanted to hear this story. Then, she wanted to hear whatever explanation anyone had for this. She wanted to know who had hurt this boy. She wanted a name. But most of all, she wanted to take that look from his eyes.

And that’s how they met. She met her mother’s twin only moments later and formed another instant bond. They agreed, with eyes only, that it was their joint mission to protect Toby. There would be no battle for dominion or jealousy. He’d been the subject of far too much of that in his brief life. Those feuds had left him vulnerable and at a disadvantage. He symbolized every moment that any child had been hurt by someone who should’ve shown love. He was the product of a passion one would be only blessed to feel. He was this family at its lowest point bringing them out in its best. He pressed them to the service of relations. There was no greater service. And so, for them, it had begun…

Zoey checked her watch again for the fourth time and peaked through the kitchen door to see if her ‘cousins’ were coming yet. There was no sign of them and only silence from upstairs. She felt as though she was more excited than either Les or Toby. More so, she was dying to see what they’d look like in their uniforms. It was like seeing her parents, before and after. It was uncanny. Her self-satisfied grin dimmed momentarily at the nearly inconceivable scenario her parents had laid out for her. She wouldn’t have considered it all if not for a blurry recollection of a day long past when she’d gone to visit her baby cousin and had arrived with her parents to find she and her family gone.

It didn’t seem like something family did. It wasn’t something family was supposed to do. She couldn’t imagine either of her sisters doing that to her. Of course, her sisters loved her. She loved her sisters. That was enough, wasn’t it? Wasn’t love enough?

Before Zoey could lose herself too deeply in those morose thoughts there was a muted trooping from the hall. She could hear a heated argument occurring from top to bottom.

“But I don’t want to go, Uncle Jed.”

“I know, honey, but you’re already behind in school. You have to go. You’re both so smart and people should know that.”

“Unca Jed?”

“Yes, son.”

“I not weady to go yet.” They stopped in their tracks, but Jed waved Abbey and Les on.

“Why not?”

“I not smart.” Zoey listened sadly and gave her mother a searching look when she entered. Her mother only shook her head and went about checking the kid’s lunches.

“You are smart. It’s just way in there. You’ve never had anyone look for it before, so you don’t know it’s there. But it is. It is.”

“Promise?”

“I do, honey. I do. Come here.” There was a loud smooching sound and Toby laughed. “It’s gonna be a good day, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Come on, breakfast.” At last, they came in and took seats next to Zoey at the counter. She looked around her father to Toby swinging his legs over the floor.

“Hey.” He looked up at her.

“Hey.” She toyed with her mug and whistled ‘Hail to the Chief’ to fill the quiet of the room. Her mother poked her in the side as she passed her to reach Jed. She stopped abruptly and shrugged. She didn’t know what to do. “So, are you excited to go to school today?” She immediately wished that she’d kept her mouth shut. The blinked at her vacantly. “Okay. So no. I get that. I wasn’t wild about school either, at first.”

“But you liked it eventually, right?”

“Yeah. I mean, I was scared when I got there. I didn’t want to leave mom and dad, but I had to.” Toby scooted forward in his seat and sat his chin in his stacked fists.

“Why?”

“Because, it’s a school for kids, not grown-ups. Mommies and daddies have to go to work.”

“But there was other grown-ups there.”

“I know. Those are your teachers. They’re going to take care of you while you’re there. You’ll be with them until Mommy and Daddy come back for you.”

“Mommy and Daddy are coming back?” Zo snapped her fingers as she realized her faux pas. They didn’t know. She’s forgotten that they didn’t know. Ah, hell. She looked to her parents for assistance, but they left her to explain.

“They aren’t…today. Uncle Jed or Aunt Abbey will come and get you. And if they can’t, I’ll get you. That okay with you guys?” They communicated wordlessly.

“Yeah, that’s okay.”

“Okay, cool.”

“Well,” Abbey waited for someone else to speak, but it seemed that the time for talking had passed. “It’s time to go.” No one moved. “Now.” Still. “Seriously, everybody move.”

Jed clapped his hands. “Okay, guys. Move out.” They all hopped down from their posts and started on their ways.

Jed and Abbey helping the kids into their coats and Zoey handed them their fully stocked backpacks. As they were about to walk out of the kitchen with her parents, their sister pulled them back for a quick kiss each. “Have a nice day. Come back and tell me all about it. I want to hear everything. Love you.” They kissed her back and returned the sentiment as they were hustled out by their parents.

She shook her head at her parents’ youthful exuberance. She was certain that they were far more thrilled than either Les or Toby. She plopped back down on her stool to wait for their return. She had to admit that she was thrilled too. She sighed when she checked the wall clock and found that only two minutes had passed.

“Damn. It’s gonna to be a long day.” She sat her mug in the sink and left the kitchen to find Charlie. He had to be doing something interesting; God knows she wasn’t. Zoey sloughed around the Oval Outer Office with Charlie as they both waited for her father’s arrival. Originally he hadn’t planned to accompany the children to school but that had gone out the window at the Ellipse. Toby had refused to release his hold on Jed’s hand and had made burgundy hell for anyone who tried to make him. Jed hadn’t been able to deny his son’s plaintive appeals. The car rolled away two minutes later, POTUS in tow.

She was dying to hear how it had all gone after that stellar beginning. Following their return, both of her parents had been ensconced in postponed meetings for the majority of the day and had been unavailable for even a brief lunch. Finally, three o’clock rolled around, met by a trooping of adults, family and agents to the limousine. Abbey and Jed were anxious, and Zoey couldn’t help but yield to the general tension in the air. She still didn’t know what had happened this morning. However, if the way her mother gripped her father’s hand was any indication, she should be prepared.

It was a long ride through DC’s political district to the more suburban area where the children had been taken. No one spoke. At last, a large Victorian building came into view. It was beautifully built, but so imposing. She felt a chill. She was glad she didn’t go there.

The vast courtyard was clear and the silence echoed in each of them. There were no children playing, no parents, or nannies, bustling around and loading their expensive cars with the over-indulged offspring of the DC Elite. It was just quiet as if all the joy and youth had been wiped out. In reality, they all knew that the Secret Service had had the area cleared for their arrival hours in advance, but that was reality. Reality had no place on the first day of school.

The car glided around the stone drive and came to a stop before the gilded front doors and the marbled steps. Waiting just inside, Les and Toby held hands pensively. They weren’t used to a life where they were driven around limos and had armed sentries following their every move. Abbey and Jed, and Zoey stepped out in file. All faces lit up. They also weren’t used to a life where they had this; two parents filled with love and a sister who went out of her way just to see them. The two groups came together in a clash. There were hugs and kisses all around.

Les babbled inanely to Abbey about all of the friends she’d made in her fourth grade class. They’d taken to her fast. Zoey and her father gently prodded a reticent Toby. He seemed more withdrawn than before. He hid his face in Jed’s neck and refused to even acknowledge Zoey. They shared a look that conveyed the worst they both feared. They hurried back to the car for the return trip.

Les quieted down before they arrived back in DC. She fell asleep against Abbey shoulder with her mother’s arm wrapped around her. Abbey watched the rest of her family with a concerned expression. Both Jed and Zoey continued to coax Toby, but he wouldn’t bite. He only stared ahead with red eyes; he trembled when touched.

The fear was back.

~~~~

Abbey and Zoey were drinking tea when Jed came down from the putting the children down to bed. They hadn’t had time to really talk since picking them up earlier. There’d been snacks and homework, and baths to consider. Not to mention multiple trips to the situation room. Both women had tried to get through to Toby but had failed repeatedly. Jed’s final return of the evening had brooked the agreement that he try talking to the boy.

If his face was evidence, it either hadn’t gone well or had produced disturbing results. He settled down beside Abbey and rested his hand on top of hers. She didn’t like what she saw in his eyes. She could feel a nightmare waiting to happen all over again.

“No.” He nodded his head and looked to Zoey, who only managed to look mystified. He closed his eyes and took a breath.

“Toby told me that he saw his mother today. He saw Sienna…and her boyfriend.” She turned her hand up beneath his and clinched his fingers.

“Jed?” Her questioning paused made him look at her. She dropped her chin but kept his gaze. “Him?”

“Yeah.” She turned her head away and cursed the man’s name.

“Did he try to see them?”

“Yeah. Both he and Sienna tried to see them.”

“How’d they even know where they were going?” He reached up to touch the back of her neck. She grasped his wrist and held his hand there.

“Everyone knows, Abbey. It wasn’t a big secret. I had CJ ask that the press stay away from the school so as not to interfere with things.” She nodded and took a cleansing breath.

“Thank you for that.”

“Yeah. A lot of good it did.” She looked over her shoulder at him and stroked his cheek with the back of her hand.

“Hey, don’t worry. You did that best you could do with what you had. We both knew she’d be back. We just didn’t know she’d have the nerve to bring him with her.” She snorted dismally. “I can’t believe she brought him with her. He is not coming into this house, Jed. I won’t have it. I swear to God if that man touches my babies…Jed, I’ll do something horrible. I’ll kill him where he stands.”

“Abigail,” he called to her worriedly.

“No, no. I don’t care anymore, I won‘t stand for anymore. I’ll kill him with my bare hands if I have to.” He moved to stand behind her and massaged her shoulders comfortingly. “Don’t let him near them.” Or her obviously. Abbey made no empty promises when it came to her and hers. She could and would rouse hell.

“I won’t, baby. I won’t.” He kissed her crown and tugged her back to rest against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.

Zoey finally made her presence known with the rough clearing of her throat. They turned to her. “What…who? Who is he? Reynold, is it Reynold?” They looked back to each other, silently debating whether or not to tell her the rest of the story. It was agreed. She had a right to know. “Mom? Dad?”

“No, honey, not Reynold.” Zoey only managed to look more baffled. “Your…aunt has a boyfriend, the same one for a while it seems. He would -- he would abuse them, Zoey. He would come into the room they shared late at night and he would molest them. More specifically, Toby. He would molest Toby and force Lesly to watch. Whenever Toby would cry out or make a noise, he would hit Les as punishment. His sister paid for things neither of them had ever done wrong. If she wasn’t there or couldn’t take it, he’d simply beat Toby within an inch of his existence. He would hurt him so badly, Zo. And Lesly would have to clean up the mess he left behind. The nightmares she wakes up from are terrible. The injuries are still so new. When the mornings are cold, you can see her barely able to move. It‘ll ache brand new every morning.” Her face was a picture of despair.

“The bruises haven’t all faded yet,” Jed supplied bleakly.

“Neither have the scars,” Abbey finished. “Some will never go away, even after they’ve disappeared.”

“Sienna let this go on?”

“She certainly never tried to stop it.”

“She was a terrible excuse for a mother.” That was harsh criticism coming from Jed Bartlet. He was probably the most forgiving man alive today. If a man of such strong faith and compassion could find no redemption within to lend you, then surely you had gone beyond redemption. Sienna had gone beyond the best of all of Jed’s efforts.

Abbey dropped her head into her hands. “But was I any better? I knew that woman and I dared to hand her unborn children, our unborn children, Josiah. What was going through my mind that could’ve convinced me that this woman could ably care for any child? My God, this is all my fault.”

“No,” both her daughter and husband rushed to assure her. “No, mom. This is her, all her. You entrusted your babies to her and she showed you how misplaced that trust was. Never take someone else’s sins onto your soul. Eternity’s too long for that.”

How wise that seemed coming from someone so young. Zoey was also surprised at herself; how profound. She’d never been the profound one in the family; that was left to Dad, and Ellie, when she was equal to the task. She was dumbfounded to realize that wisdom sounded good on her. She was certain that it must be the genes.

“You’ve gotten far too shrewd in your years,” her mother remarked wryly. Zoey smiled at what she knew to be a compliment and hopped on the counter to reach an apple in the fruit bowl.

“I just happen to have the shrewdest role models around, so it wasn’t a hard act to follow.”

“Of course.”

“Of course.” Zoey nodded affirmatively and took a bite of her apple. She said nothing more as she absently munched, but thought inwardly of how best she could protect her newfound siblings; Jed stared off into the distance, vacantly wondering if he’d actually be able to stop Abbey from doing any of the things she’d threatened should Si-Si‘s boyfriend dare come near; and Abbey contemplated what she would do if he was, in fact, stupid enough to try.

It was frightening to acknowledge, even in her own mind. Her capacity for fury astounded, and frightened, her. She had to catch herself for fear of passing the point of no return; the point to which her wrath would be invoked and she would knowingly seek them out to mete a punishment she had no right to deliver. There would be no returning from that journey into darkness. She wouldn’t allow them to turn her; there were too many on the side of right counting on her righteousness for her to ever leave for good. Jed’s unexpected kiss fully anchored her to her humanity and she silently thanked him for his intuitive knowledge of her very soul. He always knew where she stood in faith and conscience. As long as nothing could come between them, her devotion would remain steadfast. They held each other high, and she needed that right now. Especially right now.

For what felt like hours, they all sat about wordlessly; each absorbing their lukewarm conversation and wondering how it affected what would happen next. None of them were certain how this fight would end, but all were convinced that it was just beginning. They’d finally gotten Lesly and Toby back into the warm enclosure of family and they’d be damned if they’d be taken to be neglected and abused again.

Not on their lives, and certainly not the children’s. Giants would fall long before that would be allowed to happen.

That was something that Abbey would make damned sure of.

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