The pretty blue eyes eventually focused on her. “What Alan did, I don’t want that anymore, Lynn,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “And I…you know…I’m…well…I wasn’t smart enough to stop him.”
All the air left Lynn’s lungs. She’d never heard Maddie acknowledge her challenges. Wasn’t even sure how much she was aware of them.
“Alan abused you because he was a bad person, Maddie, and for no other reason. You stayed because you loved him. Just like lots of the other women here. Think of Jennifer. She’s practically a genius and she stayed.”
“She’s an animal doctor.”
“I know,” Lynn said. “I’ve met Darin, Maddie. He’s a good person, I promise.”
Maddie nodded, but looked at the door in front of them as though she was facing a guillotine.
Grant Bishop had signed all of the necessary waivers on Darin’s behalf, allowing those within the shelter to share his information.
“Darin had a brain injury, Maddie. He…struggles.”
The slender woman’s brows drew farther together as she alternated between biting and licking her lower lip. “Is he retarded?”
“No. And you know we don’t like that word. But sometimes things don’t come together for him like they used to.”
“He’s dumb like me?”
What was this? She’d never heard Maddie sound so derogatory about herself. But then, they’d only been close for a little over a year.
“You aren’t dumb, Maddie.”
“I am, too, Lynn. And Sara says that I have to be strong and face my life, not run from it.”
“Did you tell Sara you were dumb?” There was no way the counselor would have promoted such thinking. Or allowed it if she could help put a stop to it.
Maddie looked down.
And Lynn got a sick feeling. “Who told you you were dumb?”
Maddie shrugged. And mumbled, “No one.”
With a finger under the woman’s chin, Lynn lifted Maddie’s face until she looked her straight in the eye.
“Maddie? You know my rule. It’s okay if you make a million mistakes a day, you just don’t lie to me.”
Her eyes widening in horror, Maddie said, “I don’t, Lynn, I swear I don’t and—”
“It’s okay, I know you don’t.” Lynn gave Maddie’s shoulders a squeeze. “And I need you to tell me who told you you were dumb.”
“I don’t want to get anybody in trouble, and besides, she didn’t tell me.”
“Who did she tell?”
“Regina Cooper with the stitches in her face.”
“And what did Regina say?”
“She told her to shut up because she saw me standing there.”
“She told her not to talk like that because it’s not true,” Lynn said now, letting Maddie off the hook, while making a mental note to prepare Sara for her next session with Maddie. And to mention the incident at their staff meeting later that morning, too.
They’d know who was talking to Regina about Maddie by the end of the day. And if it happened again, the mystery woman would be asked to leave.
“Maddie? Darin Bishop got hurt trying to save his wife,” she said. “I’m trusting you with that information because I know you’re smart enough to know what to do with it.”
Maddie stared at her, blinking a couple of times while she chewed her lip, and then took Lynn’s hand from off her shoulder and clutched it tightly. “Okay, Lynn, let’s go. I’ll be friends with him,” she said.
And for Maddie, that appeared to be that.
In that moment, as she pushed through the door to greet Grant and Darin Bishop, Lynn almost envied the other woman’s simplicity.
CHAPTER FIVE
“I REMEMBER YOU.” Darin’s wide-faced grin matched his five-year-old tone and Grant stiffened, a natural reaction to exposing his older brother to people who might not expect to hear near–baby talk coming from a grown man.
Because if they reacted adversely, Darin would be able to tell and it would upset him.
“You do?” Lynn’s smile appeared genuine as she approached, her gaze meeting Darin’s. She held out her hand. “I’m glad because I’ve never forgotten you.”