Innocence Stolen in the Night

A Mother's Worst Nightmare

I woke up as the phone rang. Being a Sunday morning, with two of my kids at their father's house for the weekend and the other two still asleep, I let the answering machine get it. I heard my ex-mother-in-law Mary's voice telling me I should call her. While it was somewhat unusual for her to call, I didn't sense anything wrong by her words or tone. However, what Mary wanted to tell me would shake the very foundation of my sanity and change my life forever.

Mary's phone was busy, so I called my ex-husband Chris. Chris abruptly said his mom would call me back. This was not unusual either, since we preferred not to talk to each other. In retrospect, I feel he could of at least attempted to prepared me. When Mary finally called back, she started off with, "something has happened that I think you should know." I quickly realized she was talking about my children. Lynn was 7, Christopher was 5, and they were the only good things that had come of my first marriage. The thought of anything happening to them made my stomach crawl up into my throat.

I was told Chris had a "small party" the evening before and several people were there "playing cards." That next morning, my daughter Lynn, my sweet and precious daughter, walked into Chris's room and said she had been molested during the night and Christopher was a witness. Upon hearing those words I felt my stomach lurch and my legs give out. I grabbed onto my dresser for support and slumped there, bent over like someone kicked in my gut. I had just been told my daughter's innocence was stolen from her.

Time seemed to lapse around me while I cowered there, feeling a torturous agony I've never known. Finally, I asked Mary what the police said. Her reply was a simple, nonchalant, "We didn't call them because Lynn said he didn't hurt her and I don't think we should traumatize her anymore." I was appalled and shook my head, trying to comprehend the words I had just heard. How could they not call the police? Someone has to pay for this! Someone molested my daughter!