For one long, horrible moment, Trixie was completely paralyzed. It was like one of those dreams where you need to run, you need to run as you have never needed to do anything in your life, but your legs will not cooperate. They each weigh a thousand pounds; making lifting your feet an impossibility. And all the while your brain screams, "Go go go go, for the love of God GO!"

Trixie flew out of the house and down the porch steps, running down the drive faster than she'd ever run before, completely unaware of the low moan escaping from her throat, her heart in her mouth. She saw Katy lying on the ground in front of the open mailbox, and the moan became a wail as she screamed out her daughter's name, reaching her side at last. Her first awful thought was that she'd been struck by a car and thrown to the side of the road, but it was with indescribable relief that she didn't see any blood or worse. Neil was nowhere to be seen.

"Katy," she gasped, running frantic hands through her hair and down her body, searching for signs of injury. There weren't any. The little girl was sobbing, tears making clean tracks through the dirt clinging to her cheeks from the ground. She dimly recognized the feel of her mother's hands and flung herself towards the love and safety she knew were there.

Trixie sat on the ground and cuddled her on her lap, rocking her and murmuring soothing words. Obviously something terrible had happened—other than the normal tears of childhood, Katy never cried like this and had certainly never screamed. Trixie shivered as she recalled the awful sound—it had sounded so chillingly adult.

"Shhh," she crooned, rubbing her back gently and kissing the parts of her face that weren't buried into her stomach. "It's okay, angel. It's okay. Mommy's here. Tell me what happened."

Katy's sobs subsided into the occasional hiccup. "Nnnneil," she managed to say, burrowing into her mother and breathing in her comforting, familiar smell. Her short life filled with adoring love had not prepared her for what she had just seen, her brain unable to fully process the sequence of violent events.

Trixie carefully stood, keeping her daughter close to her. "What about Neil?" she said gently as she slowly walked back to the house, carrying her. She felt Katy's body stiffen in fear and added quickly, "You're safe, I won't let anybody hurt you. You can tell me." She entered the house, hoping that the familiar surroundings would help. She sank on the couch and covered them both with the homemade blanket her mother had made for her long ago.

Katy's voice came in little hitches as she told her mother that a bad man had gotten out of his car and yelled out mean words at them. Neil had told her to run, but she froze as the man reached them, punching Neil several times in the face, dragging him to the car with him. "He hitted him, he hurted him, Mommy!" Katy was so upset she reverted to her earlier rhythms of speech that, thanks to the attentions of her Uncle Mart, she hadn't used for quite some time.

Trixie closed her eyes and let out a little moan; she knew instantly what must have happened. No doubt, Neil's father, newly released from jail, had somehow found out where Neil was living and had come for him. Trixie shivered—there was only one way he could have gotten that information.

Trixie automatically thought of Dan as she hastily stood and made her way to the telephone with Katy still clinging to her. Then she remembered he wasn't with the White Plains Police Department anymore. She called them anyway—Annabel lived in White Plains and she was sure that's where Neil's father was headed. She reached dispatch, recognizing the voice as belonging to a young officer named Anna Thompson. She quickly and urgently gave her Annabel's address, apprising her of the situation and begging her to please call her as soon as she knew what happened.

"You got it, Trixie," the young woman promised, ending the call.

"There now," Trixie spoke soothingly to Katy. "The police are going to catch up with that man and Neil's going to be just fine." Oh God, please let that be true! She sat the little girl on the counter by the kitchen sink, wetting a paper towel and washing her face.

"Why did he hit him?" Katy asked, looking at her mother with teary, confused eyes. The man had pushed her out of the way, causing her to fall on the ground while Neil said no, no Dad, don't, run Katy. It made absolutely no sense—daddies didn't do those kinds of things.

Trixie felt her own eyes fill with tears—she had seen something no child should ever have to see. And once seen, it could not be unseen. She lifted her off the counter and squeezed her hopelessly. "I don't know, Katy bird. He shouldn't have done it," was all she could think of to say.

"I want Daddy," Katy wailed, burying her face into Trixie's neck. She had a new book in her backpack because she had the most gold stars on her chart. Neil had given her a backride to the mailbox—he was Willie and she said giddiap. Why did this have to happen?

Trixie glanced at the clock—he wasn't due home for another hour or so. "Let's call him, okay sweetie? Stop crying now, everything is going to be fine." She picked up the phone with her free hand, awkwardly tucking it between her ear and neck so she could dial. When she was put through, she tried to make her voice as calm as possible when she told him to please come home. It didn't work.

"Oh my God, what's happened?" he said urgently. He could easily hear the dismay in Trixie's controlled voice, and knew whatever it was, it was bad.

Trixie suddenly realized that Katy wasn't the only one who needed comforting. "Neil's dad made an appearance," she began shakily and he didn't need to hear anymore.

A few minutes later he came through the back door, slightly out of breath. Katy twisted in her mother's arms and reached for him as he entered the kitchen. "What happened; where’s Neil?" he asked Trixie as he gently pulled his daughter into him, wrapping his arms around her comfortingly.

Jim paled as she told him about Neil’s father and what he’d done, his eyes taking on a strange glitter. "What's this guy's address?" he said when she finished, his voice dangerously soft. "Soundview Manor, right?"

"No," Trixie said, distressed.

"Yes it is, I remember you telling me."

"No, I mean you're not going there," Trixie cried, frightened at the darkly cold expression that was so out of place on Jim's normally open face.

"He's scared Katy out of her wits, he's hurting Neil, what do you mean I'm not going there? I'm going there," Jim said firmly. Inside he was shaking all over. He wanted life to be different for Katy than it was for him—he never in a million years wanted her to be exposed to the ugly violence he himself had lived through. Didn't want her childhood clouded with adult sorrow the way his was. He thought of the look of Neil's face when he said he hated his father and felt his heart shattering all over again.

"I've called the police; let them handle it. How many times over the years did you say that to me? That it was their job and to let them handle it? Well let them handle it, damn it!" Trixie's voice was slightly hysterical.

"Stay," Katy sobbed, pressing harder into him, and the frantic little voice broke him out of the spell of darkness he'd fallen into.

"Poker should not be played in a house full of women," he muttered and Trixie drew in a huge sigh of relief.

"Thank God," she breathed, putting her arms around them both and closing her eyes. Katy, sandwiched in the middle of her parents, stopped crying, beginning to relax. She knew nothing could possibly happen to her, the security seeping into her pores like warm honey.

"I understand what you're feeling," Trixie went on. "I wouldn't mind a crack at Neil's dad myself."

"He's a bad man," Katy said against her father's chest. "Mommy said he shouldn't have done it." With the fear subsided, there was indignance and disapproval in her tone.

"That's right, he shouldn't," Jim replied, kissing her forehead. "It was very wrong and he's in a lot of trouble. He'll be put somewhere he can't hurt anybody, so I don't want you thinking about him anymore, okay?" He held his breath until she replied, "Okay, I won't."

Trixie sat at the table, releasing a shaky sigh. "And so now, we wait." Please let Neil and Annabel be okay, she silently prayed.

Jim sat across from her, settling Katy in his lap. He reached across the table and took her hand as they sat in tired silence waiting for the phone to ring. They didn't have to wait long.

"Hello?" Trixie answered, her pulse fluttering in her throat. She smiled with relief at the words coming from the other end—Mr. Griffin was back in custody and Neil and Annabel, although shaken and bruised, were basically okay. "Where are they now?" she asked, giving Jim and Katy the thumbs up.

"They're here at the station. Neil would like to spend the night with his mother and return tomorrow if that's all right with you," Officer Thompson relayed.

"Of course it is. May I speak to him?" Trixie asked.

"He and his mother are in with the arresting officers right now. She's filing charges and there's a ton of paperwork to be filled out."

Trixie nodded—how well she remembered Dan complaining about the unbelievable amounts of paperwork involved in police work. "It's okay. Just tell him that everything is fine and we'll see him tomorrow, okay?"

"No problem. Oh, and one more thing. I have a message from Mrs. Griffin for you."

"For me?" Trixie said, puzzled. "What is it?" A huge smile of understanding and glee lit up her eyes as the young officer replied.

"She says to tell you that she wants to take you up on your offer. Do you know what that means?"

Trixie felt like jumping up and down. "Oh yeah! I sure do," she replied. Apparently, Neil wasn't the only one who had decided to give hope a fair shake. Trixie suddenly felt so happy she could hardly stand it. She hung up the phone and beamed at Jim and Katy. "See Katy? Neil is just fine."

"I'm hungry, Mommy!" Katy cried, a little puzzled when both her parents burst into laughter. As her Uncle Mart once told her, hunger is no laughing matter. She smiled anyway—if Neil was okay then he'd play with her some more. Besides, she liked it when everybody was laughing. She laughed too although she didn't know why.

They dug out all the Sunday night leftovers and had a happy meal, their hearts light at the thought of Neil and his mother. "It's kind of cute how concerned Neil was about my well being," Trixie commented, scooping some more mashed potatoes onto Katy's plate.

"He was pretty upset about it, actually. That's why I told him to come over here." A shadow crossed Jim's face, but how could he have known such a thing would happen?

"You know, he's worried that no nice girl will ever want to have anything to do with him because of everything that's happened."

Jim winced. "Oh boy. What did you tell him?"

A mischievous smile built on her face. "Oh, I pointed out that you'd had a similar experience, and look what a great girl you ended up with!" She laughed merrily. Neil had a long way to go, but she was sure that he would get there in time, even if they both had to nudge him along the way.

Jim smiled. "Well if that didn't convince him, nothing will!"

Jim and Trixie surreptitiously watched Katy for the rest of the evening, relieved when she didn't appear to be suffering any negative side effects from her experience. But when Trixie tucked her in that night, she suddenly looked uncertain.

"You want me to stay with you until you fall asleep, angel?" At her nod, Trixie peeled the covers back. "Scootch over," she said, sliding in next to her. Katy snuggled up to her contentedly. "I forgot to show Daddy my new book," she said, beginning to yawn.

"You can show him tomorrow." She bent her head and kissed her. "Close your eyes now and think pretty thoughts."

"Will you read it to me?" Katy wheedled.

"If you promise to go right to sleep afterwards," Trixie bargained. "Where is it?"

Katy reached under the covers and triumphantly pulled it out. "Here it is!"

Trixie laughed. "You little con-artist! You knew I'd say yes, didn't you?" She thanked the God of little children everywhere, who protects little personalities from life's darker moments. She sat up against the pillows and opened the book while Katy leaned her head against her stomach. She cleared her throat and began to read.

Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away. So he said to his mother, "I am running away."

"Why did he want to run away?" Katy asked.

"It doesn't say," Trixie replied.

"Oh."

"If you run away," said his mother, "I will run after you. For you are my little bunny."

"If you run after me," said the little bunny, "I will become a fish in a trout stream and I will swim away from you."

"If you become a fish in a trout stream," said his mother, "I will become a fisherman and I will fish for you."

"If you become a fisherman," said the little bunny, "I will become a rock on the mountainside, high above you."

"If you become a rock on the mountainside," said his mother, "I will be a mountain climber, and I will climb to where you are."

"Wow!" said Katy. She was valiantly trying to keep her eyes open.

"Pretty good, huh?" Trixie replied, smiling a secret little smile. Her own mother had read this to her when she was a little girl. "Should I stop now?"

"Nooooo," Katy protested.

"All right then."

If you become a mountain climber," said the little bunny, "I will be a crocus in a hidden garden."

If you become a crocus in a hidden garden," said his mother, "I will be a gardener. And I will find you."

"Like Grandma!" Katy said, her eyes fluttering shut.

"Mmm hmmm."

Jim leaned into the doorjamb, enjoying the homey scene. Trixie turned the page and sent him a little smile.

"If you are a gardener and find me," said the little bunny, "I will be a bird and fly away from you."

"If I ran away would you find me too?" Katy murmured sleepily.

"You wouldn’t stand a chance," Trixie assured her. "I’m VERY good at finding Fraynes!" The look she sent Jim was positively wicked.

"More, mommy." Very sleepily.

"If you become a bird and fly away from me," said his mother, "I will be a tree that you come home to."

Jim felt a certain, not-so-secret worry slip away; understanding that there is a happiness that comes from letting go, that sometimes, in giving up, there is much to be gained.

There was more to the story, but Trixie could tell that Katy was fast asleep, her mouth slightly parted as her breath deepened into the rhythm of rest. Trixie carefully got out of the bed, easing the little girl’s head onto the pillow.

"Good night, my little bunny," she said, brushing her forehead with a soft kiss as she turned out the light, laying the book on the dresser.

To be continued...