I Will Always Love You (11 page)

and the children are temporarily in the care of social services. More on

this story as details are obtained.

“Oh my God,” Melissa cried.

“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Stefanie asked as she looked up at her mother.

Melissa looked down at her daughter. “Just something that has to do with
work, sweetheart. Would you mind if I took you over to Valerie’s
apartment?”

“No. Can I take my new book so I can read it to Evan? He’s only three
years old so he’s still a baby,” Stefanie proclaimed.

Looking down at the daughter that looked so much like her, Melissa said,
“Of course you can take your new book.”

* * *

One hour later, Melissa was sitting in an office at social services trying to
find out more information on
Sherill
and her children.

“Apparently her husband came home from work and she didn’t have
dinner ready on the table for him,” Susan, a social worker, said. “He went off
and started beating her while the children watched and begged him to stop.
He beat her so badly that when the paramedics got there, she was already
dead.”

“Those poor kids,” Melissa said with tears in her eyes. She shook her head
and looked down at her hands. “Such a waste,” she said to herself. She looked
back up at Susan. “Where are the children now?”

“They’re in the kitchen. We’ve called
Sherill’s
next of kin,” Susan said as
she looked in the file, “her sister, Crystal.”

At that moment, a tall black woman walked into the office. “My name is
Crystal Hastings, and I’m here to pick up my niece and nephews.”

Melissa and Susan stood up and gave their condolences. Susan left the
room to go get the children.

“I’m so sorry about your sister,” Melissa said once again.

“Thank you.”

“I was afraid that something would happen to her.”

“What is your name again?” Crystal asked.

“Melissa Newman.”

“Oh, you work at the shelter.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well, I want to thank you for all that you did for
Sherill
and the kids. I
definitely saw some positive changes in her. She talked about you all the
time.”

Melissa hung her head and said, “I feel as if I failed her.”

“Oh, honey,” Crystal said as she put a hand on Melissa’s arm. “You
ain’t
failed nobody.
Sherill
wouldn’t listen to anybody when it came to Tyrone. He
had some strange kind of hold on her. I knew that she would go back to him
when he got out of jail. She’s been doing it for years.”

“Please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you or the children,”
said Melissa.

“We’ll be fine. But thank you,” Crystal said as the children came into the
room and ran up to their aunt. She put her arms around them and Melissa
watched her walk out with
Sherill’s
children in tow.

Chapter 17

Three weeks later, Melissa was sitting in her office staring off into space
when Irene walked in. “Hello, Melissa.”

Melissa glanced over at Irene. “Hi.”

rene
took a seat across from Melissa and studied her friend. “How are you
doing?”

“I’m okay,” she answered with a sigh.

“You don’t look or sound okay.”

Melissa turned her full attention to her friend. “I’m all right. I guess I’m
just in a blue mood.”

“Well, I may have something to cheer you up.”

“What’s that?”

“There’s an international conference on domestic abuse being held in
three weeks. I was planning on going, but I can’t leave my practice. I have a
few patients I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving right now. Do you think you
could go? There should be some really interesting talks.”

“How long is the conference for?”

“One week.”

Looking at her calendar, Melissa saw that she was free. “Yes, I can make
it. It sounds like it will be interesting. Where is it being held?”

“Germany,” Irene stated.

Melissa looked up from her calendar and at Irene. “Germany,” she
whispered.

“Yes. I thought that you would be an ideal candidate since you can speak
some German. And best of all, the conference is being held in Frankfurt. Isn’t
that just a short drive from your aunt’s house?”

“You know it’s only thirty minutes from her house, Irene. What are you
trying to do?”

“I’m trying to help a colleague get some valuable educational material.
That’s all.”

“Sure,” Melissa said skeptically. Melissa leaned back in her chair and
crossed her arms.

“You have no ulterior motives, huh?”

“Well, actually, I thought that you could take two weeks in Germany. One
week for the conference and one week for vacation. You know, visit with
your family. Do some shopping and sightseeing.”

“And what would I do with Stefanie?”

“I’m sure your parents would love to keep her. You were telling me just
last week that your mother was complaining that she doesn’t see you and
Stefanie enough.”

“True. She did say that,” Melissa said thoughtfully. “But if I go to
Knauppshausen, there’s always a chance that I might see Stefan.”

“Maybe you could use this time to put some closure on that part of your
life. Then you’ll be able to move on and find someone new.”

“Irene, please don’t start on that again.”

“Melissa, you are a young woman and you haven’t had sex in over four
years. That isn’t normal.”

“Now I’m not normal?” she asked with raised eye brows.

I didn’t say that. I simply said that you need to go out in the world and get
yourself a life.”

“Okay, okay.” Melissa sighed, picked up a pencil and began twirling it
through her fingers.

“Good. Then it’s all settled. I already have your plane ticket. Do you want
my secretary to make a hotel reservation for you or are you going to stay with
your family?”

“No, I’ll stay with Brigitte and Rolf.” Melissa put the pencil down and
smiled at her friend. “What would you have done if I said no?”

Irene stood up and walked to the door. Over her shoulder she said, “No
was not an option.” She gave Melissa a smile and left the office.

Melissa looked back out the window and thought;
I may see Stefan for the

first time in seven years. I’m not sure if I’m ready for this.

Chapter 18

Knauppshausen, August 1995

“Melissa, are you almost ready?” Brigitte called up the stairs to her
cousin.

“Yes, I’ll be right down.” Melissa moved the phone to her other ear.

“How was the conference?” Irene asked on the long distance phone call.

“Wonderful. I enjoyed all of the talks and workshops. I’ve made many
contacts with domestic abuse workers from several countries.”

“I’m glad that you agreed to go.”

“Me, too. I really have learned many different methods for working with
spousal abuse victims.”

“Have you had a chance to visit with any of your family?”

“No. I’ve only seen my aunt and uncle once. I’ve been so busy with the
conference that I haven’t even had a chance to take a walk to the town park.”

Irene hesitated with her next question. “Have you seen Stefan?”

“No, but I didn’t really expect to. I don’t even know where he lives in
Germany.”

“Why don’t you just break down and ask your cousin?”

“No, I’m not going to do that, Irene. Brigitte was very upset with me when
I wrote that letter to Stefan ten years ago. I have never asked her about him
and I’m not going to start now.”

Irene sighed. “You can be so stubborn, Melissa.”

“Yes, I know. Anyway, I have to go. Me, Brigitte and Rolf are going to the
festival this evening.”

“That sounds like fun. Maybe you’ll meet an eligible bachelor there.”

Melissa chuckled at her friend. “You never give up, do you?”

“No. I’ll see you in a week. Enjoy yourself.”

“I will. Bye.” Melissa hung up the phone, stood and took one final look in
the mirror. “Maybe it is time to move on and look for someone new.”

Meanwhile, downstairs Rolf stood looking at his wife. She saw him
watching her and she asked, “What?”

“What are you up to?”

“What do you mean?”

“You have been nervous all day and now you are rushing Melissa so that
we can get to the festival early. What are you up to?”

“Nothing.” Brigitte turned from her husband and pretended to fix her hair
in the foyer mirror.

“I do not believe you,” he teased as he watched his wife in the mirror.

She turned around to face him. “Okay, Rolf. I just want to make sure that
we get there before anyone leaves.”

“Anyone? Or someone in particular?”

Brigitte averted her husband’s gaze as Melissa came down the stairs
wearing black slacks, a baby blue silk blouse and black strappy sandals.

“Okay, I’m ready to go.”

“Good. Because I am starving,” Brigitte said as she glanced at her husband
who was wearing a frown.

Chapter 19

Due to traffic, it took them twice as long to get to the festival. Brigitte was
on pins and needles until they got there and she saw his car was still in the
parking lot.
Melissa followed Brigitte and Rolf into the familiar tent and it brought
back so many bittersweet memories.

Seeing the look on Melissa’s face, Rolf asked, “Are you all right,
Melissa?”

She gave him a weak smile. “Yes, I’m okay.”

“There is a table,” Brigitte said.
Rolf and Melissa followed Brigitte over to an empty table. They sat down
and Rolf was just about to get them drinks, when Melissa saw Stefan. Brigitte

followed her gaze and saw the opportunity that she was hoping for.

“Oh, there is Stefan,” Brigitte said. She stood up and waved him over.
Melissa could not believe her cousin. She looked at Rolf who was simply
shaking his head at his wife.

“Stefan, it is so good to see you,” Brigitte said as she gave him a hug.

“Hello Brigitte and Rolf.” Stefan’s gaze went to Melissa. “Hello,
Melissa.”

Melissa found it difficult to breath. “Hello, Stefan,” she whispered.

“Please join us,” Brigitte encouraged.

Stefan took a seat across from Melissa. “How are you, Melissa?”

“Good. How are you?”

“I am fine.”

“Where’s your wife?”

Stefan looked at Rolf then Brigitte.