Life had returned to normal, Darien never returned which brought relief to Dianne, but also sorrow. She knew she broke Darien’s heart but didn’t know how else to get the young girl to shift her infatuation onto someone her own age.
One day at work Dianne received a call from Jo’s school that she had been taken to hospital. Dianne, struck with panic, raced to the hospital, ran up to the triage desk asking about her daughter
“Mum….” A voice behind her whispered shakily.
Dianne turned around to see Jo and grabbed her in a hug, “oh my god the school rang, they didn’t know…. Are you alright?”
Dianne looked at her daughter, she had been crying.
“Yes… but it’s Darien, she took sick and collapsed in the toilets, they are still working on her.”
Dianne watched has doctors worked about Darien’s limp body “let’s wait outside”
“Mum I can’t leave her, she’s been so upset. She wouldn’t talk to me about her holidays and I’ve been worrying lately about her health, she’s been looking like a ghost and I was sure I saw razor cuts on her arms.”
They waited in the foyer along with Darien’s parents on any news. A doctor emerged to give the news that Darien was going to be ok. They found various sleeping tablets in her stomach and appeared to be an over-dose, as well as varies forms of suicide including cutting. Darien’s mother broke down in shame. Jo went over to comfort her
“Josephine…what has happen to my little girl? She was so happy two weeks ago, what has gotten into her? Who did this to her?”
Jo looked at her Mum for anything, but Dianne shrugged “I don’t know Mrs McLeod, I’ve tried talking to her. I had no idea she was this upset.” Said Jo.
Jo and Dianne left the hospital, Jo was still crying. Dianne however remained calm, although on the inside everything was screaming out ‘it’s your fault, it’s your entire fucking fault.’
After a few days Dianne reluctantly went to see Darien. Her head was telling her not to, that it would be a mistake but her heart was broken, she felt totally responsible.
She walked into Darien’s room and watched her read a book. Darien’s eyes caught sight yet seemed to ignore her.
“Mrs Marshall” Darien said tonelessly in acknowledgment.
Dianne caught her breath and walked closer “Darien….do you have any idea how much worry you caused.”
“why should you care if I live or die.”
Dianne snapped and grabbed the book tossing down end of the bed.
“how can you say that? Of course I do! You think this makes me feel good that someone I care about tries to commit suicide.”
“I don’t believe you” growls Darien. “I will never believe a single word that comes out of you mouth ever again.”
Dianne sat on the bed and dropped her head, trying to ignore the pain her words had caused, tears fell “you scared the living daylights out of me Darien. If this was your way of wanting to get back at me, to hurt me, well you succeeded dear girl because I haven’t stopped worrying about you. I blame myself for all this happening Darien”.
Dianne made the mistake of taking Darien’s hand “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Darien interpreted as admission of love grabbed Dianne and kissed her. Dianne tried to break but Darien was too strong.
“Darien?!” came voice in horror from the open door.
“Mum!” Darien cried out, releasing Dianne instantly.
Dianne stood up looking at Darien’s Mum
“What’s going on?”
“I have to go….” Dianne shakes her head at Darien and quickly leaves
Dianne’s heart is pumping fast, her breathing erratic from the panic. She almost reaches her car when her name is called twice. Dianne turns around.
“Dianne why were you kissing my daughter”
“Laura I was not kissing your daughter, she kissed me and I tried to get out of it but she wouldn’t let me go.”
“Why was she kissing you…… has this got something to do with her depression.”
Dianne stood rigid “I didn’t even know she had depression and I don’t know why she kissed me. Maybe you should ask her” Dianne yelled in frustration.
“I will, but you stay away from my daughter.” Growled Laura
“Fine... no problems”
That night Dianne couldn’t sleep, she knew this was going to come back to bite her, that Darien would end up caving in and then. Dianne got up and threw up in her toilet, the fear of retribution just made her physically sick all night
1 month without incident from Darien or her parents but she still felt ill each time the thought crept into her mind. Dianne was just putting the dinner dishes away when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it” yells Jo
“If its Hamilton, you study with the door open” yelled Dianne
There was no reply until Jo’s quiet voice
“Mum”
She turned to see Jo and two guys with her
“They’re detectives.” Jo in a small voice
Dianne nodded
“Ma’am we would like you to come down to the precinct to sort through some matters.”
Dianne swallowed
“Mum?”
Dianne looked at her daughter and smiled giving her a hug. “It’s ok, you ring your aunt to come and get you.”
“Why….. I’m ok to stay home by myself”
“This matter may take some time ma’am” pressed the detective, annoyingly.
“Jo…. Ring your aunt and tell her to come and get you, I will call you at her place.”
Dianne left with the detectives.
Dianne sat in small interview room, accepted a small cup of water. Her mouth dry, her stomach in knots.
The two detectives sat down opposite her. Detective 1 had a folder open with various documents which made Dianne nervous. Detective 2 only a notepad with lots of scrawly writing.
Detective 1 opened up firstly
“We would like to talk to you about Darien McLeod, particular your relationship with her.”
Dianne shifted uncomfortably. “Well she’s a good friend of my daughter”
“Mmhmm, so she comes over quite a bit then?”
Dianne nodded
“Does she stay the night?” asked detective 2
Dianne shifted again “she has done”
“Where does she sleep?”
“In the spare bed in my daughter’s room”
“Right…” commented detective 2
“Does she usually spend the night if say….your daughter is not home?”
Dianne nodded “she has done.”
“According to her mother she has been spending quite a lot of time at your place. Why is that?” asked detective 1
“Perhaps you should ask her” sent back Dianne.
“We are asking you” detective 2 was firmer.
“She has been having some issues with her parents. She is going through a tough time, so she comes over and we talk.”
“About what?” pushed detective 2.
“About school, friends.”
“Sex” included detective 1.
Dianne looked at him “what is this about….” Dianne wanted to get out how much Darien had told them
“This is about your relationship with Darien”
“No it’s not. This is about the kiss in the hospital.” Dianne groaned “I told Laura her daughter forced herself. I tried to push her away but she was too strong”
“Have you and Darien kissed before?”
Dianne didn’t answer
Detective 2 wrote something in his note. “Why did she kiss you Mrs Marshall?”
“Because she is confused, she’s a little over-emotional”
“Aren’t most teenagers?” asked detective 1
“Well if you have a teenage child you would know that detective”
“we are not talking about me Mrs Marshall”
Dianne dropped her head to gather her thoughts “she came out to me early this year and I showed her compassion and understanding. I guess she misinterpreted as something more.”
“Came out…?” said detective 1
Dianne rolled her eyes “she admitted to me she is gay, she was upset”
“I know what come out means Mrs Marshall” growled detective 1
“Have you ever gone out together, in public?” asked detective 2
“Yes, few months ago we had coffee”
“So it was a date then?” detective 1
“No” she snapped “I don’t appreciate what you are insinuating”
“Has Darien stayed over for longer the 1 night?”
Dianne head was spinning from all the questions that were being fired, she was trying to deflect as much without incriminating herself.
Dianne took a drink and cleared her throat
Detective looked at each other when detective 2 took over
“I guess what we want to know is have you been acting inappropriately with Darien while she was in your care?”
Dianne frowned and dropped eyes before raising with no comment
“Let me put it another way” detective 2 getting annoyed at Dianne lack of participation “have you been intimate with Darien while she was at your place?”
Detective 1 now frustrated growls demandingly “ok bluntly have you been engaging in a sexual relationship with Darien McLeod”
Dianne growled “I know what intimate means detective. So is this what Darien has been saying, that we’ve been having sex.”
Detectives still not giving anything away
“Is that what she is accusing me of? The girl has a crush on me that I know, I was unaware she was depressed and was shocked that she tried to commit suicide.”
“You didn’t answer my question Mrs Marshall”
“And you didn’t answer mine detective” bit back Dianne “this is bloody ridiculous”
Detective 2 continued after her “what if I told you we know you and Darien had sex, outside in your pool nearly 2 months ago”
She was convinced that Darien had told of their affair and she felt sick. Everyone was going to know, tears fell as she thought about what Jo was going to think.
“If that is what you know, I think I would like to seek a lawyer” said Dianne
“Mrs Marshall the penalty for sexual interference with a minor and statutory rape is 10 years. Now I can help get that sentence reduced. You just need to be honest about the whole thing. I am aware your marriage broke down recently and it’s been hard, all this can be taken into consideration”
Dianne looked at him “I’m not saying any more, am I being charged?”
Detective 2 got up “yes…. You are being charged, I will read you’re your rights and then you can speak to a lawyer.” And leaves Dianne sitting in the room in tears.
“What have I done?”