Hartford

By Lorraine Holloway-White

Paedophilia was not as lucrative as it had been. This story opens with disturbing reality in the first two chapters, before taking us to Hartford where sexually abused children are safely housed and cared for. The very beautiful and determined CeeCee, plus her friends, Maisie, Angel and Rose were first seen in It’s in Their Eyes. This much-awaited sequel follows on with their story, again adding twists and turns in ways least expected. Despite accidents and murder, they are determined to continue their work saving as many children as possible. Little do they realise the shockwaves it will bring and just who it is they're upsetting.
REVIEWS- It's in Their Eyes
"... So well written it had me nearly in tears in places... this writer knows how to get into the minds and hearts of her readers. Fabulous, I cannot wait for the sequel." FO
"Such a well written story for an extremely disturbing topic… " KE

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781326756109

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Hartford

Hartford

Lorraine Holloway-White

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, Lorraine Holloway-White except where permitted by law.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 6th August 2013 Lorraine Holloway-White

First Edition published July 2014

askamedium

ISBN 978-1-326-75610-9

Poppy Logo Designed by Philip White UK

Book Cover Design Shendel Rogers Canada

Table of Contents

Chapter  1

Chapter  2

Chapter  3

Chapter  4

Chapter  5

Chapter  6

Chapter  7

Chapter  8

Chapter  9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Epilogue

Other books by this author

Chapter 1

‘Come on honey, give your Uncle Tom a nice kiss now.’ Leaning over towards him, a four-year-old happy and smiling Wendy gave her uncle a kiss on the cheek. Cuddling her teddy, she’d just got out of the bath and was ready for bed. ‘You said you’d tell me a story Uncle Tom.’

‘And I will. Now, you get yourself in bed and I’ll go and check your brother is alright. I’ll be back in a minute okay?’

‘Okay.’ Wendy wriggled under the covers taking Mr Ted with her. He was a bit dirty and raggedy now, as he’d been her brother’s teddy before hers. He’d not liked him much as he got older, saying as a big boy of six, it was silly having a teddy so she’d ended up with him instead. She loved him and couldn’t understand why her brother didn’t. In fact, she was sitting in bed talking to Mr Ted and telling him just that while her uncle had gone downstairs to her brother.

‘I’m just going to read a story to your sister a minute Michael. Are you okay watching the television for now till I come back down?’

‘Yes, I’ll be fine.’ He never took his eyes off the screen, animatedly watching some programme with the strangest looking creatures in it that were making noises even more peculiar than they looked.

Tom had been babysitting his niece and nephew off and on since birth and the children were used to him being here with them almost more than their parents these days. He wasn’t at all unhappy about this and had offered his services more and more. His sister had always liked dancing and having a good time. Marriage and having babies hadn’t changed anything. His being single and almost on the doorstep, meant it was easy for him to come over and watch the kids while she and her husband went out. He walked back up the stairs, knowing Michael was happily ensconced in front of the T.V. happy he could spend some time reading Wendy her usual bedtime story.

In his thirties and still single, Tom had always got on with kids and they got on with him. He was overweight – quite a bit to be honest, but people said he had a kind jolly type of face and was a pretty decent chap. He used to be classed as pretty good-looking with his height and dark looks too. Could be again he supposed if he lost some of those extra pounds. He loved his job. He’d always liked plants and watching things grow from seed into magnificent flowers or bushes. Nature was pretty impressive and he enjoyed nothing more than going to the nursery section of the local garden centre each day to see how his seedlings were doing. He also helped out with odd jobs now and then, mending things that needed repairing. No job too big or too small for Tom, good old reliable Tom.

He was sick of being good old Tom though. He wanted a life, a woman, someone who saw him as more than just good old reliable Tom. He didn’t have many mates either these days. Most of them thought he was a bit strange for working where he did. He used to play football most Sundays and had been quite fit, but an ankle injury did for that. He’d broken it some time ago and it had never mended quite right. He could walk ok, but his footie playing days were well and truly over. It was since then the weight had piled on and his mates had dropped off one by one. It was his fault he had no friends really. He knew it was, he’d been popular enough, one of the lads and all that, but he’d lost interest since the accident. Gone into a depression he supposed. Now, he couldn’t be bothered making the effort to go out and find more friends. Maybe one day he would, but for now he was happy going to work and babysitting his sister’s kids.

They were a good pair. Open, friendly, good natured and happy go lucky. His sister and her husband were lucky. They didn’t know how lucky they were. Going into his niece’s room, he sat on the chair next to the bed and started to read her a story. As he read, she crawled out of bed and snuggled onto his knee as she often did, thumb in her mouth and piece of cloth she used as a comforter hanging out of her hand. Tom was stunned to feel a stirring of something deep within him that he really shouldn’t be feeling. This had never happened before, but instead of pushing her away, he allowed himself to feel it. Part of him hoped it might go away, but at the same time, something else inside him didn’t want it to. He felt guilty but, it was good to have a female snuggled up close to him and she wouldn’t know anyway. It had been a long time. Realising where his thoughts were taking him and how it was affecting him, he tried to banish them and concentrate on the story instead. 

Suddenly, Wendy wriggled in his lap. ‘Uncle Tom, what is that hard thing, can you take it away please. It is hurting me.’ As she spoke she kept wriggling, trying to get comfortable. Oh my God how was this happening? He’d gone hard as rock and her wriggling wasn’t helping. Ignoring what she said, he went quiet, enjoying the sensation building within him as she continued to move herself against him. Oh God it had been such a long time. Suddenly, he groaned quietly. ‘Uncle Tom are you alright? What’s wrong – why are you making that funny noise? As she turned to look at his face, her body had rubbed and pressed down hard on him making him come with an explosion that took him by surprise at not just the force of it, but the speed at which it had happened.

Disgusted with his body and at himself for allowing it to continue, he pushed her off his knee harshly and without saying a word, went into the bathroom. It was that evening which had started it. Before too long, the temptation was too much. Every time he looked at her, he remembered the intensity of his orgasm the night she’d wriggled on him. His thoughts and imagination were running away with him more and more and he couldn’t wait for her bedtime story when she’d sit on his knee again. Before he knew it, he’d started with Michael too. In his eyes, he was being satisfied without it hurting anyone.

He’d come into the bathroom to help towel him dry when the boy was getting out of the bath. He had only gone in to dry his back. The child had been standing there naked, his tiny penis slightly firm. Tom had not been able to take his eyes off it. He was ready for his nightly visit to Wendy and was already half erect at the thought. The sight of the child’s penis had made him grow even more. Oh God no, not now, not with Michael. He tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t go away. Putting his hand in a trouser pocket he touched himself through the material. The more intently he focused on the child’s private place, the harder he became.

Before he realised what he was doing, he asked the small boy if he’d been touching himself. Confused, Michael had looked at him and asked what he’d meant. Tom decided to show him and undid himself telling Tom to touch him and watch the magic that would happen if he did.

‘I don’t want to, that’s disgusting.’

‘No it’s not. Let me show you what happens when you touch them the way I’m doing now. Keep watching and see what will happen. All boys can do it. It’s our special magic stick.’

Tom continued to stroke himself as he spoke, excitement building. He then leant forward and fondled the boy standing in front of him asking him if he liked it. At the same time he took one of the child’s tiny hands placing it beneath his and brought himself to orgasm.

So started the systematic abuse of each child. It hadn’t been intentional and in Tom’s eyes he wasn’t a paedophile. Not as you read about in the papers and see on the news. To him, they were disgusting perverts who preyed on children for their own filthy needs and wants. No, he wasn’t anything like those people. He was a loving uncle who looked after his niece and nephew when their parents were out. All they were doing was having a little bit of fun.

Mind you, he’d had to get quite firm with them when they said they didn’t want to play the special games, that they didn’t like it and wanted it to stop. He didn’t believe they meant it – not really. He’d warned them not to tell anyone else, saying if they did, their mummy and daddy would call the police and be very angry with them. The police would take them away and never let them see their parents ever again. Besides, he kept telling them it was a way of showing them how much he loved them. They were told this was what people who loved each other did to show their love.

Chapter 2

Over a period of time, their behaviour started to change. They weren’t the same happy little children any more and the house that had once been full of fun and laughter had gone much quieter. It had happened so gradually and slowly, their busy parents hadn’t even noticed. It was a neighbour who mentioned it and asked their mother what had happened to make them so withdrawn.

‘Nothing, what makes you say that? They’re the same as normal. If they’re quiet, they’re probably just tired. You know what growing children are like. All the energy goes into growing.’ She glanced down at the child standing next to her. ‘You’re alright aren’t you sweetie?’

Wendy’s thumb went in her mouth and she hung her head down. She looked very small, lost and alone. The neighbour still thought there was something wrong, but her mother didn’t, so who was she to interfere? Besides the girl looked ok, so it was probably just her imagination. Maybe she was just shy. No, best leave well alone. Doesn’t do to fall out with neighbours. Anyway, what could be wrong? It’s not as if they were left by themselves, she saw the uncle arrive each evening. Nice young chap he was too. Even did an odd job for her now and then when she was stuck since her Harold had died. No, they’re a nice family, probably just a typical child’s sulks. She’ll be over it by tomorrow most probably. Wendy’s mother had ruffled her daughter’s hair as she spoke, then taking her hand smiled at the neighbour before going into the house.

Standing in the kitchen helping put away the shopping, Wendy passed her mother a packet of biscuits to put in the cupboard. ‘You’re not going out again tonight mummy are you?’

‘Yes sweetie why? You know we have to go to our dance classes. Daddy and I are going to be champions one day and when we are, then you can come and watch us. You wait and see.’ So saying, she picked up her daughter and waltzed around the room with her. Wrapped up in her dreams of becoming a professional ballroom dancer, she hadn’t noticed anything wrong with her children’s behaviour, but the neighbour obviously thought they had.

Putting Wendy back down, she glanced at her daughter thoughtfully, thinking about the neighbour’s question.

‘Everything is alright isn’t it dear? Why don’t you want mummy and daddy to go out again? Is there a reason you don’t want them to?’

‘I just want you to stay home. Why does Uncle Tom have to keep coming here all the time? I don’t want him to. I want you and daddy to be here instead.’

‘You love Uncle Tom and he loves you. It won’t be for too much longer my darling. You’ll be able to come and watch us sometimes when we are professionals and then maybe you can start dance classes too. Would you like that?’

Wendy knew her mother wasn’t really listening to her. She never did, not really listen. All she ever wanted was her dancing. Saying no more, she continued helping pass things for her mother to put away. From those dance classes, came more dance classes. Silver medals and then gold followed bronze, as they advanced in their lessons. The children became even fussier and whinier as time went on, saying they didn’t want to be with Uncle Tom anymore. Both parents told their children not to be silly. A couple of times, Wendy had said something about her not wanting him to show her his magic stick any more and that she didn’t want to play with it.

Magic stick? She and her husband had never seen any magic stick. Thinking it must be something to do with magicians tricks, she absentmindedly told her daughter she should just play along for now, as Uncle Tom was being kind letting them play with it. She couldn’t understand why the child was so unhappy about it though. She’d mentioned it to her husband and he’d told her to ignore it. They’d say something to Tom when he came in this evening and he’d probably get a new game to play with them instead. Subject already forgotten, they’d set about practising their steps for that evening.

Tom had been very annoyed with Wendy and asked her why she’d told mummy about his special magic stick. He had then told her she was to be punished now and that he’d have to punish her brother too, because she’d been such a naughty girl and spoken about their special games. That had been the first time he used something to penetrate the boy. His sister had heard him cry out from her room and sat huddled on her bed weeping, knowing it was her fault he had been punished. She later promised her uncle she’d never tell again and said she was sorry. That was the night he made her perform oral sex for the first time. He’d told her to show him just how sorry she was by kissing his magic stick to show how much she loved him.

The abuse got worse and worse until it ended up with him eventually raping the girl when she was only six. She had tried to tell her mother what had been happening and was ignored. Others had seen the children change and had asked questions, but shut up, despite their on-going and growing concerns, when told there was nothing wrong. Through total neglect by parents too wrapped up their own lives to care, plus neighbours and teachers who didn’t want to interfere and deciding to turn a blind eye, two more lives were ruined forever. It was two years later and only after the girl’s rape that her mother couldn’t ignore it any longer. An ambulance had been called, but it was the paramedics who had notified the police.

The children were both examined and put under special care and supervision. The police had questioned their parents and the uncle was arrested. All parties concerned had protested their innocence. The parents said they’d have known if anything was going on and that the children had seemed fine until that evening. They were told they couldn’t see their children for now. They had been very annoyed at being told this news, but were warned they could still be prosecuted for allowing their children to be left with someone who was hurting them. It was impossible for any decent parent not to have seen the mental state of their children and how disturbed they were. This didn’t happen due to one time only. It was very obvious to everyone concerned this was abuse of long standing. The parents weren’t in the clear yet by any means, as investigations were still underway.

Reports from neighbours and school, showed things hadn’t been right for some time. Schoolwork had gone downhill and both children’s behaviour had altered beyond recognition. Their awareness in sex education lessons had shocked the teacher, but she hadn’t thought to question why they had appeared so knowledgeable. She assumed the parents had been teaching them at home. Michael, normally a happy friendly boy, had become a bully and was caught hurting creatures he picked up especially for that purpose. Wendy had become totally withdrawn. From being a chatty child full of the joys of spring, she now hardly spoke. All of these signs had been happening gradually over a long period. The abuse could have been stopped far earlier and not ended so badly if anyone had done something about the signs. Instead, they all chose to ignore them. Like most people, they’d sat on the fence or buried their heads in the sand – scared they might upset someone if they were wrong.

Their sitting on the fence had made them just as guilty as the man now locked in a cell awaiting trial. The loving uncle, who was still insisting he wasn’t a paedophile or a sex offender, telling everyone he had just got carried away. The man was saying, as all child sex offenders do, that he’d never do it again, had never done it before.

Both children had been taken to Hartford House and were now starting their very long road to recovery. They really were badly affected by what had happened to them and the young girl would need treatment for injuries sustained for some time to come. The boy too had internal damage that would need to be treated and kept an eye on. Whether the girl would ever conceive, was not known at this point. Only years of aftercare would tell if it would be possible. At the moment, it looked unlikely, but miracles do happen and all concerned hoped a miracle would be forthcoming for this little girl.

Chapter 3

The first person CeeCee had seen on her arrival at Hartford was Maisie. The four friends were an unlikely bunch to anyone seeing them. Three black women and one white. They were all very different to each other and yet so similar. There was dear dependable Angel and Rose, her daughter, who’d been so shy. Once hiding behind the others peering over their shoulders when new people were around, she was CeeCee’s now very confident and competent assistant. Then there was Maisie. Dear larger than life Maisie with her booming voice who made everyone feel safe and secure who was now walking towards her.

‘Whatcha doing here this early? Why didn’t you tell us when you were arriving?’ Maisie had seen CeeCee’s car pull up and her climb out of it. Blond beautiful and still as elegant as ever, she had actually slid out rather than climb like the rest of them would have done. Knees and ankles together, she swivelled in her seat and exited the car in a ladylike manner. The black woman rushed over and embraced her friend in a huge bear hug.

‘You crazy woman, we had no idea you were coming today and haven’t anything prepared for a big welcome. We’re still getting things ready.’

‘I don’t want a big welcome Maisie and yes, it is good to see you too my dear friend. It’s been too long this time. How’s Magna?’ Magna was Maisie’s partner. They had married two years ago at the Christmas they’d all spent up here before Hartford was open. Unlike CeeCee, Maisie had never been sexually abused thank God, but she had been a working girl and was one of the four women responsible for helping get this place started. Angel and Rose were the other two. Angel had married Richard on the same day as Maisie and Magna. In fact, the whole day had originally been for their wedding and it was only later on Maisie and Magna had decided to do it too. The day had been a huge glorious affair.

Richard was chairman of the trustees and had disgusted his partner when he married a black woman. Although trying to hide his feelings, they were pretty obvious so the two had parted company when CeeCee made an offer her friend’s husband couldn’t refuse. Richard was now the company solicitor. Angel had been sexually abused as a child, but in a bad way – very bad. In fact, one of the most horrific things was how she had come about her name. Whether the story her mother had always enjoyed taunting her with was true or not Angel would never know, but she thought it probably was. It was a story so horrific she rarely shared it with others, but had with CeeCee a while back. The two women had become even closer since their talk, knowing they shared certain horrors in their lives most people would never be able to fully understand.

Even when people did hear of child sex abuse, most shied away from the truth of it. They preferred to believe it was not as bad or severe as it always was. By pretending it didn’t happen, they could walk away while blocking such nightmares from their minds. By doing so, it never occurred to them children would carry on suffering horrendous injury, mental trauma that would never leave them and even death at the hands of sick perverts or suicide.

Rose was Angel’s daughter from one of the many liaisons and was now touring the country with CeeCee as her assistant. When a punter got Angel pregnant at thirteen, she’d been told she was no use to anyone any more and had been thrown out of the door with nothing but what she stood up in. It was Maisie who’d taken her in all those years ago, looking after her when what passed for a mother had kicked her out. The woman who’d sold her baby