After Anna(18)

‘Yes, they are. I hate that Anna thought that of me, all these years. Or that you did.’

‘Not to worry.’ Ellen pursed her lips, which were thin. ‘I will say, I often suspected that Anna was not being told the truth. I think Anna had her doubts about its veracity, as well.’

‘Thank God,’ Maggie said, relieved.

‘It didn’t stand to reason, for me. I’ve counseled victims of child abuse, and Anna shows none of the signs. In addition, I’ve seen custody battles across oceans, so I know the mud that gets slung around. Families tell lies for a variety of reasons, and I don’t think it’s for us to speculate about your ex-husband’s reasons for so doing.’

‘I agree.’ Maggie eased into the chair. She felt better, now that Ellen believed her. ‘I appreciate your seeing me.’

‘I do it all the time with the student’s permission.’

‘How long have you been seeing Anna?’

‘I’ve been working with her since she arrived. Anna has been unhappy at Congreve for some time, and since her father died, she’s been wanting to make a change. I assume she told you that.’

‘Yes.’

‘She has a remarkable degree of insight. I think that her father’s death, unfortunately, was the impetus she needed.’

‘I’m so excited that she wants to come live with me. What do you think about the idea?’

‘I think it’s a fine idea, now that the allegations about you have been resolved in my mind. Anna is on the reserved side, and though she has so many talents, her self-esteem has suffered here. She’s made very few friends.’

‘She told me that.’

‘We try to foster a sense of community and we follow an anti-bullying curriculum. That works when the girls are younger, but as they get older, it’s hard to force them to include others.’ Ellen sighed. ‘I saw Anna twice a week during the difficult times. We have scaled down to once a week, on Mondays. I think she’ll need to adjust to the move and I can refer you to some excellent child and adolescent therapists in the Philadelphia area.’

‘Thanks.’ Maggie paused. ‘Is there anything you think I should know about Anna? Ways that I can help her?’

‘It gladdens my heart to hear you say that.’ Ellen smiled with approval. ‘Anna has been on her own for some time. She’s compliant, a people-pleaser, perhaps too much so. She is a high achiever and functions well within the rules, but she tends to get lost in the shuffle. You’re thinking about a public high school for her?’

‘Yes. She wants to give it a try.’

‘Good, that’s what she told me too. I think it’s her attempt to live a normal, teenage life. She didn’t see her father more than once a year, and she’s here during holidays when most of the boarders are away.’

‘Oh no.’ Maggie felt a stab of guilt, like her heart hurt. She remembered so many Christmases and birthdays when she’d thought of Anna, wishing she were home, with her. It could have been so different. All that lost time.

‘You may be wondering if there is a diagnosis for her, but I don’t pigeonhole my patients. Not everybody fits into the categories in the DSM. More often, they fit into several. That said, I do think she has a tendency toward mild depression. However, it’s a reasonable reaction to her situation. She has no family to rely upon and she’s profoundly lonely.’

‘That’s so sad.’ Maggie’s chest tightened.

‘Isn’t it?’ Ellen’s lined face softened. ‘It may sound like a cliché, but there is such a thing as a poor little rich girl. That girl is Anna.’

Maggie felt tears brimming in her eyes. Hearing it from a professional made her feel even worse.

‘Please, take a tissue, right in front of you.’ Ellen gestured at a Kleenex box on the coffee table.

‘Thanks,’ Maggie said, thickly. She tugged a tissue from the box, wiped her eyes, then blew her nose before the snotslide. ‘Sorry.’

‘Not at all.’

‘I know I can change things for her.’ Maggie spoke from the heart, wiping her eyes again. ‘I know I can do better than before.’

‘I believe you can, but be patient with her during the transition.’

‘I will, of course. I’ll do anything she needs.’ Maggie gave a final sniffle, holding on to the Kleenex.

‘If you don’t mind, tell me about your home life and your marriage, if you would.’

‘I remarried two years ago, very happily, and I have a stepson, Caleb, who’s adorable.’ Maggie felt her chest ease, on a happier subject. ‘My husband, Noah, is a pediatric allergist, and I work in his group’s office doing billing part-time, which enables me to take Caleb to his speech pathologist in the afternoons. He has childhood apraxia of speech.’

‘I’m familiar with it. CAS.’ Ellen nodded. ‘So you feel Anna could fit in well with your family?’

‘Yes, truly. My husband is as excited as I am. And Caleb will love her. He can be shy around new people, but she seems quiet and non-judgmental.’

‘She is.’ Ellen smiled. ‘Anna told me she’s been following you on Facebook. She may have a tendency to idealize your family life, in the way we believe in the beautiful images we post for each other. Social media has made counseling adolescents and children much more difficult. They believe wholesale in what others post about their lives, their boyfriends, their parents, and the like.’