Page 101 of Finding Mercy

Ivy nods.

“Where was your teacher?”

“Timmy fell off the slide. He never listens. You aren’t supposed to stand at the top of the slide. It’s not safe.”

“That’s right. Where did your mom take you?” Sheila sits listening to Ivy with her notebook, writing down all the details even though it’s being recorded.

“A hotel.”

“Did she say why?”

“She told me we would sleep there at night and go see Mercy in the morning.”

“Did she hurt you?”

Ivy shakes her head, “Mean words. But no hitting.”

“Why did she say mean words?”

“She wanted me to go live with her. But I want to live with Mercy and Liam.”

“Tell me about them.”

She glows, “Mercy is my best friend. We paint together, play dress up, Barbies, we do everything. And Liam used to be Dr. L. He was my cancer doctor. I love him too. He wore princess clothes for me. He made me not sick anymore.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat.

She continues, “There’s going to be a wedding. I get to wear a pretty dress.”

“You do?” She asks excitedly.

Ivy nods, “Yep. I love pretty dresses.”

“Your mom told you Mercy was in an accident?”

“Yeah. She said if Mercy died, I’d have to go live with her.”

Mercy cries more, I kiss her on the top of her head, “It’s okay, baby girl, she’s safe now.”

“That must have been scary.”

“I cried. Mom got angry but didn’t hit me.”

“I would’ve cried too,” the detective says.

“I don’t want Mercy to die. I was scared and wanted to go see her right away but mom said no.”

“Did you eat?”

Ivy laughs, “I’m used to big meals now. Mercy cooks a lot of food. I’m still hungry. Mom gave me a peanut butter sandwich.”

“Do you like Mercy’s cooking?”

She scrunches up her nose, “Most of it. She makes me eat carrots, and green beans. I don’t like them.”

Mercy laughs, “Her and those damn carrots.”

“Do you eat them?”

---