In My Desperate Time

Old wounds are opened again and again. It is really hurt a lot.
Before Frances could react, I push him out of the room.
His simple words annoy me.
I've really had enough of his constant act of provoking me, and I don't know when I'll be in no way to stand him any longer.
In the evening, I begin to feel awkward after breastfeeding Earl.
Now, he needs a bath.
But a two-month-old child has an extremely soft body. I find it hard to bathe him.
I can't bathe Earl, let alone Frances. I don’t care whether Sabina can do it or not, for it's impossible for me to ask her for help.
Moreover, she hasn't returned yet.
After thinking for a while, I can only ask Frances to call Betty over.
I know she has raised two children by herself, and now she is also taking care of her grandson. Therefore, it should not be a
problem for her to bathe a child.
Soon enough, Betty skillfully takes off Earl's clothes after she arrives.
I am ready to learn from her at a side, so that I can bathe Earl myself in the future.
"Ms. Noyes, it’s so kind of you. You even don’t reject to help Whitney take care of her child. Do you know how annoying she is?"
Betty complains as she undresses Earl.
I smile and look at Earl, my eyes full of tenderness.
"No matter what kind of person Whitney is, Earl is innocent. Besides, he is a cute boy. Everyone likes him."
Earl turns around and smiles at me. He might have understood what I say.
His smile softens my heart.
Betty also smiles and adds, "That's right. How fair and handsome he is! Of course ... Wait a moment! What's it?"

Betty's expression changes as she puts Earl under the light.
I walk forward after feeling something wrong.
I almost cry at the sight of Earl’s body.
On his fair and tender skin spread lots of bruises, as well as marks left after being pinched with fingernails. Such marks are all
over his arms, upper body, and laps.
Thinking back to the day when Whitney hit him, I can say these marks must be caused by Whitney.
"Bastard! How can she harm her own son?" I snap angrily and look at Earl with distress.
I'm glad to have brought Earl back with me. Otherwise, Whitney must continue harming and torturing him.
Betty wipes away her tears while carefully bathing Earl.
"Why is she so hard-hearted? Earl is such a little boy. It must hurt so much!"
I also feel uncomfortable and watch with complicated emotions as Betty bathes Earl, dresses him and places him into the crib.
Earl waves his little hands inside the crib with his eyes open, looking cheered. He seems to have forgotten all the unpleasant
experiences.
I play with him for a while, and then go downstairs after he falls asleep.
Sabina has been there. At the sight of me, she turns to Frances and questions, "How can you allow her to look after Earl? Don't
you know how vicious a stepmother can be? What if she beats and abuses Earl?"
Although she is talking to Frances, I know she is uttering to me.
Judged by her appearance, however, she probably hasn't known the fact that Earl is not Frances' son.
Frances probably doesn't intend to tell anyone about such a shameful thing.
"Are you hinting I will abuse Earl? Go up and look what Whitney did to Earl? If I don't take him back, your grandson might have
been killed!" I tell the truth out of rage.

Sabina also cares about Earl. She goes straight upstairs into my room upon hearing my shouts. After she comes out again, she
looks at me guiltily. Pursing her lips, she silently returns to her room.
I haven’t had dinner, and I casually cook something for myself.
From the moment I entered the kitchen until I finish my dinner, Frances has been sitting on the sofa without moving.
If I hadn't known what kind of man he is, I might have mistaken him to be a wax statue.
I don't bother to greet him and prepare to go straight upstairs. However, Frances stops me.
"Jane, don’t you have anything to tell me?"