The Past is Another Land

"What about you Lennon?" Elliot asked.

Lennon shook his head, curling up against Monte.

Monte wrapped his arms around his brother. "Len, it's okay don't be scared."

"Sorry..." Lennon mumbled, staying where he was a little longer before slowly sitting back up.

"It's okay Len," said Monte. "You can stay with me if you want, you don't have to move."

Lennon nodded, hugging Monte tightly before looking at Elliot. "She...she um was angry because I'd made food without asking...which dad's always let us do...she...jammed my fingers in the door..." He said quietly. "I got in trouble at school for refusing to write because my fingers were too sore to move properly..."

Monte hugged his brother close. Elliot turned to Adam again "Was she ever violent toward the boys in front of you?"

Adam shook his head. "No...I would have stopped it happening if I knew." He frowned and looked over at the boys again. "She hurt me in front of them though..."

Elliot nodded. "Did you ever suspect she was abusing them, before you knew of it?"

"Occasonally..." Adam said quietly. "She kept them pretty quiet about it."

"I want to pose this question to all three of you, as this is something that Samantha and I have discussed previously," said Elliot. "Have any of you ever been afraid of Samantha striking you?"

"Um..." Adam said after watching Lennon quickly shake his head. "I-I was...when I was first sick around her...But mostly out of habit..."

"What about now?" asked Elliot. "Do you still have that fear?"

Adam shook his head. "No."

"Adam knows I would never hurt him," said Sammy. "I'm hoping someday the boys understand that as well."

Adam smiled and moved to lean his head on Sammy.

"We do know that mama," Lennon said. "You aren't... her."

Sammy smiled at Lennon. "C'mere munchkin."

Lennon grinned as he got up and went over to Sammy, climbing onto her lap and hugged her.

Sammy hugged Lennon tightly. "My munchkin." Monte climbed into Adam's lap.

Lennon giggled and leaned against Sammy, still grinning.
"Oh, hey." Adam said when he realised Monte had come over and hugged him close.

"What you gigglin' about, huh giggly goose?" Sammy asked Monte hugged Adam. "Daddy okay?"

"I'm not a goose, silly mama." Lennon laughed.

Adam nodded. "Yeah...I guess so..."

"Yes you are, giggly goose," said Sammy. Monte hugged Adam tighter. "No being sad, mama wants us happy."

Lennon shook his head. "Na-uh."

"I...I'm trying..." Adam said quietly, looking away.

Sammy sighed gently. "Adam, baby talk to me."