The Dollmaker

Seventeen

“‘You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…’”

The song penetrated the child’s dreams, and Maddy’s eyes slowly opened. “Mama?”

“Wake up, sleepyhead! Did you forget what today is?”

The child’s gaze darted warily around the room. “Where’s Father?”

Mama’s smile was tender. “He’s gone, darling. He won’t be back until tomorrow. We have the day all to ourselves, and I’ve planned such wonderful surprises for you. Look!” She pointed to the end of the bed, where a pink ruffled dress hung from the wooden bedpost.

“Is it mine?” Maddy asked in awe.

“Yes, of course it’s yours! Now go have your bath and I’ll help you get dressed. Then you can open one of your presents.”

The child hurried from the room and came back a few minutes later, all scrubbed and sweet smelling from the bath, blond hair curling in damp ringlets behind tiny ears.

The dress slid over thin shoulders and then Mama turned Maddy toward the mirror. “See there! Are you not the prettiest little girl in the whole wide world?” She gave the child a brief hug. “Do you like the dress, Maddy? Does it make you happy?”

“Yes, Mama. But what if—”

She silenced the child’s fear with a fingertip. “None of that now. It’s your birthday. Nothing but happy thoughts today.”

Maddy stared at the reflection in the mirror. The child staring back was pretty. Maddy couldn’t help smiling. “I love you, Mama.”

“I love you, too, my sweet. Now come with me. It’s time to open one of your presents.”

Maddy followed Mama into the large hallway and down the curving stairway that led into a spacious foyer. To the left of the staircase was the front parlor, decorated with heavy antiques and ornate wallpaper that looked like velvet. Normally, Maddy wasn’t allowed to even set foot in the parlor, but today Mama had decorated the gloomy room with balloons and streamers, and the French doors stood wide open to allow in sunshine. Maddy stood gazing around. The room seemed so different today without Father brooding from his easy chair.

The table from Maddy’s playroom had been brought down and laid with tiny porcelain dishes. A bowl of camellias rested in the center of the table and the scent hung heavy and sweet on the warm air.

Presents wrapped in bright paper and gaily colored bows were stacked around the chair at the end of the table. Maddy clapped in excitement. “Can I open them?”

“Only one for now. You can open the rest when the other children get here.” Mama walked over and picked up a large white box from the stack, handing it to Maddy. The package was lovely, wrapped in white paper and tied with a pink satin bow. Carefully, Maddy slipped off the ribbon and then, one by one, removed the sheets of scented tissue paper until the content of the box was revealed.

The child gasped in wonderment. The doll inside was lifelike and so beautiful! More beautiful, even, than Maddy’s reflection.

“Oh, Mama.”

She knelt on the floor, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Do you like her?”

The child could barely speak. “I love her! More than anything!”

“She looks just like you, Maddy.”

Or at least, the way Maddy would look if the blond curls had not been clipped so short. The doll had ringlets all the way down her back. But the blue eyes were the same. And the nose, the tiny heart-shaped mouth…

The doll looked exactly the way Maddy dreamed of looking.

“I had your aunt Savannah make her for you. Do you remember Savannah? You met her once, a long time ago. I sent her a picture. She had no idea it was you, of course, but I think the likeness is remarkable, don’t you?”

For an answer, Maddy hugged the doll tightly.

“She’ll have to be our secret, Maddy. You can only take her out on special occasions.”

“I know, Mama.”

“If your father…well, we won’t worry about that today, will we? Let’s get you ready for your party.”

Five little girls from the neighborhood had been invited over, and Mama had organized some games. After they were through playing, they took their places around the table. Maddy’s gaze lingered on each one of them, studying their features for a long, long time so that the memory of this day would last forever. Mama took pictures, but no photograph would ever be as vivid as Maddy’s memory.

And then someone mentioned Matthew, and Maddy’s heart started to pound in agitation. What if they found out the secret?

But Mama covered smoothly and said that Matthew would be celebrating his birthday a little later, because boys didn’t like to get all dressed up and attend tea parties. This time was just for Maddy.

The presents were opened then, and after the excitement died down, Mama served the cake, a beautiful three-layer strawberry confection with a rainbow across the top. The girls squealed in delight at the sight of the cake and then they all sang “Happy Birthday.”

Just as Maddy blew out the candles, a sound came from somewhere deep in the house. A door opened and closed.

The child’s gaze flew to Mama, whose face was frozen in fear. Her blue eyes darkened as a shadow filled the doorway.

“What do we have here?” a deep voice said calmly.

The pleasant tone didn’t fool Maddy. The child shivered in dread of what was to come.

“Well, Katherine, it seems as if you’ve outdone yourself this time. This looks like quite the celebration. I can’t help wondering why I wasn’t invited.”

Mama said nothing, but her face was so pale she looked as if she might faint.

“I think, perhaps, the party is over,” Father said, still in that same deceptive voice. “Katherine, I believe you should walk the children home. Do it now, please.”

Mama cast a glance in Maddy’s direction. It was obvious she didn’t want to leave the child alone, but she had no choice.

All too soon, she and the other children were gone, and the house fell deadly silent. Father walked slowly into the room, his gaze on Maddy.

“What is that you’re wearing?”

Maddy said nothing.

“Answer me when I speak to you!”

Fingers dug into the child’s arms as Maddy was lifted roughly from the table. “You’re an abomination and I can barely stand to look at you, but you’re still my child and I won’t shirk my responsibilities. I’ve found someone who can help you. His name is Dr. Church. I spoke to him before I left the medical convention yesterday. He’s made significant strides in cases like yours, but the treatment won’t work if your mother insists on turning you into a goddamn freak.”

As he said the last two words, he ripped the dress from Maddy’s thin shoulders and tossed it aside in disgust. Maddy’s shoes and socks came next, and then the underwear. Even at seven, Maddy hated being naked. Hated the way Father’s gaze lowered, then shifted away in disgust.

With trembling hands, Maddy tried to cover the scars from all the surgeries, but Father would have none of that. He picked up the dress and underwear and shoved the clothing in Maddy’s face. “If I ever come home and find you like this again, I will take you far, far away from here. You’ll never see your mother again, do you understand?”

Maddy nodded, hoping that it was all over. Father didn’t seem as angry this time, maybe because it was Maddy’s birthday.

But then his gaze lit on the doll and his handsome features contorted in rage.

He grabbed Maddy’s arms and jerked the child clean off the floor. Then he walked across the room, flung open a closet door and shoved Maddy inside.

Terrified of the dark, Maddy sat naked and trembling, arms hugged around bony knees, and waited for Mama to come home.

After a few moments, when the shaking subsided, Maddy crawled over to the door and put an eye to the keyhole. Father stood where Maddy could see him, the doll in one hand and a butcher knife in the other.

“No!” Maddy screamed.

But Father lifted the knife, anyway, and chopped off all those long, glorious curls.

When Maddy’s mother walked in and saw what he had done, she rushed over and tried to take the doll away from him. “Daniel! How could you!”

“How could you?” he countered. “You are to blame for this, Katherine. Can you not see the damage you’ve done?”

“You’re the one who seems bound and determined to destroy our child. And all because of your stupid arrogance and pride.” She glanced around. “Where’s Maddy? What have you done to my baby?”

“Try to calm yourself, Katherine. Maddy will soon be in good hands. As will you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ve found a doctor who, God willing, can turn your little freak into a normal child. He says he can help you, too.”

“No! No more doctors! When I think of the torture you’ve subjected that poor child to—”

She tried to grab his arm, but Father slung her away and she almost fell. He didn’t seem to care.

“Dr. Church understands that you are a big part of the problem, Katherine, which is why he’s agreed to treat you, as well. Of course, you’ll have to be consigned to a hospital for the length of your treatment. Otherwise, you would do everything in your power to undermine Dr. Church’s progress.”

“You can’t send me away without my consent! For God’s sake, this isn’t the Dark Ages. I have family, friends—”

“You have no one. No one who will listen to you, anyway. Who would believe the ravings of an unstable woman over that of a respected surgeon? Not to mention a very concerned and loving husband? No, I’m afraid you will not get your way this time, Katherine. But it’s for the best. It really is.”

“I won’t let you do this!”

“There’s nothing you can do to stop me. The arrangements have already been made.”

“We’ll see about that!” Mama’s footsteps sounded across the hardwood floor, but then she gasped suddenly. “Let go of me! You’re hurting me! Daniel, no…”

She screamed, and for what seemed an eternity, Maddy heard bad sounds outside the closet door. Father called Maddy terrible names as he raged, and Mama cried and begged him to stop. Then, after a while, Mama said nothing at all.

Maddy pressed an eye to the keyhole. An eye glared back from the other side. The child screamed and shrank away.

Father opened the door. There was blood on his suit and he held something up in one hand. For one terrible moment, Maddy thought that it was Mama. But it was the doll. She swung by her shorn hair from Father’s grasp. The glassy eyes were open and staring, and the tiny lips were curled into a sweet little smile.

There was blood on the floor behind Father, but Mama was nowhere to be seen.

Maddy glanced back at the doll’s tiny, sweet smile. A smile that beckoned the child into another place, a perfect place where Father could not find them.

“That’s right. Take a good long look, you little faggot, because this is all that’s left of your precious Maddy.”

And then with one swoop of the knife, he severed the doll’s head and tossed it into the child’s lap.

Maddy screamed and screamed, but no one heard. And no one came to release him from his prison.

Matthew Cypher visited his father every single day. Usually he went in the afternoon, but today he had a lot to do, so he decided to go early. He parked in the back of the Oak Glen Nursing Home and used the rear entrance, hoping that he would not run into any of the staff who might want to chitchat today.

Hurrying down the dreary corridor, he kept his eyes averted from the open doorways, and ignored the groaning misery that followed him down the hallway. The smell of antiseptic and urine hung heavy on the air, but he was used to the scent by now. He hardly even noticed it.

An old woman sat alone in a wheelchair outside her room, and as he passed by her, she reached for him with a bony hand.

“Can you help me?”

Matthew paused, annoyed. “What seems to be the problem?”

“I can’t find my room.”

He glanced at the photograph and name mounted on the door nearest her wheelchair. “Are you Mrs. Avondale?”

“How did you know?”

“Just a wild guess.” He pushed open the door. “This is your room.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, positive.”

He started to turn away, but the woman grabbed his hand. Lifting it to her face, she rubbed his knuckles against her wrinkled cheek. “You’re a good son.”

“I’m glad you think so. Would you like me to help you to your room now?”

“No, I’d better sit out here and wait for the bus to come. I don’t want to miss it. I’m going to see my husband today. He’s stationed at Fort Bragg. It’ll be my first time out of Louisiana.”

“Enjoy your trip,” he said with a little bow, and he heard her giggle like a schoolgirl as he turned and continued down the corridor to his father’s room. A nurse was just coming out and she brightened when she saw him.

“Hello Dr. Cypher. You’re early today.”

“I have some things to do later on, but I didn’t want to miss a visit with my father. I know he looks forward to our time together.”

“If only everyone’s family was as thoughtful as you,” she said with a weary smile.

He cocked his head and studied the young woman. She was probably only thirty or so, but her careworn expression and slouching posture made her seem much older, as did a missing tooth when she smiled. She was a hard worker, though, and he did not envy her the dreary job.

Feeling suddenly charitable, he lingered for a little talk. “What’s the matter? You don’t seem yourself today.”

She sighed. “My boyfriend’s gone AWOL on me again, and I can’t help worrying he may be in some real trouble this time.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Desiree Choate gave a halfhearted smile as she shrugged. “Mama says it’s a blessing in disguise. She ain’t never had much use for Travis, even though I tell her over and over he has a good heart. He’s just a little shiftless, is all.”

“Not Travis McSwain?”

Her brows lifted in surprise. “Yeah, that’s him. Do you know him?”

“I’ve seen him around. He used to do odd jobs around the house for my aunt from time to time. Her name is Savannah Sweete. He may have mentioned her. She makes dolls.”

Desiree’s gaze darted away, but not before he’d seen a spark of fear in her eyes.

So she knows. She’s seen the doll.

He gave her a pitying smile. “Where do you think Travis has gone off to?”

“God only knows. He’ll probably turn up one of these days, tail tucked between his legs like always. But just between me and you…I’ve been having me some real bad dreams lately. I can’t help thinking maybe it’s because something bad has happened to him.”

“How long has he been gone?”

“A few days, I guess. He drove into New Orleans the other evening and I ain’t seen him since.”

“Have you gone to the police?”

“The police? Oh, Lord no. Travis would kill me if I sicced the law on his tail.”

“Why? Has he done something wrong?”

“No, he just don’t like cops much,” she said quickly, as if realizing she might have given away too much. “It’s been nice talking to you, doc, but I better get back to work.”

“I wouldn’t worry about Travis. If anything had happened to him, don’t you think you would have heard something by now?”

“I guess so. Maybe he’s just laid up drunk somewhere. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“I’m sure you’ll be hearing something very soon. In the meantime, perhaps this will help cheer you up.”

She glanced down at the orchid he held out to her, and her eyes widened. “Oh, it’s beautiful, but I couldn’t take it. You brought it for your daddy.”

“He won’t mind. Please, I insist.”

“Well, if you’re sure.” She lifted the delicate blossom to her nose. “Is this one of your orchids? What kind is it?”

“A cymbidium.”

“Is it rare?”

“Oh, yes, extremely,” he said, although it wasn’t, of course. But the silly twit wouldn’t know the difference.

Desiree glanced at the closed door to his father’s room. “It’s probably a good thing you came early today. He seems a mite restless this morning. Maybe your visit will help calm him down.”

Matthew smiled. “I’ll see what I can do.”

He opened the door and walked through. The old man lay on his back, eyes to the ceiling, hands motionless on either side of him. His lips were parted and a stream of drool had run out one corner of his mouth and dried on his cheek.

The room stank. It always did. No matter how many times the staff came in to change and bathe the old man, he somehow managed to soil himself before their every visit. It might have been annoying if it wasn’t so pathetic.

The curtained partition that separated the two beds had been slid back, and Matthew nodded to his father’s roommate. Mr. Campbell was another stroke patient, paralyzed on both sides with an almost complete loss of speech. He was slightly elevated in bed, and his faded eyes watched with wary detachment as Matthew approached.

“Hello, Mr. Campbell. How are you today?”

He blinked rapidly, but Matthew didn’t have a clue what that meant, so he shrugged and walked over to his father’s bedside.

“Hello, Father.” He bent to kiss the man’s forehead. The skin beneath his lips was dry like parchment and stretched so tightly across brittle bones that his face resembled a skull. The old man was awake and conscious. His mouth moved slightly, as if he was trying to say something. Or perhaps he merely wanted to close it.

“Desiree tells me you had a restless night. I’m so sorry. I should have come sooner.” He bent and lowered his voice. “Because that just won’t do, Father. We can’t have you causing trouble, now can we?”

He pulled a syringe from his pocket and held it up to the light. The old man’s mouth moved frantically now as his eyes darted back and forth. He knew what was coming.

Smiling, Matthew placed his lips close to the old man’s ear. “Tell me something, Father. How does it feel to be trapped inside that body?”

His father responded with a pathetic moan that didn’t even sound human.

Matthew straightened. “Where do you want your injection today? In the thigh, underneath the arm, between the toes? So many possibilities…”

Taking a few steps toward the end of the bed, he pulled up the blanket and sheet, exposing legs that resembled brittle blue branches. Matthew uncapped the syringe, and as he jabbed the needle into his father’s thigh, he glanced across the room.

The old man in the other bed lay watching him, and slowly Matthew brought his finger up to his lips.

“Shush. Don’t tell.”