Amanda Stevens - The Dollmaker

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.”