After driving a short distance, I turned down the gravel drive and took in Christina’s quaint home. It was a small cottage adorned with roses and hedges lining the path. The couple she’d bought it off during her marriage were elderly and forced to move in with their son, the upkeep of the cottage being too much for them. When Dickhead Damian did a runner, Christina took over the maintenance, and so far, even with a nine-month-old baby, had kept everything running like a well-oiled machine. I didn’t intend to stay long, the guilt over the exhibition hanging over my head.
I took to the stepping stones with the uneven surface, my wedges causing my legs to wobble. Holding my arms out, I regained balance and knocked on the door. I waited for Christina’s typical sing-song voice but heard nothing. When half a minute passed, I knocked once more. With still no Christina, I tilted to the side and spied through a gap in the drapes. Evie was lying on her rug playing with a maraca, her little legs kicking out. Soon she would be walking but not quite yet. Scanning the room as best I could, Christina was still nowhere to be found. Returning to the door, I twisted the brass handle to find it unlocked. Letting myself in, I immediately heard the sounds of cartoons playing softly on the TV. Evie turned her head slightly, her gummy mouth opening in a cheerful smile as she cooed and shook the maraca with gusto.
“Hi, sweetie,” I cooed back, getting on my knees to plant a kiss on her soft forehead. “Where’s your mommy, my darling?” I tickled her cheek, and her smile widened. “Is she hiding from me?”
Rising to my feet and promising to return for cuddles, I went in search for my absent friend. The small kitchen was empty, the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. On the counter was the promised peach sponge. At least she remembered our date, but where the hell was she?
Spying out the kitchen window, I could cross the backyard off the list. To my left, a dull thud sounded. I paused and listened. Only a few seconds later, an identical thud confirmed the first. Maybe she was doing the laundry. Turning down the hall, I wasn’t left with many options. All doors were open except the bedroom.
Each step I took, the louder the noise became. They were muffled, erratic sounds.
“Christina?” I called, cautiously.
I grew suddenly nervous, my palms sweating. Gently, I pushed the door open. Any ounce of courage I felt faded fast when I choked on a gasp.
I had found my friend.
She lay naked, on her back, a man on top engulfing her body. A sheen of sweat covered both. His muscles bulged as he held himself above her small frame pounding into her hard and fast and then slow and sensual. One hand was wrapped around her neck, so he could either pin her down or pull her face to meet his in a passionate kiss. Christina groaned deep and guttural each time he thrust into her, begging for more. She was facing away from the door, but he… he knew I was there and played to the exhibitionism. The man slowed his rhythm, pushing deeper inside her, hips eagerly gyrating.
Ready to pull me into his world, the man slowly turned his head, revealing his wicked smile. He took me in, recognized the horror I felt, his eyes sadistically gleeful.
I had seen this very scene before.
And the one person who had etched this memory in my head all those years ago was the same person proving that history could indeed be repeated.
Mason Carter.
Chapter 20
THEN
“Go wash up for dinner, honey,” Mom said while shaking the rain off the umbrella. It had been running since lunch, the sky a murky gray, the ground now sodden. “Aunty Lucy is coming for dinner at seven.”
“Okay,” I replied, tired and exhausted from school.
“Oh… and she’ll be taking measurements for the bridesmaid’s dress, so wear the new bra I bought you with the removable straps.
I paused while undoing my shoelaces. My stomach twisted in knots, my heart pounding hard in my chest.
“What’s wrong? I’m not asking you to get naked, Gem. But you will need to be in your underwear…” she paused. “Gem? Darling, are you listening?”
“Yes,” I replied weakly, knowing tonight would be the night my mom would see the scar for the first time. She would read the word ‘mine’ crassly branded on me, the scar still a dark pink and slow in healing. A million questions would follow after her outburst of anger and then she’d know what Mason had done. That he’d attacked me. “I’m just not feeling very well, Mom.”
“Rubbish, you were fine a minute ago.”
Putting my shoes in the cupboard, I touched my abdomen. “I know, but my stomach hurts.”
She sighed heavily, exasperated. “I don’t know if it’s a teenage thing or something else going on. I don’t know because you never tell me anything anymore.”
I could feel the tears welling up. I wanted to tell her everything. But I couldn’t. Even if I did, the monster would still be living next door.
My mother waved her hand in surrender. “I don’t know what’s going on with you these days, Gemma. You’re always feeling ill. You rarely come out of your room anymore. It’s like you’re avoiding us.” She cupped my chin, so I faced her. “The sparkle in your beautiful eyes is gone. I miss my daughter, and I wish she’d come back to me.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks, and she gently wiped them away before pulling me into a warm embrace. “I didn’t mean to upset you, darling. Just know, I’m always here for you no matter what happens. I won’t judge. I won’t yell. I just want you happy again.”
“I know, Mom,” I said, my voice muffled against her shoulder. “I love you.”
“Love you too, sweetie.” With that, she gently pushed me away to plant a kiss on my forehead. “Remember, Aunty Lucy at seven.”
“Got it,” I confirmed as she walked away to take care of dinner.
Climbing the stairs, my mind was busy creating possible excuses to avoid standing in my underwear. I wasn’t comfortable with doing such a thing normally, let alone with a scar claiming ownership. Once I was inside my bedroom, I pulled the chunky math textbook from my bag and dropped it with a thud on the study desk. I wasn’t in the mood for algebra, but the upcoming exam was waiting for no one.
Before I could flop on the bed, a note clipped in the peg caught my attention. A smile formed instantly, a smile that was for Lucas. At the same time, my heart ached. I hadn’t seen him much since the last visit to Little Wren. Every time we spoke, Mason would be hovering just enough to make his presence known, his warning hanging thick in the air. The best thing for us all was to keep some distance, but that decision left me mourning our friendship. Unfolding the note, I bit my lip with a mix of worry and anticipation.
I’m at the cabin, Gem. Come meet me after school. X
The worry faded, now replaced with a longing to see him again.
Quickly changing into jeans and a t-shirt, I tied my hair back and applied some gloss to my lips. Closing the bedroom door, I took to the stairs in a hurry, my heavy footsteps echoing down the hall. I was almost to the door when Mom appeared, her apron on, a look of bewilderment on her face.
“Did a herd of elephants just came stampeding through here? Or was it my daughter who wasn’t feeling well only moments ago?”
“I’m just going to meet Lucas. I’ll be home for dinner.”
“Like I said,” she said slowly emphasizing each word. “I thought you weren’t feeling well?”
“I know, but Lucas needs me. I promise I’ll be back.”
“Seven, Gem,” Mom warned. “Not a second later.”
Giving a small wave, I closed the front door behind me and ran around the side of the house to my bike. I don’t think I’d ever pedaled so fast in my life. I was on a deadline, and the cabin was an hour there and back. That meant I only had one hour with Lucas. While navigating the streets, dodging cars returning home from school pick up, and having to run up the steep hills too difficult to ride up, I contemplated why Lucas would be out there during the week. I hoped it had nothing to do with escaping his mom and her volatile boyfriend.