You Can't Hide by Theresa Sneed (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

“I had just finished reading it, and I was crying like a baby. I didn’t have the courage to tell Sofia to put it down, when she picked it up. And then,” she paused, “the rest is history.”

“So, she read it?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“And you trust her?” she asked again, needing the reaffirmation that this Sofia person was okay.

“With my life.”

Good enough. There was one more question on her mind. She wet her lips. “Did she like it?”

Nancy laughed. “I’m sure she did.” She shrugged. “But I didn’t get to talk to her about it before she—”

Elle finished her words, “before she fell into a fit?”

“More like a wild, emotional, roller-coaster ride.”

“Oh.” Elle stood. “How will we get it back?”

“Through Wendy, I guess.” She moved toward the door. “I’ll give it a couple days, and then I’ll call her.”

Relieved that Nancy had her phone number, Elle stifled all of her fears of the manuscript getting into the wrong hands. “Okay,” she said and turned to leave. Nancy followed her out.

The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.” Nancy called over her shoulder, going past Elle.

When Nancy opened the door, a young boy with red hair and freckles stood on the doorstep, holding an ensemble of wildflowers in his hands. “Oh, you must be Breccan.” She smiled.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Won’t you come in?”

“Um, no thanks. I just brought these for Sally. I heard she was ill.” He thrust the flowers forward.

“Oh, thanks. I’ll see that she gets them.”

“Who is it?” Elle asked, coming to the door. “Oh.”

“Hello, Mrs. Hadlock,” Breccan said sheepishly. “I’m Breccan, Sally’s friend.”

“Breccan, yes, I know.”

He shuffled his feet. “Um, I’ll be going now.” He backed away.

Elle grinned. “Why don’t you come in for a bit?” She took the flowers from Nancy and stuck them in a mason jar with water. “I’ll go see if she’s awake.” She left the room.

“So, tell me how you met my daughter,” Nancy said.

His eyes widened. “Oh, I thought she was Mrs. Hadlock, I’m sorry Mrs. Hadlock.”

Nancy laughed. “She is, and I’m not.”

His confused look amused her, but for Sally’s sake, she thought to fix it. “I’m her birth mother, but Mrs. Hadlock raised her. I, uh, was indisposed for a few years.”

“Oh,” he said, an odd look lighting his eyes. “You’re Mrs. Snyder, then.”

Nancy drew in a breath. “She told you?”

His eyes popped open. He seemed to realize his mistake. “Um, no, not really.”

“Not really?” she said firmly.

“No, ma’am.” He seemed uncomfortable, but resigned to the fact that he had to explain himself.

“No?” she said, her arms folded tight across her chest.

“No, ma’am,” he repeated. “She was mad at me and called her dad, Professor Hancock, instead of Hadlock. I figured the rest out on my own.” He shifted his weight from one leg to the other. “My dad’s a private investigator, and I sort of think like him.”

He rubbed his hands together, as if he was cold, even though it was toasty warm in the room. He forced a laugh, although it came out more like a squeak. “I mean, it’s obvious you’re not from around here. Sally’s weird accent and the way she acted sounded American.” He shrugged. “The rest was easy. I, uh, searched old newspapers in the public library.”

“Very clever,” Nancy said. “You realize we’ll have to move now.”

“Why?” he gasped. “No one knows, but me—I swear.”

The door opened and Sam came in. He didn’t seem surprised to see the boy. “Hello, Breccan.” Glancing over at the wildflowers he added, “I see you took my advice.”

“Yes, sir.”

He turned to Nancy. “Welcome home, Nancy.” He gave her a warm hug. “How’s Sally doing?”

Elle came into the kitchen. ”She’s better than yesterday, but still a little feverish.”

Breccan stood. “I’ll be leaving, then.”

Nancy shook her head and gestured for him to sit back down. “No, Breccan. Tell them what you just told me.”

Breccan’s face turned as red as his hair. Sam’s smile dropped to a frown, and Elle’s eyes widened.

“I, uh, well,” Breccan stuttered. He stared down at his hands. “Please don’t move. Please. I’m sorry.” He looked up at Nancy with pleading in his eyes. “Please, Mrs. Snyder?”

At the mention of Nancy’s real surname, Elle gasped, and sat down quick. Sam’s mouth fell open, and Breccan teared up. Nancy sighed.

“Just listen to him,” she said, in a quiet tone.

Breccan explained, once again, how he knew who they were, ending with yet another plea for them to stay in Kiltegan.

The room was quiet.

“I’m in shock,” Elle whispered.

“Me, too,” said Sam. “What are we going to do?”

“He swears he won’t tell a soul,” Nancy said. She looked long and hard at Breccan. “And I believe him.”

A raspy voice came from the hallway. “I believe him, too.” Sally stepped near the entrance to the kitchen. “Hi, Mother. I’m so glad you’re back!” Staying at the edge of the hallway, she coughed, and then wrapped her robe tighter around her shoulders. “Anyhow, now that you know that he knows, maybe you’ll listen to him, when you won’t listen to me?”

Breccan squirmed in his seat.

Sally cleared her throat. “It’s true, you know, Breccan listens to me. He knows more about me, than you do.”

Elle looked from Sally to Breccan, and then at Nancy and Sam. “Tell us now,” she said, her voice soft. “What’s bothering you, sweetheart?”

Nancy followed her cue. “Yes, Sally. What is it?”

Sam pulled a chair over to Sally so she could sit. “You’re on,” he said, pulling a chair up beside her.

She took a deep breath and then squeezed her eyes shut. “I see Merrick in my dreams. He terrifies me. Almost every night he’s there. I wake up trembling so hard that I can’t stop.” She opened her eyes. “But you won’t let me talk about it. You just want me to pretend it never happened.”

Elle’s hand went to her chest, and Nancy dew in a quick breath. Sam shook his head. “I had no idea.”

“None of us did,” Elle added.

“I’m so sorry,” Nancy said. She got down on her knees