Not My Mother by Miranda Smith (lightweight ebook reader .txt) 📕

coming home at all? What if Bruce was just telling me that? Jamie told me this man was dangerous; I hoped he wouldn’t be reckless enough to attack me in their own home, but I couldn’t be sure.

“Is she a good baby?”

I thought maybe talking about you would keep him distracted. It worked. He had that goofy smile most dads get when talking about their children.

“She loves bath time. Most kids hate it that young. I know my nephews were never big fans of the water, but Caroline loves it. Did you have any brothers or sisters?” he asked.

“No.”

“I’m one of five. Big family. I’m the last one to have kids, so it’s like I’ve been waiting on this a long time. You should drink your wine,” he said, nodding at me. He took a sip and continued his story. “It’s funny we ended up with a daughter. My family has been dominated by boys for the longest time. Caroline changes things. It’s true what they say, too. I feel like Caroline has turned me into a big softie.”

The man sitting beside me might be talking about his hopes for his child, my daughter, you… but it was all a smokescreen. I believed he was the man who had attacked Jamie, and each minute I was left alone with him felt dangerous.

“That’s funny,” I said, forcing a smile. “Say, do you think I could use your tele—”

Across the way, I heard a heavy door sliding across the floor, then a lock being clicked.

“Bruce?”

It was Amelia’s voice, followed moments later by the sound of her heels clacking against the floors. She stopped walking when she saw me sitting beside her husband. I still wonder if she could detect the look of fear on my face. The terror, thickening, spreading throughout my entire body.

She scrunched her face in confusion. “Sarah, what are you doing here?”

Amelia didn’t seem particularly happy to see me. In all the times we had spent together—at the center, at the hospital, at the stables—this was my first time in her house, and I had arrived uninvited. And now, I was holding on to this secret that her husband, your appointed father, might have attacked my best friend.

He definitely attacked her, I told myself. The scar. Phillips Academy. Everything was too coincidental.

I stood quickly. “I’m on my way out of town. I tried calling you at the center, but…” The adrenaline coursing through my body made it hard to focus.

She looked to Bruce. “Where’s Caroline?”

Bruce stood. His hand rubbing the back of his neck. His gaze remained downward, avoiding Amelia and me. “Still sleeping.” He walked into the kitchen and held up the charcuterie board like it was a prize. “I thought we’d snack on some of this until she wakes up.”

“You’re staying?” Amelia asked, her attention back to me.

“I’m leaving town this afternoon,” I said. “I just wanted to see Caroline one last time.”

Amelia eased at this and smiled. “You must be so excited about your classes.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Let’s sit outside,” Bruce said, carrying the tray toward the patio doors. “It’s such perfect weather.”

I looked back at Amelia. She was watching me the way I was watching Bruce. I wondered if she was afraid I would change my mind about you. She might have been worried I’d cause a scene.

“Set up the table outside,” Amelia told Bruce.

He obeyed, stepping into the backyard and shutting the door behind him.

Amelia stepped closer to me. “Are you sure everything is all right? You look upset.”

She’d been around me enough to sense when I was acting off. Even though I still felt conflicted about what I needed to do, I felt safer knowing she was here. And I felt an overwhelming need to tell her the truth about what I was thinking.

“I think… I think I know something.”

There I was again, sounding like the idiot girl I was when I first met Amelia. Before we became friends and she led me toward greater opportunities. I was back to falling over my words like a buffoon.

And yet, Amelia acted as though what I’d just said made complete sense. She seemed startled. She nodded. “What do you think you know?”

“Something about Bruce,” I said. It felt like I was running out of breath.

At this, she looked surprised. “What about Bruce?”

“He used to work at Phillips Academy, right? I had a friend who went to that school. And she…” I failed to find the best phrasing. I closed my eyes. I had to just say it. Leave no room for misunderstanding. “She was attacked by one of her teachers.”

Amelia raised her chin. She wasn’t expecting to hear me make such an accusation, but she didn’t look completely disgusted either. “Just because he taught there doesn’t mean—”

“He has a scar. On his forearm. My friend fought this teacher off.”

Amelia had a pained look on her face. “When did you come up with all of this?”

“Just now. When I met him again.”

“It doesn’t… he couldn’t…” Amelia stopped talking, raising a hand to her forehead. She looked like she might faint. She gave her head a little shake and took a deep breath. “Are you sure?”

“I’m not sure if it’s him, but everything in my friend’s story adds up. I’m sick to my stomach. I know he’s your husband, but… he could be dangerous. I think we should leave with Caroline. Together. Just until we find out if my suspicions are correct.”

Amelia’s face turned to the closed door. She looked like she might be ill. “I’ll tell him to leave. We’ll get him out of the house, long enough for us to decide what we need to do. Maybe we could reach out to your friend. Ask her for a name.”

I nodded hurriedly. I knew she was taking a huge leap of faith, believing my outlandish accusation, but then again, he was her husband. Maybe a portion of the story I’d told her registered, made sense in some way. Maybe she already had suspicions. She certainly didn’t look