“Mom left the door unlocked,” I hollered at my twin brother as he slammed the door to his ’67 Mustang. It was the last day of eleventh grade, and we’d stopped off for burgers and malts at Grannie’s Diner with some friends to celebrate after school. Nathan and I were officially seniors and neither of us could wipe the grins from our faces.
“That’s weird,” he said, brushing a hand through his sandy-brown hair. “You know how she’s always nagging us about doing it.”
I grinned and held the door open for him. “I’m certainly not going to let her live this one down.”
Mom was married to a cop once, my father, and he’d drilled into her head how important it was to keep the doors locked, even when you’re home.
Nathan followed me into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
“Oh, my God,” I teased him. “How can you still be hungry after eating that monster burger and malt?”
He flexed a muscle. “I’m growing,” he said. “Just ‘cause you’re a skinny little twerp doesn’t mean everyone else has to eat like a bird.”
I walked over and punched him in the arm. “Very funny.”
He smiled and raised the milk carton to take a swig when we both heard it.
“What’s that?” I whispered.
He slammed down the milk and rushed out of the kitchen.
“Nathan?” I yelled, chasing him upstairs. The sobs were coming from somewhere in the upper level of the house and my stomach twisted in horror.
Mom?
“Oh, my God,” he choked, entering her dark bedroom. She was lying naked on the floor next to the bed, her face swollen and bleeding, her body badly bruised.
We rushed to her side and she cracked open one of her black eyes. “Call the police,” she mumbled, barely coherent.
I started to cry as I grabbed the phone and dialed nine-one-one. I don’t even remember talking to the person who’d answered. All I know is that I was blubbering and she was trying to console me with the fact that help was coming.
I hung up and stared at my broken mother in shock, feeling helpless and frightened. Thankfully, Nathan handled stress much better than I did.
He grabbed a comforter and covered her gently. “Mom, what happened?” he asked, pushing her dark bangs away from her eyes.
The shame on her face was heart-wrenching and I pretty much knew by her appearance what had happened. She’d obviously been beaten and raped.
I brushed the tears from my face, kneeled down next to her, and lightly touched her hand. “The police and ambulance are on their way.”
She nodded and closed her eyes.
“Mom?” prodded Nathan. “What happened?”
“Nathan, think about it,” I whispered. “She’s been raped.”
His lips trembled as he searched her face. “Mom, some stranger broke in here and… did this?”
She opened her eyes and stared at both of us for a few seconds. “No… no stranger,” she whispered hoarsely. “It was your father.”
Chapter One
Dark Dreams Page 37
