[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

again. I was just trying to&  His voice trailed off, and he focused back on the road.
 What? Laura asked.
She saw him clench his jaw.
 Nothing. Forget it.
She felt a twinge of guilt in her stomach as she wondered if he actually had been trying to
comfort her. She could have laughed at that stupid thought. He hated her. Those days
were long over.
****
There was a sudden commotion outside her small room and what sounded like Caroline
McKinney's voice. Laura carefully opened her door and poked her head out. She saw
Caleb's face. Her heart did that funny squeeze thing in her chest that'd been happening a
lot now whenever she looked at him.
Caleb spotted her and walked towards her, his eyes widening.  Laura, geez! What did
she do to you?
Caroline McKinney looked at Laura, and the woman's eyes grew large, horrified.
Laura's stomach clenched with guilt because no one was ever supposed to know,
especially these people. Before she could even come up with a believable excuse for why
she was all bruised and scratched up, Caroline, who hardly ever yelled, even when Mike
switched the bad milk with the good as a joke, shoved Karen Thatcher up against the wall.
 You miserable bitch, Caroline hissed into the other woman's face, and both Laura and
Caleb stared at his mother in surprise.  I suspected something like this but, my God,
woman. How could you?
 Who are you to tell me how to raise my child? You look down your nose at me. The little
whore deserved it, running around like a common tramp. How many times has your
golden boy had her on her back, huh? Karen sneered through a haze of alcohol.
Caroline looked over at Caleb, whose cheeks were two bright spots of red, and pushed
Karen Thatcher against the wall again.  You will be silent! When Karen's eyes widened,
but she made no comment, she continued.  Laura, honey, I want you to go with Caleb
and wait in my car, okay? This is gonna end right now. You will not harm another hair
on that precious child's head. Caleb, hand me the phone.
 No! Laura cried, rushing past him to the two women.  No, Mrs. McKinney. Please! It
was nothing, honest. It was my fault. I was hanging out with Caleb when I should have
been at home. My mom was just worried about me, I promise. Please don't call anyone,
the young girl pleaded pulling Caroline away from her mother. Blind fear made the tears
roll down her face. They'd take her mother away, and then send Laura to a home
somewhere, and she'd never get to see Caleb or his family again and she couldn t
imagine anything worse than that. If getting knocked around sometimes was the price she
had to pay, then that wasn t so bad.
 There, see? She told you herself. I love my baby. She just has to learn not to worry me
so 
 Shut up, you sick woman, Caroline demanded.  Laura. Your mother hurting you like
this is not right. I'm going to call some people who'll make sure she gets help and
never hurts you again. You understand? she asked, her voice softer now that she
pleaded with Laura to help her stop this.
Laura shook her head but said nothing, her tears dripping off her face and stinging the
scratches that hadn't yet healed.
 Caleb. The phone. Caroline held out her hand.
 Caleb, please. They'll take me away. Don't make them send me away. Laura threw her
arms around her best friend to stop him and trembled while he held her.
 Laura. Do you want her to keep hurting you? he asked, stroking her hair.
It felt so good, and he smelled so good and right that she never wanted him to let go.  It
doesn t matter. It s not so bad. Please, she murmured into his chest, letting his scent
wash over her like a cloak of protection.
 Come on, Laura. Look at me. Look. He pulled away and cupped her face with his
hands. His eyes were taking in her bruises, and she could see the glistening of tears
beginning to form in his eyes.  We'll figure something out, okay? We're friends, right?
The best? You trust me? he asked her, and Laura knew she'd follow this boy to the ends
of the earth.  I won't let anybody split us up, okay?
 Ah, that's right, sweet talk her. Laura, honey, trust me. It's all sweet words and empty
promises. Then when he gets out from between your legs, he'll leave skid marks on his
way out the door. Course, it's nothing more than a slut like you deserves. Ain't nobody
gonna stick around for you, baby. Not your daddy, not golden boy over there. Just me is
all you got, Karen Thatcher taunted, smiling at her daughter.
 You shut up, you mean, evil woman. You don't deserve to be her mom. Laura is gonna
grow up to be a hundred times better than you. You're nothing but a drunk. Too stupid to
see this special girl, Caleb hissed at her.
Laura stared at him and saw her knight in shining armor. Her defender. And how she
loved him! She pulled out of Caleb's arms and walked towards the phone. She picked up
the receiver and handed it to Caroline McKinney.
****
Laura looked back down at the toy in her hands.  Watching them back there with their
little boy. It just reminded me of my mom, she admitted in a small voice. She didn t
meet his gaze but saw him look at her briefly out of the corner of her eyes.
 Not much of a comparison, I d say, he said, and she lifted her head and saw his fingers
tight around the steering wheel. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]