Mariah Stewart - Hard Truth

The second book in the Truth series, 2005

Callen, Pennsylvania

October 9, 1980

I thought your mother said you werent allowed to wear that dress until your birthday party. Nine-year-old Lorna Stiles watched her friend Melinda slip the pretty yellow-and-white dress over her head.

She did, but today is my birthday, and I want to wear it. Melinda struggled to zip up the back of the dress before turning her back to Lorna. Here. See if you can get it.

Youre just trying it on, though, right? To show me? Lorna persisted even as she fastened the dress. She knew Melindas mother had a hot temper. Nothing provoked her more than having Melinda do what she was specifically told not to do.

Im going to wear it to your house. Its sort of like a party, right? Melinda twirled in front of the mirror.

Just birthday cake that my mom made for you. Its not really a party, Mel. Maybe you shouldnt-

I like it. Im going to wear it. What good is having a pretty dress if you can only wear it one time?

You can wear it again after your birthday. Lorna paused, then lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard. You know what your mom will do if she finds out, Mellie.

She wont find out. Melinda pulled a brown paper bag from under her bed, and stuffed her play clothes in. See? Ill change before I come home, and Ill put the dress in the bag. You can help me fold it real good, and shell never know.

Melinda beamed, pleased with her plan.

Come on, Lori, she said, calling her friend by her nickname, and tugging on her hand. Lets go. I cant wait to see my cake! Did your mom get candles, too?

I think so. Lorna nodded glumly, an uneasy feeling spreading through her insides. In the experiences of her short life, shed discovered that truth always outs. If Melinda wasnt afraid of her mother, Lorna was, not for herself, but for what Billie Eagan would do to her daughter.

The last time Melinda had disobeyed her mother, shed lost three days of school. Oh, shed never told Lorna exactly what her mother had done to punish her, but Lorna had seen the bruises on her friends arms and legs.

Once, when Mellies long sleeves had ridden up to display the fresh welts on her arms, Lorna had suggested gently that she tell someone. But Melinda had quickly pulled the sleeves down and asked, Tell someone what? with that defiant look she got sometimes, and Lorna had let it go. When Lorna had mentioned to her own mother that sometimes Melindas mom might be a little strict-without mentioning the bruises-her mom said that the Eagans had had things tough since Mellies father ran off with that woman from the flower shop and Mrs. Eagan had to work two jobs just to keep food on the table for her two kids and a roof over their heads.

And God knows she has her hands full with that boy of hers. Mary Beth Stiles had shaken her blond head. Youd think at fourteen hed understand the situation his mother is in and try to give her a hand, instead of causing more problems for her. Hes old enough to help her out once in a while.

Jasons mean, Mom, Lorna had told her mother. He is just plain mean. Hes mean to Mel and hes mean to me.

He hasnt ever done anything to you, has he? Her father, whod been half listening while he skimmed the headlines, put the newspaper down.

No, he just gives us dirty looks and talks mean to us. Hes never done anything bad, Lorna denied. Unless you call talking dirty to us and chasing us with snakes-really big snakes-doing something to me.

Of course, he hadnt done the snake thing in a while. Now he mostly stared. It had gotten so she almost hated to go to the Eagans, because if Jason was there, hed stare at her and Mellie and it scared the daylights out of her and she didnt know why.

Lorna never told her parents how scary she thought Jason was. There was something about him that gave her the creeps, more and more, something she didnt have words to explain. All she knew was that the older he got, the creepier he got. She and Melinda never discussed it, but she knew that Jason rattled his sister even more than he rattled her.

Lets go, Lori. If we dont go now, my brother will be home and hell tell Mom about the dress. Besides, I cant wait for cake. Melinda turned the light off in her room and ran down the steps, the yellow skirt of her party dress billowing around her legs.

Lorna followed behind, happy to leave the dark little house and the threat of Jasons imminent arrival behind her.

Lets take the shortcut through the field. Melinda ran toward the wheat field that ran behind her house, and started along the side where the ground had been plowed but not planted.

Its too muddy, Lorna protested. Well get our shoes all dirty.

Well clean them when we get to your house. Come on. Melinda took off, and Lorna followed, trying her best to avoid the ruts the plow had made when it turned around. This mornings rain had left little puddles here and there, and she knew her mother would not be pleased if she came home with her new sneakers all mud-stained.

They were halfway across the field to Lornas, when somehow Melinda slipped and went down on her knees.

I knew it, I knew something was going to happen Lorna gasped. My grandmother says every time you do what you know youre not supposed to do, you get-

Shut up. Melinda pulled herself up and looked down with horror at the front of her dress, where brown smears marked the places where her knees had hit the ground. Oh, shit. Look at my dress. Look at my dress.

Youre not supposed to say curse words.

Melinda spun around and looked at Lorna with wide eyes.

What the hell do you think I should say? Her hands were beginning to shake. What the hell am I supposed to do?

Her bravado crumbling, Melinda began to cry.

Shes gonna kill me. Shes gonna beat me but good.

Okay, look, my mom is home, shell know what to do. Lorna took Melinda by the hand and started to pull her along. The longer we stand here talking about it, the harder its going to be to get the mud out. Come on, Mellie, lets run.

She tugged on Melindas hand.

You dont understand, Lori, shes gonna really hurt me. Melindas voice was filled with true fear.

Not if she doesnt know. Come on.

Lorna dragged Melinda along the bumpy field until they reached the Stiles property. They ran around the back of the barn and across the yard and straight up the back steps.

Mom! Mom! Lorna called from the door.

Lorna? Her mother came out of the kitchen and saw the two girls panting, Melinda muddy and obviously in distress. What on earth-

Mellie fell in the field, we have to get her dress cleaned before she goes home. She wasnt supposed to wear it, but todays her birthday and Lorna gasped.

Slow down, her mother demanded. Mellie, let me take a look at that dress.

Mary Beth knelt down in front of Melinda and studied the muddy mess. She looked up at the crying child and said, I think I can get it all out, but if its going to be dry in time for you to take it home with you, we have to hurry. Your mother didnt want you to wear this today?