AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come on in.” Alison smiled and swept a hand toward the room. “You changed fast.”
“Comfortable clothes help me relax.”
“I hear you. I ditched my heels the second I walked in the room.” She motioned to the discarded pumps. “After I change, you want to go out for lunch?”
Sophie wrapped her arms around her middle. “Are you up for that?”
As a matter of fact, she was starving.
But it wouldn’t do to admit that to Sophie, who thought her sister was grieving the loss of her estranged husband.
“I’ve been hungrier, but we have to eat, and I’d rather not cook. Why don’t you sit on the bed while I change?”
After a tiny hesitation, Sophie walked over to it and perched on the edge, back stiff.
“So what kind of food are you in the mood for?” Alison moved to the closet and began riffling through her clothes.
“I don’t care. Whatever you want is fine.” Tension vibrated through her words.
Alison glanced over at her. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I guess.”
At the unsettling vibes quivering in the air, Alison pulled a blouse off a hanger and pivoted toward her. “What does that mean?”
For a long moment, Sophie studied the toe of her sport shoe. “How come you never told me you and Nate were divorced?”
Alison crimped the blouse in her fingers and bit back a word that would make her sister cringe.
She should never have left Sophie alone while she made a quick trip to the ladies’ room after the service in the funeral home chapel. Someone had either told her sister the truth, or Sophie had overheard it. What other explanation could there be?
That had been the one danger of attending Nate’s service with Sophie in tow. But after her still-in-love-with-my-husband act all these months, not attending would have raised too many questions.
Alison crossed to the bed and sat beside her sister. “Did someone tell you that?”
“Not directly. I overheard two of his friends talking while I waited for you to come back from the bathroom.”
Conclusion confirmed.
Brain clicking at warp speed, Alison set the blouse beside her. “I’m sorry to say he did go through with the divorce, but we also continued to talk. Both of us wanted to work through our issues. I had great hopes we’d end up back together. And we might have, if the camping accident hadn’t happened.”
Sophie searched her face. “Why didn’t you tell me this before? Why pretend you were just separated?”
Calling up every ounce of acting skill she could muster, Alison coaxed her eyes to tear. “I suppose I didn’t want to admit we had problems, or disillusion you about love.” She slipped her arm around Sophie’s shoulders. “I’ve always tried to protect you from the harsher realities of life.”
Her sister once again focused on the toe of her shoe. “I know. Going all the way back to Larry.”
At Sophie’s soft reply, Alison sucked in a breath and straightened her spine. “What do you know about Larry?”
“More than you think I do.”
Anger began to build in her. “Did he ever—”
“No!” Distress darkened Sophie’s pupils as their gazes met. “He never touched me. You watched me too close. But later, when I was older, I figured out what happened during those trips to his boat.” She swallowed, and her complexion lost a few more shades of color. “You were only what ... ten, eleven ... when it started? What he did was terrible, Alison.” Hervoice choked, and she swiped at her lashes. “Why didn’t you ever tell anyone?”
Alison retracted her arm and stood. Paced over to the window and glared out as the ugly memories came roaring back. Of those nightmarish weekend trips with her step-uncle, taken with the full knowledge and blessing of her stepfather—may he rot in hell as the cancer had rotted his liver. Of all the things Larry had done to her below deck while her sister played above, oblivious but safe as long as Alison cooperated and kept her mouth shut.
That had been the terrible bargain.
