Page 14 of Kept in the Dark

Hailey walked to the couch and sat where Sara had been sitting previously. Sara wanted to protest but reminded herself she wasn’t in prison anymore. She didn’t have to be territorial. She was clearly having a harder time adjusting to freedom than she thought she would.

Sara then considered throwing Hailey out of the house out of spite but, again, decided against it. Sara was anxious to know why Hailey was so flustered and had gone out of her way to talk to her after all these years.

Sara sat on the other side of the couch, keeping her distance as suspicion filled her. “How did you know I was here?”

“Angie told me while I was at the wedding.”

Sara rolled her eyes. She wasn’t surprised, Angie couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. Sara nodded, wanting to get Hailey out of her hair. “So, what do you need to show me?”

Hailey retrieved a VHS tape out of her purse, irritating Sara even further. “If you’re wanting to watch a movie together, you can leave.”

Hailey furrowed her brows. “What?” She looked down at the tape. “Oh, no. It’s not a movie.” Hailey sighed. “A few days after Mom died, Angie dropped off a tape, but I never watched it. It sat in a box in my room until I found it tonight. And you need to see it. Just…just trust me.”

Sara bristled at the remark. Her sister had lost a grip on reality if she thought Sara would ever trust her again. She walked out on Sara when Sara’s world crumbled around her and never looked back.

Hailey wasn’t the only one to lose something that night. Sara mourned their mother’s death just as much as Hailey. If anything, the last thirteen years proved that Hailey wasn’t worthy of Sara’s trust.

Unprompted, Hailey turned on the TV, popped the video tape into the player, and hit play.

Sara wasn’t expecting to see a video of herself and her friends. It felt like a lifetime ago, as if she was watching a complete stranger. And she was. Sara no longer knew the girl in the video. That girl had died along with Morgan Gallagher.

Studying the screen, she cringed at how irresponsible they were. They had no business drinking and doing drugs, let alone driving under the influence.

When Sara heard her remarks about Chase, she immediately became rigid, embarrassment heating her body. A few moments later, the screen went black.

“Is this some kind of joke?” Sara stood up and crossed her arms. “You abandoned me all this time and now you come here to show me some stupid video. For what, Hailey? To remind me of how messed up I was?”

Hailey thrust her finger at Sara. “That’s not fair. You’re not the only one who went through something and you’re not the only one who lost Mom. I was traumatized, too.”

“So, abandoning me was your best option?”

Hailey matched Sara’s anger and stood up. “I didn’t abandon you! I ran away from my own problems.”

Sara shook her head and laughed. “That’s rich, Hailey. What problems did you have?”

Stunned, Hailey said, “Are you serious? You don’t know anything about what happened to me. I went through something too and it almost cost me my baby! I was in shock and didn't know what to do so I left. The world doesn't revolve around you, Sara.”

“Baby? What are you talking about?”

Hailey closed her eyes and sighed. “I found out I was pregnant that morning. I have a daughter.”

Sara didn’t speak at first. Once again, she felt betrayed by the person she once trusted the most in this life. How could Hailey not confide in her? How could she have missed out on thirteen years of her niece’s life?

Hailey was so selfish!

“You have a kid, and you didn’t think I’d want to know? Just a courtesy call: ‘Hey, I know you’re locked up, but you have a niece,’” Sara mocked.

Hailey rubbed her temples. “I see you haven't stopped being dramatic.”

“Oh, get over yourself! Goody-freaking-two shoes.”

Hailey’s mouth hung open. She had always been called goody-two-shoes growing up and Sara knew she hated it.

“Selfish drunk,” Hailey responded.

“Judas.”

“Murderer.”

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