Page 89 of Where the Darkness Goes

I swallow, forcing away a theory growing in my mind.It’s ridiculous. Impossible.Britney would never have cheated on Justin. Not with Pastor Charles, a man old enough to be our…The man who is my father.If it’s true, if there’s some sick dimension where it’s true, Britney was carrying my half-sibling. I can’t breathe.

“Yes. Of course.” I start to move past him. “Lots of prayers. I, um, I’m going to make something to drink. Can I get you tea or coffee? I think there’s some lemonade in there.”

“You sit,” Pastor Charles says, the command radiating through me. “Let me help. I should be the one getting you something, since you’re under the weather and all.” He smirks. “Name your poison.”

His words creep across my skin like a spider.Now’s my chance to call for help.“A glass of tea would be great. There are cups in the cabinet by the fridge.”

He turns to walk away, but stops before he reaches the threshold. “How’s your mother, by the way? I keep meaning to stop by and visit her, but I haven’t had the chance to. I think Mabel probably visits enough for the two of us.” He laughs under his breath.

Something about the question sends chills down my spine. I think about my mom then, about her going to work every day under the thumb of this man. About how badly he must’ve hurt her and how he wielded his power over everyone in this town, including her, all my life.

I also think about her accident and how the doctors have never been able to determine whether she had the stroke before she fell down the stairs or if the fall down the stairs caused the stroke. Something tickles in the back of my brain. “Oh, you hadn’t heard? She’s alert now. Talking and everything.”

He visibly pales. “What?”

“Yeah. That’s why Will came home early and why he’s there now visiting. I just got back. She was able to say a few words last night and this morning. They’ll still need to do physical therapy for her to walk again, but the doctors can’t believe it. I guess prayer works after all.”

He nods, patting the pocket where his glasses are with trembling hands, as if he might’ve lost them. “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”

A new idea occurs to me. A flicker of possibility in this upside down world we find ourselves in today. “Yeah, it’s strange. The doctor said her memory is still a little fuzzy, but she remembers a man who visited her the day of her accident.”

His eyes narrow. “A man?”

Suddenly, he’s eerily still.

“Did you know of any man she’d been seeing? I know how close you two are. I just thought she might’ve told you.”

“As a matter of fact…” He pauses, taking a moment to breathe. His hand goes to his stomach as he looks away. “Oh, your mother wouldn’t like me to tell you this, and the Lord doesn’t like a gossip, but she did confess to me that she’d been seeing someone new. You know how we get to talking while we work. Sometimes the truth just slips out.”

“Oh?”

“I’m afraid he’s a married man.” He nods. Very solemn. Very serious. As if his mask has been ripped off all at once, I see the liar within. The darkness. I see everything he’s been hiding, and I know how easily he could’ve manipulated Mom, Will, and everyone else in this town.

I fidget in place. “Are you sure? That doesn’t sound like her.”

“Now, I don’t want you to think badly of her. We all make our choices, and no sin is worse than another, but it’s true. She was seeing Anthony Davis. Britney’s father-in-law.”

I gasp, drawing my brows down in a good little act. “What?No.”

“Yes, yes. I’m afraid so. In fact, we should probably go to the police, don’t you think? In case he did something untoward to cause her accident. I don’t want to believe it, but if she’s saying there was a man with her that day, well, I’ve never known your mother to be a liar. Of course, she could be confused. But if not, if Anthony wanted to keep his secret, well, I don’t want to accuse him, but you never know what people will do.” He leans his head to the side with a sympathetic look. “You’re sick, though. You shouldn’t have to deal with this. Your mom has been very loyal to me.” His hand goes to his chest. “I consider her family. Let me visit with her, then I’ll talk to Anthony. And then, once we have all the information, we can go to the police together if we decide it’s necessary.” The sincerity on his face makes me nauseous. Ican see right through it, but I can so easily see how I once might not have.

“Are you sure?”

“Very sure.” He nods again, hurrying past me and across the room toward the door. With his back to me, I glance down at my phone still in my hand, preparing to call the police and then Will as soon as I get the chance. When I look up, he’s standing in place, watching me. “I think I should take that, Tessa.”

My heart drops, and I swear it’s a feeling as painful as if it hit every rib on the way down. “My phone?”

“The Lord doesn’t like a gossip. The Bible says if your hand causes you to sin, you should cut it off and throw it away. Let me remove the temptation for you. At least until we have all the facts. I know how tempting it will be to tell someone what I’ve confided in you.”

“I don’t think I can give you my phone, Pastor Charles. Will might need me. Or Kristy. I won’t call anyone, though. You have my word. I would never want Mom’s reputation to be ruined by rumors.”

He nods slowly, his jaw moving side to side as he releases a slow breath through his nose. “How about a compromise?” His lips twist into what should be a smile but looks more like a grimace. “Why don’t you lock it away in the china cabinet?” He points to Mom’s old china cabinet sitting against the wall in the hallway. It’s mostly empty now, but I can remember when it was full of her collectible dolls.

“Why would I do that?” I press.Come on, Will. Where are you?It could still be hours before they come home. I’m on my own here. Completely and utterly alone.

“We could lock it up, and I’ll take the key, and then when I see Will at Oak Meadows, I’ll explain everything and give it to him. By this afternoon, you’ll be free to have your phone again no problem.”

“I don’t think I’m okay with that,” I say. I can’t bring myself to look him in the eye, and I hate myself for it.

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