Page 39 of Hush

Elise pried apart the track, making neat piles, thankful her hands had something to do.

Footsteps on the porch announced Caitlin’s arrival. Soon, she swooped into the kitchen, bakery bag in hand.

Jaden leaped to his feet, then ran to greet her. Elise carried the trash can back to beneath the sink.

Caitlin pulled out a new puzzle for Jaden, who tore off the wrapping and disappeared into the living room.

“Uh-oh,” Caitlin said, her cheerful face falling when she spotted Elise.

Elise started to cry again.

Caitlin pulled Elise into her arms. She closed her eyes and the sobs came, hard and fast against her sister’s shoulder. Caitlin stroked her back, and the warmth from her embrace seeped into Elise’s body. When she stopped shuddering, Caitlin stepped back, eyeing Elise shrewdly.

“Spill it,” she said.

Elise wiped her eyes with her fingertips and glanced at Jaden, who hummed while assembling the brightly colored puzzle pieces, starting in his usual way with the center image first.

Caitlin poured two cups of coffee, then tilted her head toward the couch. “He’s fine for a minute. Come on.”

Elise settled into the corner and accepted the cup of coffee, letting it warm her hands. After a deep breath, she told Caitlin—using code words in case Jaden’s elephant-ear-hearing was tuning in—about Ben staying until two AM, followed by their midday rendezvous, and the incident on the way to get Jaden’s coat.

“Jaden saw him,” Elise said, dropping her gaze to the bunched-up tissue in her lap. “Through the window.” A tear trickled down her cheek.

“Did you see who it was?” Caitlin asked, her eyes narrowed.

Elise shook her head. “Just the side of her face.”

“Are you sure it couldn’t be, oh, I don’t know, his sister or his mother or something?”

“Why wouldn’t he have told me then?” Elise asked, her voice sharp. “I got a funny feeling when he told me he wasn’t available Saturday night. When it came up again yesterday afternoon, when we were getting ready to go, he got all quiet. I should have known it was because he was hiding something from me.”

“I’m so sorry,” Caitlin said, her eyes pained. She reached over to grip Elise’s hand. “I thought he was one of the good guys.”

Elise’s shoulders cramped with another rush of emotion. “Me too,” she managed. “Jaden was so upset when we ran off, and he’s been asking about him. What am I going to say?”

Caitlin’s eyes filled with sadness. “I don’t know.”

Elise wiped her face. “Is something wrong with me?” she asked. “I mean, first Garrett, and then the first guy I’m with after him does the same exact thing?” she said between sobs. “Why does it have to be like this?”

“Come here,” Caitlin said, pulling her closer. Elise laid her head on her sister’s shoulder, trying to draw strength from her.

“Don’t beat yourself up,” Caitlin said. “Men are pigs, that’s all.”

“You would know,” Elise said.

“I would.” Caitlin sighed. “My caseload is proof of it. I’m working this one right now where this bastard forced three different women to suck him off in his office as part of a job interview. Can you believe that?” Caitlin groaned.

“What was the job?” Elise asked.

“For a cleaning service. The women all speak limited English, and they were desperate for work.”

“And one of them came to you?” Elise asked, surprised.

“One of the husbands,” Caitlin said darkly. “Apparently, the harassment continued after the interview. The guy would come to the offices the women were cleaning late at night, then force them to have sex with him.”

“This is not helping my mood, Caitlin,” Elise said, though it felt good to talk about something besides Ben and the way her insides felt like mush.

“Sorry,” Caitlin said. A comfortable silence stretched between them, Jaden’s soft humming drifting from the other room.

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