Page 104 of Everything She Feared

More looks were exchanged, then Marjorie said, “Honey, we can talk about it later in the truck.”

Driving home after the game Marjorie said, “Your mom will stay in prison a long, long time.”

“What about my dad?”

“Well, you see, his problems were too much for him to handle and he died in prison not long after he was put there.”

“Oh.”

Absorbing the information, Sara stared ahead. The traffic and buildings flowed by, as did the years.

In keeping with the advice of experts who’d studied the research, Marjorie and George gradually finished telling Sara all about her birth parents by the time Sara was ten years old. Psychologists had told them that Sara’s history should be established before adolescence, because by then she’d be going through enough, trying to figure out who she was.

During those years, they reinforced the fact their family was unlike others.

“There are things we don’t ever discuss outside our home,” Marjorie said. “No one knows who your birth parents are, but people who are angry at what they did will want to know. They might be angry at you, or us, even though what your parents did has nothing to do with you at all. And if we keep things private, no one will ever know about the past.”

Marjorie and George prayed that Sara understood as she continued asking questions.

“When my mom comes out of prison, will she hurt people?”

“Nobody knows that.”

“When I grow up, will I hurt people like they did?”

Marjorie looked at her; it was the first time Sara had ever asked that question.

“Do you ever think about hurting anyone?”

“No,” Sara said, “never, because it’s wrong.”

Marjorie took Sara into her arms, holding her.

“No,” she said. “You will never hurt anyone.”

Marjorie believed it with every fiber of her soul.

Still, while Sara was growing up, Marjorie had been plagued with dread about her. Because of the disturbing history of Sara’s biological parents, deep down Marjorie always worried that Sara would inherit their traits.

But she didn’t.

When George was dying, he told Marjorie that Sara was a blessing in their lives, and it was true.

But now, after all these years, Marjorie’s faith was shaken.

For in a dark corner of her heart, she still held secrets.

Yes, Sara was a good person. And Nathaniel, God rest his soul, was a good person.

But Katie.

At first, after what happened to the little boy, Marjorie believed Katie had nothing to do with it. But now? Now with the girl on the cliff.

I fear the worst. I fear it because I lied to Sara. I haven’t told her everything about her birth mother.

Marjorie drew her hands to her face. She sat that way until a shadow fell over her. Then she felt someone touch her shoulder.

“Mrs. Cole, are you okay?”

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