Chapter Nineteen #2
“No, honey,” Rebecca denied. “I’m an ass. I only meant to warn you about Rachel. She may act like your friend, but she can’t be trusted.”
“How do you know?” Kara asked.
“I knew her from Serenity Mountain. She wasn’t a nice person to some of my friends. I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Rebecca said, smoothing Kara’s hair.
“She seemed nice,” Kara said quietly. “My therapist said to trust my gut. I’m trying to listen to what my body’s telling me. You went through the same thing as me. Maybe you’re not listening to yours. People can change. I know I have.”
“Fair point,” Rebecca conceded. “Why don’t you text Julio and tell him we’ll join them?”
“Really?” Kara asked, smiling. “I’m tired of staying inside this cabin all the time. There’s no one my age here anymore.”
“Yeah, it must be horrible staying with this horrible old woman,” Rebecca teased as she mimicked an old crone.
Kara laughed as she texted Julio.
Rebecca and I can come for dinner.
A second later, Julio texted back.
Great! Bring your appetite, Delaney made a chocolate fudge cake for dessert and chocolate chip cookies. Do you like to play board games?
Kara grinned as she texted Julio.
Oh, wow. I love chocolate cake. I only know a few games, but I like playing them.
Watch out for Rebecca. She likes to buy up all the properties and charge you triple rent. She’s a shark.
Kara giggled as she repeated the text to Rebecca, who huffed at Julio’s comment. “Tell him I said he cheats.”
She said you cheat.
I guess we’ll have to play a few games and find out. I’ll pick you up at six. I thought you might like to help feed the horses.
I’ve never ridden one.
You can’t stay in Texas and not know how to ride a horse. It must be a law somewhere.
Ha! See you soon.
“He’ll pick us up at six,” Kara said, jumping from her bed and heading to the bathroom.
Rebecca’s stomach plummeted. Her courageous offer of giving Kara a choice about dinner backfired.
It amazed her how fast the teen recaptured her spirit in four weeks.
If only she managed to convince her to contact her mom.
Deciding Kara might’ve made a point about her gut feelings, she decided to give Rachel a bit of credit.
After all, she seemed to have changed somewhat since the last time Rebecca saw her.
Since the other teens left, Rebecca used their old room, giving her a moment of privacy.
Entering the master bathroom, she brushed her long, blonde hair, wondering what Rachel thought about her untrimmed tresses.
She dug into her makeup bag and attempted to make herself presentable.
Rebecca stood back and peered at her reflection in the mirror.
Her cheeks sunk in, making her eyes appear huge.
Her collarbone jutted out from her blouse.
The belt held her baggy pants in place. With all the bruises and cuts, she didn’t enjoy the feeling of the material rubbing against her skin.
Wishing she owned a turtle neck to cover the yellowing old bruises on her chest, Rebecca searched the closet for a sweater to layer over it.
“I’m ready,” Kara called from the doorway.
“I’ll be there in a sec,” Rebecca called out, taking one last glance before deciding it was the best she could do.
Promptly at six, Julio pulled into the driveway. Kara bounded down the steps to greet him. “Hey, Julio. Thank you for the invitation.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, opening the passenger back door for her.
As Rebecca drew closer, he moved to the front passenger door and opened it. “Hello, Becca,” he murmured.
“Hi,” she said, pulling her coat closer around her and getting inside.
“I hope you like chili and cornbread,” he said to Kara. “It’s Delaney’s specialty.”
“My mom likes to cook. She made the best huevos rancheros and salted caramel brownies. We used to make them together. It’s what I remembered the most when they took me,” she confessed.
“Give it time, sweetheart. When you’re ready, we’ll call her and you can still make more good memories,” he advised.
Rebecca cringed. Did he believe the same thing about them?
“How did your day go?” he asked Rebecca conversationally.
“It went a lot better after my iced coffee. Thank you. It felt like a treat,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t betray her feelings.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it,” he said, not even glancing her way.
The farmhouse came into view, lit up by all the security surrounding it.
“I thought we…you planned to live in the mansion,” she said, recalling their last conversation about staying in a wing at the Stanton Mansion.
“It didn’t fit us. I spoke with Kassie and told her we preferred to stay close to the vict—others. Rachel and Matthew have a house to the west and they built ours to the east.”
“Wow. You lived together? After dinner can we go to your house?” Kara asked.
“It’s not our house,” Rebecca corrected her. “After dinner, we’re working on those math problems your tutor left for you.”
“Awww, Rebecca,” Kara groused. “You know it’s busy work.”
“You need to catch up with your schoolwork. It’s important,” she said, using her mom voice.
“To you, maybe,” Kara sulked.
“How about we give her a break tonight? Besides, I got challenged to a board game contest. I must defend my honor after being called a cheater,” Julio cajoled, glancing at Rebecca and smiling as he parked his truck in front of the house.
“Yes,” Kara exclaimed as she hopped out. Rebecca opened her door and started up the steps. When she reached the top, Rachel opened the door to greet them. Rebecca inwardly groaned as she regretted agreeing to the evening.
“Hi, Rebecca,” she greeted. “I hope you’re hungry.
Delaney’s pregnancy has kicked into overdrive.
We started out this morning with chili and cornbread on the menu.
Last time I checked, she made pork chops to go with her homemade applesauce and a peach cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream.
If she keeps this up, we’ll all be gaining pregnancy weight. ”
Rebecca sent her a thin smile. Rachel’s grin faltered before she turned to greet Julio and Kara.
“Hey, Kara, Julio,” Rachel said, stepping aside and letting them inside.
“We’re eating in the dining room,” she said, directing them toward the heavenly smells.
Kara walked behind Rachel while Julio remained at her side, making her nervous.
“Remember, after we eat, we have chores in the barn,” Julio reminded Kara. Turning toward Rebecca, he said, “Did you want to join us? Satan will be happy to see you, but I thought you might like to see my other horses.”
“I’ll help Rachel and Delaney clean up since they cooked,” she said, taking a seat at the end, leaving Julio no choice but to sit to one of her sides, but not beside her.
Delaney entered the dining room, carrying a huge, cast-iron pot. An older man, named Mac followed behind her, frowning.
“Why didn’t you wait and let me carry it in? You’re not supposed to lift anything heavy,” Mac reprimanded her.
Delaney rolled her eyes. “It’s chili, not concrete,” she said, setting it on the table. “Kara, be a dear and bring out the cornbread.”
Kara jumped up to do her bidding while Rachel brought out pitchers of water, iced tea, and milk. “I didn’t know what you like to drink,” she said, speaking to Rebecca.
“It’s fine,” Rebecca said, her voice clipped.
“They made sweet tea,” Kara exclaimed. “We haven’t drunk anything besides juice and water.”
“It’s important to drink plenty of water after dealing with dehydration,” Rebecca explained.
“Didn’t Annabelle say everyone’s off the IV’s?” Rachel asked as she set the bowls on the table. “Can’t she have a glass?”
Kara peered at Rebecca, pleading with her huge brown eyes.
“Since we’re blowing off your school assignments, what does it matter?
” Rebecca said, pouring herself some water.
She felt the heat of Julio’s gaze on her as everyone sat down.
Kara picked up the pitcher of water and poured herself some.
She glanced toward Rebecca, waiting for her approval, yet she didn’t give it.
It felt childish and petty, but after months of watching over the teen, it felt like a betrayal for her to seem thrilled at seeing Rachel and even Julio.
“I made a milder version since I didn’t know how your stomachs might handle spice. Some days I can’t make it hot enough, and others where the slightest bit gives me heartburn all night,” Delaney said, rubbing her protruding stomach.
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness,” Rebecca said, reaching for the pitcher of tea, pouring some in her glass and passing it to Kara. “I’m sorry. You deserve this and more,” she whispered. “It seems I’m having a bad day.”
Rachel set the sour cream, cheese, and chopped green onions on both ends before sitting beside Matthew.
“Since you’re our first visitors at the cabins, did we forget to add anything?” Matthew asked as he filled a bowl of chili for Rachel and one for himself. Julio reached for her bowl. “Did you want spicy or non-spicy?”
“I’ll take non-spicy, please. Delaney, you outdid yourself.
It smells incredible,” she complimented before addressing Matthew.
“You did a great job. It has all the essentials and some very thoughtful items, such as the crocheted blankets made for each person. The girls used theirs every night. When the counselors told them the blankets were theirs to keep, it made their day.”
Matthew smiled and grasped Rachel’s hand. Rebecca saw the love in his eyes. “Delaney taught Rachel how to crochet, and she made them. They’ve stockpiled them since the summer. Even when we sit out on the porch swing, she has her crochet hooks out,” he teased.
Surprised by Matthew’s announcement, Rebecca gazed at Rachel, who blushed and lightly brushed her arm against his sleeve, admonishing him to hush. She didn’t appear to be like the woman she remembered.
“Kara, maybe after dinner, we can raid the makeup supplies. I picked up some stuff at the store today,” Rachel said, sounding excited.