5. Chapter 5
June 25, 2011
9:47 pm
A knock at the door startled Sara. No one knew she was staying at Angie’s, and since today was Angie’s wedding, Sara knew the woman wouldn’t be expecting company. Assuming it was a neighbor, Sara didn’t get off the couch and instead ignored the knocks.
She planned to stay with Angie until she could get back on her feet. Thankfully, with Angie's recommendation, she had been able to score a part-time job restocking a small shop a few evenings a week. It wasn’t much money, but it was enough for now.
All she wanted to do was lay low until she was able to get her life in order…and until she could plot her revenge. The last thing she needed was for word to spread that she was back in town. And since Angie would be on her honeymoon for the next four weeks, Sara had ample time to set things in motion. The happy couple was celebrating wedded bliss and Angie’s recent doctoral degree graduation with a month-long vacation.
The thudding continued and she grew more and more irritated. Whoever it was knew she was inside. Sighing, she got off the couch and opened the door.
She hadn’t expected to see the pretty face that stood on the other side. It was like staring into a mirror, except the other woman didn’t look like she’d been to hell and back. Hate flamed within her as she stared into her sister’s eyes. Anger, her oldest friend, came right after.
The two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. How did Hailey know she was here? They hadn’t spoken to each other since Hailey left town, making it very clear her womb mate deemed her guilty like everyone else.
Sara was surprised to see Hailey had added blonde to the lifeless brown hair she wore as a teen. She always vowed she’d never go blonde, a knock at Sara since Sara had taken pride in the platinum color she loved so much. Hailey looked older and more mature, but she didn’t look like life had beaten her down or that she spent the last decade fighting for her life.
Jealousy roared right below the surface, just as it always did when it came to her sister. Hailey was loved by everyone, and Sara was second best.
“Wow, the perfect little princess returns,” Sara mocked. “What do you want, Hailey?”
Sara didn’t want anything to do with her sister, but before she could slam the door closed, Hailey nervously said, “I know a lot has happened, but I need to show you something…it’s about that night.”
Immediately on edge, Sara said, “What about it?”
That night was the beginning of Sara’s nightmare. What could Hailey possibly need to talk about that required her to all but hunt Sara down this late at night? Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Hailey wanted nothing to do with Sara so if her twin was standing on her doorstep, no doubt a hurricane of trouble wasn’t far behind.
Bothered by Sara’s hostility, Hailey began picking at her nail polish. “There’s something you need to see.” Hailey looked around, shifting as she did.
Sara was nervous now. She didn’t like that Hailey was jumpy. It was unlike her and it put Sara on edge more than she already was.
Sara hesitated at first but then simply opened the door and gave Hailey the space to come in, not saying a word. Hailey walked inside, slowly taking in the cozy bungalow. Angie decorated her home with a lilac, white, and pale-yellow color scheme. Not something Sara would have chosen, but it suited the bubbly redhead.
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.”
Sara narrowed her eyes at Hailey.
Hailey’s eyes rounded. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. I just-” she sighed, pausing to gather herself. “I was a kid and didn’t know what to do, so I left. I didn’t really know what to think in the beginning, but when you pled guilty, why would I have believed differently?”
“Because you’re my sister. No, you were more than that. You were my other half. You knew me better than anyone. You left and never looked back while I was left to rot in a cage for someone else’s crime.”
Hailey looked away, knowing Sara was right.
Sara shouldn’t be surprised that the first time they’ve seen each other in thirteen years would result in a fight. Growing up they had been both best friends and mortal enemies, a special bond only understood by sisterhood. And the last few years leading up to their mother’s death had been plagued by heated arguments, silent treatments, and purposeful distance. They had hardly talked before all hell broke loose that summer.
Sara had been chaotic and impulsive while Hailey was controlled and wound too tight. The two were at odds as Sara’s destruction seeped out around her and into Hailey’s life. Hailey desperately tried to wade through it, only to nearly be drowned by it.
It made Hailey’s appearance all the more peculiar. Sara still wasn’t sure what Hailey’s end game was. What was her sister trying to do?
Calming down, Sara asked, “Why did you bring me the video?”
“Did you notice the time stamp? It’s the same date and time as Mom’s death. This is your alibi.”
“What do you mean ‘my alibi?’ I’m literally free after serving thirteen years in prison, no thanks to you.”
Hailey ignored the slight and pointed toward the TV. “This could clear your name. You didn’t do it, and the video proves it.”
Sara threw her arm up. “It’s a little late for that. I don’t need your pity or your help. I know you’re used to cleaning up my messes, but I don’t need you anymore.”
Sara was fuming. She began pacing, a habit she picked up while behind bars.
What the hell was going on?
She had come back to town to seek revenge, though that plan proved to be much harder than she anticipated. And now Hailey had the audacity to show up unannounced after ghosting her for the last thirteen years? To add insult to injury, Hailey believed she was guilty this whole time but all of a sudden wanted to prove her innocence?
It infuriated Sara.
Hailey wasn’t around when Sara’s entire life was being turned upside down; when she was being railroaded, manipulated, and made to be the patsy. But now she was all in? Screw that.
Screw her.
Sara didn’t care about the guilt her sister clearly felt about abandoning her. Hailey deserved for the guilt to eat away at her, to create a darkness that would slowly devour her from the inside out. It was just like Hailey to come swooping in, claiming to save the day when all she did was make Sara’s life more miserable.
Just like when they were kids.
Any time Sara was in trouble, Hailey tried to bail her out. Only it didn’t help Sara. No, Hailey got a little gold star of approval from their father while Sara was gifted bruises and scars.
There was no way in hell Sara would let Hailey ruin what lousy life she now had.
She had served her time and wasn’t about to open up that can of worms. Whoever killed her mother had gotten away with it so why bother?
It’s not like Morgan was around to appreciate the hard work of her golden child and the impossible redemption of her wayward daughter. She nearly laughed at the thought of herself making her mother proud. What a foreign concept that was. Why should she start now?
Everyone already thought she was guilty, there was no use trying to prove them wrong. She could easily move away and start over where no one knew about her past.
But that would have to wait. Sweet revenge was beckoning, and she had a busy schedule ahead of her. One that included dining with the Devil and his demons. A dinner in which she may just poison the very people responsible for her nightmare of a life.
And the guest list was long, her father being at the very top. He wouldn’t even know it was her doing until she was long gone. Hell, she may even add Hailey to that list if Hailey continued to piss her off any more than she already had.
And after Sara was done leaving a trail of destruction, she would get a new identity and disappear. She definitely had criminal connections now.
She rubbed her face. All she ever wanted to do was proclaim her innocence, but she had been silenced and manipulated into taking a plea deal. So, at eighteen years old, she signed her life away and entered a guilty plea knowing full well she was innocent.
And no one came to her rescue. Not Hailey, not Chase, not Genevieve. Certainly not her father. He had been the one leading the mob who demanded she be shackled and chained.
Hailey’s gentle voice pulled Sara out of her trance. “What happened that night?”
Sara didn't want to talk about it. She didn’t want to relive the pain that came with the memories. Though, maybe she should. Maybe she should submerge herself in the revenge that flamed within her, sharpen the hate that intensified with each passing day.
She hadn’t always wanted revenge. But what could she say? People changed.
Initially, Sara had been surprised her father was trying to bury her, though she shouldn’t have been. He was a tyrant, a liar, and a manipulator. If he thought Sara was guilty, he was going to make the verdict stick.
Ever since she and Hailey were kids, David Gallagher made it his life’s mission to make Sara miserable. And now she would return the favor.
Hailey’s voice was nearly a whisper, “I know I can’t undo what happened to you, but if you let me, I’ll try to help clear your name.”
Sara wanted to scream. Hailey spent a lot of time standing up for Sara, taking on their father’s rage. But Hailey wasn’t there to defend her when the whole world called for her to be jailed.
Funny how she only wanted to help Sara on her own terms and in her own time.
Sara smiled and clapped. “Bravo, Hailey. Another halo to add to your collection. What a saint for finally apologizing even though you should have done it years ago. Not to mention you’re so ready to help me ‘clear my name’ when it’s convenient for you . What a joke.”
Hailey stiffened.
Sara continued, “And who are you fooling? The only reason you came here is because you feel guilty about having that video all these years. So big of you, Sis.”
Hailey’s mouth gaped open. “I’m trying to clean up your mess, per usual!”
Sara stepped closer to Hailey and crossed her arms. She silently threatened her sister, just as she had when they were growing up. But Hailey didn’t step back or cower. She stepped closer, surprising Sara. It was clear she wasn’t going to be intimidated.
If it weren’t such a heated argument, Sara might have been proud of Hailey.
But right now, she hated her.
There was a time when Sara would have lost her temper and lashed out. Not now. She had spent a decade learning how to manipulate and play the enemy in a way they would never see coming.
Just like her father.
The irony of it wasn’t lost on Sara. She just didn’t care.
Instead of yelling, Sara calmly said, “News flash: I never asked you to. See, that’s your problem, Hailey. You think you’re everyone’s saving grace but you’re really just everyone’s pain-in-the ass. So do me a favor and walk out on me like you did thirteen years ago.”
“Screw you, Sara!”
Sara walked to the door and opened it wide for Hailey. “Oh look, you already have.”
Hailey stomped out the door, leaving Sara to dwell on all of her sister’s betrayals.