House Of Secrets Read Online Free PDF

you knew I’d be thinking about God as well. Better to put an end to such thinking here and now.
    People were returning to the cars around us, and all I could think of was how glad I’d be to leave this ferry. The walls had closed in on me.
    “I think we should just go slow with this,” I finally replied.
    Geena rummaged through her handbag and pulled out a stick of gum. “Dad said he wanted all of us here for some announcement. It could be he does want to talk about that night, but it could also be that he has something else in mind. Let’s just wait and see what happens.”
    But that was just the problem, I thought. I hated surprises. Hated anything out of the norm. I had come to depend on my schedule and order over the years to keep me on an even keel.
    Geena secured her seatbelt. “We’ve spent a lifetime keeping this to ourselves. What’s a few more days or years?” Sarcasm laced her words.
    I noted the bitterness in her tone, but I said nothing. I had no desire to get into this further. In fact, I wished fervently that I could forget we’d ever brought the subject up.
    Geena had already plugged in our address on the GPS, while I maneuvered through the ferry traffic to disembark. Lights glittered from the buildings and reflected on the black waters of Sinclair Inlet. It felt hauntingly familiar. I followed the other cars onto Washington Avenue without another word.
    This was a huge mistake, I told myself. Over the years I’d learned to live with our family secrets—our life of unspeakable questions. What in the world was Dad thinking to bring us all here now? I felt my chest tighten.
    “At the next street make a right onto the Manette Bridge,” Geena instructed about the time the GPS announced the same.
    I suddenly felt exhausted. A sort of oppression had settled over me—weighing me down, stealing all of my residual energy. I heard the siren before I saw the flashing lights of the ambulance pop around the corner ahead of us. I braked hard and waited for it to pass, but in my mind I saw the ambulance in the tree-lined driveway of our summer home.
    I could still hear the paramedics calling out numbers, orders, concerns.
    “She’s not breathing. We’re going to need to intubate.”
    “She’s not responding.”
    “There’s no heartbeat. Charging the paddles. Clear!”
    “You can go now.” Geena’s voice came through the muddled images in my mind.
    I looked at her for a moment. From her expression I knew she had no idea where my thoughts had taken me. I nodded and made a quick glance over my shoulder before pulling out.
    For the first time in years, I really found myself wishing that I had faith in God. Mark always seemed so strong in his beliefs, but I couldn’t help but equate God to a sense of betrayal and church to the scorn my mother had faced—that we all had faced.
    “I don’t remember any of this,” Piper announced from behind me as I turned onto the bridge.
    “I know what you mean,” Geena said. “Most of it is a blur. But wait! Look on the other side of the water—there’s a restaurant there. I remember going there a long time ago. Oh, what was it called—the Boat House?”
    “The Boat Shed,” I replied mechanically.
    “That’s it!” Geena seemed so excited.
    I found myself sharing aloud what my therapist had said. “Dinah thinks that coming here is a good idea. She said there will most likely be many visuals that will help with unlocking memories, and in turn, help with healing.” Why didn’t I believe her?
    Geena ignored my comment and continued to give directions. “You’re going to angle over and get on Eleventh Street.”
    I had never driven this route, but I had ridden it many times before. Our house was on the east side of Bremerton, facing the water. Dad had purchased the house long ago as an investment and getaway for the family. Momma hated the area’s rainy weather, but she always seemed to like the seclusion this beach house offered. She told me once that