The Atonement Child Read Online Free PDF Page B

with strangers to care for her.
    “I called the dean. I’ll let him know you’re here so he won’t go to the hospital in the morning. He’ll want to know how you’re doing.”
    Mortified, Dynah said nothing. How many people knew what had happened to her?
    “He’s alerting the student body tomorrow to the danger in our community,” Mrs. Blythe went on. “He assured me your name wouldn’t be mentioned, dear, but it’s important for everyone to be warned until this man is arrested.” She pressed the top button to call the elevator. “Dean Abernathy wants to save you as much embarrassment as he can.” She assessed Dynah’s bruised face again. “I think it would be best if you stayed in your room for a few days.”
    “I have classes.”
    “I’ll send word to your instructors that you have a bad case of the flu. They can send your assignments here. And Janet can bring you your meals. How does that sound?”
    Dynah nodded bleakly as she stepped inside the elevator.
    “I’ll call your parents in the morning.”
    Dynah slapped her hand against the door to keep it from sliding closed. “No! Please, don’t do that!”
    “But they should know what happened, Dynah.”
    “There’s nothing they can do. You’ll just worry them. I want to forget it happened.”
    “We’ll talk in the morning. You get a good night’s sleep first.”
    “Promise me, you won’t call them.”
    “Do you think they’d blame the school?”
    “They’d be upset. I don’t know what they’d do.”
    “Well, we’ll wait and see then.”
    Janet stood by solicitously while Dynah got ready for bed. She asked how it all happened, and Dynah told her. She wanted to talk about everything, to pour out her anguish and fear, her feelings of shame and degradation, but at the facts, Janet grimaced in repugnance.
    “I’m sorry I asked. We won’t talk about it anymore. It’s better you forget it happened.” She pulled the blankets up and tucked them snugly around Dynah. “Put it out of your head and get some sleep.” Bending down, Janet kissed her forehead. “I wish you’d called me. I would have picked you up.”
    Dynah felt a stab of guilt for not having done so. She should have heeded Mr. Packard’s warning. She should have asked Sally Wentworth for a ride. She should have listened to Charlie and watched herself. “You said you were going to study at the library tonight.”
    “I didn’t go. I went out with Chad for coffee instead and then came back here and studied.”
    Dynah didn’t say anything more. She couldn’t speak past the lump of pain tightening her throat. If only . . . if only . . .
    “Will you be all right by yourself for a few minutes? I need to wash my face and brush my teeth.”
    Dynah nodded, forcing a smile as she fought back the tears that burned so hot.
    Janet picked up her pink silk pajamas and her toiletry kit, then turned out the bedside lamp. Opening the door, she pressed the switch for the overhead light and sent the room into darkness. She stood silhouetted against the light from the corridor. “I won’t be long, Dynah. Try to sleep. Everything will look better tomorrow.” She closed the door behind her.
    Turning onto her side, Dynah curled into a fetal ball, pulled the covers over her head, and sobbed.

    The next day, Dynah called Sally Wentworth and quit her job at Stanton Manor House. Surprised, Sally asked why.
    “I’m going to put more time into my studies.” She ignored the feelings of guilt that tugged at her. It was true, in part. She was going to have lots of work to make up once she resumed classes.
    “If you need more money, I can get you a dollar-an-hour raise.”
    “It’s not the money, Sally. Really.” She knew she would have to find some kind of job soon. She didn’t have the luxury of not working at all. The scholarship took care of part of the tuition. Her parents paid the rest, as well as her dorm fees. However, there were still the expenses of clothing and books and her