The Homecoming: Countdown to Armageddon: Book 5 Read Online Free PDF Page B

nothing to lose.”
         “I’ve been wanting to go home again.”
         Linda was aghast.
         “Home? To your old house in San Antonio?”
         “Yes.”
         Then, seeing the alarm on Linda’s face, Sara elaborated.
         “I don’t mean going there to stay. I mean, just going back to find out what became of my mother and Glen, my step-father.”
         Linda fell completely silent.
         When the silence became unbearable, Sara said, “Say something. Anything.”
         “Well, I guess I’m just… surprised. I mean, after the way they treated you, I thought you’d never want anything to do with them again.”
         “That’s just it. It’s… well, it’s kind of hard to explain. Before Chris was born, I seldom thought of them. And when I did think of them, I was angry. I mean, he raped me for years. Made me do horrible things to him. And she knew and looked the other way, for her own benefit. Because he was a ‘good provider’ and bought us nice things.
         “I thought I hated them. Yes. I do. I do hate them. But having Chris made me see things from a whole new perspective. I have him to think about now. I owe him some answers, or at least I will someday.
         “Someday he will come to me and ask me about his other grandparents. The ones he’ll surely know he had, besides you and Scott. And if he asked me that question today, what could I possibly tell him? I don’t even know if they’re alive or dead.”
         The tears came again.
         Linda held her.
         “I’ll tell you what, honey. Once the all clear is given and people can move about again, we’ll ask Scott if he can pull some strings. Maybe he can borrow one of San Antonio’s police cars just long enough to come up here and get you. The two of you can go to your old house and see if your mom and that… animal, are still there. I can stay here and help with Chris, or I can go along if you want me to.”
         “Would you do that for me?”
         “Honey, a mother would do anything for her child.”
         “Not all mothers.”
         “You’re right. Not all mothers. There’s no excuse for your mother not protecting you from that man. But I’ll have you know that I’ll move heaven and earth to protect you from further harm. That’s why I’ll go along, if you choose to go.”
         “Thank you. I wish you were my mom from the beginning.”
         “Me too. Have you thought about what you’ll say to them, if they’re still alive?”
         “I’ve thought about that a lot over the last few months. I go back and forth. Sometimes I’m furious and just want to scream at them and tell them I hate them. I want to tell them I want them both to rot in hell for all eternity.
         “Then, other times, I don’t want to see him at all. All I want to do is take my mother aside and ask her why. To ask if it was worth it, living in a nice house and having nice clothes to wear while she listened to what he was doing to me in the next room. I’d like to see if she has any remorse at all.”
         Linda held her.
         “Come on. I can hear Chris starting to stir on the monitor. Let’s go relieve Jordan on the security desk so he can take care of the baby. We’ll see if Scott’s up yet so we can talk to him about getting us to your old house.”
         “Thank you, Mom. I love you so much.”
         “I love you too, honey. We’ll make this happen somehow, I promise.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    -5-
     
         Linda keyed the microphone on the ham radio.
         “Scott in San Antonio, this is Linda in Junction. Is your lazy ass out of bed yet?”
         Sara giggled as they counted off about twenty seconds of radio silence.
         Then, a groggy Scott responded.
         “I don’t think the FCC likes it when you say ‘ass’ over the airways.”
         Linda