The Truth About Mallory Bain Read Online Free PDF Page A

was best. We were good friends mourning the death of another good friend, and I was pregnant with our dead friend’s child. I accepted Chad’s marriage proposal because we agreed our friendship was strong enough to carry us forward.
    â€œFriendships last longer than marriages do,” he convinced me the evening before our JP wedding.
    Many times during those early years, Chad asked with his charming smile, “Are you happy?” I believed I was happy—happy enough.
    Given our present situation, the changed Chad or the true Chad saw no need for visitation, but agreed to send his court-ordered monthly check. He reminded me to be forever grateful for his money, because the “damn” kid wasn’t his.
    â€œRonnie moved back in June,” Mom was saying. I realized she’d been talking all along. “I told you.”
    I shook the cobwebs out of my head. “You did.”
    â€œShe bought a cute bungalow over by Lake Harriet.”
    â€œLake Harriet is close.”
    â€œShe gave me her new cell phone number when she brought vegetables from her garden the other day. The tomato on your sandwich, by the way. Wait ’til you try her squash.”
    â€œThe tomato is sweet. She was a librarian in Boston.”
    â€œShe’s archiving and preserving antique books now.” Mom emptied the teapot, refilling my mug. “Sad you girls lost track. Such good friends you were. Precious little girls dancing Barbie dolls decked out in evening gowns on the front porch.”
    â€œAges ago.”
    â€œYou haven’t mentioned Dana Norris lately.”
    â€œShe’s fine. She married Erik Fowler about the time I married Chad. You remember Erik. Laid back. Red hair.”
    Mom finished her tea. “Sounds familiar. I’d have to see him to remember him.”
    â€œDana likes staying in touch with old friends when she can.”
    Through Dana, I might reconnect with a few of my former friends. I could even recover a bit of my former self by reconnecting with her, Erik, and Ronnie. Maybe even track down Jack Harwood for Chad, if I ever was in the mood to do so.
    Mom pushed a plate of zucchini bread in front of me and sat back down. “There must not be many of your friends left here.”
    â€œProbably not. Our group broke apart fast.”
    â€œThat summer was an awful mess.” Mom buttered the slices of zucchini bread. “I had high hopes for Chad. Daddy and your Aunt Judith never cared for him. I liked that nice young Canadian man the best—Ben Holland. He had such engaging blue eyes.”
    Longing wrenched at my heart until I couldn’t stand it. “Yes.” I forced a smile. “He did have engaging blue eyes and I liked him best, too.” I washed down my zucchini bread and stood to leave. “Mom, I need to go upstairs. I am exhausted.”
    â€œYou go on ahead. I’ll be up soon. Puttering around late at night makes me think Daddy is napping on the sofa waiting on me to call him upstairs.”
    I lugged two of our suitcases to my bedroom door. As I was about to go in, I saw a faint glow inside Rick’s old bedroom across the hall. I supposed Mom kept a nightlight lit until the light pulsed. I peeked in. A vaporous glow rippled in the darkness.
    I held my breath, rested my arm across my eyes.
    Go to bed before you completely lose your mind.
    I struggled to break my stare at a vision resulting from sleep deprivation and stress. I turned on my heel and stumbled into my room without looking back. Still, I slammed the door shut behind me and turned the lock. I waited a long moment in the darkness.
    A small voice sputtered softly. My body eased after nothing happened on the other side of the closed door. No glow pulsed in the room or in the adjoining bathroom. I turned the nightstand lamp on low.
    Caleb lay snuggled into a ball in the center of my double bed. I smiled at him lying amongst the stuffed animals I collected before I left