The Truth About Mallory Bain Read Online Free PDF

with Chad. I smiled at the irony, seeing him with his arm wrapped around the furry, green monster Ben had given me as a token gift. I had agreed to spend the evening of my twenty-first birthday with Ben at the monster truck rally rather than going on a date, because his brother-in-law had already bought the rally tickets.
    I scooped up our little bundle, as beautiful and well-behaved as we once dreamed he’d be, and the monster, and placed them on the opposite side of my bed where Edgar, Caleb’s T-Rex, lay staring up at the ceiling.
    Except for the thumb stuck in his mouth, my nose, and my loosely curled hair, although a much lighter brown than mine, Caleb was the spitting image of Ben, his eyes, soft cheeks, and a strong chin. He was the real reason I survived Ben’s death. Our son helped me live.
    Maybe his striking resemblance to his father had worn on Chad to the point he no longer wished to parent a dead friend’s son. Chad was free to think whatever he chose to think, but he’d never hurt my little boy or me again.
    I stole into the bathroom for a quick shower. After I slipped into pajamas and brushed my teeth, I scooted in beside Caleb and switched off the lamp.
    Sometime later, while sleeping on the fringe of consciousness, a familiar voice, spoken soft and low, called me awake. My eyes probed the blackness for the one who summoned my attention. Paper crumpled in the hall.
    The lock turned.
    My door creaked open. A dazzling light shone beyond the doorway, and from within the brilliant light, a silhouetted man stepped into view. He carried a rolled newspaper conspicuously tucked under one arm. Words gurgled out of his mouth, as words spoken under water. I strained to hear but despite my effort, I did not. Soon after the image faded, I fell into a deep sleep.

C HAPTER
T HREE
    M other’s housekeeper, Nora, arrives at eight. I’d forgotten which days until the humming vacuum cleaner woke me the next morning. The nightstand clock read nine thirty-two.
    I rolled onto my side and saw Monster staring at me cockeyed from the chair where Ben once left him years ago. Caleb had chosen to set Monster in the precisely same spot. His dinosaur-print pajamas lay balled up on the pillow beside Edgar and me. His suitcase lay open on the floor in front of my dresser, clothes trailed into our bathroom.
    The room appeared perfectly normal, apart from the mess. I felt normal. There was no lingering fear about seeing a strange man in my room during the night. After all, his presence was only a dream.
    My phone chimed. Dana Fowler.
    â€œAre you here?” she asked, her voice excited.
    â€œLate last night.”
    â€œFantastic! Let’s do coffee later. I’m free after eleven.”
    â€œMom might watch Caleb. I can let you know.”
    â€œGreat. Your trip went well, I hope.”
    â€œExhausting. You can’t imagine. I’ve been so tired, I thought . . .”
    I held back telling her about the whisperings and the peculiar glow, not to mention the gauzy figure I’d seen in the courtroom. No point in letting anybody know I might have issues—weird dreams—hallucinations. Better to keep anything mental to myself until I understood why I had started hearing voices and seeing nonexistent people and glowing lights.
    â€œYou thought what?” she asked.
    â€œNothing. I’d like coffee.”
    â€œMaybe rest. We can get together another day.”
    â€œI’m fine, actually. I slept well enough. Let’s do this.”
    We visited a few minutes longer, chatting about nothing, mostly Dana’s repeated apology for trying to talk me out of returning to Minnesota and how my being back was the tonic she needed to revive enthusiasm to pursue her interests.
    I stopped listening when she carried on about obtaining vaguely stated wants and needs, not forgetting everything she deemed important. I suppose I fell short as a friend when I abruptly ended the call, but I