The Unbidden Truth Read Online Free PDF

Abruptly she clenched her fists and pushed herself away from the table. “Thanks for bringing my stuff.” That closed, guarded look had returned.
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    It was a calm, cloudless day, temperature in the mid-eighties, the sky flawlessly blue, a perfect day for a long walk by the river, but Barbara knew that the park would be full of people on a nice Sunday afternoon like that, and she headed for Frank’s house instead. Knowing she would find him out back, either on the porch in the shade, or in his new greenhouse, she didn’t bother with the front entrance, but walked around the side of the house.
    It was fitting, she thought, for him to have a new toy; a Depression kid, he had had very few toys in his childhood, and now in his second childhood he had a playhouse. She was grinning at the thought, and rephrasing it in her mind to tease him when she rounded the corner of the house, then stiffened in annoyance. Darren again. And Todd. Their bikes were leaning against the garage door, and Darren was lounging in the doorway to the greenhouse talking to Frank. Todd was on the back step reading a comic book.
    â€œHi,” she said, drawing near.
    Darren turned and grinned, and Frank stepped out of the greenhouse. “You’re right,” he said to Darren. “Simple screens over the bed will do it.” He looked at Barbara. “Those fool cats think the raised bed in there is the world’s finest litter box. I’ll screen them out.”
    â€œIt won’t take much,” Darren said. “One by ones, screen stapled on top. Three sections? Easier to manage that way, and to store.”
    â€œNow you’re a master builder, on top of all else,” Barbara said, not hiding the sarcasm a bit.
    â€œDoesn’t take much to outsmart a cat,” Darren said. “Actually I’m here on a mission. You’re both invited to a little gathering at the clinic next Sunday to celebrate the official opening of the foundation. They particularly want you to show up, Barbara. A lot of debts to pay, that sort of thing. You saved their skin, you know.”
    That was her cue to point out to Frank that Darren’s interest in her was due to his gratitude. The previous year he and Annie McIvey had been prime suspects in the murder of Annie’s husband, and the clinic that Darren actually ran was in danger of being taken over by outsiders who would have turned it into a for-profit facility as fast as possible. Barbara had pulled their chestnuts out of the fire and they were all grateful, Darren as well as all the others. But she couldn’t go into that with Darren and his son at hand; it had to be a private conversation, a well-rehearsed off-the-cuff spontaneous remark. She had promised herself to find the proper place to make her “spontaneous” comment, and put it aside again.
    Todd stood up. He was twelve, still enough of a child to be direct with his gaze and his questions, the flush of childhood still on his cheeks. He looked very much like his father, pale hair, pale blue eyes, wide shoulders. “You want to go on a bike ride with us?” he asked Barbara. “Dad fixed up your bike.”
    She glared at Darren, then at Frank, who looked as innocent as a newborn. “What do you mean, fixed it up?”
    â€œJust some tires, a little oil,” Darren said.
    â€œI haven’t ridden a bicycle in years,” she said.
    â€œDon’t you know how to ride?” Todd asked in amazement.
    â€œSure she does,” Darren said. “It’s like swimming. Once you know how, you never lose it. Your body remembers.”
    â€œYou kids go on,” Frank said. “Think I’ll mosey over to Jerry’s, pick up a few pieces of wood and some screening. I wonder where I left my old stapler?”
    He knew perfectly well where he left it, Barbara thought, watching him saunter toward the house. He never misplaced anything.
    â€œYou game to give it a