Tomorrow's Lies (Promises #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Rog—“
    “Don’t say his name!”
    “Okay, okay. I was just going to say he’s not here. You’re all right, you’re safe.”
    I nod. I’m glad we’re out of the town, past the ramshackle houses. I don’t need rumors starting up within the first ten minutes of arriving in this new place.
    “Jaynie,” Saundra continues when the rocking slows, but doesn’t stop. “It’s okay. Everything is okay. I told you you’re safe now.”
    We’ll see .
    Finally, I stop rocking and cautiously, so cautiously, Saundra reaches over to comfort me…
    …and that’s when I involuntarily jerk away.
    Pressing my body to the passenger door, I whisper, “Please, don’t. I’m all right, I swear. Just don’t touch me. Not now, okay?”
    “Okay, Jaynie, okay.” Saundra slumps back in her seat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reached for you like that. I know better, I do.”
    I feel rotten. “No, I’m the one who should be apologizing. I know you’re only trying to help.” I scrub my hands down my face, wishing I could disappear. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”
    “It’s understandable you don’t want to be touched. It’s only been a little over a month since I got you out.”
    “Yeah, but…” I lower my head. Saundra defending me only makes me feel worse.
    After a few seconds, I try to explain. “It’s usually not this bad with women. I guess I’m just extra stressed with all the new stuff going on.”
    She smiles over at me. “It’s okay, honey. Really, it is. There’ve been a lot of changes in your life recently. This is to be expected.”
    “Yeah, but still…I’m sorry.”
    She puts the car in gear, starts to drive again. “The system, Jaynie…it just sucks.”
    That it does.
    As we travel higher up the side of the mountain it’s like my meltdown never happened. There’s no more talk of returning to group; I am going to my new home.
    And then we arrive.
    At the top of the mountain, I cast a sweeping gaze over acres and acres of open land. It’s a striking landscape, like some bucolic painting that’s too good to be true. And maybe I am right about that assessment. The high gates at the front of the property, not unlike those found at a fortress, don’t exactly inspire confidence that this place will be a haven.
    “This is it?” I ask warily.
    Saundra nods as we creep closer and closer to the imposing entrance.
    “Why such high gates?” I inquire.
    Without missing a beat, Saundra says, “Those are there to keep bad elements out.”
    “I thought you said the town was good?”
    “It is.” She waves her hand, dismissing my concern like a pesky bug. “It’s just a precaution, Jaynie.”
    Is that guilt I hear in her tone? What does she know that she’s not sharing?
    “Listen, Jaynie,” she says, a little too quickly, a little too shrill. “Mrs. Lowry is very protective of the kids up here. She’ll keep you safe from everything. Focus on the good. There’s a lot of structure in her home, and you need that now more than ever. This is going to be such a good experience for you. There’s home-schooling to keep you busy and lots of voluntary work projects. And the home itself is quite lovely. Doesn’t that sound exciting?”
    “Yeah, sure,” I lie.
    “And don’t forget, you won’t be alone. There are four other foster kids living up here.”
    I have to laugh. Saundra thinks more kids in the house will somehow ensure my safety. At the last home—which also happened to be my first, and only, placement after my mom took off, leaving me an orphan—I was the only kid. It was lonely sometimes, sure, but it was also kind of nice living with a lady in her late fifties who treated me kindly. If only things had stayed the same. I could have made it through the foster system unscathed. But my luck ran out when Mrs. Giessen’s thirty-year-old, ex-con son came home. His sentence ended and mine began.
    Maybe this place will be a good home. I sure hope so. I was given a little