Guarding Jane Doe by Harper Allen

Author:Harper Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Mama’s face was all wet and shiny, and the stuff she put on her eyelashes had made black rings around her eyes, Li’l Bit thought. Mama’s glass was filled right up again, and it was the fourth time Mama had filled it up that night.

Mama had that Goddamned Cheating Bastard’s picture on her lap, the way she always did when she got like this.

Really the picture was of Daddy. Except sometimes he was Daddy, and sometimes he was that Goddamned Cheating Bastard. If he ever came back again, Li’l Bit wanted to ask him what name he liked better.

But he wasn’t ever coming back again. And it was all her fault.

Mama always said that men liked their women to be pretty and sweet and dainty—and that went for little girls, too. Little girls were supposed to be Daddy’s li’l bit of honey-pie when he came home from the factory, with their best dresses on and their hair curled up with a bow on top. Little girls were supposed to help Mama set the table just right while Daddy had a second beer and watched the news.

But little girls weren’t supposed to play baseball, or ride a bicycle with Joey and Davie down the street or get into a fight at recess with the big girl from fifth grade who’d stolen their milk-money. It wasn’t ladylike. She wasn’t ladylike, no matter how hard she tried, and that’s why Daddy had left. She knew that was true, because Mama had told her.

That’s what Mama was telling her right now, her wet mouth open so wide and her angry eyes all squinched up and hard, while Li’l Bit sat on the sofa and felt like she was shrinking inside.

He never would have gone if it hadn’t been for you! After you were born he didn’t even want to be around. Li’l Bit? Li’l bit of stupid, maybe. Li’l bit of selfish! He left because of you—it wasn’t because of me! He didn’t leave me, he left you!

JANE SHOT bolt upright, her heart crashing against her ribs and her eyes wide open. At first she couldn’t make anything out in the darkness, and then Quinn was beside her, swiftly snapping on the bedside lamp and bending over her in alarm.

“What is it?” His voice was edged with concern. Disoriented, she looked down at herself, and back at him, her eyes still adjusting to the softly shaded light. She shook her head to clear it.

“Just a dream. It’s gone now.”

She took a deep breath and started to slide back down under the covers. The next minute she was ramrod-straight again. “Is this your bed?” She plucked in surprise at the unfamiliar garment she was wearing. “This isn’t even mine. You undressed me. What’s going on here?”

“You fell asleep at the kitchen table, right after my scrambled eggs with toast and just before I’d finished brewing the tea,” he said dryly. “I cleaned the butter out of your hair, carried you in here, and got your clothes off.

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