Patterns of Change by Terri DuLong

Author:Terri DuLong [DuLong, Terri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

I easily found Chadwick’s house and pulled into the circular driveway. Well-maintained landscaping surrounded the one-story brick structure, with all of it enclosed by a black wrought-iron fence.

As I walked up the three front steps, the large oak door was opened by Chadwick.

“Hey,” he said. “Come on in. No trouble finding the house?”

“No, none,” I told him, taking in the large foyer leading to an open family room overlooking a huge patio area and the river. “What a gorgeous spot.”

“Thanks,” he said, leading the way into the room. “How about an iced tea before we set sail?”

“Sounds good.”

He walked toward a large kitchen to the right off the family room. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

I gazed around the room with approval—beautifully furnished but not ostentatious. Two leather sofas, comfy chairs, and cherrywood tables with porcelain ginger jar lamps. I wandered over to a credenza lined with framed family photographs. One was of an older couple, who I assumed were Chadwick’s parents, bundled up in ski gear standing at the base of a mountain. One of Chadwick dressed in shorts and polo shirt, holding up a golf club on a fairway. And a third photo that caused a chill to go through my body. I picked up the frame to look closer and saw Chadwick with another fellow, arms around each other’s shoulders, huge grins on their handsome faces, and I froze. The other fellow was him. I hadn’t seen him in thirty-two years, but I knew it was him. I had also never even known his name, but I did now—Aaron Price. Chadwick’s brother. The man who had date-raped me after a frat party in college. I gripped the frame and felt lightheaded. How could this be possible? After all the years of keeping the secret, of living with the humiliation and anger, of never sharing any of it with anyone until I told my sister a few years before—how could it be possible that because of a flat tire in the rain I’d now come face to face with my attacker?

“Here we go,” I heard Chadwick say as if from a distance.

I turned and saw him walking toward me holding out a tall glass, and I panicked.

“Oh . . . I’m so sorry . . . but I’m not going to be able to go,” I stammered. “I’ve changed my mind. I . . . all of a sudden, I don’t feel well.” I walked toward the door and my feet felt like lead.

“Chloe, are you okay? Can I drive you home?”

I heard the concern in Chadwick’s voice but I shook my head. “No, no thanks. I’ll be fine,” I said, yanking open the front door and racing to my car. With shaking hands I turned the key in the ignition and headed back down North Beach Street, grateful I only had a short drive home—to safety and privacy.

But as I pulled into the driveway, I groaned at the sight of Yarrow coming down the front steps. I was in no mood to talk to anybody but it was too late to back up and escape.

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