Stronger than You Know by Jolene Perry

Author:Jolene Perry
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-4976-9791-1
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

Overheard

I’m pretty sure it’s close to midnight, but Uncle Rob and Aunt Nicole are talking downstairs. After my pill this afternoon, I napped enough that I’m sure I won’t sleep much tonight so I strain to listen.

“So the guy pled out, but her mom’s still holding on?” Uncle Rob asks.

“I tried to see if I could talk to her,” Aunt Nicole says. “But she won’t take calls from me.”

“This isn’t fair. Joy shouldn’t have to do anything else.”

“It’s not up to us. My sister is selfish. She might push the trial just because she can. She’s looking at a lot of jail time for this. It’s not something she’s going to go quietly into.” Aunt Nicole sounds apologetic.

I knew Mom would put up a fight. She never thought anything she was accused of could possibly be her fault.

Testifying for the grand jury was the worst part of all the talking I had to do about my experiences with Mom. But the prosecutor let me testify over the phone instead of in person. Lydia gave me some extra antianxiety meds and I sat on the couch and answered questions. The hearing sucked, but it felt like I was doing something that would help me later. And I guess my testimony did. I’m still with Aunt Nicole and Uncle Rob, and my mom is in jail.

“Guess she would put up a fight.” Uncle Rob’s voice is so quiet I barely hear him.

“I need sleep.” Aunt Nicole yawns out the last half.

“I’ll be up in a minute. I need more thinking time.”

Their words make sense, but don’t. I was warned by the prosecutor and Lydia that I might have to testify again. I’m hoping I’ll have more time away from all the court stuff before I have to face the memories from my old life, but I can answer questions on the phone if the prosecutor needs me to.

I hear Aunt Nicole’s bedroom door close, and I tiptoe down to see Uncle Rob on the floor in front of the fire. His legs are crossed and his elbows rest on his knees. The rest of the house is dark, quiet.

I walk slowly to the door. “Uncle Rob?” I whisper.

He jumps. “Oh, Joy. You scared me.”

“Sorry, I don’t want to disturb …”

“Come in.” He waves me in. “If you want.”

I step inside and sit close to him. Uncle Rob has turned into a safe place fast.

The fire flickers in front of us. The yellow flames have a less blue in them than normal, making the gas fire seem a little more real. Rob gives me a gentle half-squeeze. It’s so different than how I’ve been touched my whole life. This is for comfort, for me, nothing else.

“Why are you so sad? About me?” I ask. I’m glad I have the fire to look at.

He exhales as he drops his arm, and the room is silent. I shift a few times as I watch the patterns of flame around the pretend logs and try to ignore how long it’s taking him to answer.

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