Antonia's Choice by Nancy Rue Page B

want him hurting any more little kids. That’s when I found out she was in on it, too, and then I didn’t know what to do—so I went to my friends at church and they made me go to the pastor and he helped me go to the police.”
    She sagged, and some of the starch went out of her face. I waited for her to catch her breath and go on, but she looked at me and nodded, as if the state had rested.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “How did you know what your father was doing?”
    Abruptly, Wyndham turned her face away. “You don’t believe me.”
    â€œIt isn’t that. I’m just trying to clarify for myself.”
    She shook her head. The tendrils bounced playfully, once again belying the burden that lay beneath them. “I just think my word should be good enough. And they found all that stuff in the studio.”
    â€œYou’re absolutely right,” I said. “But what about your mother? How did you find out that she was involved?”
    I could see her neck turning to steel. In that respect, the poorkid took after me. I knew it would be only a matter of minutes before she’d be clenching her jaw and I would get nothing out of her.
    â€œLet’s do this, then,” I said. “Look me in the eye and tell me that you know your mother was in on this thing with your dad. If you can do that, I won’t press you for details.”
    She nodded immediately, but I didn’t pat myself on the back. I wasn’t going to pry any more out of her tonight, and I knew it. Those shoulders were locking up tight for the duration. I was also praying that my intuitive powers were sharp enough to detect any deception in her eyes.
    Interesting. I hadn’t even thought of praying until now.
    Wyndham, meanwhile, swiveled around on the stool, clenched her thighs with her hands, and leaned so close to me, I could see the tiny blood vessels burning in her eyes.
    â€œAunt Toni,” she said, “I am telling you the truth. My mother knew, and she let it happen.”
    I could only sit there and hold her gaze, watching a film of tears form. This wasn’t the breathless string of words I’d heard earlier. Nor was it the bitter accusation of a resentful child. There was pain in this, real pain.
    â€œI know you’re telling the truth, Wyndham,” I said. “I’ll stand behind you.”
    She flung herself at me, and as I put my arms around her, I could feel her holding back the sobs.
    â€œYou can cry if you want to,” I said. “Heaven knows you have plenty to cry about.”
    But she pulled away, shaking her head and smearing off the tears with the tips of her fingers. I noticed that her nails were bitten down to the quick, and her cuticles were raw.
    â€œI’m going to go up and put my stuff away, if that’s all right,” she said. She was at once lighter, leaping for her luggage and hoisting the backpack over her shoulder.
    â€œYou don’t want to eat?” I said.
    â€œMaybe later, okay?”
    â€œSure.”
    Once I had her and everything she owned safely up in her room, I went down to the family room to deal with Ben. My heart went to my throat when I couldn’t find him.
    â€œBen?” I said. “Ben—don’t mess with me, Pal, this isn’t funny. Where are you?”
    He poked his head out from the cherry armoire. I had visions of smashed CD cases under his feet.
    â€œGet out of there. What are you doing?” I said.
    â€œHiding. From her.”
    I knelt down on the floor and extricated him from the cabinet. Fortunately, there were no damages in his wake.
    â€œWhat is the deal?” I said. “Wyndham’s not the boogeyman, for Pete’s sake. Why don’t you like her? Aside from the fact that I left you at her house.”
    Ben tried to make a dive for the armoire again, but I shut the door firmly. He pressed his face against it, refusing to look at me.
    â€œShe seems to like
you
just