Running From Mercy by Terra Little Page A

talking about the purpose of menstruation, let alone discussing the actual mechanics of sex, and in the end, her dad was the one who’d explained everything to her. But Pam talked freely and openly about it, and even Nikki had blushed at some of the things she’d said. That was Aunt Pam for you, though.
    She’d made Nikki promise not to have sex until she was absolutely sure she was ready to handle the consequences, whatever they were. And there were always consequences, she said. The only time she’d clammed up was when Nikki had asked her how old she was when she’d had sex for the first time. That question, Nikki suddenly realized, was never answered.
    Nikki was sure that her Aunt Pam had a lot of knowledge to pass on. Her mom had been there every day in boring Mercy, Georgia, but Aunt Pam had traveled all over the world, done a lot of things and she knew a lot of people. She’d seen her in magazines, looking glamorous and with super fine men. She kept up with all the gossip and she knew that her aunt had had a few high-powered boyfriends. And she listened to the songs she sang about being in love and how great it was. You couldn’t go through all that and not know some things.
    Nikki hadn’t yet mentioned it to anyone, but her future was all planned out. As soon as she graduated from high school she was planning to get the hell out of Mercy. She wanted to go to college, but she wanted to do it in California, where Pam lived. She’d never broached the subject with her parents, but she knew she would have to bring it up to her dad soon because it was getting close to time to start talking about college and applying to schools. Her mom had always said that Aunt Pam had itchy feet and that’s why she left Mercy all those years ago. Well, Nikki guessed she had the same itchy feet, because she was waiting on the day she could do the same thing.
    Mercy wasn’t so bad that she’d stay away forever, though. Unlike Pam, she wouldn’t let a death be the only reason she came back. She’d come back to visit her dad and her friends, and to visit her mom, so she wouldn’t get lonely out there in the cemetery by herself, but she was leaving. That part wasn’t up for negotiation. She hoped her dad didn’t blow a gasket when she told him.
    She looked up at the knock on her door. “Come in.”
    Chad opened the door wide enough to stick his head inside the room. “You coming down for dinner?” He looked around the cluttered room like he thought something might jump out and bite him. Discarded clothing covered almost every available surface. “This room gives me a migraine every time I see it.”
    â€œYours doesn’t look much better.”
    â€œI pay the bills, so mine doesn’t have to look better. Come on down and help me eat some of the casserole Ms. Harrison forced on me,” he said. “I don’t want to have to look her in the face and lie about eating it the next time I see her in the grocery store.”
    Nikki’s face wrinkled knowingly. “Mom always brought Ms. Harrison’s cakes in the house and put them straight in the trash. You should work on being a better liar, dad.”
    â€œIt’s either the casserole or sandwiches and at least the casserole is hot. And lying isn’t the best habit to be perfecting, I don’t think. Tell you what, help me eat some of it and we’ll go out tomorrow.”
    She pushed off the bed and straightened her shirt on her way to the door. She was a tall girl, but her dad was even taller. She looked up at him and smiled. “Can we invite Aunt Pam to go with us?”
    Caught off guard, Chad looked at Nikki for more seconds than were necessary for such a simple question. “She might have other plans,” he finally said.
    â€œShe might not. Why don’t you want to ask her?”
    â€œI didn’t say I didn’t want to ask her. I just said she might be