When the Heart Falls(84)

We’re packed pretty tightly into Cade’s dorm room since he has space not being used by a roommate. My parents wanted to take everyone out to dinner, but I asked if we could talk first. "I have more to tell you about Rodney and what happened." My mom looks worried, my dad frowns and Autumn and Daring just listen.

I tell them everything, and each time I tell the story it’s easier and easier. When I’m done my mother sobs and reaches for me. “Oh honey. I’m so sorry.”

My dad looks at Cade and nods to him. “If you hadn’t already beat the shit out of him," Dad says, "I would have. Thank you for doing what you could to protect my little girl.”

Autumn and Daring are shocked. They can’t believe they never noticed the signs or figured it out. I think it hits Daring the hardest, since we were roommates. She hugs me and cries. “I wish you’d told me, or someone."

Tears burn my eyes. "I did."

Everyone turns to look at me. Daring grips my hand. "You did what?"

"I did tell someone." Swallowing, I look at each of them. "Do you remember the guidance counselor we had at school? Brown hair? Always wore skirts too short and the boys made it a point to visit her office a lot?"

My mom nods. "She was just out of college. Ms. Clementine, I think her name was."

"After the first time it happened, after the party, I told her. I… " the words are hard to find, even still. "I was scared to tell you. I'm so sorry. If only I had, I could have saved myself so much pain. But I'd been drinking and at a party you'd told me I couldn't go to. I didn't want to get in trouble, but I knew what happened was bad, so I told her two days later."

My dad's face hardens. "What happened, Winter? What did she say?"

A tear leaks out, and Cade wraps an arm around me. "She said no one would believe me," I say. "That probably some part of me wanted it to happen if I was willing to go to a party and drink and make out with my boyfriend."

Daring covers her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide. "Oh, Winter. That bitch."

Autumn shakes her head. "How could she? We would have believed you, honey. We would have."

A sob escapes and I shove it back down, unwilling to break down right now. "I was still going to tell you. I was working up to it. But then, another girl at another school had something similar happen. I saw her on the news and on Facebook, how everyone blamed her, no one believed her. Maybe her family did, I don't know. It didn't matter, because they attacked her everywhere, made her life hell. And then, she committed suicide. In her note she said that she never should have told, that living with the secret would have been easier than becoming a victim all over again. And I knew it would happen to me, that Rodney and his friends would destroy me, so I stayed silent. And let it happen."

Daring clenches her jaw. "France better convict him, because if they send that * home I will end him.”

I believe her, too. She’s not one you want to mess with.

The mood is too macabre now, air thick with the tension of my latest revelation. Even Cade looks sad, and I know he's thinking of Pete and how shame, fear, the pain of living with other people's hatred, can lead someone to end their own life.

He kisses my cheek and wipes away a tear. "You did what you had to do at the time, Winter. No one blames you. Our world isn't always kind to people who need it. I'm just glad it's over, that you're safe now and free of him forever."

We all sit in silence for too long, everyone too sad or worried to say something, so I break the mood, ready to move on to happier stories and memories. “How about that dinner?" I say. "I know a great place to eat.”

I invite Jenifer to join us, and we take them to Vincent’s, who greets us warmly and clears a large table for us. He sent over food for me when I got out of the hospital, and I take a moment to thank him.

“It is the least I can do for a friend.”

The food is exceptional, as usual. Halfway through the meal my dad wipes his mouth and looks at me. "I heard you finished a book.”

I nod. "The Ice Queen. It’s selling pretty well, too."

My dad smiles. "We're proud of you, kiddo."

"Still want me to change majors?" I’m teasing, mostly.

He chuckles and shakes his head. "This is one time I’m glad you didn’t listen to me. It’s a sign of true adulthood, when you can make your own choices irrespective of what your parents want for you, not out of rebellion, but because you’ve grown into yourself and know your own path better than anyone else. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become, Winter."

Autumn and Daring leave the next day, but promise to return for the trial. My parents stay for those few weeks as we wait, and we make it a family vacation, sightseeing and sharing stories of our summer here. They fall in love with Cade and welcome him into the family readily, and I feel prepared to face the last of my demons when I’m called to the stand to testify against Rodney.





WINTER DEVEAUX

CHAPTER 45





THE JUDGE DOESN'T like Rodney, that much is obvious. We’re just hoping the jury feels the same way. At first, I was worried. Rodney knows how to charm people, how to cover his true colors, and, early on in the trial, it looked like the jury would fall victim to that charm. But his own testimony, the recording I made, the testimony of others, revealed him to be a psychopath. I half expected the defense to argue he was abused as a child, that he showed love the only way he knew how, but they didn’t. Rodney had a healthy childhood with loving parents. Sometimes people are just broken from birth and no amount of love can save them.