The Stillwater Girls(38)

I don’t know whom to trust, whom to believe. Who’s good and who’s bad. And if Mama could lie to us, then so could anyone else.

“Thank you.” I take the clothes from Nicolette and set them on top of a dresser. Earlier today, she brought clothes to the hospital for us to come home in. They’re too big on us, but they’re soft and they smell nice. Someone with Deputy May took our dresses and coats and placed them in a clear bag. I don’t know if we’ll ever see those clothes again, but I think I’m okay with that because I’ve yet to see a single person dressed like we were.

“Tomorrow,” Nicolette says, “if you’re feeling up to it, maybe we could go into town? Get you both some new clothes?”

I swallow. “All right.”

“Do you want me to show you around the bathroom?” she asks, eyeing the doorway between our bedroom and the small room connected to it. “There’s a soaking tub in there and some bubble bath under the sink that smells like spearmint and eucalyptus. Might feel good to soak for a bit. I imagine you’re still sore.”

I don’t know what “bubble bath” is, but it sounds nice.

Her eyes drop to my bare feet, which still ache and are marred with red marks and blisters from our journey two nights ago.

“Here. I’ll show you.” Nicolette walks into the bathroom, and I follow. “So you turn this knob to here for warm water. Turning it to the left will make it hotter, right will make it colder—kind of like the shower at the hospital.” Plucking a pink bottle from under the sink, she unscrews the cap. “You pour one or two capfuls of this under running water to make bubbles. When you’re done with your bath, there are robes and towels in the closet here. Press that silver button on the tub to drain the water.”

“Thank you.” I stand in the doorway between the bedroom and bathroom as she shows me how to operate the large, oval-shaped basin against the wall. From the corner of my eye, I see that my sister still has yet to move. “I’ve never had a . . . bubble bath . . . before.”

Nicolette’s lips curl softly. “Well then, you’re in for a treat.”

Our baths were much different from this. Twice a week, Mama would bring in a small copper tub and fill it with well water that she would heat over the fire. We’d take turns, but the water was either too hot or too cold, and we were prompted to get out before we had time to get comfortable. Days between, we’d wash with soap and a washcloth.

I’ll take a bath . . . but not tonight.

Nicolette says they have a security system here and that even if the man found us, he wouldn’t be able to get to us.

I want to be with my sister right now. She’s the only thing that feels like home.

“If you need anything, I’m next door,” she says. “Just knock.”

She gives us a warm smile before leaving, and I’m not sure if I’m supposed to close the door behind her or not. Everyone around here seems so big on doors and privacy, treating every room like their own personal space. I’m not sure if I could ever get used to that.

Crawling into bed in the “sweatshirt” and “leggings” Nicolette gave me, I slide under the covers.

“You going to go to sleep?” I ask Sage, who hasn’t moved from the edge of the bed since we got here tonight.

Turning toward me, she inhales a quivering breath. “Why did Mama lie to us?”

“I don’t know.” My voice fades in my throat. “I’m too tired to think about that right now.”

I lie to my sister, but it’s for her own protection. She doesn’t want to know even half of the thoughts that have crossed my mind in the past twenty-four hours. One minute I’m angry, the next I’m confused. But mostly I’m in disbelief, hoping and praying we’ll see Mama soon so she can explain.

Mama loves us. But she lied to us. That’s the only thing I’m sure of.

“You think we’ll find them?” she asks.

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think the man will track us here?”

“I don’t know, Sage,” I say, tugging the covers up to my neck and staring at the ceiling at some kind of circular light with five flat blades sticking out like spokes in a wheel. I’ll have to ask Nicolette what that does in the morning. “Just . . . come to bed, okay? We’ll talk about this tomorrow. Get some rest. We’re safe here.”

For now.

I think.

I hope . . .





CHAPTER 24

NICOLETTE

I lower the volume on the TV so the girls don’t hear what the locals are saying about them. TV was a concept they’d only heard of once before yesterday, when they came face-to-face with one in their shared hospital room, and I’m not sure they’d even understand the concept of gossip or late-breaking news stories, but one less reminder of their current situation is . . . one less reminder.

“They’re calling them the Stillwater Darlings.” The youthful, raven-haired news anchor with a voice beyond her years stares into the camera, shoulders straight and brows holding just enough concern. “Early yesterday morning, two teenage girls wandered out of the Stillwater Forest looking for family they say abandoned them in a cabin in the woods. Authorities are still trying to piece together this disturbing case, but they’re saying there is very little information to go off of. No photographs. No birth records. No addresses. Not even a last name. We’ll be bringing you the Stillwater County Sheriff Department’s press conference in just a moment, but for now, we ask that anyone with any information related to this case, please contact the following number.”