Don't Make a Sound (Sawyer Brooks #1)(19)

Her car came into view. If she could get inside and lock the doors, she might be safe.

He pulled out his key fob. The headlights of the car next to hers winked.

The same thing happened to Lily.

Her insides turned. She was going to be sick. What the hell is going on? In that moment she recalled the look Brad had given their server as they walked out the door, their hands in a viselike grip. Had Brad slipped their server another tip? The server must have found him in the bathroom and told Brad what she’d done, then spiked the new bottle, knowing Brad would pay him for his troubles.

“I’m not feeling well,” she said. Her vision blurred suddenly, her car now resembling a gray mass. Dizziness overcame her.

“Don’t worry,” he said as she melted against his chest and into his arms. “I’ve got you.”





CHAPTER TEN

Jolted awake by the sound of the front door opening, Sawyer jumped to her feet. She’d fallen asleep on the living room couch. The lights came on. Her eyes strained against the brightness.

Mom and Dad were home. It took a moment for her vision to clear. They stood side by side. In the time since she’d seen them last, Dad appeared to have aged twofold. His dark hair, his best feature, had thinned considerably and was mostly gray. He held a cane in his right hand. Mom had never been what Sawyer would consider a beauty, but she always managed to hold herself regally, spine stiff and chin jutting, as she was doing now. Her silver hair had been blown dry into a classic bob, her bangs swept to one side. Her face appeared pinched, her lips so tightly drawn they made a white slash beneath her nose.

“Where have you been?” Sawyer asked, not intending to sound accusatory, merely curious.

“Your dad had no idea what time you were coming. When dinnertime rolled around and you still hadn’t shown up, we decided to head into town for something to eat.”

“It’s ten p.m.,” Sawyer pointed out.

“Don’t get sassy with me,” Mom said. Before she could go on one of her tirades, Dad put a hand on her mother’s arm.

She scowled at her husband. “What? We’ve hardly seen her since she left home, and yet we’re supposed to pull out the banners and whistles when she decides to make an appearance?”

Mom had always been an angry person. Sawyer’s therapist told her that many people’s anger stemmed from their inability to deal with fear, disappointment, or frustration. It annoyed people like Mom that they couldn’t control every little thing that happened in life. Her mom’s anger could be rooted in past trauma, but until she recognized her behavior, she wouldn’t be able to see that her anger was only hurting herself.

Sawyer was used to her mom’s outbursts, and most of it went in one ear and out the other. But it was the reason she rarely visited. If Sawyer could afford it, she would have stayed at a hotel. But money was tight, and her mom was harmless.

“Joyce,” Dad pleaded, “this isn’t the time to—”

Mom looked down her nose at Sawyer. “I’m assuming you brought your outfit for the festival next week.”

Sawyer glanced at Dad to see any telltale sign that her mom might be joking. Dad took a breath. Mom wasn’t kidding.

“I didn’t bring an outfit for the festival since I won’t be staying very long. I have to get back for work.”

“I’m going to bed,” Mom said with a huff.

They listened to the sharply accented footfalls as Mom disappeared down the hallway. The bedroom door slammed shut.

“Your mother has had a long day,” Dad said to Sawyer.

“I should have texted before I left.” Neither of them made a move to step closer and wrap their arms around each other. Dad and Mom had never been the affectionate type, so it worked out well all around.

Dad’s posture relaxed some once Mom left the room. “I’m glad you came. It’s good to see you.”

“You too, Dad.”

“I guess I’ll head off to bed. Unless you want to stay up and chat, or—”

“No,” she said, surprised by his offer. “We should both get some sleep. It’ll be a long day tomorrow.”

He nodded. “Your room is ready for you. There are clean sheets on your bed.”

“I was thinking I’d sleep in Gramma’s cottage.”

He shook his head. “The mattress is stained. The place is a mess.” He turned to leave, didn’t get far before he glanced back at her and said, “Gramma Sally would be glad to know you came to say goodbye.”

She nodded but said nothing as he walked away. He didn’t know his mother-in-law, the woman he’d lived with for the past seventeen years. Gramma would not be happy to know Sawyer had returned to River Rock. Gramma never wanted to live with the daughter who despised her for leaving her father, a man Sawyer’s mom never talked about. Their family was built on secrets rooted in shame, secrets that only served to lead to trust issues and anxiety.

Lack of funds had made it impossible for Gramma to turn down her parents’ offer to live with them. The same reason Sawyer wasn’t staying at a hotel. Sawyer had paid rent while living with Connor, but since she had no plans to sleep on her sister’s couch for too long, she needed to save every penny for a deposit and first month’s rent on a new apartment.

She grabbed her duffel bag and purse from the floor, turned off the lights, and made her way down the hallway to her bedroom. Shadows crossed her path, and the wood floors creaked beneath her shoes. In the blink of an eye, she was twelve years old again.