Bone tired, Brittany dragged herself to her feet, her knees and hands red and wet from scrubbing the floor in her mother’s kitchen. She felt like Cinderella, only she shared DNA with the mother in this case. Brittany hadn’t seen much of Cora and Patrona in the five days she’d been home. They’d been out, doing the things Brittany had always dreamed of doing with Cora, while Brittany was stuck in the house, cleaning, cooking and caring for the four younger kids.
After the first night, she’d also slept on the sofa. Not only did Patrona snore, she was completely rude and dislikeable. Danita and Tameka didn’t like being around Patrona either, but they had little choice but to sleep in the same room with her.
Plus, the memories of Brittany’s terror always came rushing back whenever she set foot in her old bedroom. Cora didn’t seem to care where Brittany slept. As long as she didn’t put Patrona out and as long as Brittany worked like a slave, her mama didn’t care what happened to her.
Bryson, Mitchell and Spenser had called her several times since she’d left. Bryson, always suspicious, questioned why she’d left each time he called. She stuck to the story that she needed to get away and she’d return as soon as she could. If Bryson ever discovered the breakup between her and Trey, he’d go ballistic and she couldn’t begin to relate how tired she was of testosterone-driven men.
She shouldn’t have allowed herself to get involved with Trey anyway—she knew how he felt about relationships. But he’d been so tender and understanding her first day there. She never expected he’d desert her when she needed him most. It went against his character. She’d needed him to hold her and promise her everything would be fine.
But that last night, he’d been like a wild man. Angry and wounded. His lovemaking was fast and hard. He hadn’t harmed her though. She’d been ready for him, her body craving his.
Yet their pasts had finally collided, his forcing the choices he’d made as much as her past had forced hers.
“Bwit, bwit, bwit.”
Unable to stop the smile, Brittany threw down the sponge and gazed over her shoulder. The toddler, Charles, was sitting up on the pallet she’d made for him and clapping his hands. Cute and chubby, he’d stolen her heart from the moment her mother shoved the responsibility of looking after him onto Brittany’s lap.
Wiping her brow and rubbing her hands on her shirt, Brittany hurried to him and gathered the little boy into her arms. The other three were outside and as soon as the kitchen floor dried, she’d call them in for lunch.
Weary, Brittany dropped down onto the old, worn sofa, snuggling Charles close to her and humming to him. He was still drowsy and sometimes, if she sang to him, he’d fall back to sleep. She kissed his warm little cheek, wondering if she’d ever have babies of her own.
Somehow she had to get over Trey—over everything. Last night, she’d waited up for her mother but Cora hadn’t been interested in talking when she and Patrona got home from the movies.
Nothing new. It had been ten years since Brittany’s mother had been interested in doing anything with her, including holding a conversation with her.
“Knock, knock.”
Brittany jumped at the sound of the soft female drawl. “Stephanie!” she said with undisguised delight. Clutching Charles, she came to her feet and rushed to greet her former coach.
Without hesitation Stephanie embraced Brittany. She’d been so busy she hadn’t had time to call either Stephanie or Jamie so Stephanie’s visit came as a surprise.
Stephanie released Brittany from the warm circle of her arms. “I heard you were home.”
“News travels fast in such a small town.”
“You know it sure does.” Stephanie’s dark eyes widened as her gaze landed on Brittany’s hair. Stephanie drew in a deep breath and raised a brow.
Unable to hold her gaze, Brittany looked away, uncomfortably warm beneath the woman’s close scrutiny. Dressed in purple, color-blocked training pants and a matching racer-back top, Stephanie seemed as fit as ever. A headband pushed her short hair back and a row of small hoop earrings, alternating with gold studs, lined the shell of both ears.
Without invitation she brushed past Brittany and sat in her mother’s rocking chair, a place not even Brittany dared to go.
“I’ve been meaning to visit you since your mom told me you were back,” she commented, frowning at Brittany.
Charles shifted against her. He was deadweight in her arms so she ambled back to the sofa and sat once again. “I’ve been meaning to call you. Find out if you’ve heard from Jamie—”
“It seems as if Ms. Donovan is keeping you busy, girl,” Stephanie commented, clasping her hands together and twirling her thumbs.
Obviously Jamie was still a sore subject with Stephanie. If only Brittany knew why. They fell into an uncomfortable silence and Brittany realized she hadn’t called Stephanie because she hadn’t known what to say.
“How’s Bryson?” Stephanie asked, her wistfulness hard to miss.
“He’s fine. He stays busy at work.”
“And Trey? You two ever hook-up?”
A spider web hung in one corner and Brittany wondered how it escaped her. The old mildew spot now covered half the ceiling. Whenever it rained, the flat roof held water for days. The sheetrock had caved in more than once over the years and Brittany knew it was only a matter of time before it happened again.
“You know your mom is saying you hooked up with him at Bryson’s place and then just left.”
Her lips thinning, Brittany narrowed her eyes at Stephanie. “That isn’t what happened at all,” she huffed.
“But you did get down with him?”
Charles squirmed against her. “Bafwoom, Bwit.”
Brittany set the little boy on his feet and held his waist until he steadied himself then watched as he ran away. She glanced in Stephanie’s direction.
“Yes,” she murmured. “What can I say? You must think—”
“Nothing different than we all thought,” Stephanie inserted, rocking the chair in a gentle motion. “Do you remember?”
Brittany giggled, unable to stop herself. “That I’d hunt Trey down and seduce him?”
“Yeah. Sounds like Mission Accomplished.”
Shrugging, she bit down on her lip, not wanting to go there. Her demons lurked just beneath the surface. “What a whorish goal.”
Adjusting her headband, Stephanie paused. “Whorish? Seriously, Brit? If you had had a goal to sleep with all those dudes who hung around you, maybe I’d agree. But you had it bad for Trey and only Trey.”
“More’s the pity,” she mumbled.
Charles’ little feet stomped across the floor as he barreled toward her. “I want to play,” he whined.
“The others are outside, baby boy.” Brittany indicated the door. “Go ahead. Stay in the yard.”
“’Kay, Bwit.” Yelling, he ran out the door.
“You regret doing Trey?”
“No. Yes.” Rubbing her forehead, she sighed. “I don’t know. Our relationship is changed forever and…and he sent me away. That’s how I ended up here. I was spending the summer with Bryson. I didn’t know Trey shared the apartment and he tried to resist me but I—”
Stephanie snorted. “Don’t be naïve. Trey pretended to resist you but you kept him in knots for years. I can honestly say, as an eyewitness, you drove that poor man.”
“Wh-what do you mean?” Brittany asked in a small voice.
Cocking her head to the side, Stephanie lifted a brow at her. “I mean you drove him insane. He didn’t know if he was coming or going around you. You were a stubborn little bully with him.”
Nausea twisted through Brittany and tears rushed to her eyes.
“Hey hey, honey.” Stephanie hurried to the sofa and dropped next to Brittany then hugged her. “Don’t freak. We always told you that. Remember? We’d call you Mrs. Wilson? It was just a big joke amongst us.”
Brittany leaned her head against Stephanie’s shoulder. She missed Trey so much. She even missed Bryson. “I love him,” she whispered.
“I know, baby. And maybe this separation will be good for your relationship—”
“Relationship?” Brittany scoffed. “What relationship? I was only at Bryson’s three days before Trey said we couldn’t be together.”
“Th-three days? I…what happened? I mean did he just take you to bed and then tell you that’s all he wanted? That’s Trey’s style. He never gets hooked on any girl. You were always the only one who could get away with making him do things. I always thought once y’all hooked up, he’d treat you differently. But what did he do? Make love to you and then throw you out?”
Brittany hadn’t opened up to anyone about her life in a very long time. She’d told Trey and Bryson about her rape but even then she’d held back. Holding everything in was killing her. “Bryson invited me so Trey couldn’t throw me out, even though the apartment belongs to both of them. I just didn’t want to stay after Trey’s rejection.” She sniffled. “And n-no, I was there a day and a half before we made love and he was so sweet. We went on a date and he took me shopping and—”
“Wait. Wait. Trey Wilson took you shopping? Do you know how many broken hearts he left? He only offered one thing and money wasn’t it.”
“I know, Stephanie,” Brittany huffed. “But he’s my Trey. He wouldn’t do for them what he does for me.”
“So what happened? Why are you here and he’s there?”
Brittany shook her head, unsure where to begin. Stephanie stroked Brittany’s hair.
“Does it have anything to do with four years ago, Brit?” Stephanie whispered.
“Oh, Stephanie—”
“Shh, it’s okay, honey. It’s okay. You survived that night and that’s the important thing.”
Brittany wiped her nose on her sleeve. “W-what do you mean I survived? All I did was give up my virginity.”
“No…that’s not true.” Stephanie cupped Brittany’s face. “I didn’t believe it then and I don’t believe it now. You were too into Trey to let anyone else touch you. That’s why I asked you to consent to the kit.”
“Stephanie—”
“No, Brit. Listen to me. You need to stop protecting the bastard.”
“I’m not protecting anyone.” She swallowed. “He said he’d k-kill me if I told.”
“Go to the police and file a report. I still have your code. If he’s in CODIS, they’ll get him and lock him up and he won’t be able to get to you. You don’t know how many other women he’s harmed—”
Brittany pushed away and jumped to her feet, thrusting her hands through her too-short hair. “That isn’t fair. Placing the well-being of other women on my shoulders.” She couldn’t think about Karl’s other victims, if there were any. He’d sworn to kill Bryson and Trey—he’d sworn to kill her—if she accused him. Karl was powerful, with a reach that would extend far beyond prison walls. She’d do everything in her power to help other rape survivors, though.
“I’m not placing that weight on you. You need to worry about your own well-being first. Call Trey and tell him who did it before you report it. He’ll protect you.”
“Trey is so important to me, Stephanie. And family is important to him.”
“So? What does that have to do with anything?”
“I-I don’t know. I w-was just saying.”
Sucking in a breath, Stephanie rose to her feet, her hand flying to her mouth. The coach’s skin color always reminded Brittany of warmed toast. Now she looked ashen and horrified.
“Brittany!” Stephanie whispered. “Are you saying…you’re not saying…?”
Everyone knew Trey’s only relatives were his mother and his cousin. Brittany stumbled toward Stephanie. “Yes. I’m saying Trey’s cousin did it. Karl raped me.”