Read Online Beyond the Quiet: Romantic Thriller by Brenda Hill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brenda Hill
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“we’re not going to leave you alone, at least not right now. We love you and we’re concerned.”
With my teeth clenched, I told him I needed some time alone, that growing up the way I had, I needed solitude to heal. I wasn’t so sure that was necessarily true, but I simply couldn’t face anyone, even them, right now.
Finally I convinced him but could only get rid of him by promising to heat a bowl of soup as soon as I got off the phone. It was easy to agree; I needed to take a couple of aspirins and didn’t want to swallow them on an empty stomach. While I felt so miserable I didn’t know if I wanted to face another day, I didn’t want an upset stomach. I had to smile at that one.
After shuffling to the kitchen, I stared at the closed cupboards. My fleeting light mood had suddenly vanished and I simply didn’t have enough energy to bother. I stuffed a piece of stale bread and the pills in my mouth and opened the fridge for some Diet Coke. Well, damn, damn, damn, no Coke. I’d forgotten to replace the empty liter, so I trudged into the garage for a warm bottle and drank my fill.
***
Later that afternoon someone knocked on the door. I ignored it, but the noise continued, the pounding becoming more and more insistent.
Then I heard someone tapping against the sliding glass door in the back. Goddammit! Why the hell couldn’t people leave me alone?
“Come on, Lisa, open up,” Maggie called through the glass. “I know you’re in there, I’m not going away until you let me in!”
I ignored it as long as I could.
The tapping grew louder. “I’m not leaving until you open this door! Want the neighbors to call the cops?”
“All right, all right!” I shouted. “I’m coming.”
I stomped to the kitchen, unlocked the sliding door and pulled it open just enough for her to step in. She was wearing potholder gloves and carrying a brown glass casserole dish that she set on the counter.
“Well,” she said, “when Mohame d won’t come to the mountain...” She eyed me up and down. “You look like hell.”
“I wasn’t expecting company,” I said pointedly, “and I don’t want any.”
“My, my, aren’t we grouchy today. Look what Stan fixed you.” She lifted the casserole lid, and the pungent aroma of hot shrimp and spices drifted to me. “Your favorite, seafood casserole with rice. When did you eat last?”
I shrugged.
“Well, go wash up,” she said. “You’re going to have a decent dinner while it’s nice and hot.”
“I appreciate what yo u’re trying to do, but I’m not—”
“Look.” Maggie drew herself up, feet spread and hands on her hips. “Stan and I have been worried sick about you, and I’ve had enough. I want to sleep tonight, so you’re going to eat whether you like it or not. And after that,” she said, wrinkling her nose, “you’re going to march your skinny little ass into the bathroom and take a shower. Understand?”
I scowled at her, giving her my most formidable look, but she didn’t flicker an eyelash. In fact, she was wearing the same expression she’d used with her children. She meant business, and I knew she was stubborn enough to stay right there until I did everything she said.
No matter how I tried to hold a scowl, my lips betrayed me and curved upward in a smile.
***
About an hour later, Maggie and I sat at the table. I’d had dinner, two helpings, actually, and a bath. I hated to admit it, but things didn’t look quite so black. Maybe a dark shade of gray.
Maggie was good for the soul. She listened, and no matter what popped out of my mouth, she understood.
My home phone rang, and, thinking it might possibly be Terry, I ignored it. Maggie arched a brow but said nothing. The phone rang three more times, then the machine picked it up.
“Hi, Mom,” Shanna said. “Just got your letter.”
I jumped up to take the call. “Hi, honey. I’m here.”
“What’s going on?”
I brought her up to date, glossing over the details. She’d
With my teeth clenched, I told him I needed some time alone, that growing up the way I had, I needed solitude to heal. I wasn’t so sure that was necessarily true, but I simply couldn’t face anyone, even them, right now.
Finally I convinced him but could only get rid of him by promising to heat a bowl of soup as soon as I got off the phone. It was easy to agree; I needed to take a couple of aspirins and didn’t want to swallow them on an empty stomach. While I felt so miserable I didn’t know if I wanted to face another day, I didn’t want an upset stomach. I had to smile at that one.
After shuffling to the kitchen, I stared at the closed cupboards. My fleeting light mood had suddenly vanished and I simply didn’t have enough energy to bother. I stuffed a piece of stale bread and the pills in my mouth and opened the fridge for some Diet Coke. Well, damn, damn, damn, no Coke. I’d forgotten to replace the empty liter, so I trudged into the garage for a warm bottle and drank my fill.
***
Later that afternoon someone knocked on the door. I ignored it, but the noise continued, the pounding becoming more and more insistent.
Then I heard someone tapping against the sliding glass door in the back. Goddammit! Why the hell couldn’t people leave me alone?
“Come on, Lisa, open up,” Maggie called through the glass. “I know you’re in there, I’m not going away until you let me in!”
I ignored it as long as I could.
The tapping grew louder. “I’m not leaving until you open this door! Want the neighbors to call the cops?”
“All right, all right!” I shouted. “I’m coming.”
I stomped to the kitchen, unlocked the sliding door and pulled it open just enough for her to step in. She was wearing potholder gloves and carrying a brown glass casserole dish that she set on the counter.
“Well,” she said, “when Mohame d won’t come to the mountain...” She eyed me up and down. “You look like hell.”
“I wasn’t expecting company,” I said pointedly, “and I don’t want any.”
“My, my, aren’t we grouchy today. Look what Stan fixed you.” She lifted the casserole lid, and the pungent aroma of hot shrimp and spices drifted to me. “Your favorite, seafood casserole with rice. When did you eat last?”
I shrugged.
“Well, go wash up,” she said. “You’re going to have a decent dinner while it’s nice and hot.”
“I appreciate what yo u’re trying to do, but I’m not—”
“Look.” Maggie drew herself up, feet spread and hands on her hips. “Stan and I have been worried sick about you, and I’ve had enough. I want to sleep tonight, so you’re going to eat whether you like it or not. And after that,” she said, wrinkling her nose, “you’re going to march your skinny little ass into the bathroom and take a shower. Understand?”
I scowled at her, giving her my most formidable look, but she didn’t flicker an eyelash. In fact, she was wearing the same expression she’d used with her children. She meant business, and I knew she was stubborn enough to stay right there until I did everything she said.
No matter how I tried to hold a scowl, my lips betrayed me and curved upward in a smile.
***
About an hour later, Maggie and I sat at the table. I’d had dinner, two helpings, actually, and a bath. I hated to admit it, but things didn’t look quite so black. Maybe a dark shade of gray.
Maggie was good for the soul. She listened, and no matter what popped out of my mouth, she understood.
My home phone rang, and, thinking it might possibly be Terry, I ignored it. Maggie arched a brow but said nothing. The phone rang three more times, then the machine picked it up.
“Hi, Mom,” Shanna said. “Just got your letter.”
I jumped up to take the call. “Hi, honey. I’m here.”
“What’s going on?”
I brought her up to date, glossing over the details. She’d
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