turned away, he bent over his work again, and she was grateful to him for giving her some space instead of getting up to offer her a drink or something. She knew he’d seen the instant recognition on her face as he’d careful y arranged each item for her view.
It wasn’t just the panties that upset her. The dildo had been there, too, grotesque in its size.
She dropped her head in her hands. The possibility that a sexual predator had had any contact with Grace at the age she’d been when she was wearing those panties sickened Madeline.
“God help us,” she whispered and began to rub her temples. Her head hurt, but not as badly as her heart. She knew Grace had problems as a teenager. Had they started because she’d been molested—or worse, raped—by some demented creep?
No. She would’ve said something….
But deep down Madeline knew that wasn’t true. Girls who’d been molested were often too ashamed afterwards to reveal their terrible secret.
“Whoever it was better not have touched her,” she muttered.
Her stepmother jumped to her feet. “I want to cal Clay.”
Startled, Madeline blinked. “You want him to see this? ”
She waved at the panties on the table. The giant dildo sat front and center. Not that Madeline could look at it.
“I—I need him,” Irene said.
Her slightly hysterical tone made Madeline feel guilty for being so impatient a moment before. She owed her stepmother more sensitivity than she’d just shown her. Irene was the one who’d provided the love and attention Madeline had needed as a young teen. Madeline couldn’t imagine what life would’ve been like without her.
“We’re okay,” she whispered, hoping to comfort her.
“We can take care of this ourselves, right?”
“No.” Irene shook her head adamantly.
“But you know Clay. He’l go nuts if he sees this. And we wouldn’t want to humiliate Grace any more than necessary.
Obviously, if something terrible happened, she chose not to share it with us. It won’t be easy for her to walk in here, especial y with an audience, and admit it now.”
“Let’s not make her come,” Irene said, gripping Madeline’s arm.
Chief Pontiff glanced up again, and Madeline knew, without his having to say a word that he’d insist on it. He required Grace to confirm what Madeline had, after several shocked minutes, told him. “I’m afraid it’s important.”
“Then I need Clay,” her stepmother said. “Grace wil need him, too.”
“I’d rather save him this,” Madeline argued, but it was too late. Irene had hurried over to one of the empty desks and helped herself to a phone.
Madeline considered asking her to hang up but was actual y relieved that Clay would be joining them. At the very least, maybe he’d take care of Irene until Madeline could come to grips with al of this.
The door opened and Grace’s husband, Kennedy Archer, walked in, holding her hand. He had on one of the tailored suits he wore to work, while Grace was dressed more casual y in jeans, Ugg boots and an attractive sweater. A pair of sunglasses hid her eyes despite the season and the inclement weather.
She’s marshalling her defenses. She knows something’s up. Suddenly, Madeline was very reluctant to see what would happen next.
Kennedy said a brief hel o, although his cautious manner with Grace revealed his concern. Grace nodded in their direction but said nothing.
“Kennedy, Grace. Thanks for coming down.” Pontiff had walked over the second he saw them and was now shaking hands with Kennedy. He offered Grace his hand as wel , but she’d caught sight of the articles on the paper-lined table and didn’t respond.
“What’s the problem?” Kennedy asked, his voice low and guarded.
Pontiff explained that these items had been found in the Cadil ac as he motioned them closer. Grace al owed her husband to lead her, but her skin looked taut across her elegant bones.
After a moment, she swayed as if she might pass out, and Madeline
It wasn’t just the panties that upset her. The dildo had been there, too, grotesque in its size.
She dropped her head in her hands. The possibility that a sexual predator had had any contact with Grace at the age she’d been when she was wearing those panties sickened Madeline.
“God help us,” she whispered and began to rub her temples. Her head hurt, but not as badly as her heart. She knew Grace had problems as a teenager. Had they started because she’d been molested—or worse, raped—by some demented creep?
No. She would’ve said something….
But deep down Madeline knew that wasn’t true. Girls who’d been molested were often too ashamed afterwards to reveal their terrible secret.
“Whoever it was better not have touched her,” she muttered.
Her stepmother jumped to her feet. “I want to cal Clay.”
Startled, Madeline blinked. “You want him to see this? ”
She waved at the panties on the table. The giant dildo sat front and center. Not that Madeline could look at it.
“I—I need him,” Irene said.
Her slightly hysterical tone made Madeline feel guilty for being so impatient a moment before. She owed her stepmother more sensitivity than she’d just shown her. Irene was the one who’d provided the love and attention Madeline had needed as a young teen. Madeline couldn’t imagine what life would’ve been like without her.
“We’re okay,” she whispered, hoping to comfort her.
“We can take care of this ourselves, right?”
“No.” Irene shook her head adamantly.
“But you know Clay. He’l go nuts if he sees this. And we wouldn’t want to humiliate Grace any more than necessary.
Obviously, if something terrible happened, she chose not to share it with us. It won’t be easy for her to walk in here, especial y with an audience, and admit it now.”
“Let’s not make her come,” Irene said, gripping Madeline’s arm.
Chief Pontiff glanced up again, and Madeline knew, without his having to say a word that he’d insist on it. He required Grace to confirm what Madeline had, after several shocked minutes, told him. “I’m afraid it’s important.”
“Then I need Clay,” her stepmother said. “Grace wil need him, too.”
“I’d rather save him this,” Madeline argued, but it was too late. Irene had hurried over to one of the empty desks and helped herself to a phone.
Madeline considered asking her to hang up but was actual y relieved that Clay would be joining them. At the very least, maybe he’d take care of Irene until Madeline could come to grips with al of this.
The door opened and Grace’s husband, Kennedy Archer, walked in, holding her hand. He had on one of the tailored suits he wore to work, while Grace was dressed more casual y in jeans, Ugg boots and an attractive sweater. A pair of sunglasses hid her eyes despite the season and the inclement weather.
She’s marshalling her defenses. She knows something’s up. Suddenly, Madeline was very reluctant to see what would happen next.
Kennedy said a brief hel o, although his cautious manner with Grace revealed his concern. Grace nodded in their direction but said nothing.
“Kennedy, Grace. Thanks for coming down.” Pontiff had walked over the second he saw them and was now shaking hands with Kennedy. He offered Grace his hand as wel , but she’d caught sight of the articles on the paper-lined table and didn’t respond.
“What’s the problem?” Kennedy asked, his voice low and guarded.
Pontiff explained that these items had been found in the Cadil ac as he motioned them closer. Grace al owed her husband to lead her, but her skin looked taut across her elegant bones.
After a moment, she swayed as if she might pass out, and Madeline
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