Read Online Deception Creek by Terry Persun - Free Book Online

said anything. I was just going off. Things aren’t that bad. I was just in the wrong mood.” Billy turned and hurried off, practically running toward the back of the church.
    That evening, Billy stopped at London’s Store on his way home. He and Vicki had been sparring off and on for several weeks, and he had decided to ask her out. Not on a real date though, only as a friend. There was a lot on his mind and he needed someone to talk with. He pulled the truck up to the pumps to fill up, giving himself a reason to be there. When he walked inside to pay, the only person who seemed to be working was Mrs. London. She was much younger looking than Billy remembered, which drove home how young Vicki was. He felt a little guilty all of a sudden. Still, he asked, “Where’s Vicki?”
    â€œWell, I don’t think I’m who you were hoping to see,” said Mrs. London. “You probably weren’t interested in gas either,” she added, noticing how little he had pumped.
    Billy walked to the counter slowly. “I just thought, well –”
    â€œNo need to explain,” she said smiling. “Vicki hasn’t stopped talking about you since you got back into town.”
    â€œShe hasn’t?”
    â€œNo. So don’t feel bad. She’ll be glad to hear there’s at least some mutual interest.”
    â€œI wasn’t sure… I mean… I’m in college, and –”
    â€œYour age. Goodness, what are you, all of twenty, twenty-one? Vicki’ll be eighteen. I think a difference of three or four years in age is pretty harmless.” She smiled again and patted the counter. “Four-fifty.”
    Billy pulled out his wallet and handed her a five.
    She rang up and gave him change. “Vicki won’t be back until Monday. She and some friends are camping this weekend. If I hear from her, I’ll let her know you asked about her.”
    â€œThanks,” Billy said. “And thank you for talking with me.” He smiled. “You’re great.”
    Outside, Billy contemplated going back to ask where Vicki and her friends were camping, then reconsidered.
    He drove home in frustration, jumped from the truck, and walked into the house announcing that he wasn’t staying. He didn’t know where he was going but the way he felt he couldn’t stay home.
    Alice had nothing cooking. She sat in the kitchen staring toward the sink. Her shoulders were rounded and her head down. She acted as though she hadn’t heard him come in.
    â€œWhat’s up?” Billy asked, pausing in the doorway.
    â€œYou were talking with Jack,” Alice said to the sink.
    â€œSo what?” Billy said, sick of her.
    â€œWhat did he tell you? Lies, I’m sure.” She turned around. “Nothing he tells you is the truth. Do you hear me?”
    â€œHe didn’t say anything. You’re the one making a big deal out of this.”
    â€œLiar!” she screamed. “You talked all through lunch. And he said nothing?”
    Billy felt his chest get thick. He gritted his teeth and breathed through his nose. Calmly, he said, “Don’t call me a liar. Of all things, that is not what I am.”
    â€œBut he must have said something.” Alice broke down, crying into her hands.
    â€œI asked him.” Billy stepped forward. “But, like everyone else, he refused to talk about what happened back then. He told me to ask you. Well, here I am. What’s the big fucking secret?” Even before the word left his mouth he felt sorry. He had never sworn in front of her, seldom in front of friends. But the word came out on its own.
    Alice jumped up from her seat. The chair tipped back onto the floor making a loud crack against the tile. “Don’t you swear at me. I’ve given my life to you. My whole life. And you swear at me? How dare you?”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Billy said. “I didn’t mean it.” She