Read Online My Sister's Voice by Mary Carter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Carter
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What if you would love her more than you love me? What if she’s my twin? What if what if what if?
“I’m sorry,” Alan said. “Of course you should visit Margaret. Do you think she can help?”
“She must know something.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“I’m going with Kelly Thayler.” Alan kept his mouth shut, but Lacey knew what he was thinking. She’d made it clear what she thought of Kelly Thayler as well.
“I think it’s great,” Alan said. “I fully support you.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Wanting to know where you came from, who your family is—it’s a very good sign. I just don’t want you to get hurt. You may not find out anything.”
“Of course.”
“Just promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“When you’re done looking into your past, you’ll start thinking about our future.” Lacey smiled at Alan, the man who’d been there the past six years, the man who was pretending he didn’t have a ring in his pocket because he could feel her fear. She’d never loved him more. And she still wasn’t telling him the truth.
“I promise,” she said. She crossed her heart and squeezed Alan’s hand. It was because she had an itch, she told herself, that she was touching her nose.
Chapter 6
“ I can’t believe you want to visit Margaret,” Kelly said. “She’s going to be so excited to see you.” They were in Kelly’s car, driving the hour and a half to the Pittsburgh suburb where Margaret lived. Lacey was pleasantly surprised that Kelly jumped at the opportunity to visit Margaret and didn’t even mention bringing any of her brood. The car smelled slightly like sour milk and crayons. Like Kelly’s living room, toys littered the backseat of her car. Margaret excited to see me, Lacey thought. That’s not going to last long.
“She’s disappointed you haven’t kept in touch with her,” Kelly said. Lacey gave her a look. It wasn’t anybody’s business. Little Miss Only At Hillcrest Three Years And Everyone Is Family.
Life with Margaret hadn’t been all bad, but it hadn’t been all good either. In rare nurturing moments, Margaret would wrap you in an enormous hug, make you disappear into her perfumed folds. She was a good cook too, and when she was feeling generous would step in to spice up the meals or sweeten the desserts. She lived on the grounds in a little caretaker’s cabin in the back, a mere brisk walk from whatever trouble the kids were getting themselves into.
But Margaret had mood swings. She would be smiling one minute and screaming the next with hardly a breath in between. She was strict too. It was lights out at nine P.M. whether you were six or sixteen. Sometimes she put salt in the cookies instead of sugar. And at night, once the kids’ lights went out, Margaret’s liquor bottles came out.
Lacey also knew, despite all this, Margaret thought of herself as a mother, whereas Lacey had always thought of her as a caretaker, and she felt no compulsion to stay in touch with Margaret after she left. If she could see anyone again, it would be her art teacher, Miss Lee. She came every Wednesday for at least five years, and she always made Lacey feel special, loved even, and signaled out for praise and instruction. She was so pretty too, wavy black hair and kind green eyes. She was the most exotic woman Lacey had ever seen. Tall and thin, always in a long flowing black skirt, white lace blouse, topped off with a turquoise necklace. Lacey probably became an artist because of her. Miss Lee didn’t treat Lacey like she was any different because she was deaf, and she even knew a few signs. Lacey loved her; she didn’t even remember her name; she was just Miss Lee. But she disappeared eventually; they all disappeared eventually.
And even if Lacey wanted to keep in touch with Margaret or anyone else, it would have been difficult. Hillcrest Children’s Center lost funding shortly after Lacey left, and the school closed down a short while later. Public schools
“I’m sorry,” Alan said. “Of course you should visit Margaret. Do you think she can help?”
“She must know something.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“I’m going with Kelly Thayler.” Alan kept his mouth shut, but Lacey knew what he was thinking. She’d made it clear what she thought of Kelly Thayler as well.
“I think it’s great,” Alan said. “I fully support you.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Wanting to know where you came from, who your family is—it’s a very good sign. I just don’t want you to get hurt. You may not find out anything.”
“Of course.”
“Just promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“When you’re done looking into your past, you’ll start thinking about our future.” Lacey smiled at Alan, the man who’d been there the past six years, the man who was pretending he didn’t have a ring in his pocket because he could feel her fear. She’d never loved him more. And she still wasn’t telling him the truth.
“I promise,” she said. She crossed her heart and squeezed Alan’s hand. It was because she had an itch, she told herself, that she was touching her nose.
Chapter 6
“ I can’t believe you want to visit Margaret,” Kelly said. “She’s going to be so excited to see you.” They were in Kelly’s car, driving the hour and a half to the Pittsburgh suburb where Margaret lived. Lacey was pleasantly surprised that Kelly jumped at the opportunity to visit Margaret and didn’t even mention bringing any of her brood. The car smelled slightly like sour milk and crayons. Like Kelly’s living room, toys littered the backseat of her car. Margaret excited to see me, Lacey thought. That’s not going to last long.
“She’s disappointed you haven’t kept in touch with her,” Kelly said. Lacey gave her a look. It wasn’t anybody’s business. Little Miss Only At Hillcrest Three Years And Everyone Is Family.
Life with Margaret hadn’t been all bad, but it hadn’t been all good either. In rare nurturing moments, Margaret would wrap you in an enormous hug, make you disappear into her perfumed folds. She was a good cook too, and when she was feeling generous would step in to spice up the meals or sweeten the desserts. She lived on the grounds in a little caretaker’s cabin in the back, a mere brisk walk from whatever trouble the kids were getting themselves into.
But Margaret had mood swings. She would be smiling one minute and screaming the next with hardly a breath in between. She was strict too. It was lights out at nine P.M. whether you were six or sixteen. Sometimes she put salt in the cookies instead of sugar. And at night, once the kids’ lights went out, Margaret’s liquor bottles came out.
Lacey also knew, despite all this, Margaret thought of herself as a mother, whereas Lacey had always thought of her as a caretaker, and she felt no compulsion to stay in touch with Margaret after she left. If she could see anyone again, it would be her art teacher, Miss Lee. She came every Wednesday for at least five years, and she always made Lacey feel special, loved even, and signaled out for praise and instruction. She was so pretty too, wavy black hair and kind green eyes. She was the most exotic woman Lacey had ever seen. Tall and thin, always in a long flowing black skirt, white lace blouse, topped off with a turquoise necklace. Lacey probably became an artist because of her. Miss Lee didn’t treat Lacey like she was any different because she was deaf, and she even knew a few signs. Lacey loved her; she didn’t even remember her name; she was just Miss Lee. But she disappeared eventually; they all disappeared eventually.
And even if Lacey wanted to keep in touch with Margaret or anyone else, it would have been difficult. Hillcrest Children’s Center lost funding shortly after Lacey left, and the school closed down a short while later. Public schools
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