Deceived: Lured from the Truth (Secrets)

by Melody Carlson

  “Give me your keys.” She holds out her hand. “I mean my keys.”

  I dig the keys out of my pocket and drop them in her hand. “You’re wrong about this, Nadine.”

  “Just leave — now!” Her voice cracks. “Before I call the police.”

  “Take it easy, Aunt Nadine,” Belinda says gently, helping Nadine sit back down. “You’ll make yourself even sicker.”

  “See what you’ve done?” Lorna hisses at me.

  “But you have to listen to me, Nadine,” I insist. “I didn’t do — ”

  “Leave her alone!” Belinda tells me. “Can’t you see she’s not well?”

  “Why don’t you just go?” Lorna points to the door. “You are not wanted here.”

  “But I — ”

  “Just go!” Belinda yells at me. “Stop torturing my aunt like this.”

  “I’ll send your final check to your home,” Nadine tells me in a tired tone. “Minus the two hundred dollars you stole from me.”

  “But I didn’t — ”

  “Oh, Rachel!” She sadly shakes her head. “I am not well enough to argue with you. Can’t you see that?”

  “Just go,” Belinda firmly tells me. “Don’t make this any worse than it is.”

  My hands are shaking and my head is throbbing. I’m so upset that I feel like I could actually throw up. And all three of them glare at me with such judgment and hostility and contempt that I know it’s useless. Their minds are made up. I am guilty. I simply turn and walk out.

  Hot tears rush down my cheeks as I head back toward the dorm. This is so unjust, so unfair, so wrong. But how can I get her to listen to me? How can I prove that I’ve been framed? Because that’s what happened. Belinda and Lorna put together some diabolical plan to get rid of me. I just know it. Instead of going into my dorm, I turn and walk down to the lake. As I walk, I try to replay everything that happened yesterday. Finally, I think I know exactly what they did.

  Someone snuck the small bills out of the till while I was on my lunch break. Because Nadine was home sick, it was their perfect opportunity. The plan was to trick me into thinking we needed change. Belinda let me take over the cash register so I discovered we were short. Naturally, no one offered to do it. So, as usual, I took matters into my own hands and grabbed the big bills and ran off to the bank.

  Now I even understand why the three of them were clustered around the register like that. It must’ve been their way to conceal what they were doing from the camera they knew was running. I suspect if I went over the whole tape, I could point these things out to Nadine. But would that be enough to prove I’ve been framed?

  Even if she would listen to me, how would I explain the missing two hundred dollars? Money that Lorna and Belinda must’ve pocketed by now. Those lying thieves! It would be their word against mine. Two against one. And Belinda is Nadine’s own flesh and blood. Who’s Nadine going to believe? I’m guessing that even if Alistair is aware of what happened, naturally he would side with Belinda and Lorna. Three against one.

  I sit on a bench and, burying my head in my hands, start to cry. Why has this happened? What did I do to deserve this? All I tried to do was be a good worker. And this is where it gets me. I consider calling my mom, but I don’t even know what to tell her … or how to say it. And suddenly I’m worried. What if she doesn’t believe me? What if Nadine tells her about the tape and the missing money and my mom takes her story over mine? Besides that, I think about my mom’s disappointments over my dad and losing our house — how will she feel hearing that I’ve lost my job as well? A job she felt I was so fortunate to have, so lucky.

  All this is bad enough, but now I’m aware of something far more disturbing. Something that makes me cry even harder. I’m suddenly aware that with no job here at the resort, I won’t be able to afford to stay on at the dorm. I will have to go home. And if I have to go home, I’ll be three hours away from Josiah. It will be a deathblow to our relationship.

  So now I wonder about the chances of finding a different job here. There are lots of restaurant and hotel jobs. Although this is only the middle of the season, already some people are being laid off. I would even be a dishwasher if it was a way to stay on here, to continue spending time with Josiah. But then I have to ask myself, without good references from Nadine, which is so not going to happen, who would hire me?

  In desperation I pull out my phone, and without thinking of what I’m going to say, I dial Josiah’s number. Waiting for it to ring, the lump in my throat grows so big that I’m not even sure I can speak. By the time he says “Hello,” I’m crying harder than ever. “Josiah,” I gasp.

  “Rachel?” His voice is filled with concern. “What on earth is wrong?”

  “Everything!” I sob. “My world is falling apart. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Where are you now?”

  “Down by the lake,” I gasp. “By the gazebo.”

  “I’m not far from the resort. Stay put. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

  I thank him, then close my phone. Taking in some long deep breaths, I attempt to control my emotions, wipe the tears from my cheeks, and finally get my wits about me. I begin to pray. “God, help me,” I whisper. “Help me to figure out this mess. Please help.”

  Before long, Josiah is down by the lake with me. Of course, seeing him and the compassionate look on his face undoes me and I start to cry again. Between choked sobs, I pour out my strange and twisted tale, and poor Josiah, dressed in his crisp white shirt and pants, wraps me in his arms, assuring me that it’s going to be all right. “God has bigger plans for you. Somehow this is going to turn into something better.”

  “I don’t see how,” I say sadly.

  “No, of course you don’t. You’re in the midst of it right now.”

  I nod, wiping my nose with the back of my hand and feeling like a mess. “I … I don’t know what to do. With no job, I’ll have to go home now.”

  “Do you want to go home?”

  I shake my head no. “And my mom won’t be happy to hear she has to pick me up. She doesn’t even get off work until after five. And it’s almost six hours for the round-trip. Plus she was just here.” I sigh. “And now I’ll miss church tonight, just when I really need it too.”

  “Maybe you should stick around,” he suggests.

  “Yeah … my rent in the dorm is paid to the end of the week.”

  “Or you could come stay at Lost Springs, if you want.”

  “Seriously? I could stay there?”

  “Sure.” He pushes a strand of hair away from my face. “Did I tell you Monique decided to stay on?”

  I blink. “Monique? She’s still there?”

  He nods, then chuckles. “Believe it or not, she’s working in the dairy now — with the cows. And she actually likes it.”

  I try to imagine Monique in her shorty-shorts and tube top and tattoos … milking a cow. It just doesn’t make sense. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Not at all. She and Lucinda really hit it off. And you should see Monique in a granny dress. You wouldn’t even recognize her.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Anyway, I don’t want to pressure you. And I should get back to making deliveries. But if you’re interested, I know I can talk Uncle Jim into letting you stay with us. If you’re willing to work. No one can stay more than a day without working.”

  “I don’t mind working at all,” I assure him. “I think that’s what messed things up at Nadine’s. Belinda and Lorna resented how hard I worked. It made them look bad.”

  “Well, that won’t be a problem with us. Hard work is rewarded at Lost Springs.”

  Now I consider how it will feel to remain here at the resort with no job and nothing much to do until the weekend. Hanging at the dismal dorm is not appealing. “I’d love to come stay at Lost Springs,” I tell him suddenly. “And I’m happy to work. At least until the weekend. Until my mom can pick me up.”

  “Great!” He grins as he takes my hand, pulling
me to my feet. “How soon can you be ready to go?”

  “As long as it takes me to pack. Like fifteen minutes?”

  “Perfect.”

  We plan to meet in fifteen minutes in front of the dorm. And going our separate ways, I suddenly realize that I’m no longer upset. Instead I feel excited and happy and am looking forward to this new opportunity. I’ve heard of “blessings in disguise,” but I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced one. However, I’m sure that’s what this is. What Belinda and Lorna intended for bad has turned into something totally good.

  It reminds me of The Sound of Music — one of my favorite movies, which I’ve seen dozens of times — the part where Maria remembers what Mother Superior told her, how when God closes a door he opens a window. As I stuff my clothes into my bags, I feel like that’s exactly what’s happening to me.

  As I strip off the detested pink-and-white uniform and shove it into my bag, I am tempted to break into singing, “What will this day be like?” because I realize now that the door to Nadine’s has been slammed closed and locked tight, never to be walked through again.

  But I don’t even care. In fact, I’m relieved. Because the beautiful window to Lost Springs is wide open to me, and I’m happily climbing through it. As I pull on my jeans and a T-shirt, gather up my bags, sling straps over my shoulders, and hurry out to meet Josiah, I feel like my life is about to begin!

  [CHAPTER 9]

  You really don’t mind riding with me while I finish making deliveries?” Josiah asks me again.

  “Not at all. It’s actually kind of fun to see what you do.”

  “Great. I know our customers will appreciate getting their orders.”

  As I ride along with Josiah, I’m amazed that what started out as the worst day of my life has turned into one of the best days I can remember. I even help him carry in some of his deliveries. And in between stops, we talk or sing along to the radio. I’m almost disappointed when we finish the last one.

  “I’m starved,” he tells me as he’s driving us back to Lost Springs. “They’ve already had lunch, but we can still raid the fridge.”

  “I’m hungry too.” I start feeling a little nervous as he goes through the security gate. What if his uncle doesn’t approve of this? What if I have to return to the dorm?

  “You all right?” he asks.

  “Uh, yeah … sure.”

  “You look uneasy.”

  “I was just wondering what I’ll do if your uncle doesn’t want me to stay.” I look out at the happy cows, grazing in the sunshine.

  “Why wouldn’t he want you to stay?”

  I look back at him and shrug. “I don’t know … maybe I’m still recovering from what happened this morning at Nadine’s.”

  “Of course he’ll want you to stay, Rachel.” But now he frowns. “Except I should warn you about something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Well, Uncle Jim is very firm about how men and women should and should not interact with each other, if you know what I mean.”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Well, remember when we stopped to, uh, to watch the fireworks?”

  I can’t help but giggle. “Yeah …”

  “Well, that would not be acceptable here at Lost Springs.”

  “Oh.” I nod. “I get that.”

  He sighs. “Good.”

  Now I feel a little confused. “So how should I act then? I mean, when I’m around you?”

  “Like we’re brother and sister.”

  “Right … brother and sister.”

  “I know. It seems a little hokey. But Uncle Jim is pretty conservative about some things. And I reckon it’s best not to rock the boat with him.”

  I consider this. “It must be a challenge to run a big place like this. I mean, it’s like your uncle is in charge of everything and everyone — not just the dairy business, but the church too. That’s a big responsibility. I can understand why he wants people to respect his rules.”

  “As long as you understand that, you should do all right here.”

  He’s parking by the big red barn now. I help him unload the empty crates and clean out the back of the truck, and then we go over to the dining hall where a large redheaded woman warmly greets Josiah but eyes me with suspicion.

  “Eleanor, this is Rachel. She’ll be staying with us for a while.” Josiah grins at the older woman. “Eleanor is the head cook and kitchen boss. She sees to it that everyone is well fed here.”

  “Pleasure to meet you.” I smile at Eleanor, remembering the tasteless potato salad from the other night and wondering if that was her handiwork. Naturally, I will not express my opinions on the cuisine.

  “We have leftover pasta salad and roast beef,” she tells us as she turns to check something she’s mixing in an industrial mixer. “Help yourselves, but don’t leave a mess, you hear?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Josiah makes a mock salute behind her back as he leads me to the oversized refrigerator. Before long, we both have plates of food. To my disappointment, the pasta salad is really just macaroni with dressing and nearly as bland as the potato salad from the night before. Fortunately, there is salt … and the roast beef is better. Still, I can’t help but wonder about Eleanor’s cooking skills.

  “Did you go to culinary school?” I ask her as Josiah and I are cleaning up after our lunch.

  “Oh no, of course not.” She waves her hand in a dismissive way. “I learned how to cook from my mama back when I was just a girl. I’ve been cooking ever since.” Now she gives me her résumé by listing all the places she’s worked. Not surprisingly, they’re all institutional establishments, school and hospital cafeterias. “I was head chef at Pleasant Valley Nursing Home for ten years before I came to work here for Reverend Jim.”

  I nod, trying to act impressed.

  “Rachel has dreams of owning her own restaurant someday,” Josiah tells Eleanor.

  “Really?” She frowns at me. “That’s a mighty high aspiration. Do you honestly believe that’s what God has planned for you?”

  I glance uneasily at Josiah, wishing he hadn’t told her about this. “I … uh … I’m not sure. I guess I never thought of it like that.”

  “Then maybe you should.” She turns back to the mixer, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula. “It’s no use chasing a foolish dream if the good Lord isn’t the one giving you the dream. Remember, God’s ways are higher than man’s ways.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” I exchange a glance with Josiah. He’s just grinning like he thinks this is a good joke on me.

  “Rachel has some experience with cooking,” he continues talking to Eleanor. “And since she’s going to be here a few days, I wonder if you’d like her to give you a hand here in the kitchen.”

  Eleanor turns back around and studies me. “You think you can handle working in a kitchen like this? Taking orders from me?”

  “Sure.” I nod. “I know how to take orders.”

  She looks up at the clock. “Are you ready to go to work now?”

  “I want to get her moved into a cabin first,” Josiah says. “And I need to talk to my uncle to be sure he approves.”

  She looks surprised. “Well, yes, of course. I wouldn’t want her in here helping me without the reverend’s approval. First things first.”

  “How about if you expect her to come to work for you tomorrow?” Josiah suggests. “That’ll give her a chance to settle in.”

  “Yes, yes, that’ll be fine. Now you kids run along. I got plenty to do before suppertime.”

  We tell her good-bye and head down a path that appears to be going to where he said his uncle lives. But instead of going up to the big log house, he takes us down another path that leads around the house. And to my surprise, there are even more buildings back here. Six houselike structures are arranged in a semicircle with a large shared grassy area in front. “What are all these?” I ask.

  “Homes,” he says.

  “Who lives in them?”

 
“They’re the deacons’ houses.” Now he points to another building, off to one side. “And that’s my uncle’s office.”

  “This place is bigger than I realized. How many people live here?”

  He presses his lips together like he’s thinking. “I’m not sure. I reckon it’s around a hundred … or more.”

  “Wow, I didn’t realize.”

  He opens the door to the office, and a buzzer sounds as we go into what looks like a reception area with a large desk on one end and a couch and some chairs, like a waiting area, on the other.

  “Hello, Josiah.” A pretty young woman emerges through a doorway behind the big desk. Dressed in the usual granny dress, although it looks a bit more stylish on her, she smoothes her long honey blonde hair as she sits in the office chair, smiling up at us.

  “Hello, Rose.” Josiah politely introduces us.

  “Nice to meet you, Rachel.” She turns back to Josiah. “Now what can I do for you today?”

  “Is Reverend Jim around?”

  She opens up what looks like a date book, and picking up a pen, she appears to be studying it, almost as if she’s not sure herself. “Yes. He is in today. Do you have an appointment?”

  “No, I didn’t have time to make one. Is he pretty busy?”

  She picks up a phone receiver now. “Let me find out for you.”

  We wait as she announces to him that Josiah and a friend are here to see him, then hangs up. “Please, have a seat and the reverend will be with you in a few minutes.”

  Josiah thanks her and we go over to sit down. I’m thinking the reverend must be pretty busy not to be able to see his own nephew without an appointment, but I don’t say anything. I don’t want to appear disrespectful.

  About ten minutes pass before Rose answers the phone and proceeds to announce that the reverend will see us now. “Go on in, Josiah,” she tells him.

  He leads me through another door and down a short, dimly lit hallway where he knocks on a dark wooden door.

  “Come in, Josiah.”

  He opens the door, waiting for me to go in first. Reverend Jim is seated at a massive wooden desk, with a window to his back so he’s framed in light. “Hello again, Rachel. Please sit down. Both of you. Wednesday afternoons are usually reserved for prayer and meditation … in preparation for the evening service.”