A Shaft of Light

by Amy Gaudette

  Megan glanced at Brady. For a brief moment, she saw a window into his soul. Peering back at her was a little boy, looking for her to fix what was wrong. And something was seriously wrong. She saw terror below the surface, and it shook her to the core.

  Chapter 14

  Brady couldn’t take his eyes off of Megan. She had always been pretty, now she was beautiful. There was this haunted look in her eyes, but there was something else there as well. Brady wasn’t sure what it was — determination, maybe.

  “Are you staying here with us?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t impose.” There was no way Brady was letting her go.

  Brady glanced at his mom. At first, she said nothing. C’mon, Mom.

  “Yes, Megan.” Her eyes did not mirror her words. Brady wasn’t surprised, but it still festered like an open wound in his chest.

  “Are you sure I’m not coming at a bad time? I could stay at a hotel.”

  “Megan, you’re still part of our family.” Brady dropped his gaze to the floor. Please stay.

  “I’ll be glad to stay here. Thank you so much.” Her words sounded forced.

  He silently exhaled. Megan was home. Maybe things would get better now.

  Brady followed them out to the car to bring in Megan’s one travel bag. His mom made some comment about Megan traveling light. He saw her practiced smile was back in place. Could Megan see his mother was an actress on stage? The pain in his chest went deeper.

  Megan didn’t seem to notice the mask at all. “After my accident, I didn’t even know where I lived.”

  “I’ll show you to your room, in case you’ve forgotten.” Brady grabbed her bag from his mom.

  “Well, I’ll let you two get reacquainted. Marie’s off for the night, and I have a ladies’ society meeting to go to, so we’ll order out for chinese. I know how much you loved fried rice.” She pulled out her cell phone and waved to them without looking back.

  “That’s right. I remember that now. It was my favorite food.” A small smile creased Megan’s face — a peaceful smile, Brady decided.

  He led the way upstairs, moving slowly on purpose. He glanced back at Megan. “Do you remember your room?”

  “You mean the one with dirty socks and books covering the floor from one end to the other?” she teased back.

  “I guess you remember mine all right.” Brady grinned. “I’m glad you didn’t forget me. It’s been so long.” His voice trailed off. He looked away.

  They stopped outside the room that had been hers. “Thank you, Brady.”

  “For what?”

  “For welcoming me back, like I really was family.” Were those tears gathering in her eyes?

  “You’ll always be my sister. You understood me without . . . my . . . having to say anything.” Brady struggled with the right words. He wanted to tell her everything. Wanted her to know. “Will you stay a while?” was all he could manage, his eyes fixed on Megan.

  “As long as I can. Just being here with you and I already feel I’ll find those lost memories hiding around the next corner.”

  A knot tightened in Brady’s stomach. “Are you sure you want to remember everything? Isn’t it better sometimes just to forget?”

  “I have allowed fear to run my life. A nameless, faceless fear. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. I need answers. I want to live my life with purpose, excited about the future. I can’t do that by constantly looking over my shoulder.”

  The memory of a rabbit near the woods stabbed him in the chest. He couldn’t let her do this again. But if Megan was going back to look for the monster in the woods, she wasn’t going alone this time. He was going with her.

  ✽✽✽

  Beverly led the meeting of the Piedmont Ladies’ Society. She said all the right things, smiled at the appropriate times, and protocol was met. Mayor Richard Dwight’s reputation needed no embellishment, but the ladies were willing to enhance and garnish as they felt necessary. At all costs, he must be elected. After all, who knew him better than the people of Piedmont? Beverly’s stomach churned into a tangled ball of dread and apprehension. The meeting ended and she made a beeline back to her car. The ridiculousness of the ladies’ society contrasted sharply with the years of buried shame she bore.

  The sky had begun to color with the setting of the sun. Enormous unseen weights pressed hard on her small body. Taking deep breaths, she still could not shake the tightening around her chest, the racing of her pulse, nor quell the shakiness that came over her body so often. Beverly could feel tremors under her feet, too, with the return of Megan. It had been so good to see Megan, at first. She had been the daughter Beverly always wanted. She couldn’t have foreseen what would come from having taken her in. As much as she loved Megan, Beverly would not allow her or anyone else to rock the boat. There was too much at stake. Everyone envied them. They had it all. But knowing why Megan had returned threw a cup of cold water over the reunion. Beverly didn’t like weakness. It created instability. She could feel her foundation swaying.

  Beverly had no desire to turn over rocks that had sat untouched for years. She would do whatever she could to see that Megan did not start searching in too many dark corners. Closets had doors for a reason. In this case, they needed to stay locked and barred. She didn’t know what had happened. She didn’t ask questions. Do what you’re told and mind your own business. The politics her husband was involved in required her to throw good parties, please the right people, and keep up with the Joneses. That’s what she excelled at, until now. No. Megan needed to move on as soon as possible.

  Her heart skipped a little as her son’s face surfaced in her mind. No, Brady would have to deal with it. After all, it was for the greater good.

  Beverly arrived home with bags full of chinese food. She could tell Brady and Megan had enjoyed their time together. She felt a pang of conscience at her decision not to help her. However, the alternative was too costly.

  Beverly walked through the doorway into the kitchen. Her face bright again. Her smile convincing. “Oh Megan. I can’t tell you how nice it is to see you again. You’ve grown so pretty, and something tells me you were probably at the top of your graduating class.”

  Determined to keep the conversation safe, she barreled on. “I must show you what we did to the backyard. We had a landscape artist come in, and he created a masterpiece. Fountains, benches, a swing. It’s so enjoyable, isn’t it Brady?” Beverly’s hands kept moving as she passed out plates and napkins.

  “I suppose the pool is fun.” Brady shrugged.

  Megan and Beverly laughed. “You must spend time in the pool. It is state-of-the-art. Saltwater. We love it.”

  “Unless you open your eyes underwater.” Brady grabbed a fortune cookie.

  “Brady, don’t be rude. Guests go first.” She gave him a sharp shake of her head.

  “She’s not a guest, she’s family.” His words came out like bullets.

  “Of course. You know what I mean!” Grabbing the controls back again, Beverly set the rest of the food on the table.

  “I hope you don’t mind if we’re a little informal tonight. Doug is away on a business trip, and when our cook is off I like informal once in a while.”

  Megan took a bite of her pork fried rice. “Mmmm. And no, I certainly don’t mind. This is a feast. Thank you.”

  “I wish I could spend more time helping you tomorrow, but it’s the busy season in politics, elections are in less than two months. It’s all out now. I need to go down to the office and make calls. You’re welcome to come and help.”

  Megan opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off. “Mom. Megan didn’t come here to help get Richard elected. She came to try to find out about her past.”

  Brady’s face was beet red. Beverly felt her practiced smile wobble.

  “Honey, don’t get upset. Megan knows I was teasing her. Right, sweety?” Beverly felt a growing discomfort at Megan’s return. She also couldn’t help but notice Megan seemed to mirror how she felt. Was it the mention of
Richard? “And I know she has things she has to do. She’ll find her way. After all, she found her way back to us.” Smile secure again, Beverly calmed down. She knew how it was played. She had fooled the best of them. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Brady’s intense gaze. All right, she could fool everyone except her son.

  Chapter 15

  Sam woke with a sore neck and an aching back. The living room light was still on and Bear was at the door. He heard Rose humming in the kitchen, and knew he must be running late. He pushed himself up from the couch and shuffled to the kitchen.

  “Oh my. You don’t look so good, Doc.” Rose brought Sam a cup of hot coffee.

  “I need to wake up, that’s all. I read for part of the night.” Sam sat at the kitchen table. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his eyes. “A quick shower and I’ll be fine.”

  “You need a day off, maybe two by the looks of you.” Sam knew Rose was concerned but he didn’t have time to stop. He was sure of what he had to do now. He would head to work, and look for coverage for a week. He had to find Megan. He felt that if he didn’t he was leaving her for the wolves to circle and devour. She had experienced something horrible. Maybe even been a witness to something as a child that her mind had conveniently tried to delete.

  Sam’s thoughts were pulled away from Megan by Bear’s insistent barking at the door.

  “That dog is up to something this morning. This is his third trip out. He hasn’t eaten, and every now and then his hair stands up on his back.” Rose went to let Bear out again.

  Sam poked his head around the corner. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Rose. It’s probably a squirrel or something like that. I’m going to shower and head for work. As soon as I can get the other doctors to cover my patients, I’ll head out after Megan. I have a good idea of the direction she went in.”

  Rose’s face registered relief. “I figured you would.”

  Sam arrived at the hospital only to find Mayor Richard had discharged himself. Frustrated, Sam pulled his charts to take with him. The mayor needed to see the lab work and he needed to see it now. One of his nurses called around to see if Doctor Kim and Doctor Chapman would take over his rounds and patients this week. He knew he was asking a lot, but he felt compelled to help Megan. He had to push it.

  By noon, he had most of his days covered. Sam scanned through Mayor Richard’s paperwork again. He sighed. The mayor had been one of the most frustrating patients he had seen. He had wanted to do more extensive testing of the pain in his stomach, but looking at the lab work, Sam realized his pain wasn’t due to the car accident.

  It was dark by the time Sam had wrapped everything up. He was conscious of his whole body aching, but did not want to even consider the possibility he was coming down with something. He had all his patients taken care of for the week, that in and of itself was a miracle. Time to head for home. He would spend the night at the lakehouse and head out in the morning.

  No one had been able to get Mayor Richard to return their calls. Sam would have to find him while he was in Piedmont. It shouldn’t be difficult, but his mind wrestled with what lay ahead. The mayor may not want to see him. What would he do? And of course, Megan. He had to find her, but he knew that wasn’t a given. He still knew so little about her. Gabe had warned him again to keep some distance. If only it was that easy.

  For tonight, all he wanted was a good night’s sleep. Rose had prepared him a hot beef stew. Despite the late hour, he would enjoy it.

  Arriving at his lakehouse, he went straight in, grabbed supper and collapsed in his recliner. Breathing a simple prayer, Lord, help.

  “Sam, go to bed. You won’t help yourself or Megan if you get sick.”

  He sighed and shook his head. “Rose, do you know where Megan’s journal is? Have you seen it?”

  “Yes. It was here this morning. I was dusting and saw it. I left it on the coffee table.”

  Sam searched the living room again. He heard the frustration in his own voice. “I don’t know if I can remember all the details that were in there.”

  Bear came over and pressed his head against Sam’s leg.

  “Is he still acting odd?”

  Rose nodded her head.

  “I took him to the groomers today, and when we got back I thought he was going to go through the roof. He was stalking about the house, especially the living room. His hair was standing up on end. It really unnerved me for a while. He’s better now.”

  Sam filed the information away. Before he left in the morning, he made sure all the locks worked, and the windows were fastened. Apprehension seemed to settle in like a bad ache in his bones.

  Chapter 16

  Megan woke feeling better than she had in a while. She was sure today would bring her closer to the answers she so desperately needed. She dressed and headed downstairs.

  Walking through the french doors into the kitchen, the aroma of fresh gourmet coffee greeted her. Once again, warm memories of her time here comforted her. But the comforting feeling was short lived.

  A woman bustled around the kitchen, black hair tied back in a bun, rounded cheeks, moving about as though she owned the place. She glanced at Megan but continued her work.

  “You must be Megan,” her voice clipped matter-of-factly.

  “Y-Yes, I am. I was wondering if I could get a cup of coffee.” Megan stiffened her shoulders against the distinct coldness emanating from the cook.

  “Of course. Help yourself. I’m preparing food for the missus’ gathering this evening, so you’re pretty much on your own. There are a few extra cold muffins in the cake dish, if you’re hungry.” The impersonal touch from this woman pushed Megan quickly out the door, though she tried not to read into it.

  Megan was on the other side of the swinging doors with her coffee when the cook hollered after her. “Brady’s in school all day today, and then has sports after.” Icing on the cake. She couldn’t wait to get out of the house. Things had gone downhill after Beverly came home from her meeting. It was nothing she could put her finger on. Her time with Brady had been so wonderful. But something in the air had cooled. She didn’t want to be where she wasn’t welcome. Disappointment was acute. Did it have to do with Mayor Richard? Megan still weakened inside at the mention of him. She realized both Beverly and Doug worked for him. She guessed running for an important office would create quite a bit of stress. Maybe it was simply that the timing of her return was off. They didn’t need the distractions.

  Megan thought over her situation. She had very little money and no contacts other than the counselor from when she was in foster care. Nancy. She remembered a little bit about her. She was kind. She had beautiful thick white hair she kept braided. And she lived around here somewhere. Nancy. What was her last name? Northridge. That was it. And on her way here yesterday, she had passed the street where the building used to be that housed the offices for foster care. She would start there. Maybe someone would help her.

  After walking out of The Elms and its gated streets, Megan felt she could breath. She actually felt refreshed as she headed down a now familiar road. Traffic was light, and the air cleansed from the night’s rain. It wasn’t long before she stood in front of a sign that read Fᴀᴍɪʟʏ Dᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ Fᴏsᴛᴇʀ Cᴀʀᴇ. Taking a deep breath, she went through the front door and found the nearest receptionist.

  “Hi. I was wondering if you could help me. My name is Megan, and I used to be in the foster care system. I am looking for a woman who worked as my counselor until about eight years ago. I would really like to get back in touch with her. I believe her name was Nancy Northridge.”

  The lady she spoke to wore a flaming pink, silk shirt that matched her eyeshadow. Her bleached blonde hair was impeccably pinned behind her head. She met Megan’s gaze with efficiency.

  “Nancy, you said?”

  “Yes. She was an older woman. Does she still work here?”

  “You know I can’t give you any information about anyone that works here. I can tell you tha
t I know her, and when I see her again I will tell her that you came looking for her. Let me get your contact info.”

  Megan felt lost. She had none.

  “Maybe if I check back later . . . It’s just . . . well, it’s complicated. I don’t have a place to stay yet. I don’t have a cell phone.”

  Megan felt like she was a little kid again.

  “Let me take your name, then.”

  “Megan. Megan Santle.”

  “Okay, Megan Santle. I’ll see what I can do.”

  Conversation over.

  “Thank you.” Megan headed out to the street again. Where did she go from here? Despair settled on her heavily. Why did I even come back? There was nothing to do but return to the Stantons, and hope they didn’t toss her out. She had Sam’s cell phone number. But to use it was the last thing she wanted to do. It would be such a sign of defeat. She had to find Nancy. Nancy would know what she should do.

  Megan settled on the steps of the family center, procrastinating her return. She didn’t want them to know she was stuck in the mire. God, are you out there?

  “Hey, Megan.” A welcoming voice jarred her from her thoughts. “I thought we’d have breakfast together, but you were already gone.” Brady bounded up the steps, holding a skateboard in one hand.

  “Hi, Brady. I thought you had school today.” Megan was sure that’s what their cook had told her.

  “Nope. Still summer vacation. We’re out till the end of the month.”

  Megan’s heart stalled. Why was she told a lie?

  “Brady, do your remember a woman who used to come over and visit me once in a while? Her name was Nancy. She had white hair that was always tied back in a braid.”