Page 63 of The Secrets We Hide
Emmy took a moment to consider her next question. “I’ve been talking to Talia. She wanted me to tell you that she loves you, and she’s going to come visit you soon.”
Another tear wept from her eye. Emmy wiped it away with the tissue.
“Talia told me about a man you’ve been talking to.”
Mandy’s lips parted. Her breath stuttered.
“It’s all right, baby. You’re not in trouble. Can you tell me the name of the man?”
Mandy’s chest rose and fell as she tried to control her breathing. She was becoming agitated again.
Emmy tried to come at the question from a different direction. “Hey, you know how your mom keeps her work on the dining-room table?”
Mandy’s breathing slowly reset to baseline. “Messy.”
Emmy made herself laugh. “You’re right. It’s very messy in the dining room. Do you know if there’s anything special your mom keeps on the table?”
“Dry—” Mandy coughed again.
“Is your throat dry?” Emmy grabbed the cup, scooped some ice.
“Driver’s license.”
Emmy held the spoon in the air. She thought about the fake driver’s licenses that were found in Allison’s back pocket. “Mandy, do you mean the driver’s licenses your mom had made for both of you?”
“Lost—” Mandy had to stop to cough. “Lost it.”
“Your mom lost one of the licenses, but she found it on the table?”
Mandy closed her eyes. Took a few deep breaths.
Emmy tried again. “Do you know why your mom had the licenses made?”
Mandy coughed again. “Gotta hide.”
“Hide from who?”
Mandy coughed, wincing from the pain.
“How about some more ice?” Emmy spooned some chips into Mandy’s mouth again. Watched the slow movement of her lips as she chewed. “Baby, can you look at me?”
Mandy’s eyes slit open. She was fighting the lure of sleep.
“I need your help, because I’m trying to understand what happened. Your mom was looking for the driver’s licenses on the dining-room table?”
“Made a mess.” Mandy’s eyelids closed again. “He—he doesn’t like …”
Emmy felt her muscles tense as she waited, but Mandy didn’t finish the sentence. “Your dad doesn’t like when your mom makes a mess?”
“No … not … I can’t …”
Mandy’s breath caught.
“You can’t what?” Emmy asked. “Mandy?” Her eyelids fluttered. “I can’t …”
There was a finality to her words. Her eyes closed. Her jaw sagged open.
She’d fallen asleep.
