The Word Game Read online

  He laid his hand on her shoulder. “You’re very passionate about protecting those around you. It’s one of the things I love most about you.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

  “Heading over there now, then?” he asked her.

  She nodded. “I’ll be back soon.”

  She watched him walk up the stairs and thought about his comment—about not overreacting. As much as she tried not to let it, it hurt to hear him say that.

  She thought of the time when she’d volunteered as a class mom in Lyla’s kindergarten class, and one of the boys had come to school covered in bruises and wearing the same soiled clothing nearly every day. All signs of abuse to her—or so she’d thought. She’d had no idea the family was on welfare, but then, if it hadn’t been for her, no one would have known just how sick the boy had been. Turned out he had hemophilia, a clotting disorder . . .

  She wasn’t overreacting this time. She knew it in her heart. She believed what her daughter told her and knew it was crucial to do something about it. Kids just didn’t say things or play games like Keera wanted to play . . .

  The thought of it made her sick to her stomach. No child deserved to be hurt like that—no child.

  CHAPTER TEN

  MYAH

  Myah’s fingers trembled as she dialed her best friend’s number.

  “Hey, you okay?” Tricia answered immediately, thank God.

  “I’m . . . Tricia, he . . . I can’t even . . .” She sighed. “No, I’m not okay.” She stood at the base of her stairway and looked up.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Can you talk for a moment?” Myah asked her. When she said yes, Myah made her way to the front porch, gently closing the door behind her, and sat down on the steps.

  “I messed things up in a bad way.” Her chest felt like it was about to rip open. “I called Eddie after we got home and . . . well, things didn’t go well. He bought Keera a necklace to celebrate the dance recital, and it got a little heated, and I said some things . . .”

  “Things that probably needed to be said. Don’t beat yourself up about it.” Tricia’s voice was soothing, calm, but it didn’t help much.

  “Keera was listening.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah. Oh. I didn’t say anything that wasn’t the truth, but . . .”

  “But it wasn’t a truth your daughter needed to hear, right?”

  “Exactly.” Myah let out a long sigh and dropped her head.

  “Do I need to guess what you said? The fool could have cared less about your daughter while you were married, so why now? It doesn’t make sense, Myah.”

  She knew her friend would understand, knew Tricia would get it.

  “That’s basically what I said, just more. I should have . . . I didn’t even notice . . . but then I had no clue either . . .” She couldn’t gather her thoughts, let alone complete her sentences.

  “I didn’t think Keera liked him. What changed?”

  Myah sat up and leaned back until she was looking up at the sky. “I have no idea. But apparently not only does she hate me, but she texted Eddie and told him she hated him too, which led him to call me back . . . and Tricia, the second call didn’t go so well either.”

  “You need to take that girl’s phone away,” Tricia mumbled.

  “I know.” She should have done it right away, especially after last night.

  “What did he say?”

  “He threatened me.”

  “I’m sorry—he what? Why?” Tricia sounded as confused as she felt.

  “I don’t know.” Myah tried to keep control. She swore that she would not let one more tear fall because of her ex-husband, and she meant it.

  “Tell me exactly what he said.”

  Myah glanced behind her to make sure Keera wasn’t at the door. “He said if I kept Keera from him he was going to destroy me.”

  “What? Are you kidding me? What is wrong with him?”

  “He said he’ll ruin my reputation and destroy what we’ve built with the dance hall if I attempt to destroy the relationship he’s working so hard to build with Keera.”

  “Is he going through a midlife crisis or something? Wait.” Tricia remained silent for a moment. “Do you think this has anything to do with her dancing? Does he think that she’s his second chance maybe? His big comeback? If he can’t do it with his own dancing, maybe he can coach someone who can?”

  The thought had occurred to Myah, and this was exactly what she didn’t want to happen.

  “He says she wants to dance,” Myah admitted.

  “But she’s your daughter. Has she told you that? I wouldn’t believe anything that comes out of his mouth.” Tricia’s disdain for Eddie was no secret. She’d told Myah not to marry him. She’d told her buying the theater with him was a mistake . . . and she should have listened to Tricia. But Myah thought she knew him better—after all, they had been dance partners for years. She knew and accepted him for all his flaws and thought they could make it, that their love for each other would be enough.

  She’d been wrong. Very, very wrong.

  “I don’t know what to do, Tricia. I don’t understand this need for him to have Keera in his life. I don’t get him at all. Before we were married, he liked her, liked to do things as a family, but once we got married, it was like he didn’t care at all about her, like she was in his way . . . but now . . . and to threaten me . . . what is wrong with him?”

  “Should you bring it up with your lawyer?” Tricia asked.

  “I don’t know—should I?” Good question. Legally, he had no right to her daughter, no say in her life or anything else.

  “Myah, if he’s threatening you, then yes, I think so.” There was some background noise. “Listen, my sister is here. I’ll call you later, okay? But don’t panic. We’ll figure out what’s going on and what to do, I promise.”

  Myah did feel better after talking with Tricia.

  She knew she needed to go back inside and talk to her daughter, figure out what was going on and discuss what happened at the sleepover. It was times like this she hated parenting. No one warned you about the preteen years, the puberty and hormones and how hard life could really be when you’re a single parent.

  She learned early on to pick her battles with Keera . . . but this battle, she had a feeling it would turn into an all-out war, and she had a feeling Eddie was the one to blame.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  TRICIA

  Saturday afternoon

  “Want to help me fold towels?” Tricia asked as she opened the door for her sister. She caught the quick smile from Aly and knew she’d made the right choice. Give them something to do, something to concentrate on, while Aly said whatever it was she came to say.

  As kids, Ida used to send them to the laundry room to fold or sort clothes when they had issues to work out.

  “Scott made it home?” It was probably a good idea that Lyla didn’t come. Katy was still up in her room, and her mood probably hadn’t improved yet. Tricia led the way into the small room and set the towels down.

  “I know I’m a little late, but I figured it would be best if I came alone.”

  Neither sister said anything, but Tricia gave her sister a smile as they both began to fold towels together.

  “You had something you wanted to tell me? If it has anything to do with the fact that I went out for coffee with Myah and left the kids alone with Mom and Dad, I’m not going to apologize.” She stopped short, surprised at her own words. She’d meant to say she was going to apologize . . . right? “I mean . . .” She let out a frustrated sigh. “Listen, it’s my house, and I trust—”

  “Have you talked with Katy yet?” Alyson interrupted her. From the lack of expression to what she’d just blurted out, Tricia almost wondered if Alyson even heard her.

  “Of course I did.”

&n
bsp; “And?”

  Tricia dropped the towel she held. “And what? What am I missing here? Other than my daughter and Keera sneaking out, it was an average sleepover party. Just with more kids than normal.”

  “You consider what went on, normal?” Alyson dropped her gaze to the towel she was folding. “What exactly did Katy tell you happened?” She said quietly, as if processing her thoughts and filtering her words.

  Tricia rubbed at the spot on her wrist that always seemed to ache when she was tired or stressed, and unfortunately right now, she was both.

  “Why don’t you tell me what you’re concerned about first?” she suggested.

  “I don’t even know where to start.”

  Alyson took another towel to fold, and when Tricia noticed her trying to form the right words, her stomach dropped.

  “Just spit it out.”

  “According to Lyla, the girls were watching videos and were going to play a game before bed. A game that involved one girl being blindfolded and . . .” She stopped, looking behind her to the hallway.

  “And what?”

  Alyson sighed. “I think you need to talk to Katy. And Tricia . . . I think there’s something you need to know about Keera.”

  “Alyson? If you know something I don’t, then you need to tell me.”

  “I think . . . I think Keera’s been sexually abused by Eddie.” The look on Alyson’s face as she said this . . . Tricia knew she wasn’t joking.

  Keera abused? Why would Alyson think that? And Keera seemed fine both last night and this morning. If she’d been abused, Tricia would know.

  “Why would you say something like that?”

  “Because of what Lyla told me this morning.”

  “Are you sure? You’ve been wrong before and . . . Katy said Lyla fell asleep pretty early last night.” The moment she said it she knew she shouldn’t have. But there was no way Alyson could expect to drop a bomb like she had and not expect Tricia to be off balance right now.

  “I’m sure.” Alyson’s gaze didn’t waver.

  “The girls were watching music videos, and I guess the ones Keera picked were quite . . . suggestive. She knew all the dance moves and said Eddie had taught them to her.”

  “Well of course he would have. He is a dance instructor too. What would you expect?”

  Alyson shook her head. “These aren’t dance moves you teach a ten-year-old, Tricia.”

  “You can’t claim a child has been sexually abused just based on dance moves.”

  “I’m not. She also mentioned a game she played with a man. A game no girl should ever play. Ever. Come on, Tricia. I know what abuse looks like. I’m not making this up.” She took in a deep breath, her body shuddering from the force. “But this is Keera. Our Keera.” The rigidity in Alyson’s stance softened, and she looked at Tricia with a pleading gaze.

  It was the way she said our, with the heartbreak and despair in her voice, as if it were one of their own daughters.

  Tricia shook her head. She thought back to all the times Keera had been at her home, from before the divorce until now, and no, she couldn’t believe it. Alyson might know what abuse looks like, but so did Tricia. She also knew what it looked like when you were trying to hide it from others, and Keera didn’t act like that. She wasn’t secretive, exhibiting or concealing her body. She wasn’t overly forward with men or acting scared . . . She was a normal ten-year-old girl.

  Except for . . .

  “Lyla wouldn’t lie to me.”

  “I never said she did.” Tricia cleared her voice. “But this . . . you do understand what you’re saying, right?”

  “I’m fully aware. Why do you think I’m here talking to you about it?”

  Tricia reached her hand out and touched her sister on the arm. “But just me, right? No one else? Not yet?” She needed to make sure. Her sister had cried wolf one too many times in the past.

  “I’m really worried, Tricia.” The softness of her sister’s voice, the finality of her words . . . it brought back feelings Tricia wanted to forget.

  “I need you to tell me everything Lyla said. Everything.”

  “It started with music videos. The girls were dancing, showing off their moves. Lyla said they each picked a song, taking turns. But Keera’s choices were inappropriate.”

  “What do you mean, inappropriate?”

  Alyson blinked a few times. “I’m using Lyla’s words here. Moves that Myah won’t teach them in class, things that ten-year-old girls shouldn’t be doing. But then Keera told them Eddie had taught her these moves.”

  Tricia nodded. Okay, that sounded . . . plausible.

  “That’s not all.” Alyson crossed her arms over her chest. “Lyla told me that before the girls sneaked out last night, Keera said she wanted to see if a boy’s kisses were different than a man’s.”

  “She wouldn’t have said that.” She didn’t want to believe it.

  “She did.”

  Tricia thought about her conversations with Myah and how off Eddie had been lately. Could it be true? But she would have seen the signs. Myah would have seen the signs.

  “They also played a game.” Alyson kept going. “Another one that Keera said Eddie played with her but couldn’t tell anyone.”

  Tricia’s heart sank, and she leaned back against the wall.

  “Talk to Katy, please.”

  “Of course I’m going to talk to my daughter. But is there more you’re not telling me? You can’t just come over here, claiming something like this without . . .”

  “All I know is Keera made the girls promise not to tell. But Aly . . . it’s not okay. This is Keera. Kids that age don’t just dance like that or play those types of games, Aly. They just don’t.”

  Tricia shook her head. “What kind of game exactly?”

  “Something about being blindfolded and touching each other’s skin.”

  “Oh, Alyson. Don’t you remember playing those games when we went to sleepovers as kids? We’d write on each other’s backs, and you’d have to guess the word?”

  Tricia was taken aback by the glare from her sister.

  “Lyla told me Eddie rewarded Keera for guessing right whenever they played this game. I’ll give you one guess on that reward, and no, Tricia, it wasn’t a lollipop.” Alyson’s lips thinned.

  “We both know how I feel about Eddie, but a child abuser? Having sex with Myah’s daughter? He’s a sleazeball, but not like that.” Tricia swallowed hard. Her sister was on edge. She could see it in the way her body vibrated with . . . anger? “Let me talk to Katy. Find out her side of the story, and if I think it’s anything, then I’ll talk to Myah, at least let her know that her dancing is probably not age appropriate.”

  “I can’t believe you.” Alyson said between clenched teeth.

  “Are you 100 percent sure?” Tricia reached out and lightly touched her sister’s hand. She needed Aly to calm down.

  “Maybe you should have a talk with your daughter and find out exactly what happened. Find out about the videos and the dancing. Then ask about the game where Keera brought a blindfold.” Alyson’s nostrils flared. “Games like that happen for a reason.” Her words were measured, short, and clipped. “Ask her about the comment Keera made about kissing boys.”

  There was a moment of silence between them.

  “Oh, Alyson.” Tricia looked at her sister with sympathy, her heart saddened for the worry and fear Alyson must be experiencing right now.

  Their past hung over both of them like a wet wool blanket, but instead of moving forward and living in the present, Alyson let it rule her life and lived in constant fear.

  It was why she was so controlling with Lyla, why she rarely left her side and kept her daughter dependent on her rather than teaching her self-reliance.

  But Alyson knew what it was like to be the victim of sexual abuse. They both
did.

  “We don’t want to see those signs,” Alyson said softly. “We don’t want to be watching our children to see if we’ve missed something, if we failed to protect them. I think, as mothers, we’re sometimes the last to see it. So does Myah know? Probably not. But she needs to.”

  “And you’re going to be the one to tell her?” Tricia didn’t like where this was going.

  “If I have to. But I think you should.”

  Tricia caught the look of determination in her sister and knew if she didn’t do something now, Alyson would leave her and head straight for Myah’s house. She couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t. She needed to calm down, think logically, and get her sister to meet her at least halfway.

  And by halfway, she meant not do anything irrational. Because if there was one thing she knew, when Alyson had her mind set on something, she went full steam ahead and made sure it was done.

  “Okay.” She breathed in deep. “Let’s take a step back. You’re right, if something happened, we need to deal with it. But first, I need to understand . . . She specifically said Eddie had taught her the dances and the games and sex was the reward?” Tricia needed to be sure.

  “Those are my words but you get the idea.”

  “I do. But here’s my issue. Katy said nothing about any of this when I talked to her. Nothing. And I don’t see any signs from Keera that we should be worried.” Tricia thought about her conversation with Katy earlier. She’d talk to her again, just to be sure, because she did agree, Lyla’s version of events did raise red flags.

  “I can’t believe this. I really can’t. I know what Lyla told me.”

  “What are you accusing Katy of exactly?” She rubbed her wrist and inhaled deeply. She needed to remain calm.

  “I’m not accusing her of anything.”

  “That’s not what it sounds like, Aly.”

  Alyson’s gaze lifted. “I didn’t appreciate Lyla being in a situation she wasn’t comfortable with. Katy knowns Lyla isn’t allowed to watch those type of videos, and that game . . .” Alyson said. “I’m not accusing her per se, but I am concerned. Worried even. It’s not natural, Tricia. Can’t you see that?”