Homecoming Proposal: Book One

Chapter 8 - Disclosures

Maria curled up in the oversized wing-backed chair opposite the large couch in the living room. Cora slouched across from her, legs casually crossed, with her feet on the coffee table. Carmen sat in the opposite corner, picking at the blanket resting over the headrest.

Carmen could stop traffic back then. Now there was an effortless grace and beauty that exuded from her every action.

Maria spoke after a lengthy silence, "The guys are going to flip when they get to see you again. Last week, the gang had breakfast together at my café. They've been doing it every month since high school."

Cora asked what was on Carmen's mind. "What's up with everyone these days?"

Maria answered with a smile. "They've always remained close. Most of them still work with local teams as coaches, refs, or announcers. Despite the crazy stuff they've had in their lives, they've never wavered in their support of one another.

"Seeing their reactions when they heard about your returning," she looked at Carmen, "I'm pretty sure the rumors are true."

"What rumors?" Carmen stopped picking at the blanket and looked at Maria.

Looking at her right now, Maria could imagine the doom of their close friendships had Carmen chosen one of them over the others. "The rumors were that each of them loved you back then. Aidan told them you were coming back for homecoming. There were a lot of questions."

Maria watched Carmen's head drop before whispering. "I have a lot of questions, too."

Carmen sighed as she looked at Cora and me. "I know I didn't handle things well. Things went sideways after prom our junior year, and I wanted away from there so bad. I took the first opportunity to get out of there and away from him."

"Carmen, why didn't you tell anyone what was happening? I know a little only because of Jim's write-up in the Gazette after the trial. I heard you petitioned local news media to keep it out of the papers." Cora interrogated Carmen as if questioning a witness. "When I worked as an editor, I heard your suppression request was granted by the court."

Cora started as an investigative journalist in college, making strategic moves as she moved up the ranks before jumping the tracks over to become an editor and eventually publisher.

Carmen took a sip of her lemon water before answering. "I was trying to avoid reliving it. It was my worst nightmare, even worse than my nightmares about vampires. At least it stopped me from having those nightmares."

Her slight smile and wry chuckle made Cora and Maria frown. Carmen had paralyzing dreams about vampires after seeing Salem's Lot as a school reward movie during grade school.

They knew exactly how bad the dreams had been for Carmen because sleepovers required lights on, garlic in the windows, and wearing a silver cross necklace. Carmen subjected them to every superstition to prevent vampire attacks. They became rituals she used every night to attempt sleeping.

They knew the only time she didn't have those nightmares was when she was camping with her brother's Scout troop. They surmised it was because the guys kept her up at night. She could sleep during the day; therefore, the nightmares never affected her while camping. They knew the guys were aware of her situation because her brother Joe taunted her mercilessly over the years.

Looking at them, Carmen recognized the moment the two women understood how much she was revealing. She shrugged and continued, "He ruined everything from me, including my dance career. I avoided anyone touching me after he..." she shuddered. "I couldn't tell the guys why I stopped spending time with them because I was so embarrassed."