The Truths We See

Chapter 9

Louis lived right up the road from where I used to live. His wife and kids still lived there. I was on my board, riding past the house when I turned into the driveway suddenly. As terrified as I was, my need to clear Ben outweighed it. I had to admit that Officer Jarvis was right - the only way I was going to be able to get the answers to my questions was going to them myself. Plus, I knew I needed something for me. I didn't feel right calling it closure, but something like it.

Their house was a cute 2-story with an open garage. A basketball sat in the freshly-cleared drive next to a fairly new car. I sucked in a breath as I came to a stop. Light spilled out of a window, casting a warm glow onto the snowy lawn. Nothing except a wreath on the door to suggest that someone was missing from this home. 

I forced myself to take a couple of slow breaths as I made my way to the door. Before I could raise my hand the door opened. A short woman with brown hair stood there, staring at me. She looked nervous. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"Um, are you Mrs. Martin?"I asked, wrapping my arms around my board, hugging it.

She eyed me. "Yes. Who are you?"

"My name is Brenda. I used to live right up the road." I gestured towards my dad's house, which was clearly visible from this porch.

"The Anderson girl?" she asked, surprised. I swallowed and then nodded. Her expression went from suspicious to gentle in less than a second. "Oh, come on in." She ushered me past her. I went, not sure how to react to this. "I was just in the kitchen, making some snacks for the boys. Have a seat." She led me into what I considered a beautiful kitchen. The appliances were all red, but the cabinets were all a dark grey, along with the counters. 

An island occupied the middle of the room, next to a window that looked at the driveway. So that's how she knew I was here.

I took a seat on one of the stools, placing my board on my lap. "You have a beautiful house," I told her in a quiet voice, afraid of speaking too loudly in case she changed her mind and kicked me out. 

"Thank you." She returned to a couple of sandwiches she'd been working on. "It's something I am actually quite proud of. Louis and I worked very hard on this place. When we bought it, it was just a pile of bricks that was about ready to be tore down. Together we restored it, and even put a few of our own touches on it." She gestured upwards. "That includes expanding the attic into a second floor."

"That sounds like it took a lot of work."

"Oh, it did. We actually just finished it last year," she said sadly. Her movements stopped and she leaned on the counter. She was quite young, about Ben's age, so I wasn't surprised it was a recent remodel. But her sadness was dragging her posture down, making her look much older from behind than she actually was. Suddenly, she plopped a sandwich on a plate and sat it in front of me. Before I could react, she was grabbing a glass out of the cabinet and placing it in front of me, as well. "What do you like to drink?"

I started shaking my head. "You don't have to-"

"I know I don't," she interrupted forcefully. "But I want to. What do you like to drink? Soda? Or maybe juice?"

"Juice." She poured a glassful of apple juice and slid it gently across to me. I stared at it all for a long moment before looking back up at her. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

She frowned and leaned on the counter. "Why wouldn't I be?" I couldn't speak the words, but she seemed to read them on my face. "Oh." She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "What did you say your name was?"

"Brenda."

"Brenda, just because your father made a mistake doesn't mean that I should treat you badly. I wouldn't be me if I did that." Her eyes studied my face before she came around the island and sat next to me. "My husband's step-father was accused of fraud some years ago when he still lived in Denver. Everyone looked at him, looked at his kid, and they didn't see a difference. They still don't. Not even after the guy moved here and eventually married Louis' mom. In school, his step-brother was looked down on."