I say, relieved someone is listening instead of shutting me down.
“Now, about your parents. I know the abuse you endured was traumatic. Being questioned about it in a room full of strangers can be more so.”
“Will they be convicted if I don’t testify?”
He nods once. “Chances are good they will. The chances increase if you do. The jury will hear your story in your own words and that goes a long way in a trial such as this.”
I inhale deeply and blow it out slow like Sam taught me. The possibility of my parents behind bars is real now, no longer the abstract thought hanging around the periphery.
“You don’t have to decide today.”
I already know. I knew when I threatened to call the police if Father tried to rape me again, even if I didn’t want to acknowledge it until now. “I want to testify.”
A broad smile spreads across his face. “You are a courageous young woman.”
I smile for the first time in two months. “I’m learning.”
I pick up the phone after Len leaves, watching the doorway. The voice mail message plays.
“J, I just met with the assistant district attorney. My parents are going to trial and I’m going to testify. I’ve got to go, someone’s coming.”
Terry is pacing the living room when I arrive home. “Who were you on the phone with today?” Her tone is reminiscent of my parents.
I stand tall, refusing to let her intimidate me. “I left Jason a voice mail.”
“You think that boy is waiting for you? We told you he’s moved on to the next hussy.”
I clench my fists so hard my nails dig into my palms. My blood rages and begs for a physical release. Instead, I open and close my fists repeatedly.
“Who did you seee?” she asks.
“I met with the assistant district attorney since you wouldn’t let me meet with him after school.”
She purses her lips. “You let a stranger pull you out of class?”
“I live with strangers! What’s the difference?”
She shakes a finger at me with her other hand on her hip. “I’ve had enough of that attitude.”
“I’ve had enough of your attitude,” I return with a scowl.
She snatches the phone from the cradle and stabs the keypad with her finger. I cross my arms in defiance, watching her through narrowed eyes.
“Hello, Blake?…Yes, it’s Terry Lloyd.” She eyes me. “We need you to find another home for Sara.”
“How about returning me to the Jerichos!” I shout for Blake’s benefit.
“She’s nothing but combative as always and she called that boy from school today…Please do.” She hangs up and glares at me. “He can’t find a new home fast enough.”
“Amen,” I say, marching to my room in a huff.
It’s appalling that the Lloyds are “trained” and “approved” by the state to take kids in for foster care. It makes me wonder about the training and approval standards. Right now, my parents and sister are preferable to Foster Hell. At least I know what to expect from my family.
Instead, I’m stuck with strangers who are supposed to care for me, but care nothing for me.
CHAPTER FORTY
Blake and Terry sit at the kitchen table drinking iced tea and chatting it up like old friends. His smile breaks into a frown when he notices me closing the front door.
“Thank you for the tea, Terry,” he says, pushing himself to his feet. “Let’s go, Sara.”
“Where are we going?”
“Your new foster home.”
“I need to pack.”
“Terry already did it. Everything is in my car.” He sets his hand on my shoulder and I shrug it off.
“Keep your hands off me.”
He pulls the car out of the driveway. “You would do well to keep your mouth shut when talking to people about us. I hear you have experience with that.”
By “us” I assume he means him and the Lloyds. “Are you threatening me?” I shift in my seat to face him. The anger and bitterness fester, allowing me to tap into the Parker temper. The temper I witnessed growing up and started using the day Gillian dropped me off at the Lloyd’s.
“Call it what you want. And that boyfriend of yours, the Jerichos tell me he’s seeing an ex. Becky?”
My heart collapses in on itself and I can’t find my breath, but I can’t let him witness my devastation. That’s what he wants. I grasp the resentment with both hands, climbing out of the pit of despair before I fall in the deep end. I’ll jump in later.
“There is nothing you can do to me that is worse than what