Through the Door (The Thin Veil) - By Jodi McIsaac Page 0,27

this guy. I didn’t do anything to Eden, I swear.”

“Jane, I believe you! Please, sit down. I don’t think he’s accusing you of anything. Are you?” Cedar asked, looking up at Rohan.

Jane sat down again and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Rohan sat down as well, but it was Riona who spoke. “I’m sorry, Jane,” she said. “We, well, I have a theory about what happened, but we need to be sure. If you could just give us the benefit of the doubt. Even if his questions don’t make sense right now, they will soon, I assure you.”

Jane looked mutinous, but nodded. “Fine,” she said. “I don’t really like kids, no.”

“Did you want to come over and look after Eden last night?” Rohan asked.

“I wanted to help my friend, yes. But if you’re asking me if babysitting on a Friday night is my idea of a good time, then the answer is no.”

Murdoch called out from the sofa, “Rohan, where is this going?” He was a short, burly man with red cheeks and gray hair that looked like bristles. His sons, on the other hand, were tall and lean, and they were both watching the proceedings with keen interest.

Rohan didn’t look at him, but Cedar could see the muscles in his face tighten. “Wait,” he said to Murdoch. Then he spoke to Jane. “I’m going to touch your head,” he said.

Jane recoiled in her chair. “Like hell you are.”

“Do you want your memories back or not?” he snarled. Then his tone softened slightly. “Please. If you would. It won’t hurt.”

Jane gave Cedar a panicked look. “What kind of a crazy cult did you get yourself into?”

Cedar took her friend’s hand. “I don’t understand it either, but please, just try. I’m right here.”

Jane glared at Rohan, but then stiffly nodded her assent. His hands could cover almost her entire head, and Cedar had a fleeting, horrible thought that he might crush her skull. In the background she could hear someone mutter, “This is bullshit,” but it wasn’t Jane this time.

“Look into my eyes, Jane,” Rohan said, “and tell me if you start to remember anything.” Jane nodded as much as she could with her head in his grasp. “When Cedar called you, did you want to come watch Eden?”

“No,” Jane whispered. “No. I did come, of course, because she said she was in a real bind. But I had, um, other plans for the night.”

“What plans?” Rohan asked.

Jane’s cheeks turned crimson. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I had a date. Sort of. Online. I was supposed to chat with this guy.” She frowned. “Wait. I did talk to him. I remember being here, and texting him on my phone.”

“You were sexting while you were looking after Eden?” Cedar asked, incredulous.

“This is good, Jane. You’re starting to remember!” Riona said, patting her knee.

“How did you feel when you were talking to this person?” Rohan asked.

“Well, um, I felt kind of guilty because, obviously, I’m the world’s worst babysitter. Oh, my God, I think I’m starting to remember. Eden wanted me to play with her. I hate playing with kids, and I was, you know, busy. So I told her to leave me alone. But then I felt bad because she looked so sad, and I was worried she would tell Cedar how much I sucked. But that’s all I can remember.”

The room was so quiet Cedar almost forgot it was full of strangers. Riona interrupted the silence. “There’s your hook,” she said to Rohan.

Rohan looked at Cedar. “I need you to do something.” Cedar nodded.

“Forgive her.”

“What?”

“It should release her memories,” Rohan said.

“Okay,” Cedar began. “Jane, I forgive you.” Then she looked at Rohan. “Like that? Did it work?”

“No,” Rohan said. “It only works if you mean it.”

“I did mean it!” Cedar protested.

“Just…try again,” Rohan said.

Cedar looked at Jane, hunched miserably at the table with her head still sandwiched between Rohan’s massive hands. She felt tears spring to her eyes again and she squeezed Jane’s hand tightly. “Oh, Jane, of course I forgive you. I should never have asked you to watch Eden; I know it’s the last thing you would want to do. It would be like you asking me to go to one of your meditation classes or something. You know I’d hate it. You’re an amazing friend, and you were so sweet to say yes to something you hate because you knew it would help me out. Please don’t feel bad about it.” She