Hidden Scars (8 page)

I felt a light nudge on my shoulder before hearing Becky’s voice. “Morgan, I need to talk to you. Wake up.”

Sliding my legs off the bed, I sat up rubbing my eyes. “Have you heard from Chuck?”

“Not a word, and it’s almost four thirty, but I did get in touch with Kyle. He hasn’t seen Chuck and didn’t know anything about him quitting his job. But he’ll see what he can find out and call us back at six thirty.”

“It’s not like him, Becky. Wouldn’t you think that since I can’t call him, he’d call me?”

“I don’t know, but you can’t sit in this room all night, and neither of us has a car. We have no choice but to wait to hear from Kyle. Meanwhile, let’s get something to eat. You haven’t had anything all day.”

The cafeteria hadn’t started serving yet, so we went to Eddie’s. I ate like a starving bird dog, not only from hunger, but I didn’t want to miss Kyle’s call.

As we walked back to the dorm, Becky tried to distract me by pointing out how beautiful the yellow and brown leaves were swirling around the ground. “At this rate, the trees will be naked in another month. And the air, can you smell it? The scent of autumn.”

I partially paid attention to her ramblings.

No sooner had the lobby doors closed behind us, and I stood stock still, gaping. Chuck and Mrs. Henderson sat across from one another in matching wing-backed chairs. They chatted away, completely unaware of our entrance.

Becky finally broke the silence. “Chuck, what are you doing?”

“Yes, what are you doing here?” I wanted to scream, but managed to maintain a calm tone. Did he know who he was talking to?

Chuck rose. “Hey, girls, I decided you two wouldn’t be gone long.” His smile broadened. “So, Mrs. Henderson and I have been getting to know one another better.”

“Yes.” She stood and faced Chuck with an extended hand, her expression unreadable. “It’s nice to have met you. I enjoyed our conversation. I’ll leave you young people to enjoy your evening.”

She looked directly at me. “Morgan, don’t forget to sign out if you plan on leaving the campus.”

Chuck spoke, “We won’t be going any farther than my car.”

Her eyes shifted from me to Becky. “Well, I’ll be in my apartment if you girls need me.”

She gathered a tray with cups and saucers then headed toward her quarters.

“Thank you,” I muttered, before glaring at Chuck.

I didn’t speak another word until her door closed. “What are you doing? Where have you been all day? Why haven’t you called? What were you and Mrs. Henderson talking about?”

Becky cleared her throat. “I’ve got some homework to do. I’m glad you’re okay, Chuck. Holler at me later, Morgan.” She walked away. Her footsteps soon faded in the empty hallway.

Chuck opened the lobby door. “I thought we could talk in the car.”

Outside, when I was sure no one could hear, I whirled toward him. “What is wrong with you? Where have you been? Your grandmother said you quit your job. And then I walk in the lobby and find you and the dorm mother having a tea party! What’s going on?”

He grinned and laced his fingers with mine. “It wasn’t tea. It was coffee.”

“What?”

“I said, we had—”

“Who cares what she served.” I snatched my hand from his. “Have you lost your mind?”

Chuck leaned over and planted a quick, but firm, kiss on my lips. “I’ve always loved that feisty personality.”

I stomped my foot against the pavement. “I mean it, Chuck.”

“Okay.” He chuckled and backed away. “But let’s go sit in the car and talk.”

We walked in silence. He held the passenger door for me. I sat and waited for him to settle in the driver’s seat.

He shifted his body to face me, laid his hand across my shoulder, and rubbed my neck. “When no one answered the phone at Janet’s house this morning, I figured you had to be on your way back here as planned. I called her house again at nine. No answer, so I left Greer and got here a little after eleven. When I called your floor and didn’t get anyone, I phoned Mrs. Henderson. She told me you’d been here since ten thirty.”

I breathed deep and released the air slowly. “That still doesn’t answer the question of where you’ve been. But first, I want to know what you said to Mrs. Henderson.”

“The truth. I explained if she felt the need to notify your parents about us dating, then she should know about the physical abuse you’ve suffered for years.”

“You didn’t?”

“Yes, I did. I hate it when your parents mistreat you. But they know about us now, and I’m glad. Now Mrs. Henderson knows about them. We love each other, Morgan. We’re through hiding. We can get married without them interfering.”

“No. Don’t ever think they’d give up so easily. My parents aren’t through with me, and they’ll never allow us to get married. If Kay and my brother hadn’t been there last night, things would’ve turned out so different.
You don’t know them
.”

He reached over and softly kissed my cheek, then my lips. “It’s okay, Morgan. I’m here now. Not just for tonight, but every night. I rented a small house not too far from the campus, and I spent the day looking for a job. I start in two weeks.”

“What kind of job?”

“Doing the same thing I did for Mr. Fisher, repairing appliances. Meanwhile, I’ll commute from here to finish my two weeks for Mr. Fisher. But I don’t ever want you to have to face your parents alone again.”

I wanted to believe his words and loved him even more for wanting to protect me.
God, if only it could be true.
I slid into his arms and enjoyed the love and comfort they provided. His touch, smell, and kisses sent waves of tremors throughout my body. But then Dad’s threats of harm to Chuck resurfaced. It would take a miracle for us to have the life I’d been praying for.

Gusty wind greeted Becky and me as we walked down the church steps. Our hair blew in multiple directions. Dark, low hanging clouds obscured the sun, and an occasional raindrop fell.

Becky forced her Bible into her already overstuffed purse. “We better run, or we’re going to get wet.”

“Looks like it.” I wrapped my sweater snug around me as we sprinted across the street toward the campus. “Can you believe neither of us remembered an umbrella?”

“What I really can’t believe,” she shouted over her shoulder, “is Chuck picked such a nasty day to move.”

“I sure hope he and Kyle are already at the house and they’ve gotten everything unloaded.”

Becky held out her palm as the number of drops increased. “Come on.” She picked up the pace. “Before we get drenched.”

Tree limbs began to sway with the force of the wind as rain pelted us at a forty-five-degree angle. By the time we made it inside the dorm, my hair, clothes, and shoes were soaked.

Becky wasn’t in much better shape. Black mascara dribbled down both cheeks, and her hair plastered to her head. I had to choke back a giggle.

“What’s so funny?”

“You.” I erupted into snorts and cackles. “You should see your face.”

She mopped clingy wet hair from her eyes as we studied our reflections in the mirror hanging in the entranceway. Four sullied eyes, squinting through black smudged faces, stared back at us. Complete silence gave way to piercing squeals of our own mockery.

The lighthearted mood was soothing medicine.

As we headed down the hall, I asked, “You’re still going, right?”

“To see the house? Sure. But first I’ll need to change clothes and do something with this hair and face.”

“Good.” I peeled off the heavy cardigan and draped it over my arm. “After I get myself cleaned up and hear from Chuck, I’ll come get you.”

While I ran a comb through my wet hair, my excitement intensified at the thought of seeing the house Chuck and I would soon share as husband and wife. When the phone rang, I sprinted out of my room and down the hall, eager to hear his voice. “Hello?”

“Morgan?”

My smile vanished. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Where have you been?” Mom spoke in cadence.

I shook my head.
This can’t be happening.
“I’ve been at church.”

“You’ve been at church all morning?”

“I left here around ten thirty. Why? What’s wrong?” I tightened my fist, angry with myself for asking the questions that played right into her hands. I held my breath, not wanting to hear the ugly remarks sure to follow.

“You left this house over twenty-four hours ago—without saying a word to anyone—and you want to know what’s wrong? What’s wrong with
you
, Morgan?”

“Dad told me to leave…so I left.” I began to have difficulty breathing and controlling my shaky voice.

“Don’t you get smart with me, Morgan Selby.”

“I-I’m not. I don’t know what you want me to say.” I not only felt my heart pounding in my chest, but also heard each rapid beat.

“According to Wayne, you left yesterday before he woke. What time did you leave and with whom?”

I tightened my grip on the phone. Still, it shook with every tremor of my hand. I moved it further from my ear to stop the receiver from striking me while I tried to form my answer. I didn’t want to involve Janet and her mother. Mrs. Barnes, if pushed, wouldn’t have any qualms telling Mom what she thought about her. History had proven that.

“What difference does it make how I got here?”

“Don’t you dare. Do I need to call your father to the phone?”

I clutched the topaz necklace around my neck. “No, ma’am.”

“I know Chuck didn’t work yesterday. Did he come to this house?”

How did she know this stuff? “No, ma’am.”

“Then who drove you back?”

I hesitated.

“Who! Answer me.”

“Janet did.”

“I better not find out Chuck Mathews stepped foot in this house or anywhere on our property. And, Morgan, you can be assured, I’ll be talking with Mrs. Barnes.”

She hung up.

I returned the phone to its base and trudged toward my room. I’d made it over halfway when the phone rang again.

I wanted to scream. Why won’t she leave me alone?

Remembering it could be Chuck, I headed back to the phone room.
Please, God, let it be him
.

I lifted the receiver and held it to my ear without saying a word, nor did I plan to without knowing who was on the other end.

“Hello?”

Chuck’s voice soothed my unraveled nerves. “Hi. I’m sorry about not answering, but I wanted to make sure it was you. Where are you?”

“I’m at Eddie’s. What’s going on?”

“Mom called a few minutes ago.” I described our conversation and her mood.

“Morgan, I want you to pack some extra clothes to bring in case we get back to the dorm tonight and your parents are there.”

“You don’t think that’ll happen, do you?”

“No, but if they show up, we’ll have a plan. Don’t let them get to you.”

“Becky’s coming with me.”

“That’s fine,” he assured me. “We’ll have more than enough food. But don’t answer the phone if it rings again, okay?”

“All right, but hurry.”

“Try not to worry. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

I ran back to my room and corrected the rain-damaged hair and makeup. Then I shoved pajamas and some personal items in a tote bag, grabbed a dress—hanger and all—and left to get Becky.”

She eyed the bag. “What’s going on?”

“Mom called—”

“Are they here…on their way?” She motioned for me to finish zipping her dress. “I’ll die if your parents show up again. Your parents are crazy—no offense—but I won’t watch a repeat of what happened Friday without calling the police.”

She talked tough, but I knew Becky was afraid. We both were. “Don’t panic.” Words spoken for my benefit more than hers. “They’re not here, but hopefully Chuck and Kyle are. Come on. I’ll explain on the way.”

By the time we made it to the lobby, the guys were pulling up to the front door. Chuck jumped out with an umbrella and escorted us to the car. He took the tote bag from me and placed it on the floorboard after I slid across the backseat.

Kyle navigated his bright yellow Camaro out of the parking lot and drove a short distance to a simple white cottage in dire need of fresh paint. Dirt peeked through scant patches of dead grass. Even the one lonely tree stood contorted and naked of its leaves. The only thing thriving was the row of hedges with spindly branches greedily fighting for equal space.

“I hope you’re not disappointed. There’s not a lot to choose from this time of year in a college town. It’s only temporary.” His tender expression assured me. “We’ll find something better this summer.”

“Are you kidding?” I opened the car door and tugged at his hand, sure the two of us would be happy living anywhere. “Come on. Let’s go see the inside.”

We approached through the front door where boxes and suitcases cluttered the dark oak floor. Touring the house took only minutes. Bare necessities furnished the rooms. A blue Naugahyde sofa and matching chair in the living room. A yellow Formica chrome table with four padded chairs in the kitchen. And only a double mattress and bedsprings sat on a metal frame in the bedroom. But the unpretentious surroundings represented much more than material items. A sense of hope and possibilities washed over me. Flashes of a life full of peace, contentment, and love danced in my mind.

Chuck eased behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and pulled me back against his body. “It’s not much to look at, but it’ll do for a start, won’t it?”

I leaned my head against his shoulder. “The house is perfect. By the time we get everything cleaned, you won’t recognize the place. A few plants, pictures, and throw rugs with splashes of red will give it that warm, cozy feeling it’s lacking. You’ll see. All it needs is a little TLC.”

His laughter vibrated the air. “What’s that, time and lots of cash?”

“Wherever we live.” I faced him. “If we’re together, it’ll be home.”

He ran a gentle finger down my nose before gathering me in his arms and covering my lips with his.

All of life’s troubles faded away, replaced by love. Love I’d never known or thought to be possible.

After lunch, the four of us dusted and scrubbed every room before unpacking a hodgepodge of used household items from pans and sheets, to mismatched Melmac plates and Pyrex bowls.