Mountain Secrets Elizabeth Goddard (life changing books to read .txt) 📖

to persuade them she was much improved. Given that her purple bruises had turned to a sickly green, she wasn’t surprised that her appearance didn’t convince them.

“Where’s Buck?” she asked as casually as she could, grabbing an apple, but out of nowhere it sounded strange. She’d seen him leave and wanted to make sure he wouldn’t be back for some time.

Meral’s eyes widened. “I don’t know. He went exploring, looking for a creek to fish in, I think.”

If Buck wasn’t here, then now was a good time to ask the questions burning inside. “Meral, I can’t tell you how happy it’s made me that you’ve come here to see me, to find me. I hate all the years that have been wasted.”

Meral slid into the chair at the kitchen table. “We don’t have to think about that. We have each other now.”

With so much riding on the answers to her questions, Jewel could only offer a tenuous smile. “Meral... I... I need to know.”

Her sister reached over and grabbed Jewel’s hand. “What do you need, Jewel? Anything. I’ll tell you anything.”

Jewel’s throat grew tight, her mouth suddenly dry. Her sister loved her, and the suspicions running through Jewel filled her with shame.

“Why, after all these years, did you decide to find me? To come and see me? Why now?”

Her sister’s mouth dropped open. Then, “I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

Jewel could see that she had approached her need to find answers in the wrong way. She was messing this up. Her fear was seeping through, affecting how she came across. She sat in a chair across from Meral, trying to dial down the tension.

“What’s this all about?” Katy squeezed Meral’s shoulder and gave Jewel a gentle but questioning look.

Honestly, Jewel wished she could have some privacy with her sister, but she never found herself alone with Meral after the attacks. And if the other women were gone, Buck was around and wouldn’t let Meral out of his sight. Jewel had no choice but to forge ahead.

“Did you ever think about coming to see me over the years? Ever think about finding me? A phone call? An email or a letter?” Jewel regretted the accusing tone.

Meral pursed her lips, wounded surprise in her gaze. “I could ask you the same.”

“Of course I did. But I was hurt, so hurt. I don’t think I even realized it until you showed up at my door, and you weren’t even to blame. I got caught up in living life in Alaska and loving my husband and—” Jewel hung her head, regret clinging to her heart “—and trying to forget I even had a family.”

Jewel lifted her gaze to meet her sister’s beautiful eyes. “I’m so sorry now, for everything.”

“I thought we decided to put the past away, Jewel, and move forward. You need to quit beating yourself up. I forgive you, and I hope you forgive me for not trying harder to stay in touch. But when I was young, I idolized you. Looked up to you. Then you decided to leave us all behind for Silas. I thought you didn’t love me or care about me. It’s taken me years to get over that, but like you, I got busy with college and then fell in love and got married the first time. I tried not to think about the sister I’d loved and lost. The sister who had hurt me.”

“Was it your idea, Meral?” Jewel finally asked. “Was it your idea to come and see me now?”

Meral put her elbows on the table and pressed her face into her hands. “I don’t understand why it matters whose idea it was. Buck knew that I missed you. He knew our family’s history. He found you for me. But I wanted to come. Like you, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed you or I couldn’t admit it, until Buck surprised me with this trip as a wedding present. I can’t think of a better gift. Or a better husband. I hope you’re not hurt that I didn’t initiate the trip. I hope all that matters is that we’ve found each other. Let’s never let anything come between us again.” Meral reached for Jewel’s hand.

Or anyone, Jewel wanted to say, but she knew that was impossible.

“I’m not hurt.” Jewel hung her head, knowing she’d caused her sister pain. Fearing she might lose her when she’d only just found her if she pressed further. She couldn’t bring herself to risk their tentative truce by asking Meral if she’d known what Jewel had taken all those years ago, and if she’d told Buck. Not now, and definitely not with Tracy and Katy looking on.

“I’m going to take a long hot bath.” Jewel stood, feeling as though the stiffness and aches had returned with a vengeance. “Just letting you know in case you knock on my door and I don’t answer.”

Jewel left her friends and her sister and climbed the stairs to her room. Coming here had been Buck’s idea. Not the answer she’d wanted to hear. But an answer that could bring her closer to the truth about who had attacked her.

SIX

She ran the bath water, poured in bubble bath and let it rise. Shut off the water and left the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She would take that bath.

Later.

Now she crept up another flight of stairs and then climbed the ladder into the attic. This time she’d brought a flashlight to chase away the shadows that remained after she turned on the light. At least the dormer window offered a little more illumination. She glanced at every dark corner of the place, positioned a board over the entrance so she’d hear anyone who might try to come inside, though she was certain her attacker couldn’t be in the house this time.

Jewel crept all the way back, stepping around boxes and trunks and memories. Once she was on the other side of this trouble—if she came out of it alive, that was—she needed