Lizbet's Lie Read online

  Lizbet’s Lie

  By Brenda Maxfield

  Published by Astraea Press

  www.astraeapress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  LIZBET’S LIE

  Copyright © 2014 BRENDA MAXFIELD

  ISBN 978-1-62135-265-5

  Cover Art Designed by AM DESIGN STUDIO

  For my zany, wonderful sisters:

  Marie, Kathy, and Donna

  Chapter One

  I held out the fuzzy yellow blanket, and Edie took a step closer. When I saw her hands close around it, my heart turned to brick. She yanked gently, but I couldn't let go. She yanked again as if in a mini tug-of-war.

  Ned put his arm around me. "Let go, Lizbet. Give it to Edie."

  Edie's hands dropped from the blanket. "It's all right, honey. You don't have to give it to me if you don't want to."

  "Let go," demanded a voice behind me, and I turned to look at Farah. She stood framed in the entrance to the hallway — the one that led to the bedroom where I’d slept for the last seven months. Her eyes pierced mine with firm resolve. "You'll regret it if you don't."

  I turned back to Edie's pitying expression. She gave me a gentle smile. "It was good of you to knit it for the baby. I'll give it to—"

  "Don't say their names!" I cried and scrunched my shoulders up to my ears. I drew a sharp breath. Farah brushed my side where she'd come to stand.

  She pried the blanket from my hands and handed it to Edie. "Everything is going to be fine. You'll see," she said close to my ear. "I'm giving Edie the blanket. Then the baby will have something to remember you by."

  Edie took the blanket and pressed it to her chest. Tears filled her eyes, and the pity in them deepened. "Lizbet, it was an honor to have you with us during these past months. You take care of yourself. And if you need anything, let us know. We know it's over for you now, but we still care."

  Edie's husband Steve came out from the side office. "I guess this is good-bye then. Stay in touch if you want to."

  Edie closed in. "Lizbet," she said in a low voice. "Beverly wants you to continue counseling. She says you aren't finished. You ask your momma and daddy, you hear? I'll send them Beverly's report."

  Ned stepped to my side and helped me into my coat. "Don't worry, Edie. We'll take good care of her."

  Like my folks would ever in a million years agree to counseling.

  "Lizbet." Farah looked ready to cry. "You better visit me. Don't you forget."

  I reached out and gave her a hard hug over her bulging stomach. "If I can."

  I walked to the door and realized Ned hadn't followed me. I turned. He was standing before Farah, staring at her like he wasn't sure what to do.

  "Ned, I'm finished here. Let's go."

  He flinched and put his attention back on me. "Of course, Lizbet. Let's get you home."

  Steve opened the door, and the crisp spring air settled over us. I pulled my jacket a bit tighter.

  "Don't forget," Farah called after me.

  Ned's truck was waiting under the portico. He lifted my suitcase into the bed and then opened my door. I stepped up into the cab and sat down with care, trying to situate myself against the soreness.

  Ned hopped into the driver's seat. "You okay?"

  I fixed my eyes ahead through the windshield and gazed at nothing. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

  Ned coughed, put the key in the ignition, and the truck roared to life. The radio blasted some lame country song. "No reason. No reason at all."

  But he watched me. I could feel his eyes. I felt as if I was balancing on a tightrope stretched over a cliff instead of sitting in my brother's truck on a torn-up vinyl seat. Any tiny breeze would topple me, and I'd crash with a splat in the cavern below, and no one would be able to put me together again.

  "Do they know I'm coming?" I asked.

  "Of course they know."

  "And Momma?"

  Ned sighed. "She's looking forward to having you home again."

  I tried to discern if he was lying — but then I forgot that Morgans never lie.

  "We'll be home in time for dinner," Ned said, and the fake cheer in his voice made me want to weep. He loved me. He was the finest big brother in the world, but even his powers couldn't reach everywhere.

  I wondered how I was ever going to fit back into my family.

  ****

  We lived in the boonies, the nearest town being Edgemont, Indiana. We rarely went into Edgemont, though, as there wasn't much need. Most everything we needed we provided for ourselves. Ned pulled into the drive, and I knew the harsh crunch of gravel would bring my two sisters and little brother running.

  I was right. The front screen door flew open, and all three of them tumbled out. "Lizbet's home! Lizbet's home!" Neighbors ten miles away could've heard them.

  Ned brought the truck to an abrupt halt and pulled up the hand brake. He looked at me, sympathy clouding his eyes. Then he put a smile on his face and opened his door. "Susanna, Judd, Regina, don't you smother her now."

  He hurried around the truck to open my door. He took my hand and helped me down. I moved slowly, trying to cover the pain. All three of them plastered me with hugs.

  "You were gone so long."

  "Did you work hard?"

  "Did you miss us?"

  "Can I still have your bedroom?"

  I held up my hand. "Guys, give me a minute." I returned all their hugs, and we walked to the house with them jumping around me like so many grasshoppers.

  I climbed the wooden stairs to the porch and heard the familiar groan of each step. I wanted to groan right along with them. The screen door opened, and Momma looked me up and down, her eyes resting a moment too long on my now-flat stomach.

  "Lizbet, you're here." Her tone was subdued, but her presence had the standard look of tough disarray. Her skinny shoulders seemed more hunched than usual, and the graying braid that wound around her head had slipped a bit to the side, giving the appearance of a mangled crown. Her thin lips stretched evenly over white teeth in a tidy smile. I wasn't fooled.

  She was made of steel.

  "Momma," I said. I walked into her reluctant embrace.

  "Come on in, all of you," she said, and her voice was blustery now. "Give your sister some room. Dinner is ready, and you know we have apple pie for dessert."

  "Lizbet." Regina pulled on my sleeve. "I helped with the pie. Momma said I done good."

  Everyone clamored for my attention, and our large living area closed in like a small closet. My breathing increased, and my eyes darted around as if seeing the place for the first time.

  Ned lifted my suitcase, stepped close to me, and grabbed my elbow. "We need to get your things up to your room."

  I leaned into him, and we climbed the steps. Susanna scurried behind us. "I've been using your room, Lizbet, what with you being gone so long and all. I kind of hoped I could still use it. Seems fair to me since you've had your own room for so long. Momma said it was up to you."

  I paused halfway up the steps and twisted around. "You've been using my room?"

  "Yeah, Momma said it was okay. She said you probably wouldn't want to use it anymore. You can sleep with Regina in my bed, and then I can still use your bed."

  "Why wouldn't I want my room back?" I fought to stay calm, but my stomach te
nsed, and a whisper of panic crawled up my throat.

  Ned's brow furrowed. "Susanna, your sister's tired. She's going to her own room and her own bed. Subject closed."

  "You're not the boss of me!" Susanna said. "You aren't the boss of anyone."

  Ned bent down and put his face directly in front of hers. "Scat! Go help Momma with dinner."

  Susanna huffed like an offended old woman and tromped back down the stairs.

  "Thanks, Ned."

  "No problem."

  We arrived at the top of the steps. My open door was at the end of the hall on the left. I tried to pick up my foot and move forward, but I couldn't do it. It seemed frozen to the floor.

  "It's okay, Lizbet. You're safe now. Don't worry anymore."

  "Maybe I should give Susanna my room."

  "No. She's only thirteen. She can wait for her own room. Besides, her rooming with Regina isn't so bad." Ned attempted to laugh, but it fell flat.

  I forced my legs to work and walked with iron grit down the hall and into my bedroom. I glanced around at the ivory-colored walls and the thin strip of flowered wallpaper circling below the ceiling. My hand mirror still lay on the dresser, and my stationery was still stacked in nice piles on my desk. The rag rug I'd gotten for Christmas three years ago was still on the floor beside my bed. But the rose bedspread was gone. In its place was a dark navy comforter.

  "Who changed my bedspread?"

  "Momma burned it. She didn't want… Well, you know." Ned set my suitcase down next to my closet. "Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine." I gave him a big smile as I lied and thought how proud Farah, who'd been my roommate at the Home, would be. Farah lied as a hobby and could never understand why I shunned anything fake or dishonest.

  I missed her already. And I wouldn't be the only one who missed her. Against all odds, Ned liked her too.

  "Do you think Farah can visit?" I asked.

  Ned looked me in the eye. "Have you gone nuts? Isn't she due next month?"

  "I mean afterwards. Do you think Dad and Momma would let her?"

  Ned stuck both hands in his pockets. "I don't know. I doubt it."

  "They don't need to know how we met."

  "How are you going to explain a brand new red-headed friend who looks like she's straight from Hollywood?"

  I sank to my bed and observed his flushed face and restless stance. "You think she looks like an actress?"

  "Don't you?"

  "I don't know. I guess. I miss her."

  "Yeah, well, pretty soon you won't. Momma will keep you busy in the kitchen, and you have your schoolwork."

  "I went to a public high school at the Home. I liked it."

  "You'd better unlike it, because you're back to homeschooling now. Come down soon. Momma made your favorites."

  "Where's Dad?"

  "Out in the shop. We have a lot of cars to work on right now."

  I smoothed a strand of hair behind my ear. My hand shook, and I tucked it under my other arm. "How come not one of the kids asked me where I've been all these months?"

  "Dad told them you had to help a friend with housework because she wasn't well."

  I rose from the bed and grasped Ned's arm. "For nearly seven months? That's a lie, Ned."

  His blue eyes penetrated mine. "No, it isn't. Didn't you do housework at the Home?"

  I nodded.

  "Weren't there people living there who didn't feel well?"

  "All of us felt horrid part of the time."

  "There you have it. Dad and Momma don't lie. How could you even suggest it?"

  He turned from me and left the room, shutting the door behind him. I stared at the closed door, and a hardening moved up through my body. With robotic precision, I knelt at my suitcase, unfastened it, and took out my few pieces of clothing. I rose and put them away, then stuck the suitcase under my bed.

  Welcome home, Lizbet.

  Welcome home.

  ****

  Momma had made meatloaf, biscuits, and green beans for dinner. Her eyes settled on me as I did my best to eat a healthy serving. Mostly, though, I pushed the food from one side of the plate to another. Dad sat at the head of the table, presiding as usual over his flock. I'd forgotten how black with grease his hands stayed, no matter how many times he washed them. Occupational hazard of a car mechanic.

  "Nice to have everyone back at the table," he announced and then speared a chunk of meatloaf.

  Nice to see you too, Dad.

  "Did you work hard?" Judd asked me with his mouth full of beans.

  "Judd, we'll thank you to swallow before you speak," Momma said. "Besides, Lizbet isn't answering questions right now."

  I gave her a sharp look. Was she afraid I'd divulge where I'd really been and what I'd really been doing?

  "I don't mind answering," I said. "Yes, I did work hard. Especially right at the end of my stay."

  Momma glared at me. Dad set his fork down and swallowed with a loud gulp. I kept my eyes on my food. Ned kicked me under the table.

  "What's going on?" Susanna asked. "Everyone's acting weird."

  I looked at her and smiled. "Nothing's wrong, Susie. And no one's acting weird. Everyone is just getting used to me being back home." I reached across the table and patted her arm. "I'm sure glad to see you."

  She smiled, but suspicion lurked in her eyes. "You're not mad I used your room?"

  "I'm not mad. I wasn't using it."

  "I want my own room, too," Regina announced.

  "The boys could share, and then I could have my own again," Susanna said.

  "We're not switching rooms," Dad said. "No more talk about it."

  Everyone shut up.

  When we were ready for dessert, Regina proudly brought her pie over and set it in front of me. "You'll like it. Momma and me worked super hard."

  I tugged on her blond ponytail. "Thanks, honey. I already like it, and I haven't had a bite."

  ****

  After dinner, I carried the dirty plates to the sink. Momma was washing the dishes, and suds were everywhere.

  "Lizbet, since it's your first night home, you don't have to help."

  "I don't mind. Gives Susie and Regie a break."

  Momma took the plates from my hand and plunged them into the water. "Stand up here close to me," she said with quiet firmness.

  I moved next to her. Her hands became still. She took a deep breath and looked at me.

  "I don't want you spending too much time with Susie."

  I stepped back. "What? Why?"

  "Come back over here."

  I stepped close again.

  "You heard me. I don't think it's healthy for you to spend too much time with Susie."

  "Why?"

  "You know why." Her lips were set in a tight frown, and her forehead was a mass of worry lines.

  "No, I don't."

  But I did. Momma blamed me for what happened. Farah had been right all along. I blinked hard against the tears in my eyes, and I drew my shoulders back. Momma's eyes fluttered in a nervous dance. She cleared her throat and put her attention back on the dishes.

  I stood there unmoving for a long moment. Was that all? Did she have nothing more to say? Was I dismissed?

  Regina ran up behind me and grabbed me around the middle, almost toppling me over. "I'm so happy you're back!"

  I put my hands over hers at my waist. "Me, too, Regie. Me, too," I lied.

  I lied. And it had slid out with no effort at all. Was I no longer a Morgan now? The thought hit me full force in my gut, and I bent with the impact.

  Regina giggled. "Lizbet, you almost fell over. I'll let go. You're too skinny."

  I let her believe it was her hug that had almost put me on my knees. I looked at Momma, but her face was turned away. I thought I saw her shoulders tremble, but I couldn't be sure because Regina was pulling me into the living room.

  "Wanna play jacks?" she asked, her green eyes wide.

  I swallowed past what felt like a cactus blossom in my throat. "Sure. Let's pl
ay."

  Regina produced a plastic cup with jacks and a ball, and we sat on the deep green rag rug in the middle of the floor.

  "You first," I said.

  "No. You. To celebrate you being home again." She leaned her head on my arm.

  It was my best welcome by far.

  Chapter Two

  At seven o'clock that evening I sat on the new comforter on my bed and stared at the wall. There was nothing to do and no one to talk to. Funny how I'd never noticed before that in a house full of people, you could be utterly alone.

  I pulled a tattered paperback copy of Anne of Green Gables from my desk drawer. This would be my seventh time reading it, and it never failed to transport me into a world of inspiration. I opened to the first page and read.

  Ten minutes later, I was still on page one. My eyes were stuck, and the words blurred together into a black mass. I tossed the book aside and lay back on my pillow.

  Farah, Farah, Farah. What are you doing right now? I miss you.

  There was a knock on my door.

  "It's open."

  Judd stuck his head into my room. "Winter's on the phone."

  I jolted upright. Why hadn't I thought to call her right away? How had I so easily forgotten my best friend? "Coming."

  I flew down the stairs and grabbed the receiver off the coffee table. "Winter?"

  "Lizbet, you're back. I'm so glad. I've missed you something fierce. Can I come over?" Her voice tumbled ahead like a horserace.

  "Of course. Can you come right away?"

  "I'm leaving now," she answered and hung up.

  I smiled into the phone and then placed it back onto its base. I looked at the clock on the wall. She'd be ringing the doorbell in four minutes flat. We used to time ourselves down the street to see who could get to the other's house the fastest. Winter was pudgy, but she could run. She beat me every single time.

  Four minutes later, right on cue, the doorbell rang. I was standing at the ready and pulled the door open. Winter greeted me with a huge smile. Her hair still frizzed out from her braid in little wisps of fuzziness, and her brown eyes were warm with welcome. She threw her arms open and pulled me into a fierce hug.