Shade(164)

“If she couldn’t find someone for me, she would send me to apartments where she knew the men lived alone and make me ask if they wanted company for the night. I learned how to do what she wanted, or she would beat me so bad I couldn’t go outside and play with my friends until I healed. If anyone came to ask about me, she would tell them I was too sick to play.”

“What happened to your mother?” Lucky’s voice was harsh.

“Her boyfriend moved in with us. He was nice for a while. He paid the bills and gave her money to spend. He even bought me my first doll, but she would get mad at him because he wouldn’t give her extra money for her pills, so she would wait until he went to work and sneak men into the apartment.

“One day, he came home early and saw me in bed with a man. Marshall pulled a gun out and made them sit on the bed and told me to get dressed. I heard him call someone, but I was too scared to listen. He made us all sit there until someone knocked on the door.”

“Who was it?”

“I don’t know. I’d never seen him before, but he was big and scary to me because, when Marshall told him what he’d seen when he came home, he took the gun and killed my mother and the man on my bed.” Lily took a deep breath. “Then he turned to me, asking me if Marshall had ever touched me, and when I told him yes, he killed Marshall. He lit a fire on my bed and made me leave with him. I didn’t try to scream; I was too scared.”

“I bet you were,” Lucky said grimly.

“He took me on a long drive. I slept most of the time. When I woke up, I was in Beth’s house, and he was gone. Her parents told me they were adopting me and to forget about my mom and the life I had before, so I did. I made myself forget every dirty thing I had been forced to do. I forgot the men. I forgot my mom. I forgot Marshall. I forgot my sitter who always smelled like chocolate chip cookies. I forgot my friends, Sawyer and Vida, who were like sisters to me. I forgot every single ugly detail of my life until I forgot me.”

“Lily, look at me.”

Lily didn’t.

Shade ached for her, wanting to give her the comfort she deserved.

“Please, look at me,” Lucky pleaded.

Lily broke, crying as if her heart was breaking. Shade fought back his own tears as Lucky put his arm around her shoulders, letting her cry until she lay quietly against him.#p#分页标题#e#

“I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry anymore,” Lily said.

“I think that one was well deserved. That’s why you wanted to become a social worker, isn’t it, to help children like yourself?”

Lily nodded. “Yes, I think so.”

“Lily, do you plan on judging children if you find them in situations like you were in?”

“Of course not,” Lily said, clearly shocked that Lucky thought she would.

“When people start coming into the church store tomorrow, are you going to judge them for being in need?”

“No,” she repeated. “They need our help.”

“Yes, they do, like you needed help and no one was there for you. You chose to survive, Lily. You’re the kindest, most compassionate woman I know, and it’s a true miracle that part of you wasn’t destroyed. As your pastor, I couldn’t be more proud. You make my Sundays worthwhile because when I look out into my congregation and see your face, I know God has graced my church with your presence.

“You have done nothing to feel ashamed of. The ones who should be ashamed are the ones who are responsible for hurting you. You don’t have any lessons to learn from me, but I have many to learn from you, Lily, because as God is my witness, I would have killed every single one of the bastards who touched you.”

“Thank you, Pastor.” Lily smiled at him with relief.

“Go on inside. It’s freezing out here. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She stood up, pausing when he didn’t follow. “Aren’t you coming in?”

“In a minute. I want to say a prayer.”

“Would you like me to stay and pray with you?” Lily asked.

“No, you’ve been out here long enough. I won’t be long.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Lily.”

When Lily had walked down the path and out of hearing, Lucky spoke up.

“You don’t deserve her,” he said, standing up.

“I know,” Shade stepped out of the shadows, not taking his eyes off Lily as she walked back toward the clubhouse.

“It’s a good thing they’re all dead, or we would be riding tonight.”

“It seems they’re all dead but one,” Shade said thoughtfully, turning to his brother.