Falling for the Brother

And…

“We know about Elmer, Gram.” Bruce took the lead as soon as they’d all hugged and sat down. He’d also chosen to sit next to his grandmother, leaving Mason to take the seat across from them.

Harper had tried to stay in the car, but Bruce had insisted she join them. He’d wanted her to sit with them, too, beside him on the bench. She’d drawn the line there.

She wasn’t family. Only Brianna was. Harper’s place was on the outside looking in.

Miriam glanced between the two of them, straight-faced, but Harper noticed that she’d started to pick at the edge of the cast in her lap. She’d worn capris again, royal blue, with a red, white and blue top and red sandals.

She’d dressed for a day out with her boys.

“Elmer Guthrie? Of course you know. He’s been over for dinner a few times,” she said, her tone as commanding as always. And then, looking between the two of them again, she said, “What is this? Some kind of inquisition? You’re going to try to put me away, aren’t you?”

She turned on the bench, frowning at Harper who was leaning against a tree off to the side. “You knew about this? And you brought me here?”

Harper stepped forward, feeling somewhat protected by the uniform she wore. She was a professional who was used to dealing with distraught women. “I know nothing of any plan to put you anywhere but back at home, living your life as you choose to live it,” she said with the strength of conviction. Happy to actually be able to speak her mind.

The look of confusion that crossed Miriam’s face struck her hard. Something wasn’t right. The strength with which Miriam defended Bruce, insisted that she’d fallen off a ladder, talked about Elmer coming for dinner without any sign of hesitation or discomfort, climbed out a window specifically to assert her independence…

Who did that unless she felt her independence had been threatened by more than a voluntary two-week stay in a safe resort? No matter what Mason said, Miriam had known she didn’t have to stay at the Stand. The final choice had been hers. Lila wouldn’t have allowed it any other way.

And yet…that confusion…the abuse that she wouldn’t admit to—someone had clearly made her doubt herself. “We know Elmer was over the night you got hurt, Gram,” Mason said, his tone less condescending than Bruce’s, yet more compelling, as well.

Had Miriam fallen in love with the older man? Had he told her that if she let anyone know he’d hurt her, he’d make it look like she was crazy? Or that she couldn’t take care of herself anymore? Had Guthrie put that fear in her?

It was how abuse worked. She’d seen it more times than she could count—the way an abuser insidiously infiltrated the brain, successful because that abuser was a trusted person with intimate access to one’s heart and mind…

“He was over to borrow a cup of milk,” Miriam said now, leaning toward Mason. “Why are we talking about Elmer? What does his milk have to do with anything?”

With gentle fingers Mason reached over and touched her chin. What was left of the bruising was hidden beneath her makeup, but Harper wouldn’t ever forget how Miriam had looked when they’d first brought her in.

She knew Mason wouldn’t, either.

“Someone grabbed your chin that night, Gram,” he said softly. “It’s not your fault—no reflection on you whatsoever—but we can’t let you go back home until we know who did this. Until we can be certain it won’t happen again.”

“You said you were going to figure it out,” she challenged him, a vision of her former self. “You’ve had a week, and that’s all you’ve come up with? A neighbor borrowing a cup of milk?”

Mason continued to watch her, his face showing only love and concern. Harper’s view of Bruce was partially blocked by Miriam, so she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She watched Mason instead.

“For the hundredth time, I’m telling you I fell off a stepladder!” Miriam insisted. “I figured you’d get there on your own.”

“We know Elmer did this to you, Gram.” Bruce spoke again, his tone lacking Mason’s compassion, replacing it with that condescending tone he had when he was having difficulty getting his point across. Still, she could hear the love he had for his grandmother. “He’s been visiting you when I’m at work…”