Chapter 6 - My Sister's Door
My sister Diane opened her door before I even knocked. One look at my face and she knew something was wrong.
"Rachel," she said urgently. Then she saw Paige's tear-streaked face. "Oh my God."
She pulled Paige into a warm hug immediately. "You're safe here," she whispered. Paige broke down again.
Inside, Diane led us to the guest room. "Stay as long as you need," she said. I nodded, grateful beyond words. Paige curled up under the blankets almost instantly, and within minutes exhaustion finally pulled her under.
I couldn't sleep. Not after everything I'd learned that day.
Hours later, Diane found me sitting alone in her living room. "What happened?" she asked softly.
The words came out in a whisper. "Paige is pregnant."
Diane's eyes went wide with shock. "Oh my God."
"And someone hurt her."
The room went silent. I stared at the floor, tears sliding down my face.
"I think," I said, barely able to get the words out, "I think it might be someone close to us."
Diane's expression darkened. "Who?"
I didn't answer. Because I wasn't ready yet to say the name that had already started echoing through every corner of my mind.
Gary.
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The police were coming in the morning. The truth, whatever it turned out to be, wasn't going to stay hidden much longer. And for the first time since this had started, I understood that protecting my daughter meant I couldn't afford to look away from anything anymore — not even the people I had once trusted the most.
Whatever waited for us on the other side of that truth, Paige would not face it alone. Not for one more day.
