Before She Dies (Slaughter Creek) Read Online Free Page B

grunted, making odd noises in her throat.
    “We’re going home, baby,” Norma whispered, rocking Amelia in her arms.
    She grabbed Amelia’s file and tucked it in her purse.
    The door opened, and the doctor strode in, his brows furrowed. “Now, where were we?”
    “I …I’m sorry, something came up. I have to leave.” She threw her purse over her shoulder, then rushed past him out the door.
    In the waiting room, children were building with blocks in the corner. But Joe Swoony was rolling on the floor making guttural sounds. Grace Granger was beating her face as she rocked back and forth, her gaze latched on the wall.
    Norma ran outside, cradling Amelia close to her. “Shh, darling,” she whispered as she strapped her in her car seat.
    A minute later, she drove toward home. Sadie was napping at her mother’s, so she dashed back to her house and tucked Amelia in her crib to rest.
    Amelia fussed and cried, screaming as if there were monsters in the room. But finally after patting her for half an hour, she fell asleep.
    Her nerves on edge, Norma made herself a cup of tea, took the medical file to the table and began to read.

    “The Nettleton woman was asking questions today at the clinic.”
    “What kinds of questions?”
    “About her daughter’s condition. And – ” he paused, a mountain of tension in the space. “She stole Amelia’s file.”
    “Fuck. I told you no paper trail.”
“But the notes are necessary to track the patients’ reactions and responses,” he said.
    “So is stopping the Nettleton woman from nosing around anymore.”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. She’ll take whatever she knows with her to her grave.”

Chapter Four
    Ben was frantic to talk to Norma. He had been foolish not to confess the truth about his family’s genetic disorder the day she’d told him about her pregnancy.
    But it was because he loved her so damn much. Her and the girls.
    He hadn’t shown it though. He’d deserted her when she needed him most because the guilt and shame ate at his soul.
    He was flawed. Flawed to the point that it had hurt his own baby. That tore at him the most.
    He phoned the house, but Norma didn’t answer so he left a message asking her to take the kids to her parents so the two of them could talk. They needed time to discuss the secret he’d kept, to hash over the details of what he’d learned from the doctors about testing, Amelia’s treatment and her prognosis if she’d inherited the disorder.
    The drive from Nashville took forever, the traffic crawling by. Ice from the recent snowstorm made the roads hazardous, the gray skies threatening more snow. The temperature had dropped to the teens with the wind chill making it feel twenty below.
    His heart thumped wildly the closer he drew to Slaughter Creek, his anxiety mounting. Norma would be furious at him for not divulging the truth about his background.
    A truth she deserved to know.
    But at least now he’d spoken with specialists, he had information to offer her.
    And hope that Amelia might one day grow up and have a normal life.
    Emotions threatened to overcome him, but he pushed them aside. By God, he’d been a wreck for three years.
    No more.
    He was going to take charge and take care of his daughter.
    Night descended as he passed through the town of Slaughter Creek, the storm clouds obliterating the stars. He hit a pothole, gears grinding as he wound around the mountain to the little bungalow Norma had found for them. It was a small wooden frame house with two bedrooms, but she’d added homey touches like needlepoint pillows, crocheted doilies and the wedding ring quilt her mother had given them as a wedding present.
    He had meant the vows they’d spoken on their wedding day, but their problems had become insurmountable to him and he’d lost faith.
    He swiped a hand over his forehead. He had so much to make up for.
    If Norma could forgive him and she allowed him to move back home, he’d build her the sewing room