Page 4 of Search for the Truth
“Good girl, Clem,” Blake said, relief washing over her. “Now let’s get moving!”
That relief lasted for the time it took to get from the house to the Seven Roads High School’s main gym. Since the town had limited space, any and every big event had been held in the same building since even before Blake had been a student there. Now in her thirties, it felt odd enough to park in the same lot she had when she was sixteen. It was a sentiment that she didn’t have the luxury to let linger too long.
The second she had Clem out of her car seat, the child decided to become a world-class soccer player. Without a ball she made do with her shoes. One hit the floorboard, the other soared over Blake’s shoulder like she had it headed straight for the game-winning goal.
“Forget the shoe,” Lola said, hustling around. “Here, you take Bruce, I’ll get Clem backstage, and you get us a seat. I already let Janie know we’re heading in, so she’s waiting at the door.”
Blake was used to giving orders, but she had been finding that since moving back to her hometown, listening to Lola had become second nature. So she did as she was told. They switched kids and both sprinted off in different directions. Bruce squealed in delight at the rush. Blake just hoped there were seats available since they were downright late.
The gym lobby had a handmade banner that read Brightwell Daycare: What We Learned stretched over the three sets of double doors. Only two people were inside the lobby, but neither paid attention to Blake as she hurried to the doors. She peered through the glass and let out a breath.
The stage was empty.
The show hadn’t started.
They still had time to grab some seats and maybe avoid people even noticing she was there.
She put her free hand on the door, ready to go inside, when that hope was dashed.
“Blake Bennet?”
One of the two other people in the lobby was now standing at her side. It had been years since Blake had been back to Seven Roads for any real length of time, and yet she recognized the woman instantly.
Corrie Daniels.
Blake would have preferred being trapped in an interrogation room with a feral tiger than talk with Corrie “Gossip Queen” Daniels.
But since that wasn’t an option, Blake pulled her fake smile on tight.
“Hey there, Corrie. It’s been a while.”
“It has!” she exclaimed before letting out a trill of unnecessary laughter. She motioned to the front doors behind them. “I had to do a double take when I saw you. I mean, I heard you were back, but I guess seeing is believing, you know?”
Her gaze fell to Bruce.
Blake knew where this was going, and she wanted to nip it in the bud.
She made sure her smile stayed on and did her own little laugh.
“Actually, do you mind if we catch up later?” Blake asked. “Clem is in the program and we’re running a bit late, so I still need to get some seats.”
Corrie’s entire expression fell into one of immense pity. Blake knew the look well by now. She had been getting it since her sister Beth’s funeral. Never mind when word had gotten out that Blake would be raising her children. That pity seemed to split between the children losing their mother, Beth losing her life and Blake stumbling into a new reality she had never prepared for.
Blake had to hand it to Corrie though. While a lot of people tried to pretend that life had gone exactly the way they had planned it to, Corrie didn’t even bother putting on airs. Why walk on eggshells when you only care about eating the omelet?
She reached out and patted Blake’s shoulder.
“You come see me when you have the time,” she cooed. “I know all of this must be so hard on you. I don’t even know if I could do it. Never mind by myself. Poor thing.”
Fake words. Fake concern. Fake pity.
Blake despised it.
Blake felt the strength behind her smile waver.
Anger was starting to claw its way up instead.
Thankfully, her personal jack-in-the-box popped up just in time.
