Hailey's Truth Read Free Page A

frightened boy.
    “Don’t leave me, Sissy! Please don’t leave me!”
    “I don’t want to, Jeremy.” Her voice broke, as did her heart. “I don’t have a choice. I love you.” Denise dragged her away and out the door, shutting the glass, silencing the wails of her brother as Mrs. Frazier mumbled scripture from the Bible.
    Hailey stared over her shoulder, looking into her brother’s shattered eyes, until she rounded the corner and lost sight of him. And lost hope.

Chapter 2

    December 2013

    H AILEY BENT DOWN AND PICKED up the deflated remains of two pink balloons. She tossed them in the trash along with pale yellow streamers and white baby duck confetti.
    “Thanks, Hailey. I’d do that myself, but...” Sarah shrugged and brushed her hands over her enormous belly.
    “Take a load off, Sarah. I’ve got this.”
    “You don’t have to ask twice.” Sarah blew out a breath as she settled herself in a dining room chair. “I’m ready for little Emma here to make her debut. I want to bend down again, to tie my own shoes. I can’t wait to be able to see my toes,” she chuckled.
    Hailey grinned. “Three more weeks…or less,” she added quickly when Sarah’s smile faded. “I bet she’ll be here before your due date.” She swiped up another balloon, shoved it in the trash bag. “Are you still going away next weekend?”
    “We’re planning to. Our last weekend away—just the three of us. We want it to be special for Kylee. Everything’s about to change. Can you still take care of Bear and Reece?”
    “Yeah, absolutely. I just wasn’t sure. You seem really uncomfortable.”
    “After Emma drops a bit I’ll feel better.” Sarah rubbed her palms in circles over her mound of baby. “How’s the new apartment? How are things working out with Jeremy back in your life?”
    “So far, so good.” Hailey beamed. “He found a job—a pretty decent one, in fact. He already bought a car and hasn’t been late with his half of the rent yet. I think that baby face of his helps him clean up in the tip department. I want him to get back to school, but we’ll start with steady employment first.”
    “ You’re still going back to school next month, right?”
    “Of course.” Hailey sat in the chair next to Sarah, met the worried look in her eyes. “This is a good thing, Sarah. Having my brother back in my life makes me happy. I know Jeremy’s had some trouble, but he’s trying to change. I have to give him a chance. He hasn’t had anyone.”
    “Oh, honey, I know.”
    Hailey picked up a piece of confetti, fiddled with the pink paper, feeling like a broken record. She’d had the same conversation with her old roommates yesterday at their once-a-month lunch bunch. “My parents died before Jeremy had an opportunity to turn himself around. I haven’t had a moment’s trouble with him over the last two months.”
    “I just worry a little bit because I love you so much.” Sarah took her hand. “You’re so good at taking care of everyone else. I want to be sure you’re taking care of yourself, too.”
    Hailey gave her fingers a squeeze. “I am. And I love you too.”
    “Have you heard anything about Project Mexico?”
    “No.” Hailey blew out a frustrated sigh. “I’m starting to think it isn’t going to happen. I really wanted to go, but the application pool is enormous. I could’ve made a difference, and the free credit hours wouldn’t have sucked either.” She jerked her shoulders, trying not to wallow in the gloom of a missed opportunity. “I’m going to sign up for two of the counseling classes I need when campus opens Monday morning. That’s what I can swing this semester.”
    “Hailey, we can lend you—“
    “No,” she cut Sarah off. “Sorry,” she smiled, her voice becoming gentler. “I appreciate the offer, but it’s important to me that I pay my own way. You and Ethan are more than generous with my wage.” She already owed them so much. They included her in holidays, birthdays,