Secrets Read Free

contact?”
    “No, I—”
    “Is there anyone you know in Glenbrooke?”
    “Yes, Hugh McGregor.” Her words came out slurred. “He’s the principal at the high school. He hired me. I’m a teacher.” She found
p’s
and
m’s
especially difficult to enunciate.
    The doctor adjusted his glasses and gingerly sat on the edge of Jessica’s bed. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard about Hugh yet.”
    Jessica imagined the worst.
    “He came in two days ago, apparently with a stroke. He’s in stable condition but has suffered partial paralysis. He’s not able to speak at this point.”
    “Is he here now?” Jessica asked, trying to sit up and instantly feeling her head swim. “Can I see him?”
    “He’s on the second floor. I do suggest you wait until the morning, Miss Fenton. The best thing for you is rest. You have quite a lot of adjusting to do when you get out of here in the morning. The nurse will be in soon to give you something to help you sleep. Good night.”
    Dr. Laughlin strode to the doorway, where he stopped and turned around. He smiled sympathetically at Jessica and said, “By the way, welcome to Glenbrooke. I imagine you’ll have my daughter in your class. Dawn. Dawn Laughlin. She’ll be a junior this year. I’m told she’s the most popular girl in school.”
    Jessica forced a lopsided smile and tried to nod. The way he announced this bit of news almost sounded as if he were apologizing, which made Jessica wonder what a doctor with a popular daughter would have to apologize for.
    “Sleep well,” Dr. Laughlin said, and vanished into the brightly lit hallway, closing the door behind him.
    With the pain reliever wearing off, the brunt of her aches and bruises assaulted Jessica in the stillness of the room. But the most painful sensation of all was realizing she was by herself in a hospital bed in a strange town, and her only friend lay in bed on the floor above her, in worse shape than she.
    Tomorrow morning she would be released from the hospital, and then what? Where would she go? Mr. McGregor had set up her housing for her, but if he were unable to speak, how would she find out where she was supposed to live? And if she did find the house, how would she get there? Was anything left of her car? And what about all her belongings that had been so carefully packed and wedged into the back seat and trunk?
    Another fear slowly crept over her, one that overshadowed all the rest. What if, somehow, in all this, her true identity were discovered? Everything would be ruined. After all her careful planning, all her efforts to cover any tracks that would trace her to this small town tucked away in the Willamette Valley ofOregon, could be destroyed with one tiny slip-up.
    As tears began to form in her eyes, she remembered that today was her birthday. Turning her head into the stiff hospital pillow, Jessica sobbed out her fears and hurts. Never in her life had she felt so completely and painfully alone.

Chapter Two

    M iss Fenton?” The morning nurse gently touched Jessica’s arm. “I need to take your temperature now.” Jessica rolled over and tried to focus on the woman standing by the bed. Then it all came back. The accident, the hospital, the stitches in her lip, and Kyle.
    Funny that I should think of him
. Jessica adjusted herself so the nurse could perform her duties.
    “What time is it?” Jessica asked.
    “Almost eight o’clock. You can go after the doctor sees you. Would you like some breakfast?”
    “I guess. Sure.” Jessica thought of her bloody clothes and wondered where they were. She didn’t remember putting on the hospital gown.
    The nurse finished taking Jessica’s blood pressure and marking the results on the chart. She then slipped out of the room and returned a short time later with a breakfast tray. Oatmeal, orange juice, and toast.
    Jessica managed to take a few bites and decided it could be worse. She wasn’t sure how, but it could be.
    As soon as the doctor on duty gave Jessica