Page 38 of Little Hidden Fears

“His drinking problems were common knowledge around town. The abuse didn’t come to light until the night Gabe did ... well, did what he did to Noelle.”

“The night she was assaulted in the park, you mean?”

Joanie nodded. “He’d smacked her around and then ... you know the rest—he began apologizing, striking himself in the face, saying he was ashamed. It was then he admitted the abuse he’d suffered. He even lifted his shirt, showing her what he said was proof of the abuse.”

“Any chance the bruises were self-inflicted?”

“I can’t say, though, knowing the rumors around town back then about his father, I doubt it.”

“What happened after Gabe apologized?”

“He begged for Noelle’s forgiveness.”

“How did she react?”

“She was scared, afraid he’d hurt her again, in the same way or worse. She wouldn’t look at him, wouldn’t speak to him. He grabbed a knife out of his pocket, held it to his neck, and threatened to kill himself.”

I slapped a hand over my mouth. “I wasn’t aware. Dominic left that part out.”

“I’m not surprised. Dominic never believed any of Gabe’s antics were sincere.”

“And you? What do you think?”

“I think Gabe was a troubled boy. Trouble or no, it doesn’t justify rape.”

I agreed.

“What did Noelle do when Gabe threatened to commit suicide?” I asked.

“She asked him to get out of the car.”

“And did he?”

“Yes, he apologized a few more times, and then he took off running.”

The story I’d been told by Dominic had taken a sharp turn, causing me to wonder what else I didn’t know.

“After hearing Zoey and Dominic talk about the type of person Noelle was, I’m surprised she’d ever be interested in a guy like Gabe, even as a teenager. He doesn’t strike me as the type of guy she would have dated.”

“Teenagers are full of surprises. You have any?”

“I do not. The closest in our family is my niece, Lark. She’s almost twelve, and she seems to have her head on straight. I guess we’ll see.”

“No kids of your own?”

I considered telling her about Fallon, about the accident, about her death, but the truth was, I didn’t see any reason why I should.

I shook my head and left it at that.

Joanie broke eye contact, glancing at a nearby wall where several pictures were hanging. I recognized Noelle in a few of them. In every photo, she looked happy and radiant, like a woman living her life to the fullest.

“Noelle was our happy child,” she said. “A ball of positive energy. That all changed the night Gabe took her virtue. As a parent, it’s hard to forgive, and even harder to forget. If it wasn’t for Dominic swooping in when he did, giving her something to live for, heaven knows what would have happened.”

“Dominic spoke of his love for Noelle yesterday. What they had seemed special.”

“It was, and I worry for Kiera, about how these circumstances will shape her life moving forward.”

“She has you and your family.”