That was the problem. She did feel that way. But she didn’t know if she was the best thing for Slade.
Her sister clamped her arm about Tory’s shoulder. “Okay, you and I need to talk. Something is definitely wrong and I don’t want to hear ‘Everything’s okay.’”
Tory cocked her head around to look at Judy. “Maybe I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I’m not accepting that. You need to talk about it. You keep too much inside, sis. Come on in and we’ll have a couple of cups of coffee. Whatever it takes.” With her arm still around Tory, Judy directed her toward the kitchen.
“Don’t you think we should get to the hospital?”
“Nope. Not until you and I have that talk.” Judy poured two mugs full of black coffee, then gave Tory hers. “Sit.”
“All this bossing around reminds me of when we were kids.”
Judy sat across from Tory. “And changing the subject will not work. What’s going on with you and Slade? Why were you sleeping in the den?”
Tory took in the stubborn set to her sister’s face and knew she wouldn’t be allowed to leave until they had discussed at least some of what was happening in her marriage.
“I see those wheels turning, Tory. You’re trying to figure out how much you can get away with not telling me. Let me help you get started. How much has coming back to Dallas affected you? I know you never wanted to return. And frankly, after the way some people treated you, I don’t blame you.” With her elbow on the table, Judy planted her chin on her fist and waited.
Tory raised the mug to her lips and took a long sip. “A lot. As long as I didn’t see people like Mrs. Clayton and Mrs. Johnston, I could pretend I was fine, that I’d put everything behind me. But, Judy, I saw the contempt in their faces. I felt all over again the humiliation and condemnation I experienced back then. I felt dirty, as though I had been in the wrong, not Brandon. I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but we had been dating. What if I le—”
Judy brought the flat of her hand down onto the wooden table. The sound echoed through the kitchen and caused Tory to flinch.
“Don’t you dare start doubting yourself. You did nothing wrong.”
Tory pointed to her head. “I know that in here.” Then she laid her hand over her heart. “But I can’t seem to grasp it in here.”
“I have someone I want you to talk to.” Judy went to the counter and grabbed a notepad and a pen. After scribbling on the paper, she tore it off and handed it to Tory. “We will continue this conversation after you see Susan Conway.”
“Now?”
Judy checked her watch. “Yes, she should be home. She’s a stay-at-home mom. I’ll call her to tell her you’re coming to see her.”
“Why?”
“I want her to tell you. It isn’t my place. Go talk to her.”
“What about Mom?”
“Mom would be the first person to tell you to take care of this before anything else. You can see her later. This is too important to your future.”
Future? Tory wasn’t sure what kind of future she had. Slade had left with Mindy, disappointed and upset with her. And she couldn’t really blame him.
Fifteen minutes later Tory rang Susan Conway’s doorbell. A young, attractive woman answered the door with a smile.
“Come in. Judy called me. For some time I’ve wanted to meet you and thank you.” Susan directed Tory into her living room and gestured for her to have a seat on the couch.
“Thank me? For what?”
“For doing something I couldn’t. For being braver than I could be.”
“Brave? Me?” Right now she didn’t feel that way.
Susan sat across from Tory in a wingback chair. “Let me tell you a story. Maybe then you’ll understand. Six years ago I was a freshman in college and ready to take the world by storm. I’d never been away from home, but I was confident I could handle anything. That was true until I dated Brandon Clayton.”
Tory’s breath caught in her throat, contracting it. She straightened, every muscle locked.
Susan’s gaze fell away as she continued. “We’d been dating about three weeks. I thought I was so lucky because he was older and quite popular on campus. My roommate couldn’t believe a senior was interested in me. I guess he thought I would do anything he wanted. When I wouldn’t, he forced himself on me and left me battered and bruised physically as well as emotionally.”
“But if he—”
Susan’s tear-filled gaze reconnected with Tory’s. “I didn’t report the rape. I was too ashamed and just wanted to forget it ever happened.”
Tory pushed her own feelings of shame aside and said, “But he hurt you!”
“At the time I thought maybe I’d done something wrong, something to provoke the assault. I dropped out of college and went home to lick my wounds.” A tear rolled down her face. “But you didn’t. You made him pay for what he did to you. I followed your trial closely and cheered when the verdict came in.”
Tory slid her eyes shut, wishing she’d known about Susan four years ago.
“When I finally got up enough nerve to meet you and tell you about what happened to me, you were gone. It wasn’t until later that I met your sister at church. Recently when I heard about your wedding, I told her about what happened to me and that I was glad you were able to move on with your life. She’s the only other person who knew about my rape except my husband and now you.”
“I wish I’d have known years ago. I thought I might have done something wrong.”
“I know I’ve been a coward. I didn’t realize until recently that part of my healing was because of you. I knew I hadn’t done
