A Hidden Truth

The Awful Truth

[3rd person]

    Juniper was laying on her bed. She’d gone out to have supper when it was ready, but everyone was stiff. Remy had never seen her physically violent, it disturbed him. She was his soft, but stern, big sister who solved everything and reprimanded with words, not with her hands. She was constantly telling him not to hit other people. Her heart hurt from the wary look he gave her through dinner.

    Teddy had been hiding his smile through the meal. She knew he thought it was hilarious, because he’d laughed for a solid ten minutes outside of her door earlier. Their mother had been quiet. She didn’t talk unless it was absolutely necessary, like someone had removed her spirit.

    They would meet again in a few minutes for cake, but Juniper told them a birthday song and candles wasn’t necessary with everything they’d been through that day. She said she understood if no one feeling festive. It wasn’t the worst birthday she’d ever had. That had been the one right after her father died. And she looked at the positive of knowing she wouldn’t have to deal with Hank.

    There was a knock at her door. She didn’t know if she should answer. It was still embarrassing to think her family witnessed her behaving so badly. Juniper didn’t like that everyone saw, but she couldn’t stop thinking of how good it felt to have Jaxon hold her and kiss her. At least he’d ensured she wouldn’t associate her birthday with the final loss of control over her person it would have been.

    The knock came again.

    “Juniper Fordyce. Open this door.” Her mother demanded.

    She jumped up and unlocked her door, opening it, and letting her mother in. Marie-Rose looked around as she entered. She hadn’t been to Juniper’s room in years. It had changed a lot from horses and ribbons to a more serious design.

    Framed pictures of her family hanged around a corkboard that had pictures of her friends. The colors in the room had gone from pastels to somber dark colors. It was meticulously clean and organized.

    “Juniper. I understand how you feel about Jaxon kissin’ you in front of everyone in such a… lewd fashion. It might be best if we pretend it didn’t happen. If Hank hears about it, he would be very upset and I don’t want him gettin’ in more legal trouble because of you.” Marie-Rose said.

    Juniper froze, looking at the floor. She knew she should have expected it, but it was still shocking to hear. Of course her mother blamed her, and not Hank, for his decision.

    “I’ll have Teddy let him know, mama. I didn’t ask Hank to go after Clayton. I was going to go talk to his parents myself.” Juniper responded quietly.

        Marie-Rose had thought to keep her life as it was, but this whole thing was just too much. She refused to let this slide. Hank wasn’t here to stop her from doing what she’d been wanting to since he told her he was having feelings for Juniper. 

    “That’s all well and good, but the fact of the matter is, this whole affair has gone too far. I’m not havin’ it anymore. You will come out for cake, apologize to Remy, and tell everyone you’ve decided to move out. Tonight and tomorrow, you will pack your things and find a place to stay that is not on this property. You will not return. On Remy’s birthday, Teddy will bring him to meet you for the things you’ve promised. After that, I don’t want you talkin’ to my son ever again. Stay away from my home, my family, and my husband.” She snarled.

    Finally, she'd gotten to do what she’d wanted to do since the first time he left her bed to go to her daughter’s. Marie-Rose couldn’t stand the fact that her daughter would accept her stepfather’s advances, then turn down those of a completely acceptable single man. She wasn't having it.

    It told her Juniper had designs on Hank. That she loved him and planned to steal him. Before this, she’d been willing to wait for her daughter to leave for college. She was willing to turn a blind eye, so Hank would be happy in their marriage, but she wasn’t willing to sit by and watch him leave her for her own daughter. It angered her beyond measure that Remy treated Juniper like a second mother. If she didn’t do something soon, she was certain her daughter would take away everything.

    Juniper stared at her mother. She’d been trying to save her from finding out, but hadn’t thought she might actually already know. The whole agreement she’d made with Hank, had been based on the idea that her mother wouldn’t find out. She wondered if he’d even been serious about kicking them out, or if it had been an empty threat he knew she wouldn’t question.

    She sank to her knees and started breathing heavily. The things she’d let him do to her. The things she’d done on his orders. The way she removed herself from everything and every relationship just to honor the agreement he’d never even been serious about. All of it came crashing over her.

    “How long have you known?” Juniper asked shakily.

    “Since the first time. Since he told me he was thinkin’ of you like that. I thought you’d turn him down. I didn’t realize what a little w***e you were.” She sneered.

    Tears fell from Juniper’s eyes. “He told me if I didn’t he’d leave you, mama. I did everything I could to make sure you’d get to keep him. Because he made you happy, because I loved you enough to let him so you’d be safe. I didn’t want to. I never wanted to. Why didn’t you tell him to stop?”

    “Don’t give me that! He told me the things you’d probably say if you found out I knew. Now you know, now you can leave. You can’t have my husband, Juniper Fordyce. And you better not come ‘round sayin’ you’re pregnant, either. He’s never leavin’ me. No matter what he promised you. Men say a lot of things they don’t plan to make good on when they’re ruttin’. Now, clean yourself up, come to the dinin’ room, and be polite. I’m bein’ generous.” Marie-Rose said sternly and swept out of the room.  

    Juniper gave herself some time to process. She cleaned her face and put on her fake smile. It was how she’d been raised. Never show people what you feel. Keep yourself to yourself. No one can hurt you if they don’t know what hurts you. She would do as her mother directed. For no other reason, than it was what she’d always done.

    In the dining room, she smiled and talked as if nothing had happened. She apologized to Remy and he gave her a hug. Juniper held on to him a little longer and a little tighter than she normally would have. It was one of the last few hugs she’d get from her little brother.

    When they were finished with their cake, she stood up. The serene, blank look on her mother’s face made her stomach twist again. She realized, Marie-Rose was enjoying this.

    “I… I have an announcement. I wanted to say thank you to everyone for making this a memorable birthday. I love all of you very much. That being said, I’m moving out this weekend. I won’t be coming back. Remy, I will see you on your birthday and I want you to be on your very best behavior for your mama and daddy. I’m an adult now and I need to learn how to live as one. It’s best if I leave before Hank gets back. I do feel truly terrible for my part in his arrest. I hope you’ll convey my regrets to him. I’m going to go start packing. I’ll see you all in the morning.” Juniper said softly as she turned to leave.

    “What? What are you talkin’ ‘bout Juni-bug? You can’t leave.” Teddy declared with a worried tone.

    “I can and I will.” She stated firmly and left the room.

    The room was still. Remy started crying and Teddy swept him into his arms, holding him tightly. Their mother sat with a small smirk. She was glad Juniper hadn’t tried to throw the blame on her. At least she knew her daughter took responsibility for her actions. While Teddy comforted Remy, Marie-Rose followed Juniper to her room and slipped in the door.

    She was already pulling bags from the bottom of her closet and cataloguing what things she’d need and what she’d be able to abandon. While she’d been out with her friends, she stopped at the bank to take her stepfather and mother off her accounts. Juniper had a notebook out, so she could figure out everything she’d need to do to take care of herself.

    “You did pretty well. I’ll make sure Hank knows I’ll leave him if he tries to go after you. He needs me more than he wants you. I’ll win if you try to fight for him. So don’t think you can steal him now I’ve kicked you out.”

    Juniper took a deep breath. This wasn’t her mother speaking to her. It was her abuser’s wife. She had no mother. Her mother died when her father did. She turned to Marie-Rose.

    “What I did out there was for Remy. Not because I feel anything for you. Your husband is a disgusting, pervert. If you keep lettin’ him do what he pleases, he’s likely to get Halsteaded. I don’t want him. I never did. And you don’t have to worry about me comin’ back knocked up, ‘cause I never had s*x with the sick f**k. I told him I wanted to stay a virgin until I was eighteen. So thank you for this amazin’ gift, Mrs. Merritt! I don’t have to f**k your husband, or let him touch me or talk to me ever again.

You won’t have to worry about seein’ me again, because I wouldn’t wish to be associated with someone who would let their husband use their daughter instead of leavin’! Especially, the kind of dumbass b***h who would blame her daughter for not bein’ able to stop him! You have no idea what you and your husband put me through. I’m pretty sure you don’t care, since you’re too selfish to care about anyone but yourself! Now, get outta this room before I show you what I’ve been learnin’ from Tammy these last three years and make you regret comin’ to try an’ get the last word in!” She shouted.

    Marie-Rose quickly turned and left. She’d never seen Juniper that angry and was a little afraid of what would happen if she stayed. When Juniper was little she used to have problems, but Marie-Rose thought she’d grown out of it.

    She didn’t even see Teddy as she ran into him. Marie-Rose bounced off her eldest son and looked up at his face. It was cold. An icy glare she’d never seen on Teddy before.

    “I heard all that, you know.” He said quietly.

    “She’s been havin’ an affair with my husband. I did what I had to do. She’s just makin’ things up to try and make me feel badly, Teddy.” She squared her shoulders.

    “What she said is true. I heard him threaten her before. I comfort her every night, but she didn’t wanna run, because she didn’t wanna hurt you. But you knew and you let him. I’ll be leavin’ with my sister. You’d do well to keep the cause of our movin’, out of the public. We’ll keep the secret, because Remy shouldn’t have to live knowin’ his daddy’s a pervert who touched his big sister. You keep your promise about her seein’ him for his birthday, or I have a whole group of men who’d be more ‘n happy to come uphold our town’s traditions. I suggest you stay in your room until we’re gone tomorrow if you know what’s good for you and your bastard husband.” Teddy spat and pushed roughly past his mother.

    He entered Juniper’s room to find her meticulously folding her clothing and arranging every piece into her bags. Through the years, he’d pretended to be silly and lighthearted to keep her from spiraling, but he was seeing that she was stronger than he’d thought. Part of him knew it was because she believed she was alone now. With no one to support her, Juniper became her own support. He didn’t want that for her. They were family.

    “Juni-bug. I heard everythin’ just then.” Teddy said. She stiffened. “I’m goin’ too. I can’t stay in a house with her. Not with you bein’ alone. Remy’ll be fine. He has Twyla, Kelsey, and his mama. You only ever had me and Carson. You know Hank lied. Carson never stole. And he kicked him out while he was out of the house, which is why he never came back. He’s been tryin’ to see us, but Hank and Marie-Rose made it impossible. I saw him today. He misses us. We can all be together until you leave for school. I might even come with. You’re the only thing I like about this town, anyway.”

    She turned and he saw she’d been crying. Teddy rushed to her and pulled her to him, holding his baby sister as tight as he could. Juniper pressed her face into his chest and started sobbing. Everything was falling apart. Everything she’d worked to protect was being torn to pieces.

    When she calmed down, he sat her on the bed and knelt in front of her. Teddy reached in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. He handed it to her and rubbed her knee.

    “I’ll call Carson and see what our options are. Then, I’ll get help lined up for tomorrow. You just focus on packin’ up, honey. I’ll come back and sleep with you tonight. Don’t worry, sweetheart. Your Teddy’s here. Ain’t no one gonna hurt you again.” He crooned.

    “Why didn’t she stop him, Teddy? Why didn’t I see it? I’m so damned stupid for bein’ so smart. How could I have given myself up to protect that… thing? I lost so much, so much more than what he took.” Juniper’s voice quivered.

    “She’s sick and stupid. Now, she’s gonna be alone with it. And with him. You’re free, baby. Not the way we wanted, but the way that works. You get to packin’ and I’m gonna head to my room. Okay? You just come on over if you need me.” Teddy assured her.

    Juniper nodded and started folding again. She set aside an outfit for the next day and Teddy left the room.