Page 64 of Under His Control

She purses her lips. “Well, part of the work should be the nicknames. He calls you Penelope. You call him Jacob. You guys will have to fix that.” She sighs. “I want closure for him. He’s still holding on to anger about what happened. I think he’ll be able to finally let it go if he can accept none of it was your fault.”

“Some of it was,” I say quietly. “I testified—”

She makes me pause by putting her hand on my arm just above my fading bruise.

“You spoke the words, but it was your mom who put them in your mouth.”

“I knew speaking them was wrong.”

“You and Alyssa remind me of myself and my mother when she was alive. You wanted to please your mom because her approval was the most important thing to you at the time.”

She shakes her head, a distant look on her face as she continues.

“You would set yourself on fire just to prove the lengths you’d go to for her love. Instead of putting you out of your misery, she would say how you never do anything right because why didn’t you douse yourself in gas first so the fire would be bigger.”

It’s horrible but true, and also kind of funny. I let out a snort which turns into a laugh we both share.

When our laughter fades, Elizabeth leans back in her seat.

“I won’t lie, Penny.” She swivels a solemn look at me. “I didn’t have the most charitable feelings for you for a while, especially after Jake developed a drinking problem.”

“He did?”

Guilt weighs in my stomach. That explains why I haven’t seen a single bottle of alcohol in this house. I thought it was because Jacob is health-conscious.

Elizabeth nods. “He avoided one prison yet wound up in a different one. He got free because he’s always been stubborn as hell. He sets his mind on something and gets it done, no matter what.”

Stubborn as hell.

That’s Jacob alright.

“Anyway, I’m not trying to guilt-trip you. I’m trying to say I stopped being mad because I found some empathy. For you. Not so much your mom but we won’t get into that.” She gives me an awkward smile. “So be patient with Jake, OK? He’ll come around too.”

I nod silently, feeling guiltier than ever despite what she said. She would go back to being mad at me if she found out the things I’ve done with her brother.

Elizabeth springs to her feet again and grins.

“Enough of this moody conversation. I’m fucking starving.”

I stand too. “I could make us an omelette.”

“Nah, I’m thinking a small town diner will hit the spot.” She rubs her stomach. “And I need to get out of here. After being cooped up in my car for two hours, this house feels like a prison cell.”

If only you knew how right you are, Liz.

She goes over to the coat rack and puts on her jacket and hat. After she slings her bag over her shoulder, she turns to me with an expectant look.

“Come on. Get dressed and let’s go.”

I squeeze my hands into fists, remembering Jacob’s threat that first day he took control of my life.

You will not leave this house.

Three strikes if you disobey.

He’ll make an exception for this, right? After all, I’m keeping his sister company in his absence.

I stand and go to Elizabeth.