| Romance Fiction posted October 2, 2025 | Chapters: |
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The True Story Is Told
A chapter in the book Yesterday's Dreams
The Untold Story Chap 11
by Begin Again
Not far from the cemetery, Noah pulled into a small parking lot outside Trixie's Donut Shop. Rachel stared through the windshield, lost in thought. Her tears had stopped, but her mind was still reeling with mixed emotions.
The truck's engine continued to purr as Noah studied her profile and felt the old pull —high school afternoons on the river, freshman year coffee runs, the way she laughed when they cut across lawns to beat curfew. He'd thought it might last. Then one day, she was gone — no note, no call, and he packed those feelings away because he had to. Seeing her again had cracked the lid. It wasn't new. Was it possible that his feelings had remained dormant in his heart, blocked by the pain and loss he felt when she left without a word?
"Noah, are you alright?" Rachel's hand reached to touch his arm.
"What? Oh yeah, I guess I was trying to put things in order in my mind. You seemed to have been lost in yours as well."
For the first time that day, a smile crossed her face and stayed there. "It's a lot to digest at once."
"Rachel — I didn't mean to crowd you. If I did —" he dropped his gaze and stared out the windshield.
She turned and touched his hand. "Oh, Noah, it's not you." She shifted closer to him. "I couldn't do this without you. I came home to pack boxes and find closure to my childhood. Instead — well, I walked into something I could never have imagined, and now I can't put it into one of those boxes and seal it away." She let her head rest against his shoulders. "I'm glad you're here."
Noah ran his hand across her cheek, murmuring, "Me, too."
She noticed the sign on the side of the building. "Trixie's," she said. "Mom and I used to stop for hot chocolate and chocolate-covered donuts. This has got to be the best donut shop in town. Does Trixie still own it?"
"She does. Why don't I grab some donuts and hot chocolate, and you can make your phone calls to Bill and Karen? I'm sure they are worried."
*****
"Karen, it's Rach."
"Finally! Are you with Noah?"
"Yes, he found me at the cemetery."
"The cemetery? I thought you went home to talk to Mark."
"I did. It didn't go well."
"Girl, you've had us worried sick. I thought Bill was going to have a stroke sitting here waiting."
"Tell him I'm sorry."
"I would, but he took off a little while ago. Said something about doing some digging on his own."
"Oh dear, that doesn't sound good. People might not like a stranger prying into things that have been buried."
"Tell me about it. I'm sitting here with Tessa and —"
Rachel cut her off. "You found Tessa? Is she willing to —"
"Rach, come up for air, okay? Tessa's really nervous, but she does admit that the night has changed her life and not for the better. It seems as if Joe and his cronies kept close tabs, ensuring she never spoke about what she saw."
"I can relate. My father's anger sent me running to the city. I'm sorry for what she had to live with. Is she willing to talk to me?"
The line was muffled, and then Karen returned. "She's frightened, but I told her I wouldn't leave her side. She has to go back to work but says she'll be off by three."
"She's not going to change her mind, is she?"
"Nope, I'll be waiting right outside to pick her up. Should I call Bill and tell him to meet us at Mrs. Lawson's around 3:15?"
"Sounds good. Tell Tessa I really appreciate the fact that she's willing to talk to us. See you later."
"I'm not sure it's fair to say she's willing, but she has agreed to meet with us."
"Karen, you didn't —"
"Rach, don't get too worked up about it. I didn't strong-arm her if that's what you are thinking. I just reminded her that withholding evidence was a crime. Oh yeah, and I did mention that if Joe was back on the streets, her life might be in danger. It's the truth, isn't it?"
"Yes, but —"
"No buts! She's agreed to meet us, and that's a start. Here, listen for yourself."
Static filled the line for a moment, and then a trembling voice spoke, "Rachel, it's Tessa. I've agreed to come to your meeting, but if it comes to court —"
Karen's voice came back on the line, "We're not going to worry about any of that right now. We only want to learn the facts." The line was quiet for a second, and then Karen said, "We'll see you at Mrs. Lawson's."
*****
Noah slowed as he turned onto Ashland Avenue. Rachel's fingers were locked around the seat belt, knuckles pale. Her face had gone the color of paper.
Noah slowed as he turned onto Ashland Avenue. Rachel's fingers were locked around the seat belt, knuckles pale. Her face had gone the color of paper.
"You want to wait?" he asked. "We can circle the block. Or go somewhere else."
She shook her head. "No." She hesitated and added, "It's just — I'm afraid of my own house, Noah. The place I grew up in has a story I never saw. Or I did, and I shoved it somewhere I couldn't reach."
"Okay," he said. "We'll do this together."
He parked half a block down. They got out. The air felt colder on this street. As they walked, Rachel glanced toward the driveway and came to a stop. Mark stood by the garage, his sleeves rolled up, a shovel in his hand. Fresh dirt clung to the blade. He didn't move. He just stared at her.
Rachel went still. Noah stepped closer, set an arm around her shoulders, steady but not tight. "Mrs. Lawson's porch," he said quietly.
She nodded. They turned their backs on the garage and climbed Mrs. Lawson's steps. Rachel kept her eyes on the door and didn't look back.
****
Mrs. Lawson opened the door before Noah's knuckles landed. "Come in," she said, "and be quick." She turned the deadbolt behind them. Rachel and Noah exchanged glances, but neither said a word.
Mrs. Lawson opened the door before Noah's knuckles landed. "Come in," she said, "and be quick." She turned the deadbolt behind them. Rachel and Noah exchanged glances, but neither said a word.
Her kitchen smelled like coffee and cinnamon rolls. Yellow curtains half-closed the window that faced Rachel's hedge. Coffee cups were waiting on the table.
"Mark's out there," Rachel said. "In the driveway."
"I know." Mrs. Lawson pulled a narrow spiral from a drawer and flipped to the last page. "He was out in the backyard late last night, too. He had some kind of work light rigged up." She tapped her pencil notes. "I wrote it down —12:18 a.m. —yard light on. 12:31 —metal scraping and 12:50 —light off."
Rachel kept a hand on the envelope with the pictures. "Karen and Tessa should be here soon. And I think Bill will be coming as well."
As if called by the name, the bell rang. Karen stepped in first, phone in hand; Tessa followed, eyes down. She hovered near the door as if she might back out. Seconds later, Bill arrived, removing his cap as he entered.
"Thanks for coming," Rachel said.
They took places at the little table — Mrs. Lawson at the corner, Rachel beside Noah, Karen across from Tessa. Bill remained standing, glancing out the window toward the backyard.
Rachel kept her voice even. "Tessa, can you start with Sharon?"
Tessa's hands tightened around each other. "Sharon drove me," she said. "My mom's car was in the shop. We came past Miller's. Joe was outside. There was a crowd gathering, and a fight broke out. Fists flying everywhere. Sharon had one of those throwaway cameras." She swallowed. "She took a couple of pictures through the window."
"Are you sure it was my father?"
Tessa nodded. "We knew him. The fight was just getting started; people were shouting. We didn't stay. We swung through the Burger Drive-In for food and ate in the car." She swallowed. "By the time we turned onto your street, Joe's truck was already up on the curb. He and another man were beating a third."
Mrs. Lawson said, "That was Anthony. I'd cleaned him up and bandaged him. He'd gone to your mother's, but no one answered. He was leaving when Joe showed."
Rachel's fingers tightened. "Where was I?"
Mrs. Lawson met her eyes. "You weren't home. Julia told me you were at a sleepover — the Carsons' girl, two streets over. That's why Mark was the only one on the porch when I ran up. He froze. Didn't move."
"Then what happened? Where was Mom?"
Tessa picked up the thread. "Sharon told me to stay in the car. I didn't. I ran to the porch. Mark stared at me as if he couldn't hear. Your mom got between them. I saw Joe slam his fist into her face. I screamed. Joe was cursing and yelling that he was going to kill both of them."
"I grabbed Mark and Tessa, and we went into my house. Mark stood at the window, not saying a word." Mrs. Lawson sighed. "I guess Julia got into Sharon's car, and Joe and his buddy must have shoved Anthony into the truck." Mrs. Lawson nodded. "After the shouting stopped, I heard the truck door and tires as they sped away. Later," she tapped the notebook," I heard what sounded like shovels."
Tessa's voice splintered. "I'll never forget how Joe looked at us that night," she said. "Right at us with his cold eyes. The following day, he showed up at my school. Followed me in his truck until no one was around. Then he got out and shoved me inside. Took me down by the mill. I was sure he was going to kill me then and there." Tessa buried her face in her hands, and the tears started to flow.
"Oh, Tessa. You must have been terrified. I'm so sorry."
Between gulps for air, she added, "I've had nightmares ever since. I remember his hands around my throat, screaming if I told anyone what happened, he'd find me and kill me and then my family."
Karen leaned in, gentle but firm. "You'll tell the station what you told us," she said. "I'll sit next to you. He's never going to get near you — ever. I promise."
Tessa nodded once. "I'll hold you to that promise."
Suddenly, the back door flew open, and Mark stood in the doorway.
Noah slid his chair back and stood. His voice was calm, but his fingers tightened on the back of the chair. "You need something, Mark?"
Mark waved his gloved hand toward Rachel. "Mom says for her to come home." He laughed hysterically and then turned around, marching back out of the house. He shouted over his shoulder, "You're in trouble now, little sister."
Noah moved to the door and locked the latch. "Rachel, you aren't going back home tonight. I'm afraid Mark is on the verge of a nervous breakdown."
Bill's gaze moved to the window, then to the notebook. His jaw set. "I talked to an old army buddy of mine. He's a detective now. His name is Paul Runyard. We had lunch, and I filled him in on the details. He says it was before his time, but he's had his own run-ins with Joe, so he's prepared to listen to what we've found."
Noah nodded. "Well, that's a start, just getting someone to pay attention and listen."
"Paul's a good guy. I'm not promising that he'll be able to follow through, but I know he'll listen."
They reviewed the plan: Karen with Tessa to the station at four; Mrs. Lawson after. Rachel and Noah would go to the bank, the jeweler, and the clock shop, and everyone would return to the station by five for copies and signatures.
Tessa stood first, still shivering but not retreating. "I'll come back," she said. "I'm tired of being scared."
"Why don't you stay with me tonight, Tessa?" Karen said. "And you too, Rachel."
Noah moved and placed his hand on Rachel's shoulder. "She can stay in the apartment. I'll stand watch."
The kitchen quieted. Mrs. Lawson handed the notebook to Rachel. "Take it," she said. "Photocopy it and bring it back."
"I will," Rachel said. "Thank you."
They stood. Noah unbolted the door and checked the steps. "Clear."
On the porch, the air felt colder. Rachel looked straight ahead, not toward the hedge, the house, or the backyard. She didn't want to think about Mark or any of it at the moment.
"Ready?" Noah asked.
"Ready."
They went down the walk together. At the curb, Noah unlocked the truck. Rachel slid in and set the notebook on top of the envelope, palm flat on both. He put the truck in gear and drove away, eager to put distance between Mark and Rachel.
Behind them, Mark dropped to his knees, clawing at the dirt with bare hands. Pebbles scraped under his nails as he dug faster, muttering, "I know it's here — Daddy said it was here." Then his fingers closed around something small and cold. He lifted it to his chest, whispering, "I've got it, Daddy. Just like you wanted me to."
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