Family Secrets

By Linda Barr

Michael, Alis new stepfather, is kind and generousat first. Then he starts setting all kinds of rules for Ali, her mom, and her little brother. And Michael gets furious when anyone breaks his rules. Then Ali sees bruises on her mom, who wont admit that anything is wrong. She isnt about to let her second marriage fail. As Michael grows more impatient and demanding with all of them, especially her little brother, Ali worries about their safety. But what can she do? Michael can be very charming, so who will believe how he acts when no one else is around? One night, Ali is forced to face the truth. She has to do somethingbefore its too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 17, 2000
• ISBN: 9781462098958

Linda Barr

Linda Barr, a freelance writer, has written eight novels that deal with the serious problems that young people face today. She wrote Family Secrets to help young people realize that when they are afraid that someone will find out what is happening in their home, something is very wrong.

Book preview

Family Secrets

All Rights Reserved © 2000 by Linda Barr

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by Writer’s Showcase presented by Writer’s Digest an imprint of iUniverse.com, Inc.

For information address: iUniverse.com, Inc. 620 North 48th Street Suite 201 Lincoln, NE 68504-3467

www.iuniverse.com

ISBN: 0-595-09303-5

ISBN: 978-1-4620-9895-8 (ebook)

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Epilogue

Afterword

About the Author

To the young people who are keeping family secrets that hurt them, physically and emotionally.

Please tell someone.

Chapter 1

Ali swallowed hard. You and Michael are getting married? she asked her mother in a whisper.

Jill Campbell took a deep breath and gently pulled her daughter into the chair next to her at the kitchen table. She squeezed Ali’s hand. Honey, I want to marry Michael more than anything in the world. And he wants to be a real father to you and Jamie, not like your first dad.

My first dad? Ali had never heard her mother refer to him that way. And she wasn’t at all sure she needed a second dad.

Ali did like Michael. He looked a little stern, with his wire-rimmed glasses and his dark, wavy hair combed straight back from his forehead. Still, he seemed to care about her.

Ali knew her first dad wouldn’t have remembered which day she had choir try-outs at school, but Michael did. That evening when he came over to see her mom, he asked Ali how she did. When she told him she had been chosen, he took them all out for ice cream to celebrate.

But now her mom and Michael were getting married! They would all live together—but where? Are we going to move? Will I have to go to a new school? Ali couldn’t hide the panic in her voice.

She had just dragged home from another day of tenth grade at Fairwood High School. It was the middle of September, but Ali was still struggling to get to all her classes on time. The high school was huge, and her classrooms were so far apart this year!

She didn’t know if she would ever be able to do all the homework her teachers kept assigning.

I can’t start over at some strange new school, Ali told herself. I just can’t! I’d be totally lost! Moving meant losing her best friend, too. What would she do without Erin? Ali felt her stomach tighten into a knot. She reached up and twisted a strand of chestnut-brown hair that had escaped from her ponytail.

Ali, don’t worry! Her mom hugged her and smiled. We aren’t moving! Michael is going to sell his condo and move in here. Almost nothing will change. Except you’ll finally have a father who cares about you more than he cares about his job!

They weren’t moving! Ali’s stomach relaxed a little. But she couldn’t miss the anger that had crept into her mother’s voice. Her parents had been divorced for more than a year. Yet her mom was still furious at her father for totally ignoring his family, as she put it.

Ali thought her dad really did care about her and Jamie, who was eight now. Still, her father had stayed at his office day and night, even most weekends. Last spring, he had made it to only one of Ali’s softball games. Even then, he missed the first two innings—and Ali’s only home run of the season.

Michael asked me to marry him last night, her mother said with a big smile. I wanted to tell you and Jamie this morning, but I guess I forgot to set my alarm.

Ali nodded. When she had gotten up that morning, her mom’s bedroom door was closed, and Ali guessed she was still asleep. She had decided not to wake her. She knew her mother deserved some extra sleep after all the overtime she worked for the insurance company. At least her mom brought work home instead of staying at her office all evening.

And Ali knew they needed the overtime pay her mom earned. Her mother’s income and her dad’s child support checks didn’t stretch far enough. Ali hated to ask her mom for money for new clothes. She couldn’t wait until December 1, when she turned sixteen. Then she could finally get a job and make some money of her own.

That morning while her mother slept, Ali had made sure Jamie ate breakfast and helped him find his school books. A few minutes after he left, it was time for her to go, too.

Ali had yelled up the stairs, Time to get up, Mom! The floor boards creaked overhead as her mother got out of bed. Then Ali remembered that Michael had stopped by the night before. He and her mom had been laughing together in the living room when Ali went to bed.

Her mother had shuffled downstairs, wrapping her old blue terry-cloth robe around her slender body. Her short, blondish-brown curls were tangled. Ali grinned and shook her head. Still mostly asleep, I see. No more partying on a work night for you!

Her mom had smiled, and the sleepiness had left her eyes. Ali, Michael….

Just then, Ali had glanced at the kitchen clock. Oops! I gotta go! Tell me tonight, Mom! Ali hurried out the door. Erin would be waiting for her at the corner so they could walk to school together.

Sitting with Ali in the kitchen now, her mom said, Anyway, I couldn’t wait to tell you and Jamie the good news, so I came home from work early. Look!

Her mother held out her left hand. A huge diamond caught the sun coming in the window and sent cascades of sparkles across the kitchen walls and cabinets. Ali wondered what her mom had done with the engagement and wedding rings her dad—her real dad—had given her.

It’s beautiful, Mom, she managed to say. Michael must be rich.

Her mom nodded. Well, he does make a good salary—without spending 24 hours a day at work. And he has a special surprise for you! Actually, it’s for your birthday!

For my birthday? But that isn’t for two and a half months! She and Erin had been counting the days until December 1. Erin’s sixteenth birthday was in May, too far away to even think about.

Along with a job, Ali hoped to get her driver’s license as soon as possible after her birthday. Then she and Erin wouldn’t ever again have to beg her mom or anyone else to take them to the movies or the mall. Ali figured her mom wouldn’t mind lending them her car sometimes. It was old, but it still ran.

So what is Michael getting me for my birthday? Ali wondered. It couldn’t be a car…, could it? No, cars are really expensive! Get real, Ali.

Just then, they heard the front door burst open and slam against the wall behind it. Jamie’s home! they said together.

As his mother told him the big news, Jamie pushed his glasses back up his freckled nose. Then he said, Okay! Is Michael coming over now? Will he help me with my spelling words again? He helped me a lot last week, remember? And I only got two wrong on the test! Wow! Look at how your new ring sparkles! Can I wear it for a while, Mom?

Well, I’m not allowed to take it off, honey, his mother lied. Jamie had a way of losing things.

Okay, he said. But it’s real pretty, Mom, just like you!

As Jamie bent his blond head over the sparkly ring, Ali and her mom smiled at each other.

Michael will be a good father to you both, Mrs. Campbell whispered, almost to herself.

Just then Grant, Jamie’s friend who lived down the block, yanked open the front door and yelled, Hey, Jamie, are you home? Want to play Star Wars, dude?

Yeah, but I get to be Darth Vader this time! Jamie rushed