Secretly

By T.J. Simpson

Mike is contacted by his after searching for him for many years. He is talked into coming back home, only to learn that his sister lied to him and has to deal with events of the past—the secrets that had to be kept in the dark and behind closed doors of that era.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781645448280

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Secretly

T.J. Simpson

Copyright © 2021 T.J. Simpson

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-64544-827-3 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-64544-828-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Mike stood by the window with a cup of coffee in his hand. He stood there looking over the city. Cars and buses started to fill the streets. Morning rush hour had started. Sunlight filled his apartment high above the city. It was another hot day in the city. Mike’s thoughts were on the busy workday before him. As Mike took a sip from his cup, a chill went down his back. Strange, he thought to himself. He turned around and stepped away from the window. There, he paused for a moment. Another chill went through him. Mike could sense something strange, but he just was not sure what it was. Mike took a look at the time. Damn! Better get ready for work, or he would be late. He went down the hall to his bedroom. Mike sat the coffee cup on the dresser and stepped over to his closet. As he reached in to take out his clothing, Mike froze. A sudden ring from the telephone startled him. He stood, not moving. That chill ran through him again. This sudden over whelming fear hit him and he didn’t want to answer the phone. The phone rang again. What the hell? Someone in the back of his mind was telling him not to answer the phone. Somehow he had this sick feeling that someone or something from the past had caught with him. He threw his clothes on the bed and stepped around to the phone. Slowly, he reached down, picked up the phone, and placed to his ear.

Mike hesitated for a moment then said, Hello.

Is this Mike Mason?

Yes, he replied.

This is your sister, Patty.

Mike’s hands began to shake. He sat down on the bed. He tried to speak, but nothing came out of his mouth. The voice from phone sounded familiar, but he could not place it. This voice was from a long time ago.

Somehow Mike finally asked, Who is this?

There was silence. Your sister, Patty.

Who? Mike thought to himself, This had to be a joke. Once more, there was silence on the phone. Mike again asked, Who?

Your sister, Pat.

Mike gripped the phone tighter in his hand. His voice bean to crack. He cleared his throat. He repeated the name into the phone. Patty? Mike felt sick. An awful felling swept over him. Fear that the past had come back to haunt him. Mike closed his eyes. All he could see was the flash of faces, lightning, and that man. Mike then repeated himself. Patty? Then Mike cleared his throat and got a grip on himself. Oh, this has to some kind of damn joke. There is no way my sister would look for me after all these years. Who the hell are you, and why are you playing such a sick-ass joke?

No, it’s really your sister.

Bullshit. My sister has not looked for me in fifty-eight years! What that bitch did to me!

Patty jumped in and cut him off, Mike, settle down. I’ve been looking for you for a long time.

Mike started to shake. Nothing but plain fear rushed over him. If this was his sister, why had she been looking for him all these years? What did she want? Mike’s head began to spin. He wanted to hang up the phone but held the phone tighter in his hand. All he could see was the hatred on his sister’s face that night so many years ago. Mike once again began to speak with harshness in his voice, Who the hell is this? And you had better tell me. This is not funny!

The voice on the other end of the phone began to break up. There was hesitation in her voice. I know it’s been a long time. I-I can’t undo the past. What do you want me to say? How can I prove that I’m your sister?

Who was I with that night?

It was— Patty’s voice began to drift off. Mike could not hear the name.

Who? Mike snapped.

Patty once again repeated the name. Mike froze. He swung himself around and lay back on the bed all. He could think of was Shit. Shit. What the hell does she want from me now after all these years? What do you want?

I want you to come back. Both Mom and Dad are gone. We are getting old now. There is no one left but you and I. We must put the past behind us.

Mike laid his hand across his stomach, clenched his fist, and cleared his voice. I know Mom and Dad are gone. I heard. I was there for the funerals. No one knew who I was, but I was there. And what the hell do you mean we must forget the past? You were the goddamn bitch that night!

Patty took a quick breath. I-I… What I mean is…that…I…damn! Patty’s voice quivered. Oh, you don’t know how much I’ve regretted my actions on that night. Patty paused for a minute. Then she went on. Things have changed so much over the years that it really doesn’t matter.

Mike sat up on his bed, It doesn’t matter! Some things like that are not just pushed aside. You don’t forget. And wonder if your name has been dragged through the mud. Or if you can hold you head up again in that town. Mike then fell silent.

Patty cleared her throat. Mike, you must give me a chance. I know that I was wrong. It was a long time ago.

Mike stopped her. Wait. You can’t expect me to forgive you just like that. I can still hear those mean things you said. Some things are not forgotten that easy. They are not just pushed to the back of your mind and locked there until something or someone brings them forth. It’s still painful.

Patty interrupted. Stop. Mike I don’t think you are being fair about this. That was then. This is now. We live in a different world now. Not like then. I was a stupid teenage girl. What did I know about things like that then?

What? I’m not being fair? I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You are the one who wasn’t fair on that night. You wouldn’t let me talk to you. You took off like a bat out of hell, and I know damn well went straight to Mom and Dad and spilled everything. Told them what I was doing. I can’t believe the shit that I’m hearing!

Patty cut in. She raised her voice. "Damn it. I never told anyone about what took place that night. If you had stayed, you would have known that. What in the hell do you want me to do or say after all this time? I didn’t know what to do. You vanished into thin air. Do you know what you left me with? The question, and I could not say a word. I had time to