Mercy by Sarah L. Thomson Read Free Book Online Page A

her. Why had Haley been so sure her stepmother was in the house?
    Back in her own room, Haley knelt to find her wallet in her backpack. When had it gotten so cold in here? Her arms, inside the sleeves of her jacket, had goose bumps. Her dad was so cheap with the heat. He hated to turn the furnace on before Thanksgiving.
    There
was her wallet, under her history book. She snagged it and stood up. The clutter on her desk tugged at her conscience a little. But it would just be for a few hours. There’d be plenty of time to work in the evening. She straightened up a few piles, stacked the books more neatly, put the lid back on the box that held Mercy’s glove.
    Hadn’t that box been shut before? Haley looked down at it, puzzled. Her fingertips remembered the feel of the yellow cord. She’d been fiddling with it while she thought. She must have untied it without noticing.
    It was so
quiet
in the house. So quiet and so cold. All at once Haley’s spine prickled. She should go downstairs and watch for Mel’s dad, but somehow she was very reluctant to leave her room. The skin at the back of her neck felt strangely vulnerable, as if someone was behind her. Someone might follow her along the hall, down the stairs . . .
    A lock clicked. A door opened and shut.
    â€œHaley!” It was Elaine’s voice.
    Haley’s fears vanished. Reading all that stuff about sickness and death had creeped her out. That was all.
    â€œHaley? Are you here? Come down and help me with the groceries.”
    Haley ran down the stairs. Elaine, pink-cheeked from the cold, had Eddie in one arm and a grocery bag in the other.
    â€œHaley, thank goodness. There, get down, monster. Haley, honey, can you grab the groceries out of the car, please? Eddie, hold still, let me take off your coat. Well, stop wiggling and I’ll be done faster.”
    Haley ran out to the driveway, snatched up two plastic grocery bags from the front seat, and ran back, dumping them on the kitchen counter. “Elaine, I’m—”
    â€œCareful, that one has the eggs. Honey, I need a big favor—oh. You’ve got your coat on. You’re going out?”
    â€œTo the mall. With Mel.” Haley tucked her hands in the pockets of her jacket—she was still a little shivery—and felt her camera there.
    â€œOn a school night?”
    â€œElaine! It’s not a school night. It’s a school
day
. It’s not even four o’clock. I’ll be home for dinner.”
    â€œHaley. Wait a minute.”
    Haley paused. Elaine made an apologetic face.
    â€œI’m sorry. Really. But I’ve got to show a house and I can’t put it off. If I’d known you had plans . . . ”
    â€œYou need me to babysit.” Haley didn’t even have to make it a question.
    â€œI’m so sorry.” Elaine was smoothing her hair, checking her lipstick in the mirror by the door, grabbing her briefcase from the counter. “This just came up at the last minute, and your dad won’t be home from making his deliveries until six. I’m sorry, sweetie, I
can’t
neglect this client. If I don’t sell somebody a house soon, we’ll be eating oatmeal for supper. Just make him a scrambled egg, order a pizza for you and your dad if you want. Maybe Mel can come over after the mall? Bye, thanks, you’re a hero, I’m so sorry about this—” The door shut behind her.
    Eddie stared at the door in outrage. “Mama!” he bellowed.
    â€œOh, great.” Haley sighed.
    Not bothering to take off her jacket, she bent over to pick Eddie up. His scream nearly ruptured her eardrum. “Hey, Eddie, hey, listen, it’s okay. Mama’s coming back. Hey, don’t cry, shhh, shhhh . . .” She tried to jiggle Eddie up and down—sometimes that worked—but his body was rigid and he was arching back in her arms, yelling.
    â€œOkay, fine.” Haley carried him into the living