Free The Wednesday Group by Sylvia True Page A

out that pretty face of yours and tell me what happened?”
    â€œI’m never going back to school again.”
    â€œDid you get into trouble?”
    Another leg kick, but with less force, a sign of defeat.
    Hannah pulls down the covers. Alicia claps her hands over her face.
    â€œIt can’t be that bad,” Hannah says.
    Alicia keeps her hands over her eyes. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
    â€œSometimes when we feel embarrassed about something, the best thing we can do is talk. I promise you’ll feel better when you get it out.” She leans in and kisses the top of Alicia’s head.
    â€œIt was Tori’s idea. She said if I didn’t do it, she’d tell everyone I copied her spelling test.”
    â€œYou need to tell me what it was you did.”
    â€œWe put on makeup.”
    Hannah tugs Alicia’s hands from her face. Glittery blue eyeshadow is smeared over her eyelids. “Whoa.” Hannah laughs.
    â€œI hate you,” Alicia says.
    â€œHoney, I didn’t mean to laugh at you. I guess I’m relieved. I thought it was something worse.”
    â€œIt wasn’t the makeup we got in trouble for,” Alicia mutters.
    Hannah feels a twinge in her chest. “What was it, then?”
    â€œI didn’t want to do it. I told Tori we shouldn’t.”
    â€œShouldn’t what?”
    â€œI’m only telling Dad.”
    â€œNo. You will tell your father when he gets home, but now you are going to tell me.”
    â€œFine.” She pouts. “I said that Peter was gay.”
    â€œWhy would you do that?” The twinge deepens to an ache.
    â€œTori made me.”
    â€œStop saying that someone else made you. If you said something like that to Peter, you need to own up to it. What anyone else said or told you to do doesn’t matter.”
    â€œPeter likes boys.”
    â€œHe is allowed to like whomever he wants to without you saying anything. How would you like it if someone called you a name?”
    Alicia glares. The blue shadow shimmers. “You think you’re so perfect.”
    â€œWe’re going over to Peter’s house as soon as you wash off that makeup, and you will apologize.”
    â€œYou make everything worse. I knew you would. It’s not better to say something.”
    Hannah stands. “Get out of bed and wash your face. I’m calling Peter’s mother.”
    Alicia stomps out of the room. Sam is in the doorway, tears in his brown eyes. Hannah scoops him into her arms and kisses him.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” she asks.
    â€œNo one is nice anymore.”
    â€œHey, little man.” She tugs at his nose. “How about after we stop at Peter’s house, I take you to the bookstore?”
    He dives his head into her shoulder for a hug.
    At five-thirty, they return from the bookstore. Alicia had begrudgingly told Peter she was sorry and that she didn’t mean to hurt his feelings. She managed to slip in that Tori did it too, which made Hannah furious. A terse lecture on accountability followed. Of all the frightening, awful things Hannah has imagined happening to her children, she never thought that one of them would be a bully, especially Alicia, who has always been so sensitive.
    It’s nearly six, and Hannah is in her bedroom, getting ready for group. She picks out a gray cashmere turtleneck, then puts in a pair of gold hoops. With everything that happened today, there is no way she’d be going to group if she hadn’t promised Bridget.
    Gabby, their babysitter, is due any minute. The one good thing about tonight is that Hannah will not have to see Adam. By the time she gets home, probably nineish, maybe later if Bridget needs her, he will be in the guest room. The rules are simple but firm. In the morning Hannah takes care of the children. After they leave, she goes to her studio. Adam cleans the kitchen, showers, and heads to work. They do not see each other.