Lacy's End by Victoria Schwimley

both the women in his life with interest. They kept their heads lowered, lest they say something or cast some look that might set him off. After a while he said, “So, I hear Brett and Linda Mackey are having another kid.”
    “Oh,” Brenda said.
    “What does that make for them, four now?”
    Brenda nodded. “That sounds about right.”
    Peter looked at Lacy. “You babysit for them, don’t ya? How many does that make?”
    Lacy sighed. “It’s only their third, and I don’t babysit for them anymore. Not since I got the job at the diner.”
    “I’m wondering why we can’t have another. Lacy will be out of the house soon and then what will we do with an empty room?”
    Brenda took a deep breath, preparing herself for the onslaught of accusations. Truth be told, Brenda didn’t want any more kids. She was, in fact, secretly on birth control pills, which she got at the free clinic so Peter wouldn’t notice the money missing from the checking account. There was no way she was risking bringing another child into the house.
    “I don’t know, Peter. Perhaps we just weren’t meant to have more than one.”
    “It’s not my fault,” Peter said. “The men on my side of the family are virile.” He sat up straight, pumping up his chest in a display of machismo. “Something must be wrong with your plumbing.” He grinned at his play of words.
    “Perhaps,” Brenda said. “I guess we’ll never know.”
    “I thought the same thing, but then Ryan Marley told me he and his wife had some trouble, so they went to a fertility expert. She’s pregnant now.”
    Brenda held her breath. Lacy looked sideways at Brenda, clearly showing compassion.
    “Don’t you think we’re getting kind of old to be starting a new family?” Breanda asked.
    Brenda looked at Lacy with panic-stricken eyes. Lacy wished with all her might she could help her, but she knew her mother was on her own with this one.
    Peter rolled his eyes and frowned at her. “You’re only thirty-two.”
    Brenda nearly dropped her fork. Was that all the farther along in life she was? God, she felt fifty. She stared at Lacy. She was nearly seventeen now, older than Brenda was when she had given birth.
    Lacy nudged her under the table with her foot, wishing she would shut up.
    “I think you should see this doctor. Maybe he can help you.”
    “Peter, I don’t think that’s necessary. Linda Mackey is twenty-six. Her oldest kid is barely out of diapers. Our daughter is close to graduating high-school.”
    Lacy dropped her head, praying her mother wouldn’t argue.
    “All I’m saying,” Brenda continued, “is that we have freedom mere miles from our doorstep, why would we want to start all over again?”
    Brenda could see Peter’s face reddening, could see the signs of impending anger but couldn’t stop herself. “What about my request to volunteer at the hospital?” she asked.
    Lacy’s head snapped up, just as Peter’s fist flew out, knocking Brenda to the floor. “I said no!” he screamed. “You have plenty to do around this house. You don’t need to go looking for other things.”
    Brenda picked herself up off the floor, staring defiantly at Peter.
    Lacy was shocked. Her mother never stood up to her father.
    Peter jumped out of his chair, grabbed Brenda by the hair and began dragging her toward the bedroom.
    “No!” Lacy said. She jumped from her seat and grabbed her father’s hand, trying to dislodge it from her mother’s hair. Peter used his other hand to knock Lacy to the floor. She reached out and grabbed her father’s pant leg. “Leave her alone!” Where this sudden bravado came from, Lacy had no idea. She only knew she’d had enough. It was time for this to end. No more beatings!
    Peter looked down at his daughter clinging to his leg. With all his might, he kicked her in the lower back, effectively dislodging her. He continued down the hallway, slamming the door behind him.
    Lacy grabbed her back and cried out in pain. How long she lay