Sleeping Beauty by Judith Michael Page B

put his arm around Anne’s shoulders. “Anne is a fine girl, and nothing happened to her. She’s fifteen years old and growing into a woman as good and beautiful as her mother was. And nothing happened to her. Did it, Anne?”
    â€œWhy can’t you tell us?” Ethan asked Anne. His voice was firm, not as gentle as it usually was when he spoke to her. “When I ask a question, I expect an answer, Anne. We don’t make accusations in this family without explaining what we mean. I can’t punish anyone or undo damage if I don’t have facts. I expect you to tell me exactly what you meant, and then we’ll know what to do next.”
    Anne squeezed her eyes shut so she would not have to see all the men staring at her: Ethan, Fred, Vince, Charles, William. Marian stood helplessly at the other end of the table; Rita had withdrawn into her usual silence. It’s all my fault. I led him on and enticed him and then I let him into my room and did everything he wanted and I did it over and over again all this time. I can’t say that. I can’t tell them . . . anything.
    Ethan was looking at her, puzzled, angry, helpless. Marian clasped her hands beneath her chin. “What can we do? Anne, I know you’re having a difficult time, but you must talk to us so we know what to do.”
    You could believe me.
    â€œRita may be right, you know,” Fred Jax said, still as if talking to himself. “I mean, girls do have these fantastic imaginations, and Vince comes on strong. Big smile, lots of teeth. You know.”
    â€œI’m sure Anne believes her story,” said William. “She’s not a malicious child; I’m sure she wouldn’t willfully hurt anyone in our family. Something led her to say what she did, as shocking as it is; I just wish she would tell us whatever is in her mind. It’s very hard on us, Anne; we’re ready to help you, but you won’t talk to us. Don’t you trust us? We want to do what we can for you.”
    Anne slumped in her chair and was silent.
    William sighed. “Well, what do we do now?” He looked around the table. “Is Anne going to tell the world about this? Or has she? Anne? Have you accused Vince to your teachers or your friends at school?”
    â€œAnne,” Charles said when she did not answer. He put his hand on her hair. She could not tell if it was a gesture of affection or of warning. “Have you told anyone else?”
    Beneath his hand, she shook her head.
    â€œWell, of course that’s the way we’ll keep it,” Fred Jax said firmly. “None of us wants a scandal; it would hurt us all. The family and the company, too. We’ll keep it quiet and work it out. Anne? We need to hear you say you understand that.”
    â€œDon’t push her!” Marian said sharply. “We’ve got to give her some time. She’ll talk to us later. I think”—she looked everywhere but at Vince—“I think she may be telling the truth.”
    â€œOh, God, Marian, don’t,” Vince groaned; tears filled his eyes again. “You can’t think that; you know I wouldn’t . . . what the hell do you think I am?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Marian said, shaking her head. “I don’t know much of anything. But I know we’ve got to give Anne a chance to tell us what happened in her own way. She’s frightened and you men are badgering her.”
    â€œNothing happened!” Vince cried again. “She’ll give you some fucking fairy tale!”
    â€œShut up, Vince, for Christ’s sake,” Fred muttered.
    â€œBut what do we do, if we don’t know for sure?” asked William.
    Nina came into the room. “I told the maids not to clear.Did Anne say what happened?” She looked around the table. “Well, she must have said something!”
    â€œOh, Anne,” Marian sighed. “You really must talk