Lust and Lies 04 - Pretty Maids in a Row

postpone putting food on the kitchen table, they still sat around it, the way they usually did for a family discussion.
    Now that the time had come, Holly wasn't sure how to begin, but her father helped.
    "Everyone at the restaurant today was talking about our Senator Ziegler and that woman. You know we don't have time to watch television, but when I heard the two of them went to Dominion, around the same time as you, well, it got me thinking. Did you know them?"
    "No," Holly said, having previously decided naming names would be a bad idea, considering her father's hot temper. "But the hearing is what made me realize I should have told you about what happened to me there years ago." She took a deep breath and found her courage. "Before I came home, I had a boyfriend... or rather I thought I did."
    Viv interrupted. "We figured he must have broken your heart and, since you hadn't had much experience dating, it sent you into a tailspin."
    Nodding, Bernie added, "You had called us about him. Said you were in love. Was it Ziegler? No. I'd have remembered that."
    Holly held up her hand. "The name isn't important anymore. What—"
    "Jim," Bernie guessed. "John? That doesn't sound right either."
    "Jerry," Viv supplied quietly. "I remember she said his name was Jerry and he was a football player. Tell us what happened, honey."
    Holly glanced from one to the other and saw nothing but pure love and compassion ready to be offered, no matter what she had to say. In that moment, the nightmare began to unravel. She told them of her deep feelings for the young man, without confirming her mother's recollections about his identity, and of the plans she had had for their future. When she described the game and her morning discovery, they were as shocked as she had been at the time.
    "What? How the hell did that happen?" Bernie exclaimed, his short fuse instantly igniting.
    "It was a fraternity prank," Holly replied, unable to hide the bewilderment the truth still made her feel. "It seems that my beloved told his fraternity brothers that I wouldn't come across for anything short of a diamond ring and one of them bet him that he could change my mind with one kiss. The whole group took part in coming up with a way to trick me into giving the challenger a fair advantage then bets were placed on the outcome."
    She couldn't meet her parents' eyes, as she said, "I had had a few drinks and I guess I was a little disoriented. I didn't notice any difference in the dark. When I first woke up the next morning, I had no idea who was in my bed but then I remembered having met him at the fraternity. I kept thinking I was still asleep and having a nightmare. But then my dear boyfriend was banging on the door and shouting obscenities. I was too numb to think clearly. I let him in.
    "He went completely berserk when he realized what had happened, but it was me he was furious with, not his so-called brother. He hit me and knocked me down. He called me ugly names and said I owed him while he tore off my robe. I tried pleading with him, then with his friend."
    Holly closed her eyes and swallowed hard several times before she could continue. "I had the insane notion that, even though we were virtually strangers, our night together, my giving him my virginity, might have meant something and he'd help me. Instead, he was getting aroused watching. When his buddy had a little trouble getting his pants open and holding me down at the same time, he gave him a hand."
    "Dear god," Viv whispered. "Did they—"
    "Yes. Both of them. I know they hurt me... because of the blood... but I didn't feel a thing. I couldn't."
    Bernie's fist slammed the table top. "Bastards! Son-of-a-bitching bastards." He got up, stormed across the room and pounded the wall. "I'll kill them. I'll cut their fucking nuts off!" His face was crimson as he strode back and looked down at Holly. "You give me their names. I'll take care of them."
    "No, Pop," she countered as she rose. "I knew that's how you'd react, but I didn't come here for that. I came for your forgiveness."
    "Forgiveness?" Viv asked and got up to join them. "I could never forgive them, whoever they are."
    "Not the men, Mom. Me. I ran home to hide, but rather than explain, I treated the two of you like dirt."
    Viv embraced Holly and squeezed her tight. "Oh, honey, we always knew there had to be a good reason, but never in a million years would we have imagined anything so horrible."
    Bernie enveloped the both of them in his big