“She wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me either.”
Aunt Jackie’s crow’s-feet deepen, and I hate the defeated expression on her face. “She thinks the world owes her something. I don’t know where she got that from, because we all know you don’t wish for it—you work for it.”
“That doesn’t give her an excuse to just up and disappear on a moment’s notice, leaving us scrambling to figure out how to take care of the kids and still make it to our own jobs,” Cricket says, her tone bitter.
“Where does she go?”
My aunt shrugs. “No idea. She’s about as good at keeping secrets as your mama was.” As soon as Jackie says it, her face pales. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry, Whit. You know I didn’t mean—”
My stomach twists into a knot because we all know how that ended. “It’s okay. Let’s just hope Karma’s story has a happier ending.”
Cricket looks at the ground, and Jackie’s gaze darts away from mine.
Awkward silence hangs between us until I clear my throat. “So ... anyone hiring around here? I could definitely use a job. I’m even willing to wash windows, if that’s what’s available.”
Jackie reaches out to grab my hand and holds it between us. “You haven’t scrubbed anything since you left town. Did you really think you would come back home and start cleaning toilets?”
I tug my hand out of her grip. “I just want something normal. Where I can stay out of the way and not be noticed.”
She props her hand on a hip. “You mean you want to hide from the world and lick your wounds.”
My aunt always knew me better than my own mom, so I may as well confess the truth.
“Exactly.”
“That’s gonna be tough ... unless you want to work for the Riscoffs.”
The memory of seeing Lincoln earlier today crashes through my system.Work for them? Forhim?
“There’s got to be another option.”
“Not one that pays as well. Think about it. If you want, I’ll talk to Ms. Riscoff.”
“I’ll think about it,” I reply, but inside I’m swearing that there’s no way in hell I’ll ever go down that road.
Before Jackie can push the subject any further, shrieks of “Lala!” come from the back of the house and two little blond girls who look like they could be Cricket and Karma clones come running out.
Jackie turns around to scoop one up in each arm and spins them around. “My babies are home! Tell me all about everything.”
Another wave of nostalgia washes over me. She used to say the same thing to Cricket and Karma and me when we’d get home from school.
My own mom had never asked a single question. She was too busy out running around and keeping secrets, just like Jackie said.
But that’s all in the past. It’s time to move forward.
I swallow the lump in my throat and paste a smile on my face. It’s time to meet my little cousins.
13
Lincoln
The unmistakable soundof someone cocking a shotgun is the last thing I want to hear when I open the door to Commodore’s house.
“You piece of shit! That was my trout. I’ve been waiting to catch him for a goddamned year.” Magnus Gable’s voice is just as distinctive as the gun.
“Not my fault you’re a piss-poor fisherman!”
Another shotgun cocks.