You’re just like me, abitch.
You can’t outmadme.
Jealous, spitefulgirl.
You’re ugly when youcry.
That’s too pretty for you towear.
Linx remembered that last Christmas with her mom, when she’d received a bright red satin dress and matching ribbons. She’d been so excited to put it on, wanted her mother to do her hair up and tie the pretty ribbon around herlocks.
“That’s too pretty for you to wear,” her mother had said. “Let’s save it for Joey or Vivi. A pretty dress on an ugly girl looks allwrong.”
Linx had flown into a fury, like Krakatoa blowing its top. She’d thrown herself at the Christmas tree, toppling it, then broke the ornaments against the stonefireplace.
When Dad took the rest of the family outside to play in the snow, Linx was left behind to clean up the mess. Instead, she received a spanking to end all spankings, with her mother breathing in her ear. “You’re ugly on the inside, and no amount of window dressing will make you pretty. You have a black heart. Don’t pretend you’re anything better. You make me sick. Sick.Sick.”
She’d fought back, scratching and biting, until her father heard the commotion and stopped the beating. He’d said harsh words to her mother, and the very next day, the witch tookoff.
The dress still hung in Linx’s closet. She’d never worn it, and the ribbons were still tied to the clotheshanger.
And no one had ever explained to her why her mother thought she was ugly, when she was the one who looked the most likeher.
“More coffee?” Joey’s musical voice caused Linx tostartle.
She looked up, almost not seeing her sister, her mind still fractured by the ugly memory. Their mother had left because ofher.
“You okay?” Vivi slid into the booth across the table from her. “You look like you saw aghost.”
“Just thinking about the past.” Linx pushed the coffee cup at Joey so she could fillit.
“About Gran?” Joey asked. “I miss her,too.”
“Actually, I was thinking about our mother.” Linx noticed both her sisters stiffen. “Do you ever think abouther?”
“Not really, we have no memory of her,” Vivi said, looking at Joey to bolsterher.
“Right, we were only two,” Joeysaid.
“I remember her.” Linx blinked, her lips tight. “I don’t think she liked being amother.”
“Probably got tired of changing diapers.” Vivi laughed. “I don’t blame her. That’s why I never volunteered for the churchnursery.”
“We did just fine without her,” Joey said. “Why are you thinking abouther?
“She dumped off one of her prize sculptures on my porch.” Linx stared into the black coffee as if it were a mirror. “I wonderwhy?”
Joey shot Vivi a puzzled look and Vivi gave ashrug.
Todd stepped through the doorway, wearing hisuniform.
Linx waved him over, and everyone in the diner grew quiet. The town had been buzzing about the fire and possible arson, and everyone had theirspeculations.
Todd hefted his weight into the booth, making the vinyl squeak. His eyes were red and rimmed with dark circles, and he blew out a tiredbreath.
“How’s the investigation going?” Linx asked as Joey filled Todd’s coffeecup.
“You know I couldn’t talk about it eve if I knew,” Todd said, hunching his shoulders. “Scott’s handling the coordination with Cal Fire. They sent in a big cityinvestigator.”
