I saw Benji’s lips turn into a slight frown. He was probably thinking the same thing as me. Unlike Lark’s act, the bottle in my hand wasn’t a fake--it really was calamine lotion.
“Now we can ease some of that itchiness,” Pierce commented, smiling at his daughter. Lark saw the bottle and looked a bit confused, but didn’t say anything. Maybe she figured this was all part of the game.
Guilt stabbed through me. This wasn’t right. I shouldn’t be applying something I knew she didn’t need, but…
Theo’s face flashed into my mind. I was doing this for him. Weallwere. I knew when I agreed to this plan that it might get a bit messy with all the lying, but I’d done it for Theo’s sake.
But he hasn’t even been around since that night. Does he know how hard the rest of us are working? What we’re doing for him?
I ignored the thick uneasiness in my chest and approached Lark with the bottle.
“Here we go,” I said, forcing my voice to be upbeat. “This will help the itchiness, okay, Lark?”
“Okay.” She sounded unsure, which made me feel even worse.
The lotion wouldn’t hurt her. I knew that. A single dose, and probably even a handful of them, were harmless. But it was the dark feeling of guilt that was stopping me. After all, itwasa medicated lotion.
I stood beside Lark with my hand on the bottle cap, not moving.
“Is there something wrong, Maxwell?” Pierce asked.
“No,” I lied, but still didn’t move.
I was frozen. I couldn’t apply it, but I couldn’t just stand there looking stupid either.
The door burst open, revealing Theo standing there. My heart leapt at the sight of him. Where had he been for the past two days, and why was he interrupting our appointment now?
“Pierce!” he called urgently.
“Theo?” Pierce asked. “What is it?”
“I need you to come with me!”
Pierce’s brow furrowed slightly “This is a bit important, Theo. I’m with my daughter. What’s the urgency?”
“Can’t explain! Come fast!”
He raced away, leaving no further explanation.
Pierce pinched the bridge of his nose. He turned to Benji apologetically. “I’m sorry, my love. Do you mind if I leave? I’m apparently needed.”
Benji smiled, trying not to look relieved. “Not at all. It’s just lotion, after all.”
“Sorry, Lark.” Pierce kissed his daughter’s hair and took off.
“Bye daddy!” Lark called.
When the door creaked shut behind him, both Benji and I let out a sigh of relief.
“I didn’t like that at all,” Benji muttered.
“Me neither,” I admitted. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened, I just froze. I didn’t want it put it on her.”
His mouth was a grim line. “It’s okay. I didn’t want you to, either.” He ran a hand through his hair with another deep sigh. “I guess I didn’t think ahead to this part of the plan when I agreed to it.”
“The lotion wouldn’t hurt her,” I told him, “but I’m glad we avoided it anyway.”
Benji nodded. “Agreed. But maybe you should putsomethingon her, for when Pierce comes back.”
