My heart soared, sending a smile rising unbidden to my lips.They’re going to do it. They’re finally going to give me a real—
“No.”
My heart caught fire and crashed into the dirt.
“No,” Micah repeated. “Alex is right. Something doesn’t add up. Only a couple of weeks ago, she declared she was dumping us for the piece of shit she’s secretly been fucking, and she wanted us all out of the house. And now out of nowhere, she’s sorry, she doesn’t want the divorce, and she’s just giving us the manor for a fraction of what it costs? Not to mention that Silly Lily Fund thing,” he hissed. “This is the same woman who wouldn’t let Lily have paint, Play-Doh, kinetic sand, markers, or a single toy that might make a mess. But now all of a sudden, she’s pulled forty thousand dollars out of her ass for Lily tohave fun.”
“That was weird,” Rhodes confessed.
No, Rhodes, no! Not you too. Not after everything you just said.
“Where did that money come from?” he continued. “We removed her access to all of our accounts.”
“You know Sue’s got her ways,” Alex replied. “She probably ran another SueNaturals scam on the last pack of dumbasses who haven’t heard of her.”
“But if that’s what she did, why would she turn around and give all the money to Lily?”
A heavy silence fell on the group.
“Rhodes, you did have legal look over those trust documents, right?” Micah asked.
“You know I did. I told you, Erik said it was clean. A straightforward trust managed by us, for Lily. Sue gave up her access to it as soon as she signed the bottom line.”
“But just because the trust is clean, doesn’t mean the money is clean,” Alex reminded. “Have him, and your IT guy, look into all of it again.”
“Fine.” Rhodes sounded the music of resigned. “But what are we saying right now? We’re not giving Sue a chance? We’re just going to make her keep begging and pleading for another chance while she ticks down the days until her mother dies and we throw her out? Because even with all she’s put us through, we’ll be the evil bastards if we do that.”
“That’s why we won’t,” Alex put forth. “You’re right, man. If she’s willing to hold to a truce, then there’s no reason for us to make life in the manor unpleasant just to be a couple of resentful bitches. Let Sue make all the dinners and buy all the vomit medicine she wants because”—his voice changed—“it’s not like we’re actually waiting until the old prune croaks it.”
My lips turned down, heat leaking from my face.
“That’s right.” Micah laughed. “We’ve only got to make it to the anniversary party.”
Anniversary... party?
“About the party,” Rhodes started. His tone did not match their satisfied ones. “I was thinking that maybe we should cancel that after—”
“No.” Alex’s voice was clear. Final. “It’s too late to cancel. The party is going ahead like we planned, and when it’s over, we’ll finally be rid of her for good. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Micah returned without hesitation.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
The clock ticked down as they waited for—
“Agreed,” said Rhodes.
I stood there, silent in the shadows, long after they walked right past me into their rooms.
CARNIVAL MUSIC FILTEREDthroughthe speakers, inviting one and all to a freakishly fantastic adventure.
I darted behind the clown, curling my legs and arms in tight around me—shrinking away from the spinning, technicolor lights.
Footsteps thudded over the music. Heavy, loud, and coming closer.
“Now, where did you run off to, little girl? Huh-hyuck,” he laughed—that strange, hiccupping laugh. “There’s no need to be scared of Captain Chucklepants. He just wants to play.”
