“Like what? “
“Some of my jewelry is missing. I can’t find my favorite necklace. I just had it the other day. I can’t find some of my clothes. Money from my wallet has gone missing and one of my credit cards isn’t in my purse. I had to cancel the card.”
I tensed up a little. “You gave her clothes to wear so she might have just borrowed some.”
“I didn’t,” she grumbled, shaking her head. “And that doesn’t account for my money or my card being missing. We need to get her out of this house.”
I didn’t want to argue with Hazel because she was my sister, but Lucia was still adjusting. Lucia was sweet and helpful around the house. I didn’t see what Hazel was saying. I didn’t want to say she was wrong, but maybe she was being a little paranoid. She might have easily misplaced everything.
“I think maybe you’re being a little rough right now. And maybe she is a little odd, but you have to understand what she went through. We went through the same things. And it took us some time to adjust. I’m sure this is just a big misunderstanding, and you just left your stuff somewhere.”
“This is not the same,” Hazel snapped at me. “We are not like her.”
I crossed my arms, a little irritated now. “And I think you need to calm down and collect yourself,” I snipped back at her. “She’s done nothing wrong. I think you’re being a little paranoid. Have you even asked her about any of it? You can’t just jump to accusations like that.”
“You don’t get it,” Hazel said, storming down the hallway. I heard her door slam, and I sighed. I knew this was probably about something else. Maybe something was going on that was putting her in a bad mood and making everything seem wrong. Either way, I was going to give her a little space for now.
I shook the moment off and sat back down in front of my computer. I tried to focus on work. Hazel left for work, and Lucia soon followed, explaining she was heading out for a couple of hours. I tried to work, but I kept thinking of what Hazel said. Things were missing. Things seemed off.
I pulled myself out of my chair and headed down the hallway toward Lucia’s room. I paused at the door, chewing on my cheek. I wasn’t seriously considering snooping in her room because of what Hazel said, was I?
No. It was wrong. Hazel was just having an off day, and I had no reason to get into her room. Hazel needed to talk with Lucia. I shouldn’t be snooping or getting in the middle of it.
I turned, heading back to the dining room, and sat back down. I sighed heavily and tried to get back into my work. But I kept looking back at the door, and I felt my leg bounce under the table. I chewed on my cheek.
“Fuck.”
I got back up and headed back down the hallway. I grabbed her door and pushed it open. The space looked like I remembered it. The bed was made, and the dresser was empty. I stepped further in and found the nightstand drawer slightly open. I pulled it open, and my hands froze.
Inside was Hazel’s favorite necklace. I felt like someone had just dumped cold water down my spine. I picked it up, flipping it around in my palm. I swallowed and slid the drawer shut. I turned and opened the dresser drawer. Inside, I found clothes that I knew Hazel had borrowed from Lucia, but also clothes I wasn’t sure she would. I didn’t find money or Hazel’s card.
I took the necklace and the few pieces of clothing and put them into Hazel’s room. I didn’t want to say that Lucia stole them, because I didn’t want to think she could do something like that. She might have accidentally seen them and thought she could borrow them. Hazel had told her she could use anything, and maybe she found them lying around the house. Hazel wasn’t the cleanest person.
I tried to focus on work the rest of the day, but it was hard. When Lucia came back, I was tempted to question her. I wanted to ask where she found them or if she had just taken them. But I didn’t because I had a hard time believing she would. There hadto be a good reason that those items were in her room. I hadn’t found the money or the credit card. All she was guilty of was borrowing stuff.
Westley came home early and started dinner. Hazel didn’t come home, and I figured she was going to work late for her shift, which left me with Lucia and Westley.
“I found some places to apply for a job today,” Lucia announced as she sat down. “The grocery store is looking for a cashier, and the bank is looking for a teller. I’m going to drop off my application tomorrow.”
“Good for you,” Westley said, giving her a big smile. “That’s a big step.”
Lucia looked at me, and I smiled back. My stomach was still stirring from before. Why couldn’t I shake this feeling? Why did it bother me so much?
I got ready for bed, and Westley joined me after he finished his shower. I was lying in bed trying to read, but I had been on the same page for the past five minutes.
“Are you okay?” Westley asked, pausing as he pulled the sheets up on the bed.
I nodded. “Just had a busy day, is all.”
He crawled into bed. “Is that all? You seemed a little distant at dinner.”
I wanted to tell him and just blurt out what I found out, but I didn’t. I needed more information first. I didn’t want to call Lucia out when it could have been a simple mistake.
“I’m just tired.” I set my book aside and relaxed into my pillow.
The room fell silent, and I heard Westley drift off to sleep. I tossed and turned, having a hard time falling asleep. I stared at the ceiling and sighed.
What if Hazel was right, though? What if Lucia wasn’t who we thought? What if she had been stealing? We don’t know what the traveling group did as a whole.
