Sweet Liar (Candy #2)(55)

“I would hope not.”

I could hear the censure in her voice because she didn’t know me well enough to discern whether I was serious. She didn’t know that I’d already tried to kill Victor once, and I was pretty sure I would do it again if given the opportunity.

“I just wish I could talk to my father. Let him know how much he’s missed, and tell him that no one is just going to forget him and move on.”

“If you appealed to my son, he might let you talk to him again. He has a good heart, no matter how his father might have tried to destroy it.”

I thought of the way Jonah left last night, relieved at the thought of my no longer being involved. He’d probably think my talking to my father would equal my involvement. I had a feeling he wouldn’t like or want it. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Whatever you do, please be careful. Sebastian wouldn’t approve of me giving you any encouragement, but I think talking to him is a good idea. I want him to know he’s cared about.”

Lorraine was an ally, and I liked the idea of having her on my side. “I think so too. Thank you.”

“Thank you for calling. You can call me whenever you like, Candy. Anytime at all.”

I ended the call believing Jonah was missing out. From what I could tell, he had a great mother. I just wished he knew that.

Like Lorraine said, I believed Jonah had a good heart, but I wasn’t sure who held more sway over it, him or his father.

***





It was Monday morning, the last day of school before Christmas break. I’d been looking forward to spending Christmas with my father this year. Now I’d be spending it alone. I didn’t even have my cousins to torment me.

I’d neither seen nor heard from Victor or Jonah all day Sunday, and I took that as a good sign. I also felt better after talking to Lorraine. She understood my father, and she cared about him too.

While I was home on Sunday, I thought about going to the market and picking up something to cook for myself, but I couldn’t muster up the energy. I didn’t even feel like filling out a form and calling in an order. Instead I stayed on the couch most of the day, watching movies until the news came on.

Christmas was the lead story. They were counting down the shopping days, and talked about the new fees towns like Glenn Valley and several others were imposing to collect old Christmas trees when the holidays were over. Apparently, you used to be able to put your tree out on the curb on a designated day and the trash collectors would take it. Now that same service cost seventy-five dollars.

The reporter asked people at a busy shopping mall how they felt about it, and of course everyone was upset because the holidays were already expensive enough, but it gave me an idea. I hesitated only a moment before dismissing my doubts. This revenge was too well-deserved not to put into motion.

First, I booted my father’s computer and looked up the phone number for the county newspaper, the one that covered Glenn Valley and all the surrounding towns. Then I called and placed an ad offering to accept used Christmas trees for free. All people had to do was leave their trees on my front lawn. The address I used was Jonah and Victor’s house.

Based on how irate the people on the news were, I figured Victor would get a least a few trees dumped in his yard, maybe enough to annoy him. Jonah wasn’t the target here, and I hoped he wouldn’t get too angry about it.

Before school on Monday, I went over to the Hoyts’ house to ask Alison if she had the information I was waiting for yet. It felt as if I’d waited a decent amount of time. Idling in the car down the street, I waited until Drew left because he was about the last person I felt like talking to. After Parker, of course.

When Alison opened the door, she was surprised to find me standing there. She invited me to come inside, but I turned her down politely and asked if she’d learned anything about how to apply for the Chinese cancer treatment. She said she was still waiting to hear back from some people she’d contacted.

I wasn’t surprised because I hadn’t heard from her, but I wanted her to know I was waiting anxiously, and hoped my appearance at her house this morning conveyed that.

After parking the Honda near the main door of the high school, I took a deep breath before going inside because I was going to take Lorraine’s advice. I planned to ask Jonah to help me speak to my father again. Because of the crazy dream I had last night, I was apprehensive about seeing him, but also curious to know how his discussion with Victor went.

Lea was walking toward my locker just as I approached it from the other side of the hallway.

“Did you tell Ethan I was going out with Gregory?”

It took me a moment to focus and realize what she’d asked. “Hello to you too. You know, hello or even hey? It’s what you say to people when you first see them.”

She made a face. “Hey, Candy.”

“Hey, Lea. Yes, I told him at the bowling alley, and he didn’t look happy about it.”

“He isn’t happy at all.” Lea tried not to smile. “I saw him at Lord of the Fries last night, and he spent the whole time interrogating me about Gregory.”

“Lord of the Fries?”

Her eyes widened. “You haven’t been there? They have like twenty varieties of seasoned fries with different dipping sauces. You have to go. Anyway, if I didn’t know better, I’d say he sounded jealous.”