Sweet Liar

by Debra Doxer

  “How?”

  “If I could bring your father back? Then would you forgive me?”

  I stare at him, wondering if he means it. His gaze is steady and clear. “Yes,” I reply.

  The next moment his lips are on mine. They’re hesitant but insistent, and when I kiss him back, his arms come around me, pulling me close. I press against him, wanting to get closer, realizing how much I need him. Just as I wrap my arms around his neck, his hands find my waist and nudge me back so he can look into my eyes again.

  “Then tell me where it is.”

  Confused, I ask, “Where what is?”

  “The safe,” he says softly. “Tell me where it is. Then I can bring your father home.”

  “W-what?”

  “Tell me where it is, and everything will be okay.”

  I pull my hands from his neck and shove against his shoulders. “How do you know about the safe?”

  “You told me.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  Jonah’s grip on my waist tightens, and his fingers dig into my skin. Hot tears spill down my cheeks as I try to free myself from his punishing grip. His eyes darken until they’re almost black.

  “Tell me,” he demands, but he’s no longer Jonah.

  He’s Victor.

  Jerking awake, I sucked in a sharp breath as I pulled at the sheets that were tangled around my legs. A sheen of sweat coated my skin. My bedroom was dark, shadows stretching across the wall from the streetlights shining in through my curtains. Pumpkin blinked at me from the foot of my bed.

  Rubbing the heels of my hands against my eyes, I tried to erase the dream. The safe. I hadn’t told Jonah about it or the files inside. I wanted to, but I hadn’t because I was afraid he’d tell Victor, and apparently so was my subconscious.

  Jonah might have felt relief when he left earlier tonight, but I didn’t. It wasn’t going to be this easy. No matter what Jonah told his father, Victor wouldn’t leave me alone. It might have been pessimistic of me to believe that, but I’d learned long ago that looking on the bright side was nothing more than fooling myself.

  Uneasy, I got out of bed and checked the alarm panel by the front door. It was still armed. I had chairs wedged against the front and back doors, and double-checked that all the windows were locked. None of this would stop Victor if he wanted to come in. But maybe these obstacles would hinder him and buy me time to run again.

  Knowing I’d never get back to sleep, I made myself some coffee and sat in the kitchen. The house was quiet and dark, but I heard the past echoing inside our little yellow kitchen. If a place could retain an essence of life, this room did. It carried the happiness my mother brought to it. She was the light that brightened us all, and after all this time, I still felt like I was in the dark searching for the light I’d lost. I’d caught glimpses of it since, but it never stayed for long.

  I missed my mother still. So much. I never figured my father would find someone else, but somehow he had. He trusted Lorraine, and he intended for me to meet her and know her. My father was getting a second chance, and then it was all taken away. He’d lost my mother, and now he was losing everything else. He was in the dark too.

  Even though it was far too early in the morning to call anyone, I picked up my phone and dialed Lorraine.

  “What would my father do?” I asked after assuring her that everything was fine and apologizing for calling so early. It was a question that both haunted and guided me. I thought if I kept asking it, I’d hit upon the right solution, and if Lorraine knew my father well, maybe she’d have some insight.

  “He’d want you to finish school and be happy, Candy.” Her soft voice sounded sad.

  “I know. But what would he do if I were in the situation he’s in? He wouldn’t get on with things and be happy. Would he?”

  She didn’t reply, but I could hear her shallow breathing.

  The answer was obvious, but impossible, at least for me. “He’d do something about Victor.”

  “Probably,” Lorraine replied hesitantly.

  “Do you think he’d kill him?”

  I could hear her breath hitch, but again she said nothing, and I took her silence as a yes, or maybe another probably.

  “Not really a practical option for me,” I said offhandedly, wondering how she’d react as I traced my finger along the table. It was the same finger that had recently pulled the trigger of a gun.

  “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.”

  “Were you there with Gregory?”

  “No,” she replied hesitantly. “I actually went with Parker and Ashley. They invited me at the last minute because they decided not to worry about their diets on Sundays anymore, although I think they ate a week’s worth of calories in one sitting. I would have asked you to come, but I didn’t think you’d want to.”

  “You were right. I wouldn’t.” I was sure Parker wouldn’t want me there either.

  “She’s over Jonah, by the way. For good this time. He completely humiliated her at the bowling alley. She said he’s not even welcome at the lunch table anymore.”

  “Oh no.” I tried to hide my grin. Lea related his banishment from lunch as if it were a punishment worse than the guillotine. I doubted he would care at all. I also doubted Parker was over him. More likely, she’d lick her wounds for a few days and be back to her old tricks again.

  After giving me her news, Lea left for class. I shrugged out of my heavy coat, feeling my stomach quiver because I knew I’d be seeing Jonah soon. He’d stayed away all day yesterday, and so I didn’t know what kind of mood he might be in.

  When I walked into English class, I spotted him right off. My mouth went dry at the sight of him sitting at his desk. No matter how I felt about Jonah, his magnetism was undeniable. Stubble shadowed his square jaw, and his hazel eyes followed me as I progressed down the aisle.

  “I need to talk to you,” I said once I was sitting beside him.

  His eyes scanned me, and he seemed pleased to see me. “Lunchtime?”

  “In auto shop class?” I asked.

  Jonah nodded and turned to face the front as the school librarian walked in. She was substituting for Mr. Harris until a permanent replacement could be found, and so far she was just following the lesson plan he’d already written.

  Even though I was anxious, I somehow made it through the morning, but I hadn’t paid attention in any of my classes because I was too busy worrying Jonah might say no because he’d just gotten me uninvolved.

  I was standing at my locker, psyching myself up for lunch with Jonah, when an arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back into a hard, unmoving body. Automatically, I leaned away as I turned to see who it was.

  “Hi, stranger.” Drew grinned, close enough for me to feel his breath on my cheek.

  I pushed down on his arm. “Is this how you greet all strangers?”

  “Just special ones.” He laughed and released me but didn’t step back, crowding me against my locker.

  “What are you doing?” This was pretty forward for him.

  Drew shrugged. “Saying hi. I thought you were gonna call me so we could hang out?”

  “Yeah, well, I’ve been busy.”

  His eyes narrowed like he didn’t believe me. “Let’s catch up now. Sit with me and my friends at lunch.”

  Annoyed, I sighed. “I can’t sit with you at lunch. I have other plans, and you could back up a little. There’s plenty of room behind you.”

  He chuckled but didn’t move. “I’ve heard about your plans. You went to the bowling alley with Jonah and his buddies over the weekend, and I was confused because you told me you two were done.”

  Before I could respond, he gave me a shark’s smile and leaned in closer. “You’re forgetting who your real friends are. I thought you were smarter than that. By the way, have you got anywhere to go for Christmas? Because if you warmed up a little, you’d be welcome at my house.”

  My lips pressed together. Drew was such an ass.

  His fingers brushed over my hair, and when I reached up to push him away, he was abruptly yanked back.

  Jonah dragged him to the side and pushed him face-first into the wall of lockers. Leaning his mouth to Drew’s ear, he said, “You don’t touch her. Do you understand me?”

  Drew struggled, trying to break free, but Jonah held him easily. “That’s up to her, not you.”

  His eyes hot with anger, Drew stared at me. I stared back, my own gaze filled with outrage and hurt.

  What happened to him? He was nothing like the boy I remembered. He was petty and spiteful, and I wished more than anything that I could tell him to leave me alone, but I didn’t have that luxury. Not yet, at least. I still needed his mother. I couldn’t risk turning him against me and possibly alienating Alison. Jonah wouldn’t like it, but I had to salvage the situation somehow.

  “It’s a misunderstanding. Let him go.”

  Drew smiled smugly while Jonah glared in my direction, not releasing him.

  I nodded at Jonah, letting him know I meant it.

  Students gathered around us, and Jonah gave Drew one last push that sent him crashing into the lockers before he released him. His expression hard, Jonah walked away without looking back.

  I watched him go, knowing that he didn’t understand, and I couldn’t explain it to him.

  “Asshole,” Drew muttered as he came back over to me. “You sure you two are done? I don’t think he’s on the same page as you.”

  Putting my hands on my hips, I gave him a stern look. “You were right. Whether you touch me or not is up to me. We’re friends. That’s all. No more crowding me, and no more touching me like that. Got it?”

  His lips twisted with annoyance. “I think you misunderstood. It was a friendly touch.”

  I rolled my eyes. “It wasn’t friendly. It felt kind of threatening, actually.”

  He shrugged. “You need to lighten up. I’ll see you later.”

  As Drew walked away, I slammed my locker closed, hoping I hadn’t just ruined my chances for talking to my father again.

  It was dark when I got to the old part of the building where they used to have auto shop class. The heavy metal door slammed closed behind me, echoing throughout the large space. Minimal light filtered in from the small square windows in the garage door. The long green sedan looked much the same as last time I saw it. It didn’t appear as if Jonah had been working on it, and it didn’t look like he was here now.

  Swallowing my disappointment, I turned to go.

  “You lied to me.”

  My body tensed as I looked in the direction of Jonah’s voice. He walked toward me from a darkened corner, where he must have been standing the whole time.

  “What?” I as
ked.

  He stopped a few feet away from me with his hands shoved deep in his pockets. “There was no misunderstanding. You looked like you wanted to jump out of your skin when Drew touched you.”

  I swallowed hard, hating that he was right and knowing I had to lie again. “I didn’t want you to hit him. People were watching. You could have gotten in trouble.”

  He tilted his head. “You didn’t care who was watching. You just didn’t want me to hurt Drew. Why?”

  I shifted uncomfortably. “Because it was no big deal. You overreacted.”

  Jonah shook his head, laughing bitterly. “I overreacted. Right. That’s why you looked like you would have hit him yourself if I didn’t beat you to it. What did he want, Candy? What’s he holding over you?”

  I squeezed my eyes closed, knowing I had to change the subject because he was far too perceptive. “Jonah, please. This isn’t why I wanted to talk to you today.”

  When I looked at him again, the stubborn glint in his eye was slowly fading.

  “I know what you want to talk about,” he said. “Sorry I didn’t tell you yesterday. Things got kind of hectic, but you don’t have to worry about my father anymore. I told him you didn’t find anything out at your dinner and that you don’t want any part of his deal anymore.”

  I studied him. “He accepted that?”

  Jonah nodded, and I could tell he believed it. It made me want to believe it too. But he was still looking at me hard because he hadn’t forgotten about Drew.

  “You stopped working on the car,” I blurted, wanting to distract him.

  “You stopped cooking.”

  I bit my lip. He was right. We’d both abandoned our hobbies. But Jonah hadn’t abandoned me. He still came to my rescue today, even though I just tried to convince him otherwise.

  “There was another thing I wanted to talk to you about.” I cleared my throat. “I want to talk to my father again. Could you help me with that?”

  His gaze sharpened, and the hesitance I saw there wasn’t encouraging. “I don’t think they’ll allow it. It was unusual the first time.”

  “Could you at least talk to your father for me? If you’re not going to let me see him, you have to let me talk to him sometimes. You can’t completely cut him out of my life.”