Lily Dale: Discovering Part 13

"I know ."She puts down her fork, giving up the charade. "I'm just . . . worried. You know . About math."

A knowing gleam enters Odelia's eyes behind her pink-framed gla.s.ses. She says nothing, going back to her own mashed potatoes and meatloaf.

"What about math?"

"I got a D on a test,"she tells her father, and it's his turn to look sick.

"I don't blame you for being worried. That's not good."

"No kidding."

"After dinner,"he says, "you and I are going to work on math together."

"Actually, Dad, I already have a study partner. Willow York is helping me."

"You can never have too many study partners."

"Dad, you don't have to-"

"What else have I got to do?"He spears a green bean with his fork.

"I don't know . . . isn't Ramona waiting for you to get back over there?"

Dad looks up from his plate. "Does it bother you?"

Odelia, conspicuously silent, pours herself more cream soda.

"Does what bother me?"

"That I'm staying next door with Ramona?"

"No, it's fine."

He doesn't look convinced. "Does it bother you that we . . . went fishing today?"

"Why would it?"

"I don't know . Maybe it would. And that would be understandable, because-"

"Knock-knock,"a voice calls through the open screen at the front door.

Ramona.

The three of them look at one another.

It's Odelia who calls, "Come on in!"

Moments later, Ramona enters the kitchen, carrying a loaf of banana bread. "I thought you might want this for dessert. I always make two."

"That's sweet of you. Thank you, Ramona."Odelia takes it from her and carries it over to the counter. "Have a seat. Did you eat dinner?"

"The kids and I had wings. I don't want to interrupt, so I'll just-"

"No, stay,"Dad says, and pulls out the empty chair between his and Calla's.

"Are you sure?"

"Sit down, Ramona."Odelia opens a cupboard door. "I'm making coffee."

Ramona looks at Calla. "How are you, sweetie?"

"I'm great,"she lies. "Thanks for bringing the banana bread."

As if that's all the encouragement she needs, Ramona settles into a chair with a jangle of gypsy jewelry.

She's dressed slightly more conservatively than usual, though, Calla notices. Instead of one of her flowing dresses or skirts, she's wearing jeans and a T-shirt-although it's a tie- dye one. She's got makeup on.

Dad is obviously really glad to see her. He looks happy all of a sudden. Happy like Calla hasn't seen him in a long, long time.

Calla can't help but forgive him for kissing Ramona. After all they've been through, he does deserve happiness- maybe someone to lean on now and then.

Suddenly, she wants-needs-to talk to Jacy. She pushes back her chair. "I'm going up to my room. Good night, everyone."

"What about the banana bread?"her grandmother asks. "And I was thinking we could play cards."

"I've really got a lot of homework to do, Gammy."

"Now that's dedicated."Ramona gives an approving nod. "That'll be the day when Evangeline pa.s.ses up dessert to study. She's only home right now because I made her stay and finish her social studies project that's due in the morning."

"I'll come and help you with your math,"her father offers, looking about as reluctant to skip dessert with Ramona as Calla is to have him come upstairs with her.

"I've got to write an essay for English, Dad, actually. We can work on math tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

She really does have an essay to write.

Upstairs, she dials Jacy's number.

Walt, one of his foster dads, answers the phone.

"Calla, how's it going?"

"Pretty good. Is Jacy there?"

"No, Peter took him to get something to eat after track, and then they were going to go try to buy posterboard somewhere for a social studies project he has due tomorrow but has apparently known about for a week. Nothing like waiting till the last minute, huh?"

Calla, who had the same project but finished it before she left for Florida, isn't quite sure what to say to that, other than, "Can you please ask him to call me when he gets back?"

"Sweetie, I'll tell him you called, but when he gets back he's got to work on his project, and I have a feeling he's not going to be done until midnight. So if it's not an emergency . . . ?"

"No,"Calla admits, "it's not. I just wanted"- more like desperately needed-"to talk to him. But it can wait till school tomorrow."

She hangs up, considers calling Evangeline, and decides against it. Ramona mentioned that she, too, is working on her project. And anyway, Calla does have that English essay to write.

But it takes her several hours to get anything down, and she's pretty sure, when she turns off the light and climbs into bed, that it doesn't make much sense.

Nothing makes sense.

What her mother and Darrin did wasn't just immoral. It was illegal.

Was that why Mom and Odelia argued over it?

And . . .

Was there really any doubt whether Darrin actually dumped the baby into the lake?

She keeps remembering the spot Aiyana led her to a few weeks ago, in Leolyn Woods. Lilies of the valley were inexplicably blooming there. In October.

And there was a rock, standing upright.

Like an unmarked tombstone.

"She isn't there,"Aiyana said cryptically when Calla found it.

At the time, she had no idea what her spirit guide meant.

Now, though, she wonders.

She wonders about a lot of things.

Lying in bed, the lace curtains billowing lightly at the open window, she hears the screen door creak below.

Ramona and her father call good night to Odelia.

"Thanks for the banana bread. See you two tomorrow."

You two.

As if they're a couple.

Maybe they aren't yet.

But they will be, Calla acknowledges as the sound of their laughter floats up through the window.

TEN.

Lily Dale

Wednesday, October 10

12:53 p.m.

As always, Calla keeps an eye out for Jacy as she goes through the cafeteria line.

She needs to tell him what she learned yesterday. About Mom and Darrin . . . and their dead baby.

The baby they hid in the murky bottom of Ca.s.sadaga Lake.

No wonder her grandmother didn't want Calla to set foot in that water. The warning had nothing to do with any premonition about Sharon Logan trying to drown her.

No wonder she and Mom were talking about dredging the lake.

They were talking about finding the baby's remains there.

Why, though?

Was there any doubt about the child's final resting place?

Calla can't stop thinking about the little grave Aiyana showed her in the woods just last week, in a spot where lilies of the valley was somehow blooming at the wrong time of year.

Jacy . . . where are you?

Calla dumps chickpeas on her salad and scans the big, crowded room.

No sign of him.