As the doors swished shut, Clarissa smiled and whispered to herself, “Not before it breaks. You won’t find her.”
Dani sat in Jonah’s car for twenty minutes after she had parked outside Aiden’s rambling house. Another car’s headlights swept the terrain as it drove into the driveway before being shut off. Dani saw two figures step out from the car. Boone had come to Aiden’s shindig. He’d brought a friend, Lari.
When they went inside, Dani saw Kate standing on the far side of the porch. She had a drink in hand and a Koala attached to her arm. Kate stood alone and Dani wondered when Robbie would figure things out. With that in mind, Dani took a breath and crawled out of Jonah’s car. She tucked the keys into her front pocket as she circled around the house and stepped onto the patio, just behind Kate’s oblivious form.
“For a cop, you aren’t that keen right now.”
Kate jumped and laughed as she turned around.
Dani saw the darkened spots on her friend’s outfit. “Sorry about that.”
“No, no.” Kate dabbed where her drink had spilled. “It’s my fault. You’re right. I’m not much of a ‘hunter’ tonight.”
“And yet,” Dani pointed to Kate’s arm, “you got a Koala on your arm. They are some fierce predators.”
“Yeah—for leaves,” Kate said dryly. “And besides, I don’t have my gun so I’m off the clock.”
“I didn’t think cops were ever off-duty.”
“Not really.”
“Does your unusual quietness have to do with a certain recently-single man inside?”
“Robbie’s not here yet.”
“What?”
“Yeah, he’s working late.”
“Oh.” Dani leaned beside Kate against the patio’s frame. “So he’s hiding.”
“He’s hiding.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah.”
“My grandma’s alive.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” Dani shrugged. “I thought I’d share in your misery. My grandmomma’s alive and she just yelled at me to never go back to visit.”
“Why’d she do that? Where is she?”
“I asked for it, I guess. I pushed her to admit something, but she wouldn’t.”
A smile ghosted over Kate’s features as she noted, softly, “So am I pushing Robbie?”
“Have you pushed him? Has he warranted a push?”
“Look at you, Miss Counselor, tonight,” Kate teased light-hearted.
“I’m no counselor, but I know a few things. Secrets aren’t good. It’s never a bad thing when they come out.”
“Robbie knows my secret,” Kate murmured. “That I’m in love with him.”
“He knew long before I told him.”
“What?” Kate straightened abruptly. “Why would you do that?”
“Because he already knew. If anyone did the pushing, it was me. Robbie needed it to realize that he’s going to lose an amazing girl if he doesn’t get his ass in gear.”
“Oh.” Kate frowned. “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“Either way, you’ll know where he’s going to stand. He’ll always be a coward or he’ll grow some balls. If he stays the coward, you’re better off without him.” Dani was relentless as she bulldozed over Kate’s secret that hung over her head.
“That’s true.”
Kate didn’t seem to mind being bulldozed over.
“Wanna know another secret?” Dani asked lightly.
“What’s that?”
“I’m sleeping with Jonah.”
“Oh. I knew that.” Kate didn’t perk at the supposed news bulletin.
“What? When?”
“Please. Anyone who spends as much time with Jonah that you’ve been—if they’re not sleeping with him, then that’s news-worthy. Besides,” she shrugged, “you guys were kissing that night when I passed out in the car.”
“Supposedly passed out, you mean.”
“I woke up, saw you two getting all cozy, and fell back asleep.”
“Well, Jonah’s not too happy with me and did I already mention that my ex-boyfriend and ex-fiancé are both inside?”
“Sorry.” Kate didn’t budge. “I’m a bit down in the dumps to get excited over your discomfort, but I feel for you. I really do.”
Dani smiled and sighed. “This night’s going to suck. Can we stay out here and get drunk?” It was a wishful thought, but Kate laughed in delight as she reached into her pocket and produced a walkie-talkie. She pressed the button and spoke into it, “This is Koala One to Chimp Two.”
Static sounded a moment and then, “This is Chimp Two. Chimp One is still missing in the jungle. What do you need, Koala One?”
Kate smiled wickedly as she pressed the button, “Koala One has come across Flamingo Two. Flamingo Two is requesting more coconut juice.”
“Coconut juice is on its way, Koala One and Flamingo Two. Good to hear you arrived, Flamingo Two.”
Dani took the radio and spoke into it, “Thank you…”
“Chimp Two.”
Dani finished, “Chimp Two.”
“Anytime, Flamingo Two. Coconut juice’s E.T.A. is two minutes, already in route.”
“Over and out, Chimp Two.”
“Over and out, Flamingo Two.”
Laughing, Dani asked, “Flaming Two?”
Kate grinned and said dryly, “Jonah’s Flamingo One and it’s because you’re both so pretty.”
Dani laughed and shook her head. “Robbie is a complete idiot.”
The smile vanished from Koala One’s face. “Yeah, well there’s a reason why he was given the name Baboon.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because he’s a big enough ass.”
Dani was still smiling as Bubba filled the glass door and he rapped against it with his knuckles. His hands were full with two glasses and Dani burst out laughing as she saw that he wore a headband over his hair. A flamingo sat perched on his face and its legs spread out down the sides to his ears to hold itself in place.
“Oh no.” Dani shook her head as Kate opened the door and Bubba handed over two Coronas. Grinning, he plucked off the headband and maneuvered himself in front of Dani.
“Oh please.” Dani reached for the headband, but Bubba playfully slapped her hands away.
“I have to do this just right. Flamingo Two has been anxious to meet her owner, you know.” Bubba giggled and it seemed wrong for such a muscular man to giggle as a schoolgirl. He concentrated and bit his lip, “Okay…Shelly is very happy to make your acquaintance.”
“Shelly huh?” Dani laughed as she reached to lightly touch the padded pink headband on her hair.
“Don’t. Shelly doesn’t like to be touched,” Bubba said quickly, but laughingly moved away.
Kate gave Dani a Corona and Dani shook her head, grinning stupidly. “This is…hilarious.”
“This is just the warm-up. Just wait ‘til Aiden gets here. We have full costumes.”
“Jonah has one of these too?”
“Hell no.” Bubba laughed again. “He won’t wear one of our get-ups, but he still gets called Flamingo One.”
“Why do I have to wear this and he doesn’t?”
“Because you’re cool and fun and he’s not,” Kate said simply.
“Yeah…” Bubba needed a breath from his laughter. “We even bought these two orange hunting pads, you know that you can sit on when you’re hunting and they warm your ass up. Aiden sewed them onto this waistband that she took from my old underwear. We’re going to make Robbie wear them when he gets his big ass here.”
Kate’s smile slipped and murmured, “Thanks for that.”
Bubba clamped a hand on Kate’s shoulder and shook his head, “Robbie is a baboon, if you ask me.”
“I know.” And Kate tried for a smile, but the energy had left her.
Bubba smiled for her and wrapped his arms around to lift her in the air. After he whispered something in her e
ar, Kate squealed and her smile wasn’t forced anymore. Then Kate nudged her arm and gestured towards the doors.
Dani looked up and saw her best friend watching back. Jake’s eyes skimmed over the flamingo with the faintest tease of a grin at his mouth, but Julia looked up too and Jake’s smile vanished as Julia stiffened.
She saw the flamingo and stiffened even more, if it was possible.
“Oh no,” Dani breathed out, without meaning to, but Kate and Bubba laughed.
Dani felt their shared camaraderie and smiled, thankful.
“I don’t want to go in there.”
And just then, the doors slid open and Jake walked outside with Julia in tow. Dani wondered how fierce his grip was on her hand and how much Julia followed without being dragged.
Julia looked like she’d been forced to approach her younger sister, but the feeling was mutual.
“Jakey!” Bubba nodded and asked, “You need some coconut juice?” Before Jake could respond, Bubba clamped him on the shoulder and moved around, saying, “I’ll get you coconut juice. You too, Julia. You look like you could use some.”
Julia opened her mouth, but closed it as Bubba quickly closed the patio doors behind him.
Jake chuckled briefly, “He’s a good host.”
“He’s on orders to get everyone drunk and to get their car keys.” Kate smiled easily, but it slipped a bit as she nodded to Julia, “Hello, Julia.”
“Kate.”
Dani chuckled and commented, “Man, two people that you hate, Julia, and you have to play nice.”
Jake sighed.
Kate’s interest perked up.
And Julia glared heatedly at her younger sister.
Dani smiled coolly and remarked, “I’ve already gone one round with our grandmother. You remember her? She’s alive and she hates my guts right now. I can handle going a round with you.”
Julia looked uneasy, but she asked stiffly, “Our grandmother?”
“Yeah. Sandy O’Hara is alive and kicking, although I guess there could be debate on how ‘alive’ she actually is. If you ask me, I’d say she’s already got one boot in the grave, voluntarily.”
Julia sucked in her breath and lashed back, “I don’t believe you. I don’t believe a word that you’re saying. You’re just trying to play games because you’re hoping that I won’t press charges against you for burglary.”
“Why, wait?” Dani smiled sweetly. “We have two police officers right here. Here’s my confession: Yes. I took my momma’s photograph because I deserve it. It’s mine.”
“It’s mine and I want it back.”
“What for? To hide from Kathryn again?”
“I thought we were here for poker. Let’s play some poker,” Jake suggested.
“Have at it, Jake. Pool tables are downstairs, but I think the next games won’t be open for another hour,” Kate offered.
“I have as much right to momma’s picture as you, Dani.”
“No, you don’t!”
“How can you say that?” Julia cried out, outraged. “You don’t know anything about our family—”
“Your family!” Dani interrupted, still composed and gracious with a smile as she held onto her Corona for dear life. “It’s been your family from day one after momma was buried. Kathryn took you and Erica in and left me out in the cold.”
“How could she? You were already with Mae. Everyone knows that Mae favored you from day one. You got Mae and I got Kathryn, what’s the problem?” But Julia couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice.
“Oh, I bet that’s been building up over the years, huh?” Dani taunted. “What? Are you jealous that you didn’t both aunts?”
“This is ridiculous!” Julia hissed. “We are adults and we are above this.”
“No, we’re not. We’re sisters.”
“You are irrational—” Julia started to chide her sister, but Dani cut her off, “Kinda like needing to leave a party so you can obsessively mop the kitchen floor at midnight because it wasn’t mopped enough that day!”
Julia sucked in her breath—again and Jake moaned, “Oh no.”
“Excuse me?” Julia asked as her eyes flashed a warning.
Dani dug her heels in and sniped, “No, I’m not going to excuse you. You have to have everything in perfect order. You probably couldn’t function without someone dying for you to care for. You needed Erica more than she ever needed you, kinda like I bet that Kathryn doesn’t actually need you to remind her to take her pills. She’s got enough alarms set to remind herself to take those pills.”
“Dani,” Jake reprimanded.
“What? Did I just bring up the secret word? Death. Did I just talk about Kathryn dying and I wasn’t supposed to.”
“You will remember that she is your aunt too—” Julia started.
Dani cut her off again, “But she’s not. She never was. She chose to love you and Erica, but she never loved me.”
“Because you were taken!” Julia snapped. “Kathryn told me about her agreement with Mae. Mae got you and Kathryn got us. It was agreed upon, but Mae took forever to get her life in order so Kathryn took care of you. You should be grateful—”
“Of what?” Dani wasn’t going anywhere.
“Jake,” Kate coughed, “maybe you and I should go and roust up another poker game.”
Jake glanced wearily between the two sisters and sighed, “Maybe we should.”
Kate and Jake disappeared as Dani shot back, oblivious to their disappearance, “I could have two aunts, Julia, just like I had two sisters. It doesn’t have to be either/or in our family. Why am I the only one who gets that?”
Julia quieted, but she still seethed.
“You wanna know where that even came from?” Dani cried out. “From our mother.”
“You shut up!” Julia lashed out. “You shut up about momma!”
“It’s true. Momma visited our grandmomma. It was our grandmomma who told her what to do, to even talk to Mae about having me. Can you believe that?” Dani’s laugh was empty, even to her ears. “Momma took advice from a crazy woman.” She quieted and then added, “A broken woman, that’s what our grandmomma is.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Grandmom is dead. Kathryn told us that.”
“No.” She really wasn’t. Dani shook her head. “I’ve seen her three times now, but I doubt that I’ll be back.”
“Just…” Julia lost her energy and she sighed deeply. Worn out. “I can’t do this, not now. I can’t—” She choked off her words and merely hung her head.
“Did you know that our granddaddy was married when he fathered our momma?”
“Stop it, Dani!” Julia shouted and rounded, panicked. “I can’t listen to this nonsense right now. Not when Kathryn is dying. She needs me.”