90 Days (Prairie Town Book 2) (23 page)

     “So you really are excluding your sister.” He snorted in disbelief.  “That’s…wow, Lydia.”

     “It’s in her best interest, Benji.  Please don’t make me out to be the enemy.  There are things about Laney you don’t understand.”

     “But there
are
things about Laney I fucking understand.” He stated angrily.  The sudden protectiveness that overcame him was surprising. “This is bullshit, Lydia.  You’re doing the one thing she’s been asking you not to.  Yeah, I get that she’s fragile and trust me, I’d never do anything to break her, but for you to leave her behind when all she wants to do is help?  It’s like you’re just asking for this.”

     “Asking for what?” Lydia was hurt.  “Asking for my sister to be okay?  Asking for my life to go back to normal, so I can be happy like I deserve?  Benji, you know me.  You. Know. Me.  All I want right now is to stomp out this fire before it engulfs everything.  I don’t want Laney to get burned, okay?  If this girl is half as vicious as Jeb says she is…”

     “Then Laney deserves to be with you so she can extinguish the flames, too.  Don’t treat her like a child, Lydia.  Let her help.”

     “She can help me with my wedding, if there’s still one to be had after this.  I have to go, Ben.  Just look out for her, okay?”

     “What the…?” He stared at his phone in a mixture of anger and confusion. 

     Did she really just hang up on him? 

----------

Laney

     The one thing Laney had always loved about her childhood bedroom were the bay windows.  She couldn’t help but feel like Juliet when she pushed them open and gazed down at the lawn, especially in the summer time.  The grass was so lush and green and the flowers sprouting up along the walkway were so pretty and vibrant.  Watching the sunset was a heavenly experience she’d never shared with anyone else.

     Never.

     Sitting on her knees with her arms draped lazily across the windowsill, she peered at the evening sky and watched as the sun disappeared, leaving behind pillows of deep purple and gorgeous pink.  She was certain that if Heaven existed, it surely resembled the sky on a perfect summer evening.

     With a slow song playing through the speakers of her old stereo—the thing was ancient, seriously—she lifted a hand to wipe at the tears falling from her eyes and sighed.

     Why did her stupid brain always have to ruin everything?  Would she ever make it through an entire day without breaking down because of the voice in her head?

    
Poor Benji
.

     He really had no idea what he was getting into when it came to her.  She really did enjoy spending time with him.  She liked the kisses and the hugs and holding his hand, and sweet Lord above she
loved
what he could do to her, but he honestly had no idea what it was like to be around her on a bad day.

     Somehow, the seemingly perfect day had turned into a dark one and it all started with Lydia answering a phone call from their dad.

     It was easy to understand why Lydia was so upset.  It was wrong of them to keep their father’s illness from her, but what about Jeb and Lydia keeping the whole Alisha/Mia Crazy-Ass stuff from her?

     How could she help if they didn’t let her?

     Maybe it was childish to get upset over.  Maybe she just needed to focus on helping Lydia get ready for her big day, but how the hell was she supposed to do that when she was so damn worried about everything else?

     It just wasn’t fair.

     And now they were off to solve the mystery. 

     Without her. 

     Again.

    
Oh, well.

     It would probably still sting come morning time, but maybe it was time to let it go.  There was no use in fighting for something when she didn’t even have a chance to win.  Lydia and Jeb would do what they wanted and she would still be viewed as weak and pathetic. 

    
I’ll still be viewed as the crazy one.

     A soft knock sounded on her door and tugged her from her less-than-pleasant thoughts.  Lazily lifting her head from the comfort of her arms, she watched as her door opened and her mom stepped inside.

     Mrs. McIntosh looked so tired.  The dark circles beneath her eyes said she hadn’t been sleeping well.  Laney hadn’t seen her mother in such bad shape since her father had been in the hospital. 

     She was holding the house phone—because people still had those in Prairie Town—in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.  Offering her daughter a smile, she eased down onto the end of her bed.

     “Hello, sweetheart.” Mrs. McIntosh said.  “I don’t mean to bother you, but we just got a call from the insurance company in regards to your apartment.  They need you to come over and survey the damage so they can get a quote on how much to give you to replace everything.”

     “Finally.” Laney scoffed, pushing herself up from the floor and walking over to sit beside her.  “That only took forever, huh?”

     “But that’s good news, isn’t it?  Soon you’ll be able to move back in and life can get back to normal.  Won’t that make you happy?”

     She mulled over the question in her mind and shook her head.  Laney wasn’t sure what would make her happy anymore.

    
Benji makes me happy.

     “Sweetheart?” Her mother’s fingertips touched her cheek and she instantly swallowed down fresh tears.

    
No more crying.

     “Elaine.”

     Upon hearing the use of her full name, she lifted her eyes to meet her mother’s and sighed.

     “Honey, I know there’s something going on in that mind of yours and it worries me.  Is there anything you want to talk about?”

    
There’s so much I want to talk about.
  She thought, nibbling her poor bottom lip between her teeth.

     But, how?  What could she say, and how could she say it without sounding like a kid having a temper tantrum?

     “You can tell me anything, Laney.  I’m your mother; it’s what I’m here for.”

    
I want to…

     “I tell you what.  Why don’t I go make us some tea and you can come down to the kitchen.  Your father just left to get me some apples for a recipe so we’ll have the house all to ourselves.  No one will be around.”

     She appreciated the kindness her mother was trying to show her, but as the years passed by, Laney found it increasingly difficult to talk about her problems.  Hell, it took Lydia weeks to get the truth out of her.  How was she supposed to open up to her mom about what was going through her mind?

    
What if she tries to put me back in there?

     Hell. No.  She would never go back to that place.  Being treated like a crazy person and poked and prodded was not her idea of a fun time.  Even the memories of her hospital room gave her chills.

     “I’ll go make that tea.” Her mother kissed her forehead.  “And if you want to come down, you can.  If you don’t, that’s okay, too.”

     Watching her mother leave the room, Laney bowed her head and released a nervous breath.

     Maybe it would help to get everything off her chest.  If anyone understood, it was definitely her mom.  But what if it only made her parents worry more and they decided to do something about it?

    
What if I’m just paranoid?

     Sucking in a deep, calming breath, she stood from the bed and hunted down her cellphone.  Typing out a quick message to Benji, she hit send and then placed her phone on the dresser.

     If she was going to do this, she didn’t want any distractions.  If Lydia or Jeb called, they could talk to her voicemail.  They deserved to know what it felt like to be ignored.

     With that thought, she exited the room and headed to the kitchen, suddenly craving some of her mother’s sweet tea.

-----------

Lydia

     She wasn’t sure why, but she had to keep convincing herself they were doing the right thing.  Finding Mia and confronting her was definitely the right thing, but what about leaving Laney at home?

    
“I can help.” Laney insisted as she came down the stairs and hopped off the bottom step.  “Let’s take this bitch down together, McIntosh style.”

     “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Jeb replied, stopping at the door and turning to gaze at her.  “I think you should stay put in case we need you to do something here.”

     “Like what? Count blades of grass?” Laney glared at him before focusing her attention on Lydia, giving her best puppy dog eyes.  “Please let me go.  I can help.”

     “I think Jeb’s right.” Lydia replied carefully giving her sister an apologetic smile.  “What if we get there and she’s totally crazy?”

     “She really is crazy.” Jeb insisted.  “You have no idea what she’s been putting me through for the last few weeks, Laney.  She’s pretty much blackmailed me.  For a lot of stuff.”

     Lydia didn’t even want to think about what she’d blackmailed him for, but it sure fueled her fire for revenge.  Mia was going down.

     “This isn’t fair!” Laney exclaimed, staring back and forth between them in disbelief.  “I can do stuff, too, you know?  There’s strength in numbers, guys.  Let’s show her we’re not putting up with her blackmailing, conniving ways.  We’ll put the fear of God in her.”

     “No.” Jeb said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest.  “Don’t make me get Dad involved in this, Laney.”

     “You’re fucking kidding me.” Her mouth fell open.  “You’re going to tell Dad to make me stay here?  I’m not a child, Jeb.  I’m older than you!  I can go if I want to.”

     “Not if I tell Callum not to let you.” He threatened, his jawline tightening.  “Just sit tight, Laney.  God.  You act like we’re going to war or something.”

     “We are! She’s attacking Lydia and damn it, Lydia is my sister, too.  Just…ugh! Forget it.  I don’t want to go anyway.  You’re so stupid.  This is stupid.”

     As she turned and stomped back up the steps—a familiar scene Lydia had witnessed many times as a kid—Jeb sighed and lowered his head, shaking it.

     “She’s impossible.” He muttered, gripping the doorknob and jerking the door open.  “So fucking impossible.”

     Lydia watched as Laney disappeared around the corner and winced as her door slammed.

     “She isn’t going to forgive us for this.” She whispered sadly.  “I just don’t want her to get hurt.”

     “She’ll understand one day.” Callum wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders.  “This really could get dangerous.  I don’t even want you to go, Lydia.  We don’t know what we’re up against.”

     “Well, it may have helped if Jeb had mentioned he was dating a psychopath with a permit to carry in the first place.” She laughed dryly.  “I just really don’t want Laney to get there and have something happen.  I don’t know if her mind can handle it.  I just want her to be safe.”

     “And now, she will be.” Callum promised, kissing her temple.  “Come on.  We better get a move on.”

     “Okay.” Turning to peer up the stairs a final time, she allowed him to guide her out the door.

     Even though she really did think she was doing what was best for Laney, she still couldn’t shake the feeling something bad was going to happen.

     What if Laney never spoke to her again?

     Callum’s hand touched hers and she jumped in her seat, glancing at him.  He gave her a smile and she tried to smile back, but it was hard.  They weren’t taking a road trip; they were going to face a demon she didn’t even know existed until recently.

     How was she supposed to convince Mia to stop trying to ruin her life? 
Why
did she want to ruin her life?

     “I’m sorry I got us into this mess.” Jeb whispered from the backseat. 

     He had been quiet for nearly an hour, a record time for him, and the expression on his face crushed Lydia as she turned her head to look at him.

     He was sad.

     “It’s okay, Jeb.  Everybody dates at least one lunatic in their life time.” Callum chuckled.  “We’ll get it taken care of.  Whatever she wants, we’ll work it out and then she’ll leave us alone.”

     “How can you be so sure?” Lydia frowned.  “What if there’s nothing she wants?  What if she simply wants to ruin my life for the hell of it?”

     “She’s freaking insane.” Jeb muttered, wiping his palm down the length of his face.  “I guess I should have seen it a lot sooner than I did, but I thought she was just really into me.  She was sweet and funny and…”

     “You don’t have to explain yourself to us, Jeb.  We get it.  Relationships can be difficult at times, but she just happens to take the cake when it comes to clingy exes.  I get it.” Lydia reached back to pat his knee.  “It’ll be okay.”

     “Yeah, I bet she’ll be singing a different tune when we threaten her with a lawsuit.” Callum promised.  “My cousin is already on board if we need her.”