The Secrets of Lake Road - Karen Katchur Page 0,81

how to act cool.

“Why’d you do it?” he asked.

“Do what?”

“Why’d you release the snappers?” Something in his eyes told her that he liked the idea she might’ve done something bad.

“It wasn’t me.” She was a terrible liar.

“Yeah, it was.”

She crossed her arms and then uncrossed them. She pulled at her fingers. “Fine.” God, she was weak, but she wanted to believe she could trust him. She felt the need to explain. “It’s not right what they’re doing. I think it’s cruel and gruesome.”

“They’re just using the natural resources the lake provides.” He shrugged. “And it’s probably the only way they’re going to find her now.”

She looked at her feet. “I suppose,” she said, wondering if he would answer a question for her if she could work up the courage to ask.

He leaned in close. “What is it?”

Standing so close to him made her palms clammy. She cleared her throat. “Why doesn’t your mom like mine?”

“You don’t know?” he asked as though everyone knew the reason. “It has something to do with my uncle Billy and what happened to him. He died before I was born, but my mom and him were real close.” He shrugged. “She doesn’t go into it, but I guess your mom was Billy’s girlfriend at the time. She thinks your mom knows more about what happened to him that night than she’s saying.”

“So my mother was there when he drowned?”

Again he shrugged. “Listen, don’t put too much into anything my mom says. She can be real paranoid.” He tapped the visor of her baseball cap. “And don’t worry. Your snapper secret’s safe with me.” He winked before walking away with the same cool swagger as her brother.

Watching him go, Caroline was reminded of something she had learned in biology class. It was a lesson on genetics, how there were dominant and recessive genes, how certain traits were passed from parent to child, how certain characteristics could be detected throughout family members.

But what did her teacher call the way a person walks? Gait? Could two people from different families have a similar gait? She wasn’t sure, but it didn’t seem plausible. Maybe if two people spent every second together, they could pick up each other’s habits. But it didn’t make sense for Chris and Johnny. They were best friends a month or two out of the year. And yet they walked the same way, and yes, now that she thought about it, their smiles were similar too, with one cheek rising slightly higher than the other. Why hadn’t she noticed it before?

“There you are, Caroline,” Gram said. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah,” she said absently, and followed Gram to the checkout counter. Her thoughts scattered, unsettling the very balance of everything she believed she knew about Johnny and her family.

* * *

In the bathroom Caroline read the directions on the box of feminine products, which were simple enough. When the pad was in place, she left the bathroom and helped Gram unpack the rest of the groceries. She didn’t bother trying to be quiet. She knew by the opened bedroom door that her parents were up and gone. Johnny was snoring in the back bedroom and, knowing him, he wouldn’t wake until sometime after lunch.

Gram moved with purpose, trying to get the frozen items into the freezer. The day promised to be another scorcher. She turned on the oscillating fan. “Let’s get some air circulating,” she said. Her face looked flushed.

“I can do this,” Caroline said. “Maybe you should sit down.” It was the first she thought about the little trip to the hospital. Maybe Gram hadn’t been faking after all.

Gram laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with me,” she said. “I thought you knew that.”

“I do,” she said.

Gram patted Caroline’s shoulder.

They finished putting the rest of the groceries away. Gram mentioned heading to the Laundromat to take care of the other business, the sheets and soiled clothes.

“Why don’t you head on down to the lake? I bet they have the forms posted for the fishing tournament. That is, if you’re still considering entering.”

“They’re still having it?”

Gram put her hand on her hip and pursed her lips. “They wouldn’t cancel that thing for nobody. It’s all about greed. They think money rules the world.” She picked up the laundry basket. “Fools, that’s what they are, a bunch of ignorant, greedy fools.”

“I’m not sure I would’ve fished anyway, you know. It’s kid stuff.” After the morning event, it no longer felt like she should compete. The tournament was meant for kids twelve