The Secrets of Lake Road - Karen Katchur Page 0,99

and then her eyes widened. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying Johnny is Billy’s son.”

Dee Dee pulled back. Her face softened. The corners of her mouth turned up. She nodded. “I always wondered.” In the next instant, she brought her arm back and slapped Jo hard across the face.

Jo grunted. The table and chairs went out of focus. Her ear was ringing. She covered her stinging cheek where the skin burned hot.

“That was for not telling me I had a nephew,” Dee Dee said. “And that Chris had a cousin.”

Jo’s mouth hung open, shocked at the forcefulness of the hit. She tried shaking it off by standing up a little straighter.

“Does Johnny know?” Dee Dee asked.

She dropped her hand from her cheek, opened and closed her mouth, testing her jaw before she spoke. “He found out today.”

“How?”

“It doesn’t matter, does it?”

“Where is he now?” Dee Dee asked.

“I don’t know. He needed some space, but if I had to guess, he’s with Chris.”

Dee Dee slapped her again, sending her to the floor. The pain radiated across her cheek and temple. Spots floated in front of her eyes. She thought she might black out.

“That was for Johnny,” Dee Dee said.

“Please stop,” Patricia said, and reached for Dee Dee.

“Yes,” Jo managed to say. “Please stop.” She didn’t think she could take another blow, although she was sure she had another one coming. She inched her away across the floor and put her back against the bottom cabinet for support. If she stood up, she might pass out.

“It wasn’t Jo’s fault,” Patricia said, her eyes steady on Dee Dee. “I saw her dive off the pier.”

“Yeah, after she pushed my brother into the lake,” Dee Dee said.

“Yes,” Patricia said. “That’s true.” She put her hand on Dee Dee’s shoulder. “But Billy climbed onto the pier after she left. He was with Kevin. I thought they were messing around, playing rough like boys do. It was Kevin who pushed Billy into the water.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Caroline stayed tucked in the arms of the willow tree, the swooping branches draped around her, protecting her from the outside world. She wasn’t sure how long she stayed hidden under Willow, but long enough for her butt to ache and her legs to fall asleep. She stretched them out, careful to hold onto the branch above her, and she shook her feet until they tingled. Once the sensation traveled to her thighs and she could feel her legs again, she climbed down to the ground. She brushed the dirt from her hands onto her shorts and tightened her ponytail, which was sticking out from underneath her baseball cap.

Outside the ring of drooping branches, she heard the sound of footsteps. The door to the screened-in porch creaked open and slammed closed. Her father’s deep voice came from inside calling, “Hello? Is anyone home?” She wondered if he had heard their family secret was out and she was to blame. She bet he would be mad with her like everyone else was. She wasn’t ready to face him or anyone in her stupid lying family.

She darted from her protective cocoon and ran up the dirt road toward the ballpark. She wasn’t even halfway there, not really sure where she was going, but she was breathing hard and wishing she had grabbed her bike. She slowed her pace when her lungs burned, only stopping when she reached the Meadowlark, Megan’s cabin, and found herself knocking on the door.

“It’s open!” Mrs. Roberts called from somewhere inside.

Mr. Roberts was in the family room reading a book next to an oscillating fan. Mrs. Roberts emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a tea towel. “We haven’t seen you around much, Caroline. I hope you and Megan didn’t have a fight.”

“No, ma’am,” she said. “Nothing like that.”

“Well, I’m glad. Megan’s in her bedroom. Go on back.”

Caroline crept down the narrow hall and peeked inside Megan’s room. Megan was sitting on the bed, surrounded by magazines, nail polish, and makeup. Her head was down. Her blond hair fell into her face and her scalp was pink from the sun.

“Hey,” Caroline said, and slipped inside, quietly closing the door behind her.

“Where’ve you been?” Megan grabbed Caroline’s hands. She pulled her onto the bed on top of the magazines and nail polish and plastic lipstick tubes. “I’ve got news,” she said.

Caroline nodded. Her lips trembled and her nose started to run. She didn’t want to cry and look like a baby. But she wanted to tell someone what she had done.