The Obituary Society (19 page)

After letting them cool, he passed them around.  “I'm a little disappointed I didn't think of this one, Junie,” Doug said as soon as he was done chewing. 

Lila had to admit, they were surprisingly good.

Juniper plucked another item from the bag:  a fresh peach.

“
Now, I've done that one before, Junie.  But it's gonna' be delicious.”  He battered the peach and dropped it in.  “What else you got?”

Juniper's eyes sparkled with mischief as she pulled the next item out:  a small carton of chocolate milk. 

He stared at her, his face serious.  “She's bringin' it this year.  She thinks she's gonna throw ol' Doug.  Watch this.”  He brought out a container of flour and made a mixture with the chocolate milk.  After pulling out the peach (and putting it on a stick and dipping it in cinnamon and sugar for good measure) he rolled the chocolate milk and flour mixture into little balls and dropped them into the fryer.  A moment later they were ready.

Juniper bit into one.  “Not bad.”

“That all you got?” he asked.

Her eyes locked on his as she pulled a tuna fish sandwich from the bag. 

“Aw, no, you win.  I am not putting that thing in my fryer.  Nobody wants their shepherd's pie to taste like fish.”

Juniper giggled. 

Max came up behind her, looking like he hadn't shaved in a few days, and wearing a soft, worn plaid flannel in greens that brought out the color in his eyes.  “How did you do, Junie?”

He started when he saw Lila.  She stood frozen for an impossibly long second, pretending her heart wasn't wreaking havoc in her chest.

He avoided eye contact for a moment, took a breath, then locked his eyes on hers and nodded.

She contrived a casual smile.  At this particular moment she was grateful for the proud streak.  Max didn't need to know he'd hurt her.

“I got him,” Juniper answered.

“
Way to go.”  Max came closer.

“
I thought that kid was on a health food kick,” Doug said.

“
Not this week,” Max answered.  “Hey, Lila.  I wanted to come by and see how you were doing, but . . . ”

She laughed uncomfortably.  She knew she had told him to go away, but she didn't remember doing it.  “There was no need.  I probably sounded insane.  It's almost a relief to know that I was under the influence of drugs.”  Her eyes flashed to Juniper.  “I didn't take them on purpose.”  She lowered her voice.  “Someone slipped them into my drink.”

“What?”  Max moved in even closer.  His eyes were intense, angry.  “Who would do that?  Tell me what happened.” 

She forgot herself for a moment and imagined telling him everything.   She was careful about what she told Ada, because she didn't want to frighten her, or get her involved. 

Just then Erica came from behind and caught his arm.  “There you are.  I've been looking for you.”  He froze and glanced at Erica, who flashed him a sweet smile.  Lila turned and walked away before he could look back. 

“
Wait!” Doug called.

He caught up with her, handing her the peach and a napkin.  “I hear you're leaving soon.  Here's a little good-bye gift, from Juniper and me.”  As usual, Doug's eyes gave away everything.  He looked sorry, and she was embarrassed to think it was not just because she was leaving, but because he knew how she felt about Max.

Lila thanked him and continued on, eager to put as much space as possible between herself and the happy couple behind her.  She would be out of here soon enough, and didn't need to waste any more of her time thinking about Max. 

She concentrated instead on the peach.  She took a bite, and it was juicy, warm, and sweet.  Like peach pie on a stick.  She thought it was probably best she hadn't stayed with Doug any longer or she wouldn't have to fake a stomach ache.

The deep orange sun was dropping toward the horizon, as if it was too heavy to hold itself up any more.  That was something Lila would miss about the Midwest.  The open horizon left nothing to disrupt it.  She'd never seen the sun look so enormous.

The bonfire had been lit, and strong, vibrant flames rose from the depths of the wood pile, so she walked over and found a chunk of tree trunk to sit on and listened to the Old Hodgers play.  She'd never seen such a huge fire.  It was so hot she had to scoot back to avoid burning her face.  It roared its breathy roar and tiny sparks flew frantically into the sky before disappearing.  A kid next to her was trying to find the right spot to roast a marshmallow without turning it into a flaming mass.  When it was golden brown he pulled it out, and the toasted sugary smell drifted toward her.

Then Gladys was tugging at her arm.  “Lila, I need you to come with me.”

She stood up.  “What is it?”

“It's been so long since I rode a ferris wheel.  Ada won't go with me, and I need someone who won't rock the seat back and forth like Leona would.”

“
Of course.  It sounds like fun.”

She took Gladys's arm and they walked over to the ferris wheel.  The ride was $2 per person.  Lila pulled a wad of bills out of her pocket and handed them to Eddie, who was in charge of the ride.  It wasn't a very large ferris wheel, but her stomach still flipped and her toes tingled when she looked up.  She didn't care much for heights. 

Soon it was their turn, and they sat on the tiny, bright-yellow gondola.  Gladys held out her hand as Eddie came to lower the bar.  “Wait.  I forgot.  I can't do heights.  I get sick.” 

Lila stared at her in confusion.  As Gladys pulled herself up and waddled off, Max slid into the seat beside her.

Chapter 25

Heights

Max buckled the seatbelt and smiled nervously as Lila stared at him, clinging stiffly to the bar.  She turned to see Gladys standing next to Eddie, grinning.  Gladys spoke into Eddie's ear and the ferris wheel quickly jerked to let on the next passengers. 

“
Another ambush?  You need to stop encouraging your grandma.”

“
You wouldn't talk to me.”

“
What is there to talk about, Max?  And I came by once, you know.”

“
You did?”  The muscles in his jaw twitched and he slumped his shoulders.  “I'm sorry.  I should have come over sooner.  Things got complicated, and I didn't know what to do.  I was an idiot.”

She looked down as the ground fell further beneath her feet.  “That's a good start.”

“I talked to the sheriff a few minutes ago,” he said.  “Got him to tell me about the drugs.  Once Betsy Barker knows something, confidentiality's a lost cause anyway.  He's used to doing damage control.  Nobody knows where Asher is?” 

Lila shrugged, rubbing her arms.

“I hope he does show up.  He'd have to be a special kind of stupid, though.”  Max clenched his fists.
Lila knew she was supposed to be angry at Max, but it was a nice feeling, knowing there were plenty of people in town who would have her back if Asher dared show his face in town again.  Back in Montana, there'd been a guy who'd had a hard time understanding that no meant no, and wouldn't stop harassing her.  Her own mother had told her she should be more careful about the impression she gave.  She sighed.

The car rocked, and Lila grabbed the bar.  A jolt went through her chest, and tingled through her fingers and toes as she looked down.  She focused on the yellow and russet treetops clustered around the farm, and the green and gold fields that stretched away like a patchwork quilt.  The flickering glow of the jack o' lanterns had begun to compete with the waning daylight.

An autumn chill had set in.  When Max laid a warm hand over hers, she chose to accept it as a friendly gesture.  With the clamor and the laughter below feeling worlds away, it was comforting.  Too comforting.  Lila tried to move her hand, but Max didn't release his grip. 

“
I'm sorry,” he said.  His eyes had that same look she'd seen before;  saturated, the way rain intensifies color.  “He had a lot of people duped.”

“
Not Gladys,” Lila said.

“
'Course not Gladys,” he agreed, grinning.  “But you're too good for an artificial guy like Asher.  Even if he weren't a sociopathic maniac.” 

Lila laughed weakly.  She was embarrassed that in the beginning, she'd fallen for it.  “It wasn't like that.  He didn't break my heart or anything.”  She looked down at Max's hand, noticing the way the muscles and tendons stood out.  She was tempted to run her fingers along them. 

“Oh.”  He exhaled.  “Good.” 

They sat quietly for a moment, watching dark billows rise from the bonfire, and breathing in the smoky scent.  She wondered if this ride had exceeded the standard time limit.  She knew the answer when she noticed Gladys slipping a bill to Eddie Barker.  She leaned back in her seat, remembering how Max had told her Gladys didn't care for Erica, and she was a spot on judge of character.  But it didn't seem right to interfere when he had made his choice.  It wouldn't be fair to Juniper, either.

“I've been really worried about you.”  The urgency in Max's voice distracted her from her train of thought.  He pushed his hair back from his forehead, his hand clutching at it briefly.  “When we found you lying in the woods like that, bleeding—.” He paused, blinking his eyes as if trying to erase the memory.  “I wasn't sure you were going to be okay.  And the way you were talking...”  He raised his eyebrows and smiled.

“
I heard that I was a raving lunatic.”  Lila bit her lip.  “What did I say to you.  I shouldn't ask, but I have to know how bad it was.”

He scratched his chin and looked away as he searched for the words.  “You said you had a flock of birds in your bedroom.”

“An unkindness.”

Max looked at her funny.  “I'd say so.”

“And I did,” she said.  “Just not that night.”  She wondered if Asher had anything to do with the birds upstairs as well.  She would think about it later.  “Sorry.  And?”

“
And you said your uncle David was in the house, and that he was angry.” 

Lila knotted her brows together, remembering the details. 

Max continued with difficulty this time.  “When I picked you up you looked so happy to see me.”

“
I imagine I was.”  Lila laughed, trying to ease the tension.  “I'd take you over an evil poltergeist any day.  Was there anything else?”  

“
Not really.”  He looked away again.

“
I know there was.  Just tell me.”

His fingers stroked hers in a tense, nervous way.  “I laid you down on the bed upstairs, and you told me to stay with you awhile, so I did.” 

The words brought the memory back with perfect clarity.  She remembered wincing at the sting as Max cleaned the cuts on her limbs, and the tender wound on her head.  He'd covered her with blankets, then laid down beside her on the tiny bed.  She remembered how he'd wrapped his arm around her to hold the dry cloth in place on her head, his breath warm on her face.  She searched her mind, desperate to remember what happened next. 

“
You said you liked my nerdy glasses, and told me that my eyes were pretty,” he said. 

Heat rose in her cheeks.  “Hasn't a girl ever told you that before?”

One side of his mouth lifted.  “Matter-of-fact, no.”

Lila was completely sucked into this vortex, as if the ferris wheel was all there was in the world.  Maybe she could trust Max.  “And what did you say?” 

“I said for the first time in months, maybe longer, I felt grounded.”  His eyes darted away in that nervous way of his, but then he took a deep breath and looked at her, the connection direct and intense.  “When I see you, I feel like I've been away from home for a long time, and I just came back to a home-cooked meal and my own bed.  Only there are a million tiny ants in my bed, biting me, because you make me nervous and crazy.  What I mean is, you belong here . . . with me.”

Lila could barely move her mouth.  “You said all that?”

“Something like that.  And you wrapped your arms around me and—and kissed me.”  He rubbed at his stubble, searching Lila's face as if gauging her reaction.  His hand gripped hers.

“
I did?”  She held a cool hand against her cheek.

“
Yeah.”  He looked at her steadily, with an expression of determination.  His eyes flashed to her lips.  Stupid gorgeous gypsy eyes.  “If you can't remember, I could . . .”

Lila forgot about everything else for a moment.  She wanted to believe Max.  But then she remembered where trusting people had gotten her lately.  She remembered Juniper and Erica, who might be watching right now, although she doubted he'd be so careless.  They'd certainly looked like a happy family.  What did Max want with her? 
             

“
I'm sorry,” Lila said coldly.

He jerked back.  “What?”  .

“I'm sorry I did that.  I would never want to mess things up when you and Juniper could have your family back together.” 

He froze.  His lips formed a perfect O as he exhaled.   

He seemed surprised she'd figured things out.  Her chest suddenly filled with indignation.  She'd had enough people mess with her over the past few months.  Her voice was hard.  “What is this?  What are you doing?  If you're using some kind of gypsy super-power to try to suck me in, it won't work.”  Lila knew she was being irrational, but it was like something had snapped inside of her.  “I'm not waiting around while you decide what your best option is.”

“
You think—?  You don't understand.”  He started to explain, but Lila blocked him out.  Something had caught her eye in the distance, at the gourd display, and all her focus was concentrated on the scene.  When Max continued to sputter she smacked him and pointed.

She'd noticed Juniper looking at the scarecrows.  Where there were three scarecrows, there were now four, one of them very large.  When Juniper turned to leave, it had reached out and grabbed the knit hat off her head. 

She watched as Juniper realized what had happened, and turned back, ready for a fight.  By that time the scarecrow had run away, but he stood not far off, as if waiting for her to notice, which she promptly did.

“
Who is that?” she asked.

“
It's not unusual for people to come in costume.  Probably just someone playing.” 

From the tightness in his voice, she guessed he couldn't shake the feeling that it didn't look right either.

Max cupped his hands around his mouth.  “Juniper!”  But with all the commotion, his voice couldn't reach her.

“
He's leading her toward that cornfield.”  Lila kept her eyes pinned to the costumed figure.  The floppy hat fell off, and her stomach sunk as she realized who it was.

“
That's a corn maze,”  Max said, the color drained from his face.  “Not that it makes much difference.  They'll be nearly impossible to find by the time we get to them.”

The panic was thick in Max's wide eyes and in his voice as he yelled for Eddie to stop the ride, but Eddie stood chatting with someone a few yards away from his post, his back turned.

Lila didn't wait.  She squirmed out from under the bar.  It was a tight squeeze, and she didn't think she would make it through.  She felt bruises form on her hipbone as she forced her self out.

Max tried to follow suit, but there was no way he would fit through.  “Lila, you're going to kill yourself.  Eddie!  Eddie!”  He glanced back and forth helplessly between Lila and Juniper.

Lila looked down.  Her stomach lurched.  Her entire body buzzed with electricity.  She swayed, and steadied herself as she waited for the ferris wheel to lower enough to take her chance.  By then the commotion had spread, and Eddie turned around just in time to see Lila hit the ground.  He rushed to her, bug-eyed, but she waved him away.  “Go stop the ride.  Get Max off.”

She stood up, and a shot of pain burst through her ankle.  She ignored it, limping toward the corn maze, where Juniper and the scarecrow had already disappeared.