Page 29 of Just One Little Bargain

I stare at my phone and watch my life fall apart in real time. Lucas has a big mouth. Rebecca lives for gossip. Mom spirals at the slightest hint of a crisis. And Daisy gets caught playing telephone between all of us because she’s too nice to tell anyone to back off. The entire information chain took less than twelve hours.

New record. Usually it takes at least a full day for my personal business to complete the Brindlewood circuit.

Me: Not murdered. Tell Mom to relax.

Daisy: “tell Mom to relax” okay sure I’ll just do that

Daisy: should be super easy

Daisy: the woman who once called the hospital because I didn’t answer my phone for three hours

Daisy: THAT woman

Daisy: I’ll just tell her to relax

Me: There was a misunderstanding.

Daisy: a misunderstanding?

Me: Yes.

Daisy: Rebecca said Lucas said it was a man

Daisy: that he was IN your house

Me: Lucas needs a new hobby.

Daisy: why didn’t you call me. I would have come over

Me: It was late and you needed sleep.

Daisy: I need my sister not to deal with scary stuff alone more than I need sleep

Daisy: you know that right?

Guilt pinches.

Me: I know. I’m sorry. It really wasn’t a big deal.

Daisy: okay

Daisy: but you’d tell me if it was?

Me: Yes.

Daisy: promise?

Me: Promise.

Daisy: fine

Daisy: but Mom already texted me twice asking if you’re eating enough so you’re going to have to deal with that yourself. I am officially out of the middle

Me: Since when?

Daisy: since right now

Daisy: effective immediately