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Chapter Fifty-One
Gina
Seven months later
What would Joel have done? I knew I couldn’t leave town right away, but I also know that I needed to. It was time for a fresh start, somewhere with a new name and a new story.
Joel had a peculiar way of looking at things. First, he would just stare at you for a minute, trying to figure you out. Then he’d nod his head, smile and say, “Yes, that’s what I was thinking.” He was the kind of guy who let you know that he was in your head the minute you entered the room. I thought he was kind of scary at first, but now I realize he simply reminded me a lot of myself.
I had so many questions in the weeks following his death. The big question was what to do about Mona, given that a lot of this was her fault. One thing is for sure—the body count is already a few too many. But it’s nice to have a friend like her around. Life can be very unpredictable.
Then there’s my father, of course, who is still banging about, healthy as a horse. Texas seems to suit him and Mona. Should I be angry that he tried to sell me off to the highest bidder and succeeded? Maybe. But if he hadn’t, I never would have met Joel.
We had one of our infamous fights, my father and I, the day of Joel’s burial. I dragged Mona into it, too. “The only reason you married him,” Daddy said, “was because I disapproved.”
“That’s not true.”
“You’re certainly no saint in any of this mess, Gina.”
Mona agreed. “People in glass houses should not throw stones.”
“You’re not one to speak,” I said. “Why don’t you tell Daddy why he’s sick half the time?”
“It’s her cooking,” my father remarks. “It’s hit or miss.”
“I’d be careful what you say,” I told him. “You never know what she’s liable to do.”
My father narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying, Gina?”
“Yeah,” Mona said. “Whatareyou saying?”
She gave me a look that said:After all I’ve done for you.
“Nothing,” I replied. “I’m not saying anything.”
My father shook his head. “Women.”
“If I were you, Daddy, I’d be on your best behavior.”
Mona shot me a look of warning. “I think we should focus on you,” she said. “You have other cats to whip.”
“Mona’s right,” my father said. “Your life is a mess, princess. Nothing but lies.”
“What was I supposed to do?” I shouted, knowing exactly what he was getting at. “The cop’s wife was lying on my kitchen floor. Dead as a doornail. Joel was dead. The cop was dead.”
“So you lied,” he said. “I guess the mail order bride story was easy to come up with, thanks to me. Loner searches for woman, loner marries woman, loner keeps woman on a short leash. Woman is afraid for her life.”
“You only ever wanted his farm,” I said. “And now you have it.”
Mona shrugged. “So you lied. Big whoopee. Everyone knew Mr. Joel was a little strange.”
“No one reallyknewhim,” I said bitterly.
“Yeah,” Daddy replied. “Maybe not even you.”
Maybe not even me.He’s right, and I hate him for it.
My father shook his head. “All those secret powers and you still couldn’t see it.”
