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Ted knew something more than a bee sting had transpired. He looked at Meg for an explanation, but Meg kept her focus on Haley.
Haley dug into the pocket of her microscopic shorts for her car keys. She’d parked her Focus facing the lane, presumably to make a fast getaway after she’d burned Meg’s clothes. She pulled her keys out and studied them for a moment, still waiting for Meg to expose her. When that didn’t happen, she began taking short, tentative steps toward her car.
“Welcome to the rest of your life,” Meg called out.
Ted regarded her curiously. Haley faltered, then stopped. When she finally turned around, her eyes were bleak, pleading.
Meg shook her head.
Haley’s throat muscles worked. Meg held her breath.
Haley turned back toward her car. Took another step. Stopped and faced him. “It was me,” she said in a rush. “I’m the one who did those things to Meg.”
Ted stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m—I’m the one who vandalized the church.”
Ted Beaudine wasn’t often at a loss for words, but this was one of those moments. Haley twisted the keys in her hands. “I sent that letter. I put the bumper stickers on her car and tried to break off the wipers and threw the rock at her windshield.”
He shook his head, trying to take it all in. Then he rounded on Meg. “You told me a rock fell off a truck.”
“I didn’t want you to worry,” Meg said. Or take it upon yourself to replace my Rustmobile with a Humvee, something you’re perfectly capable of doing.
He spun back to confront Haley. “Why? Why would you do all that?”
“To—to make her leave. I’m . . . sorry.”
For a genius, he was slow on the uptake. “What did she ever do to you?”
Once again, Haley faltered. This would be the hardest part for her, and she looked at Meg for help. But Meg wasn’t giving it. Haley’s fist curled around her keys. “I was jealous of her.”
“Jealous of what?”
Meg wished he didn’t sound so incredulous.
Haley’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Because of you.”
“Me?” More incredulity.
“Because I fell in love with you,” Haley said, each word wrapped in misery.
“That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard.” Ted’s disgust was so palpable that Meg almost felt sorry for Haley. “How could tormenting Meg show your so-called love?” The word was a snarl that sent Haley’s fantasy world crashing around her.
She pressed her hands to her stomach. “I’m sorry.” She started to cry. “I . . . never meant for it to go so far. I’m—so sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it,” he shot back. And then he delivered the final proof of exactly how unrequited her feelings for him were. “Get in your car. We’re going to the police station. And you’d better call your mother on the way because you’re going to need all the support you can get.”
Tears rolled down Haley’s cheeks, and small, choked sobs caught in her throat, but she kept her head up. She’d accepted her fate, and she didn’t argue with him.
“Hold on.” Meg blew air into her cheeks, and then released it. “I have to vote no on the police.”
Haley stared at her. Ted waved her off. “I’m not arguing with you about this.”
“Since I’m the victim, I get the final say.”
“Like hell you do,” he said. “She terrorized you, and now she’s going to pay.”
“For whatever it cost you to put in my new windshield, that’s for sure.”
