Page 174 of Wicked Brutal

“Because you’re moving it.”

“I’m going to put you in a mailbox.”

He laughs. Mom watches us. When I look up, her smile is there. But there’s something underneath it. Something that makes my hands slow on Tobias’s zipper. She knows this isn’t only about an article. Maybe she doesn’t know what it is about. But Mom has been quietly moving pieces for weeks. The charger. Letting Cassandra take Tobias. Looking the other way when looking the other way matters. She knows enough to know Cassandra Harrington showing up with her husband to collect both of her children on the exact afternoon Dad suddenly assigned me a driver probably isn’t a coincidence.

She doesn’t ask. Instead, she reaches out and smooths Tobias’s hair. “You listen to Cassandra and Walter.”

“I always do.” Every adult in the foyer looks at him. “What?”

Walter clears his throat. “Nothing, buddy.”

Mom turns to me. “And you?”

“I always listen too.” Her eyebrows rise. “Okay. Sometimes.”

That gets a tiny smile. Then her eyes move toward the window. Mine follow. Daniel is parked at the curb. He brought me home exactly like Dad ordered. Watched me walk through the front door. And apparently he’s still sitting there.

Mom looks back at me. “Your father wants you home by eight.”

“I’ll have them back before then,” Cassandra says.

Mom nods. “And Ally?” I look at her. “Your phone.”

“In my bag.”

“Keep it with you.” There are a thousand things hidden inside those four words. Dad wants to be able to reach me. Mom wants me to be careful. She steps forward and kisses Tobias’s head. Then, more quietly to me, “Have fun.”

Outside, Tobias immediately grabs Walter’s hand.

I step onto the sidewalk beside Cassandra. Daniel is still sitting in the town car. I can feel him watching. Don’t look. Don’t act weird. We’re going to the Harringtons. Cassandra is writing a real article about Edgewood’s bicentennial. She is really interviewing Tobias. Dad knows. Mom knows. There is absolutely nothing suspicious happening here. Except for the portable ultrasound machine Darla brought to Cassandra’s house.

My hand almost moves toward my stomach. I stop it. Not here. Cassandra catches the movement anyway.

She doesn’t look at me. Just walks. “You okay?”

“Yep.”

“Liar.”

Walter and Tobias are several steps ahead of us now. Tobias is telling him something about Edgewood’s original school building. Or possibly ghosts. I can’t tell.

I glance at Cassandra. “Is the interview actually real?”

“Completely.” Cassandra’s expression softens. Then she says quietly, “Darla’s already there and everything is set up.”

Suddenly three houses feel like three miles. “What about Ryan?”

Cassandra looks at me. My mood changes immediately. She sees that too. “He’s there.”

“Great.”

“Ally—“

“Please don’t.” She stops. Not walking. Talking. I appreciate it. I’m going to see him. I’m going to stand beside him and see our baby. I can do that. I can love him and still be furious with him. Apparently that’s a thing. Lucky me.

We reach the Harringtons’ driveway. Tobias releases Walter and runs ahead.

“Don’t go inside without us,” I call.