“You don’t trust me.”
“I do, but I don’t want you to get in trouble. Please, Miles. I’ll play Life with you later, as many games as you want. Or Clue.”
For a minute I thought he was going to turn around and leave. Not even watch Times of Our Seasons. Then I saw him take a deep breath and do that thing. You see grown-ups do it all the time. They’re about to lose their patience or get mad and then instead they take a deep breath and do not lose their patience and do not scream.
It’s a weird thing to see a little kid do. I used to see Ben do it and it tore me up.
It made me feel awful to see Miles do it.
“How about,” Miles said, “you eat two Fireballs at the same time.”
I wanted to hug him but we were almost to Leo’s and so I didn’t. “Fine. It’s a deal.”
Leo opened the door before we could knock. “Hi,” I said. Miles hurried past Leo and pounded down the basement stairs. So he was still mad.
“Have you heard anything new?” Leo asked.
“No,” I said. “I guess Cory hasn’t told anyone yet.”
“So you think we should go to work today like usual?”
“Yeah. What else can we do?” I shrugged. “Has anyone called about tomorrow’s tour?”
Leo nodded. “Two people. I had to tell them that the tour was temporarily on hold. They weren’t very happy.” Leo slumped against the door frame and rubbed one of his eyes. “I’ve got to try and make some money. I knocked on all the doors in the neighborhood but no one needs me to mow their lawn.” He paused. “What about Miles? Does he need a babysitter?”
I hoped my brother hadn’t heard Leo’s question. That would make Miles feel even worse if he thought Leo saw him as a kid to be babysat.
“No,” I said. “What if I lend you the money? Not give it to you. You could pay me back later.”
Leo shook his head.
“Can you ask Zach or Jeremy?”
“No way,” Leo said.
“Let’s watch the show,” I said. “Maybe we’ll think of something.”
When Leo and I went downstairs, Miles was sitting in a chair instead of on the couch where the three of us usually sat together. He didn’t turn to look at us. The straw necklace scratched at my collarbone.
“Here we go,” Leo said as he turned on the television. “Maybe today will be the day.”
But I knew somehow that today would not be the day.
Harley was in her box, just like she’d been all summer long.
It felt extra claustrophobic to me. It was so dark in the coffin. The camera showed us the bruises on her hands from banging on the lid. And even though she was still beautiful, her makeup looked different now. They were trying to make her seem tired.
“I feel like she’s going to die in there,” I said. “They’re never going to let her out.”
“They will,” Miles said.
The doorbell rang upstairs right as the show was ending.
I heard one of Leo’s brothers walking to answer it.
Then he came to the top of the stairs. “Cedar,” Jeremy said. “It’s your mom.”
Uh-oh.
Leo shot a look at me and we both stood up. Miles dove for the remote control and turned off Times of Our Seasons.
“What do you think happened?” Leo asked.
“I told her we’d be here,” I said. “In a note. She must have decided to come over.”
I didn’t want to go upstairs, but even more I didn’t want my mom at Leo’s house. It felt weird. Like seeing your teacher at the grocery store, but even more awkward.
When I came up the stairs my mom was waiting right by the front door. “Cedar,” she said. “Are you all right?”
I could tell she had just gotten back from the gym and she looked worried and mad.
“Mom,” I said. “Yes. I’m fine. Hi. We can come home now. Let me go get Miles.”
“I got your note,” my mom said. “And there was also a message waiting for me from Daniel Alexander.”
Daniel Alexander? Not Gary?
This was very bad.
I heard Leo draw in his breath behind me.
Cory. That loser. He wanted to get us in as much trouble as he could. So he went straight to Daniel Alexander instead of telling Gary. We should have known.
“He said it was regarding my daughter, Cedar, and not to worry, that everything was fine,” my mom said, “but that he did need me to call him back at my convenience. I tried calling but he didn’t pick up. Why is Daniel Alexander calling me about you?”
Right then the door to the garage opened and Leo’s dad came in. “Leo Bishop!” he hollered. “I need to talk to you.” Then he saw us and stopped. “Hi,” he said. “I’m Dale Bishop.”
“I’m Shannon Lee,” Mom said. “I’m sorry to bother you. I came to pick up Cedar and Miles. They’ve been hanging out here with Leo.”
“Of course,” Mr. Bishop said. Then he looked at Leo. “Daniel Alexander just called me at work.” It was the first time I’d seen Leo’s dad up close.
I looked over at Leo. He swallowed.
Leo’s dad was mad but in a dad way, not a scary way. He looked exactly like Zach, only older.