‘How’s Little Miss Perfect’s dog?’ Scarlett doesn’t look up from the TV as she asks the casual question, but I detect concern in her voice.
‘I was about to check on Lion. Thanks for your kind enquiry.’
My sarcasm makes her look up from Javier’s black leather couch. She glares. ‘She’s going to use this as an excuse not to tell the truth. It’s obvious. Wouldn’t surprise me if she let him out herself.’
If I thought Scarlett meant what she was saying I’d argue, but I know she’s not that mean. Too many times I’ve had to deal with stray kittens she’s brought home, and I’ve seen her nurse wounded pigeons back to health. She’s a softie.
Instead, I focus on her real issue. ‘I can’t blame Callie if she’s scared. Neither should you.’
‘Her brother had no problem blaming you because he was.’
My teeth grind together. ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Talk to her. Pull a few romantic moves.’ Her voice wavers. ‘Something.’
I show her the mobile phone I’ve just borrowed from Javier. ‘I’m going to call her once I’ve checked on Lion, if you must know.’
I don’t bother to explain that I’m as worried for Callie’s family situation as I am about whether she’s going to support me at school in the morning. I don’t want her to take any unnecessary risks.
Not for me.
Scarlett’s gaze is focused on the phone. ‘Do you think I could use it first?’
I adopt my sternest big brother expression as I hand it over. ‘Keep it short and local.’
She salutes. ‘Yes, sir.’
I leave her dialling and head next door. Lion is the only animal we have overnight. I spend some time checking his condition and then give him a good pat. He’s holding steady, which I think is good news. Getting through the night will be the big test.
‘Sleep well, little guy.’ I give him a final pat and cross to wash my hands at the sink.
The back door of the surgery opens, then slams.
‘In here,’ I call.
Footsteps click across the linoleum floor. High-heeled footsteps. I had assumed it was Javier.
I turn towards the woman in the shadows of the doorway. ‘Sorry, we’re closed.’
She’s wearing dark glasses but she can’t hide the tremble in her hands. ‘Are you Rhett Barker?’ she asks.
I nod. Wary.
‘I’m here to check on the dog.’
We only have one here. ‘Lion? But that would make you …’
‘There was a message at the house. My daughter brought him in. Callie. But you know Callie, don’t you?’
I can see the resemblance now. Similar features, honey-coloured hair. But despite saying she’s here about the dog, she hasn’t glanced once towards the animal cages lining the wall.
Her focus is fixed on me.
‘Lion’s just over there.’ I point, but she doesn’t follow my gesture.
Her chest lifts in a heaving breath. ‘Please stay away from my daughter.’
I say nothing.
Her hands wring together in a more desperate version of Callie’s nervous habit. ‘Do you hear me?’
‘I heard you.’
Her lips curve. A hopeful smile. ‘Good.’
The anger that’s been simmering in my gut bubbles up my throat. I am so sick of being judged by people in this town who think they’re special because they live in a big house and drive a nice car. And I’m not going to take it from this woman—especially when it’s her precious football star son who’s responsible for this entire mess.
‘I heard you,’ I repeat quietly. ‘But who Callie spends her time with is up to her.’
She’s already taken two steps towards the door. But at my words, she whirls back so fast the sunglasses slip, revealing red-rimmed eyes. Her mouth twists and she gnaws on her lower lip. ‘Do you want money?’
I shake my head. ‘You can’t buy me off. I like Callie and she likes me.’
I think. I hope.
Mrs Jones shakes her head. ‘You can’t do this. Please.’
‘Why?’
‘My daughter can’t afford to spend time with a criminal.’ She says it looking at one of the cupboards, so softly I’m not even sure the words are intended for me.
I fold my arms and lean back against the bench as though my heart isn’t pumping. ‘Criminal?’
‘You.’
‘You don’t know anything about me.’
Her eyes flick up from my faded jeans to my unshaven jaw and her nose wrinkles. ‘I know you’re a no-hoper without a future.’
‘Callie doesn’t seem to think so.’
‘For now. We all go through a bad-boy phase, but she’ll work out not to throw her life away on a bit of chemistry.’ With each word, she takes a step closer until her shaking finger pokes into my chest for emphasis. ‘I know what happened to the Chapman boy.’
‘Really?’
She nods.
‘The one your son put in hospital?’
She reels back. I can’t tell if she didn’t know or just didn’t expect me to come out and say it.
‘Sean hit him, not me.’
‘No.’
‘And do you know why Sean was out there?’ I don’t wait for her to answer. ‘He and his mates cornered my sister. If I hadn’t come to her defence who knows what might have happened.’
‘No. You’re the one.’
‘And Callie saw the whole thing. She’s going to tell.’
Mrs Jones paces the surgery floor. Near the door, she picks up a stainless-steel bowl from the bench, then replaces it with a clatter. ‘Sean wouldn’t do that.’
‘He did,’ I say steadily.
For a second her head bows but then she’s pacing again. ‘It doesn’t matter anyway, what actually happened. Sean has his whole life ahead of him. He made a mistake. But one punch can’t ruin everything. He never meant to hurt anyone. Callie knows that. She’ll be loyal to her family and protect her brother.’
‘You’re sure about that?’
A jerky nod. ‘She’ll do the right thing.’
‘I think so too,’ I say.
But she goes on as though I haven’t spoken. ‘As long as you stay away from her and she from you.’
I put more confidence than I feel into my tone. ‘Good luck with that.’
She whirls away but not before I see the tears streaking her cheeks. Opening the door so hard it hits the wall, she flees.
As I stare at the door, debating whether I should go after her, Scarlett appears, a triumphant smile on her face. ‘Got it.’
I give up all thoughts of pursuit. It’d only make things worse. ‘You heard that woman?’
I’m embarrassed that my sister heard the things Callie’s mum said. Worse, I’m terrified that she’s right, and Callie will work out just how much of a loser I am.
Oblivious to my heated cheeks, Scarlett’s smile widens. ‘Better.’ She waves Javier’s phone. ‘I recorded her.’
‘What?’
She fiddles with the phone and then I hear Mrs Jones’s voice coming from the tinny speakers. ‘He made a mistake, but one punch—’
I turn it off. ‘I get the idea.’
Scarlett is pretty much bouncing on the spot, she’s so excited. ‘This solves all our problems. It doesn’t matter whether Miss Perfect tells the truth. We have her mother confessing now.’ She hands me the phone. ‘You can thank me later.’
‘I …’ The phone feels incredibly heavy in my hands. Too heavy. This isn’t proof but it could be enough to convince Timmy that there’s no use lying. And Sean’s vulnerable. When we spoke earlier he looked like he might crack under a few more days of pressure and speculation. But … this is Callie’s mum.
Scarlett frowns. ‘What?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Right. Then why are there no celebratory fist pumps or songs about how I’m the world’s best sister?’
I arch a brow.
She waves me off. ‘Whatevs. This fixes everything.’
‘But hearing it makes me feel like shit. She obviously has issues.’
Her hands grip my arms. ‘Whatever you’re thinking, stop. Now.’
‘Like that the woman sounds unstable? And that if I use this everyone will know, and Callie will hate me forever?’
Scarlett huffs. ‘That’s not our problem.’
‘Not yours maybe.’
‘You heard what she said. She thinks you’re a criminal. Do you think Callie’s any different, deep down? She’s like Hayden. Happy to share a kiss in secret, but not exactly going public with the relationship.’
‘Give her a chance.’
‘To what? Screw us over more? You’re the one who told me to stop believing in fairytale romances. You should listen to your own advice.’
She’s right. I know she’s right. But Callie’s different. It’s more than just my heart. I’m sure of it with my mind and body and every cell inside me.
‘You deserve all that she’s got,’ says Scarlett.
‘You don’t know what her life is really like.’
‘I know about ours. I know … I know that when I need you, if someone’s threatening me, you’ll be there. You’re on my side. And I’m on yours.’ For the first time since we were kids I don’t hear any shadow in Scarlett’s voice or see it in her eyes. ‘I trust you, Rhett. And you can count on me.’
‘I know.’ I feel like I’ve finally got my sister back and it’s all be about to be destroyed.
‘Can you say the same about Callie Jones? Can you trust her?’
I press play again. It doesn’t get better on repeated listening. Internally, I wince. Is this what Sean meant when he talked about their mum? No wonder Callie is so driven to succeed, with her friend’s death and her mum’s illness haunting her. She probably feels responsible for both.
I picture her face if people start whispering about her mum and all I feel is the need to stop that future from playing out. I can’t do that to her. I won’t. I brace myself for my sister’s wrath, take a deep breath, and press delete.
‘What the hell?’ she cries. She grabs the phone back off me and fiddles for a few moments before slamming it down on the bench. ‘It’s gone. Completely wiped. You’re insane.’
‘I can’t do that to Callie.’
She shakes her head and her lip trembles. ‘You’d better hope you haven’t made a terrible mistake.’
‘I haven’t.’
And if I’m less than certain on the inside, nobody has to know.