Page 114 of Just Like That

“For years you kept paying her. Did you know about Teddy?”

He gave a halfhearted shrug as though the entire conversation was boring him. “I knew she had a kid, but I didn’t care enough to ask if it was mine. She warmed my bed on occasion, and I paid her handsomely for it.” He rolled his eyes and leaned back until the chair groaned against his weight. “That’s what whores are for.”

Fury seeped from my pores, and I vibrated with hate. “And Mom’s necklace?”

“Your mother didn’t need it where she was.” A sick grin slinked across his face. “Maybe with this kid, I can get it right this time ... mold him in the way I could never quite do with you.”

I snapped and dove across the table.

My fists gripped his shirt, and I slammed him forward. Rewarded with his pained grunt, I reveled in the shock that crossed his face before it hit the metal surface.

Blood spurted from a fresh cut above his eyebrow and seeped down his face. He wasn’t laughing anymore, but I was. My fist landed in a sickening thud as it connected with his face.

My father fell back and onto the floor, the metal chair scraping as it tumbled with him. The commotion drew attention, and the door flew open. Dad’s attorney stepped in with an officer on his heels.

“What the hell?” He surged toward my father, but I pushed past him. “That’s assault, Mr. King!”

My father was enraged, wiping blood from his eyes and drawing ragged breaths as he struggled to stand. “I will press charges!”

I kept moving, leaving him and any shred of loyalty I had to him behind. “I hope you do.”

THIRTY-EIGHT

HAZEL

I pacedacross the living room floor. JP had been gone for nearly two hours, and panic was setting in. After their ice cream, Teddy was buzzing from the sugar, and it took a hot bath and two bedtime stories to get him relaxed enough to close his eyes.

Alone in the kitchen, I whittled my nail polish down to nothing while reading the paternity results again.

And again.

And again.

Shock had morphed into utter, aching sadness.

Every time I had smiled when Teddy did something that reminded me of JP—every frown, their uptight nature, all the quirks that silently reassured me JP was his dad—meant nothing. The two were similar because they were related.

Brothers.

The thought of Olive sharing a bed with Russell King sickened me. If only there was a way I could talk to her—one last time—and ask the dozens of questions I still had.

An idea sparked to life, and I pulled out my phone.

How much do you know about performing a séance?

Luna

More than most, less than some?

I can make that work.

Got someone you need to talk to?

My sister.

Send me the address. I’m on my way, but we’ll need reinforcements to amplify the signal.

Thinking on my feet,I created a group chat with some of the women from the Bluebirds. Hopefully they wouldn’t think I was completely losing it and at least a few of them would be open to helping. I toyed with my lip and thought of the best way to explain what I needed but opted for a direct, lighthearted approach.

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