Page 202 of Scatter the Bones

“Picked it up yesterday.”

“What’re you doing with the old one?”

My grip tightens on the wheel for half a second. I glance at her in the rearview. I was planning to give the truck to Cain so he had something to run around in besides his crotch rocket. But if Jezzie wants it…“I have a buyer for it, I think. Why? Do you want it?”

She wrinkles her nose. “Nah. Too big for parking where I live.”

I blow out a relieved breath.

“So are we all going to Zips to celebrate Griff’s big win?” Jezzie asks.

“That’s the plan.”

“Did you watch the fight, Margot?” Jezzie asks.

“I did.” Margot half turns in her seat. “Did you?”

“Yeah, some guys Erin is friends with had a big party for it.”

I scowl into the rearview. “What guys?

She flicks the back of my head.

“Don’t mess with the driver,” I warn.

“Sorry.” She sits back and stares out the window. “Jensen?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you remember…” Her voice falters. In the mirror, I catch her glancing at Margot before settling her eyes back on me. “When we drove cross country? When I moved in with Aunt Angela?”

I swallow hard, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “How could I forget?”

“Meeting at the rest stop today kinda reminded me of that trip.” She rolls her eyes. “We stopped atsomany, remember?”

I almost choke and drive off the road. We stopped at so many because I was scattering my father’s bones in as many different locations as possible. There’s no way Jezzie knows that, though.

“And you took me shopping,” she adds, softer now.

I nod slowly, not sure where she’s going with this. “Is that a hint you want me to take you shopping again?”

She smiles faintly. “No.” Her gaze shifts to Margot. “Has he told you about where we grew up? On a farm. Very religious parents.”

Margot nods slowly. “He’s told me.”

In a way I’m glad it’s on her mind today. I just don’t knowwhy. “You okay, Jezz?”

She doesn’t answer right away. Just keeps staring out the window. Finally, she nods. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

Half an hour later, I ease into the driveway and pull around to the back of the funeral home.

“Wow, this place is huge,” Jezzie says. “You really live here?”

“My whole life,” Margot says. “I have an apartment on the third floor now.”

“Okay, this is actually amazing.” Jezzie steps out of the truck, staring at the house. “You could like film a whole creepy mini-series here or something.”

“Jezzie,” I warn.

---