Page 55 of Out to Get Her
“Why must I be surrounded by people who insist on broadcasting their criminal intentions?”
With a laugh, Melanie said, “You know I’m just playing.” Then, with a lightning switch to serious, she said, “You know she’d haunt our butts if we didn’t bury her in that blue ballgown she loves. The one she bought on the trip toParis.”
“One hundred percent. But she’ll haunt me, regardless.”
“Oh good, then you take the fall.”
“Not on your life. I take the fall for everything else around here.”
“That’s just because you’re amazing when you’re being you, and she wants you to be her. Take that as the good thing it is.”
Melanie meant well, but Samantha couldn’t help feeling sickened by the comment. Sure, being a cop wasn’t on her mom’s agenda for Samantha’s life, and her divorce was definitely not part of the plan either. But how much was Samantha really being herself? In all the other ways that mattered?
“I’m just tired is all,” she said.
“Then stop caring about what she thinks.”
“I can’t care much less.”
“Then let it go.” Melanie looked behind them and leaned in to whisper, “Bail on the next one of these obnoxious dinner things.”
“She’ll just lay into you in my absence.”
“I’m a big girl, Sam. I can take care of myself.” She put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I am a grown-ass adult now.”
“I know you are. I just don’t want to leave you alone in the line of fire.”
“Pfft.” Melanie waved a hand. “I’ll throw Chad under the bus. He’s gotten off way too easy all these years.”
“Truth.”
“Besides,” Melanie said, leaning her head against Samantha’s shoulder. “I want my big sister happy.”
Samantha wished she could say something about how she was already happy, but she couldn’t lie right now. She felt very much on the verge of happiness, maybe for the first time in her life. But she wasn’t there yet. She wasn’t even sure if she could ever get there. Not in this town.
“I love you too, Melanie.” She put her own head against Melanie’s and breathed in the scent of her shampoo. It was light, clean, and very Melanie.
Her sister stood up straight and looked Samantha in the eye. “Now, are you gonna let me help you win this election or what?”
“Honestly?” Samantha took a deep breath and said what had been running through her mind since last night. “I don’t even know if I care about winning anymore. I mean, I do. For all the same reasons we discussed when I first decided to run.” She was finding more reasons this town needed cleaning up with every second she was in this race, but Samantha shook her head. “I won’t play dirty or play into anyone’s pocket.”
“Not even if the ends justify the means, and you could clean all that up in the future?”
“No,” Samantha insisted. “I couldn’t live with myself. And I’ve already lost too many sleepless nights in my life.”
“Agreed,” said Melanie. “I’m still team whatever-it-takes, but I respect your decision. So whatareyou gonna do?”
“Just what I said. I’m going to solve the case, even if it leads me to take down an Ardoinora Keller.”
“Wait… what?” Melanie leaned back and looked sideways at Samantha. “That must have been one helluva phone call.”
“Maybe.”
Melanie smirked. “I thought it was just some secret thing you’ve got going on.”
“What makes you think I have some kind of secret thing?”
“Oh, please,” Melanie said with a twinkle in her eye. “I know you.”
