May Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 24) by Faleena Hopkins

Author:Faleena Hopkins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-20T04:00:00+00:00

29

MAY

Sable’s house is dark, too, so we all go up together. Gertie keeps twisting her hair between two fingers while staring off. Lily is walking on her own now, but her eyes have lost their light, and there is none of the usual bounce in her step. We’re all trudging, to be honest.

The door is unlocked, not uncommon in our town, and we walk in with each of us heading for a lamp — one in the wallpapered hall leading to the guest washroom, one in the elegant foyer, and two in the comfortable living room where we collapse onto the same couch and chairs we shared sandwiches on with the boys seventy-nine days ago.

Gertie asks, “Where are your folks tonight? Not out of town again?”

Sable lets out a long breath. “At a party I would guess. I don’t even have to ask if Lily can stay with us. They wouldn’t notice either way. Ever since my brother left for college last year, I never see them.”

“They probably know how grown-up you are,” Gertie offers. “It’s not like you need looking after.“

“True.” The telephone rings, and we go ice cold. “Perhaps I had better not answer.”

As it rings we stare at each other until I say, “What if I answered?”

“What would that help?”

“I don’t know. Only, if it’s Mrs. Marlow, and you answer the phone, she knows you’re Lily’s best friend. But if I answer, I could make like she called the wrong house and she would just hang up, confused.”

Lily nods dully that it would work. Sable motions for me to try it, and I hurry over. Closing my eyes, I pick up. “Hello?”

“Sable?” a boy asks.

“This is May. Who am I speaking with?”

“May! It’s Peter! That’s funny the operator mixed things up. Of all the houses she could’ve connected me to!”

Relaxing I confess, “I’m sorry, Peter. This is Sable’s phone.”

“What? Someone put gin in your soda pop, May?” He laughs. “Listen, I’m using the phone at the bowling alley. Asked the manager if he wouldn’t mind. Where are you girls? Did we get the night wrong?”

I cover the mouthpiece and whisper, “It’s Peter Tuck calling from the bowling alley!” Lily’s expression is heart breaking. “Peter, I’m afraid we won’t be able to bowl tonight. We’re awfully sorry, but something has happened.”

“I don’t like the sound of that at all. What gives?”

“I can’t say, Peter.”

“Is Lily with you? Can I talk to her?”

“Yes, she’s with me.” I cover the mouthpiece again. “He wishes to speak with you, Lily.”

She rises from the sofa as Sable whispers, “You don’t have to tell him!”

“I won’t.”

Giving her the phone I back against the wall, clasped hands behind me.

“Hello, Peter? It’s me. How are you?” Pause. “No, I’m alright,” she smiles, wiping a tear. “I sure do wish I could be there. Let’s go bowling another night. Although I have to warn you, I’m very good. And I won’t pretend I’m not just to make you feel better,” she laughs, looking at me with pain in her eyes.

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