Beyond the Pale by Jennifer Millikin

Author:Jennifer Millikin [Millikin, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781732658738
Publisher: JNM LLC
Published: 2019-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

16

Now

I’ve invited Finn and Brady over to help me with the house. Their company makes the whole process of going through my mom’s things much more enjoyable. Plus, I haven’t seen them since dinner last night, and I already miss them.

Finn arrives first. When I open the door for him, I see Brady climbing from the car he’s parked on the street in front of my house. Finn’s arms circle my waist, pulling me in for a hug. At the same time, Brady catches sight of me and waves. I return Finn’s hug with one arm and use the other to wave back at Brady.

Just as I knew he would, Brady quickly hides his scowl and replaces it with a smile.

Finn pulls away and stands beside me, waiting with me while Brady leans into his passenger side and comes away with two bags of Chinese food.

Finn chuckles, and I know why he’s laughing.

“All you think about is food,” I yell out, so my voice reaches Brady across the yard.

He grins, and when he gets closer he says, “I like to feed people. It’s one of my special qualities.”

Finn reaches for the bags, taking both from Brady. “And I, for one, have always appreciated that special quality.”

Finn carries the food through my open front door.

Leaning a shoulder into me, Brady says in a low voice, “I got two orders of orange chicken. That way you and I can at least get a few pieces.”

“Good call,” I whisper back.

We follow Finn into the house. He’s gone directly into the kitchen and he’s pulling open cabinets, peering inside.

“There,” I say, pointing at the cabinet beside the fridge.

Finn follows where I’m pointing, removing three plates from the stack. Brady opens up the boxes of food while I grab silverware and napkins.

We settle in around the small breakfast table, and Finn’s the first to talk.

“What’s left to do?” he asks, chewing as he looks around.

“A lot,” I admit, looking down at my fork before spearing a bite of beef and broccoli. “The house looks tidy, but every time I open a drawer or cabinet a mess of shit comes spilling out. It’s a metaphor of her life.” I raise my fork, noticing the confused expressions on Brady and Finn’s faces. “Her surface life appeared clean, but underneath it was a heaping mess. She did such a good job manicuring the outside, I bet nobody would believe the dirt it concealed.”

Both heads, one a honeyed blonde, the other a chocolate brown, nod in understanding.

“I wonder,” Finn starts, “if you’re going to find any more secrets as you go through her stuff?”

I snort. “Like what? I have a long-lost twin?”

“Who you were separated from at birth.” Finn points his fork at me while he talks.

“Evil,” Brady adds around a mouthful of food. He swallows and says, “The long-lost twin has to be evil. It’s mandatory.”

“What’s her name?” I ask.

Finn reaches for the second box of orange chicken. “Leticia.”

“Lindsay,” Brady says, taking the box from Finn. He dumps the few remaining pieces on my plate.

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