Payback Read online

Jamie was less enthusiastic. “No fair,” she said.

  “What’s not fair?”

  “You tell me I need to lose weight and then you make bacon?”

  “I never said you needed to lose weight.”

  “You hint at it often enough.”

  “I do not.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  Marta was appalled. Was she not only a bad wife, but a bad mother, too? “Breakfast is good for you. All the diet gurus agree on that.”

  “But not bacon,” Jamie grumbled. She broke off half a piece anyway, and when she’d finished that, went back for another slice.

  By the time Marta left the house that morning, family order was more or less restored. But her inner equilibrium was still in turmoil. Where would Todd turn up next?

  *****

  At the office, Marta made a conscious effort to put her personal problems aside, and dug into drafting a brochure for the Youth In Transition outreach project. Thankfully, Carol was out of the office for the morning, so Marta was spared the temptation of conversation and further self-recrimination.

  Lucy Summers, the director of the humane society, called just before noon to remind her of the upcoming Adopt a Friend Fair.

  “You’ve got the photographer lined up?” she asked.

  “Right.” A local man she and Carol had used for many of their publicity shots.

  “And you’ll be there?” Lucy asked.

  “Absolutely.” Adoption events were held regularly at various locations in town, but the fair was a big deal and the main kickoff for their annual fundraiser. There would be food, activities, and a clown and balloons for the kids. And members of the media. At least Marta hoped they would be there. She’d done her best to hype the event.

  “I hope the weather cooperates. The paper this morning mentioned the possibility of rain.”

  “We’ll keep our fingers crossed,” Marta said. There were some things beyond even the control of the most careful planning.

  She found a few minutes late in the afternoon to call her sister. The check had been cashed but she’d not heard a word of thanks. It was part peevishness that made her call, but also a small niggle of worry. There was no shortage of ways for Cassie to get into trouble.

  But her sister didn’t answer, so Marta got neither thanks nor reassurance.

  She was putting her phone back in her purse when she heard the familiar ping of an incoming message.

  She clicked and saw a text from Todd.

  I’m crazy about you! Let’s talk soon.

  He’d signed it with a red valentine heart.

  Chapter 12

  Jamie liked math, and algebra was one of her favorite classes, but today she found her thoughts drifting to the man her dad had been talking to last night.

  Todd. Each time she silently said his name, she got a warm feeling in her belly. He was movie-star cute, like a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Clearly a man rather than a boy, but not a real grown-up like her dad, either. More like an older brother sort of grown-up. He was funny and nice, and he’d looked right at her when they were talking. He seemed to really listen because he asked thoughtful questions, not the sort of dumb, canned responses she got from most older people. He’d said she had a knack for storytelling. Nobody had ever said she had a knack for anything before. Maybe she’d be a writer someday, or a journalist. It was probably a more interesting life than anything involving math.

  Mr. Vaughn’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Jamie, can you tell us the first step in solving this problem.”

  Which problem? Jamie wasn’t sure where they were. The blackboard had filled up with a lot of numbers and arrows since she’d last looked.

  “I . . . uh . . . I’m not sure.”

  “Number five,” Oliver whispered from behind her.

  Five. Jamie looked down at her book. It was one of those train questions but her mind was blank. She felt her face grow pink.

  “Perhaps,” Mr. Vaughn said, “you’d like to take a stab at the answer?”

  “Let me,” Oliver pleaded. “You haven’t called on me yet.”

  Mr. Vaughn gave Jamie a pointed look, then sighed. “Very well, Oliver.”

  Oliver gave a concise recitation of the correct solution. He liked math even more than Jamie did.

  “Thanks for helping me out,” Jamie told him after class as they wove their way through the crowded hallway. “I think my mind was somewhere else.”

  “That was pretty obvious.”

  “I know. It was embarrassing.”

  “I thought you liked Mr. Vaughn’s class.”

  “I do. It’s just . . . don’t you sometimes find yourself daydreaming without even realizing you’re doing it?”

  Oliver peered at her through his thick glasses. “Not really. What were you daydreaming about.”

  “Nothing important.”

  “That boy you said you were meeting Friday night at the bookstore?” He poked her playfully in the ribs. “I bet that’s it. You’re sweet on him, aren’t you?”

  Sweet? Who used that expression these days? Obviously people like Oliver. She picked up her pace. “I’ve got to get to English.”

  “Me too,” he said, matching her stride. “We’re in the same class, remember?”

  *****

  Jamie tried to stay focused during the rest of her classes. It was easy in English because they had a test, but not easy at all in civics, where Mr. Brand droned on and on about the constitutional limits of executive power. At least she didn’t have to worry about being asked a question. Mr. Brand was in love with the sound of his own voice.

  She was relieved when the dismissal bell finally rang.

  Fridays, Jamie usually got a ride home with Alyssa. But Alyssa had an orthodontist appointment after school today, so Jamie was stuck either taking the bus or walking. She wasn’t looking forward to walking. The day was overcast and cold. Not as cold as it got in Boston, but in Boston you expected it to be cold, and dressed for it. In Sterling, the trees were already in bloom.

  Still, she preferred the cold to taking the bus. That made her feel like she was in grade school. Hardly anyone took the bus unless they had to. Except Oliver. He didn’t see the point in wasting his time walking when he had better things to do. But he lived pretty far out on the edge of town.

  “Hey.” Harmony caught up with Jamie as she was shutting her locker. “I didn’t see you at lunch.”

  “I was there.”

  “Really? Guess I missed you.”

  Jamie didn’t believe that Harmony had given her a moment’s thought during lunch. She had barely acknowledged her at all for the past week.

  “Hey,” Harmony said again, lowering her voice to barely above a whisper. “Maybe we can go to the movies again this weekend.”

  “The movies?”

  “Like before.”

  Jamie wanted to tell Harmony off, to come back with some scathing, hurtful remark that would take her down a peg. But standing up to Harmony wasn’t easy, and besides, Jamie couldn’t think of anything to say.

  Harmony took Jamie’s elbow and steered her to the side of the crowded hallway, where they wouldn’t be overheard. “Look, I’m sorry about misleading you last time. I was desperate, and my mom likes you.”

  “How can she? She doesn’t know me.”

  “She knows you’re one of the ‘good’ kids.” Harmony managed to make “good” sound suspect. “I knew she’d let me go with you.”

  “Pretend to go with me, you mean,” Jamie shot back. “You used me so you could spend time with your boyfriend, what’s-his-name. And now you want to do it again. Are you nuts? You think I like killing a whole evening by myself?”

  Harmony looked more irritated than ashamed. “It’s not like you have plans, do you?”

  “I might.”

  “Both Friday and Saturday nights?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Please, Jamie. I—”

  “Could I bring a friend?”

  Jamie and Alyssa usua
lly just hung out on the weekends. Would it really matter if they picked up Harmony first? Assuming Jamie could convince Alyssa to go along with the plan.

  “I’m not really interested in going a double date,” Harmony said with a flick of her long, blond hair. “T.J. and I get so little time alone.”

  “Let me check my social calendar,” Jamie said sarcastically. “I’ll get back to you.” She turned to go.

  Harmony grabbed her arm. “I can make it worth your while. What do you want?”

  “What do I want?”

  ‘Money? Pot? Alcohol?”

  A life, Jamie thought, pulling away. That’s what I want. But even Harmony couldn’t give her that. “I said I’d let you know.”

  Jamie slammed her locker shut, turned up her coat collar, and headed outside. Why hadn’t she stood her ground and told Harmony no? She hated herself for being so wishy-washy, so eager for a crumb of friendship from someone like Harmony. But the truth was, she was also envious. It wasn’t fair that some people had all the luck while others had none.

  A blast of north wind hit her in the face as she headed up the hill in the direction of her neighborhood. It cut through her thin jacket and whipped loose strands of hair into her eyes. She probably should have taken the bus, after all.

  She’d only gone a couple of blocks when a car slowed beside her and the horn tooted. She looked over warily.

  “Hey,” the driver called out. “Remember me?”

  She squinted to see through the window. Todd! The relief of finding a friendly face paled in comparison to the thrill of seeing him. Her heart started beating faster.

  “You want a ride?” he asked. “It’s cold out there.”

  Was she dreaming or was this really happening? “Thanks.” She climbed into the car. “I was already half frozen. What are you doing here, anyway?”

  “Just passing by.”

  “How did you recognize me?”

  Todd laughed. “You’re not the sort of girl one forgets. Do you walk home every day?”

  Jamie shook her head. “Sometimes I get a ride with my friend, Alyssa. Her parents let her have the car a couple times a week. Sometimes I get to use our car, but not very often.” And sometimes her dad picked her up, but Jamie wasn’t about to mention that because it made her sound like a little kid. “I don’t mind walking, really, except for the cold.”

  “I’m with you there. I’m a warm-weather kind of guy.” Todd gave her an impish smile, and Jamie drank it in like melted chocolate.

  “Your dad said you lived in Boston before moving to Sterling. Did you like it there?”

  Jamie shrugged. “Better than living here.” She didn’t want to get into the reasons she disliked Sterling. Then he’d know how unpopular she was. “Where are you from?”

  “Just about everywhere. I grew up in the Midwest, but I’ve moved around a lot since then. At the moment I’m living in Chicago.”

  “Where was your favorite place to live?”

  “Tuscany.”

  “Italy?”

  “Right. You ever been?”

  Jamie scoffed. “Hardly. My family doesn’t travel much.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “I dunno. It’s expensive, I guess. And I don’t think my dad’s much interested.”

  “Your mom’s the more adventurous one?”

  Her mom was certainly more lively than her dad. “I think so.”

  They’d arrived at Jamie’s house and Todd pulled to the curb.

  “I’m sorry about the way she acted last night,” Jamie said.

  “Not a problem.”

  “She’s not usually so rude.”

  Todd smiled again. “She couldn’t be, given that she’s got a daughter with so much sparkle.”

  Jamie felt herself blush. “Thanks for the ride.” She got out of the car quickly, before she said something stupid. At the front door she turned. Todd was still at the curb. He waved, and she waved back. She felt a flutter in her chest like she’d been brushed by butterfly wings.

  Chapter 13

  “Pretty good turnout for a pet adoption event,” Carol noted with a nod toward the crowd. The park was dotted with food booths and activity stations, all teaming with interested participants.

  Marta nodded. “We lucked out with the weather. And I think Friday night’s television news coverage helped.”

  “You can bet the channel wouldn’t have even mentioned the fair if you hadn’t hounded them. No pun intended.”

  “I didn’t hound them,” Marta protested.

  Carol grinned. “Call it what you want. You did good. I just wish we had bigger fish to fry than dogs and cats.”

  Marta winced at the image. “Not the best idiom, but I get the point.”

  Carol was pushing for bigger challenges and richer clients. Marta wasn’t against the idea, but she wasn’t consumed by it either. She preferred working for causes she believed in.

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” Carol said, “but I spoke with a potential new client the other day. It’s something that might give us a prominent national platform.”

  “A commercial business?” Marta had reservations about taking on clients solely because they paid well.

  “No, it’s a charitable foundation, but I got the impression they’re big. Tim Whitaker, the man who contacted me, is a scout for them.”

  “A scout?”

  “A go-between. He’s making inquiries into a handful of public relations agencies the organization is interested in.”

  “Did you look them up online?”

  “He wouldn’t give me the name of the organization. They want to remain anonymous at this point.”

  A national nonprofit. That would be the best of both worlds—work Marta found valuable and more money. “Very mysterious,” she said.

  “I don’t think it’s that so much as wanting to protect their privacy.”

  “I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”

  A woman walked by with two teenage boys following close behind.

  “Three?” One of the boys asked her. “How did we end up with three cats?”

  “Well, I liked one and your mom liked another.”

  “That’s two,” the second boy pointed out.

  “I’m glad to know your math skills are still sharp.”

  The first boy drilled down. “So where’s the third cat come in?”

  “The cat your mom chose has a sister,” the woman explained, somewhat sheepishly. “The two cats have lived together their whole lives.”

  The boys looked at one another and groaned. “We wanted a dog,” the first boy said.

  “Your mom and I agree. Dogs are too much work.”

  “And three cats aren’t?”

  “Don’t you love it?” Carol whispered when they’d passed.

  “Cats trumping dogs?”

  “No, the two moms thing. Not that I’m against it or anything, but it always takes me by surprise. Especially in Sterling of all places.”

  “There could be another explanation,” Marta offered.

  “Like what?”

  “Sisters?”

  Carol shook her head. “I don’t think that’s it.” She glanced at her watch. “Anyway, I’ve got to get going. Looks like everything is under control here. Once again, you did great.”

  Marta wandered past the puppy pen, where a litter of black labs had attracted quite a crowd. She would have loved a dog but Gordon was allergic. He claimed that even the supposedly allergy-free dogs set him off. When Jamie was younger and had been begging for a dog, she’d tried to convince Gordon to visit an allergist and see if something couldn’t be done. But he resisted and she finally gave up.

  Further on, she stooped to pet a shaggy brown dog whose tail was thumping like a nonstop metronome. He nosed her hand and looked at her with big, sad eyes.

  “Oh, you’re a cutie,” she said, tickling his head behind the ears.

  The volunteer holding the leash agreed. “This is Chester. I’m surprised he hasn’t been adopt
ed by now. Maybe today will be his lucky day.”

  *****

  By afternoon, the fair was winding down. Marta made another sweep of the grounds, talking with volunteers, families looking for a pet, and the many casual attendees who came for face-painting, games, or simply a chance to see the animals. From her perspective, the day had been a success. She didn’t know the exact number of animals who’d been adopted but she bet it was sizable. Just as important, the event had given the humane society, and their funding campaign, lots of publicity. The pledge board’s oversized thermometer of donations had risen considerably.

  Feeling pleased, Marta decided to pay another visit to her shaggy friend with the big eyes. She hoped that today had indeed been his lucky day.

  A man in a blue sweater was hunched down next to the dog, and the dog was showering him with the same gleeful wags and whimpers he’d shown Marta. The man’s back was to her, but as she approached, he stood and turned.

  She stopped in her tracks. Todd.

  He caught her eye and waved. “What a cute guy, huh? His name is Chester.”

  “What are you doing here?” There was nothing friendly about her tone.

  “Same thing I imagine most folks are doing, enjoying the dogs and the music.”

  His jovial tone set her nerves on edge. “You’re interested in adopting a dog?”

  “I’d love to but I’m afraid it’s not in the cards at the moment. I did make a contribution to the humane society, however.” He pointed to the “I-heart-paws-and-claws” sticker on his sweater.

  Marta hadn’t heard from him in several days. She’d hoped that was the end of it.

  “Why are you in town at all?” she demanded. “Don’t you have a job?”

  Chester didn’t appreciate being ignored. He barked and wagged harder. Todd gave him a final pat on the rump and joined Marta.

  “I was hoping I might run into you here,” he said.

  “What made you think I’d be here?”

  “The humane society is a client of yours, right? I played a hunch and won.”

  “How did you know that?” She couldn’t remember mentioning it, although she might have.

  “You’re important to me, Marta. Like I said the other day, I want to learn everything I can about you.”