Forks, Book Two

by A. E. Davis

  Crossing her arms, she tapped her chin, like she was giving it some serious thought. “I do recall seeing something a while ago but I’m sure you won’t be interested in that.” She waved her hand dismissively.

  Prickles sprang up on my skin. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Well, it happened in the eighteen hundreds, I believe.”

  “There haven’t been any bear attacks since then?” I found that hard to believe.

  “Not that I recall. But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been any.”

  I gave her a questioning look.

  “The Park Ranger probably covered it up.”

  “Why would the Ranger do that?”

  She gave me a look like I was stupid. “I guess he doesn’t want to alarm the public.”

  “Shouldn’t the public know if there’s a problem?”

  “Why? It doesn’t concern them.” She gave me a perplexed look.

  “What about the hikers?”

  “I’m sure they already take precautions for that sort of thing,”

  “What about all the other people who aren’t professional hikers.

  “Well, I guess that’s their problem.”

  “Wow. Oh—kay.” Note to self: Stay out of the woods.

  “Did you happen to look at any of the early articles?” Her light gray eyes sparkled. I did a double take. She looked a lot younger suddenly.

  “Yeah, I printed some out.”

  “Then you probably already have the story,” she said. “If not, you can come back tomorrow and I’ll see what I can find for you.”

  “Thanks, Beatrice.”

  “Anytime, dearrie,” she singsonged and a shiver of unease flitted over me.

  “Well, I better get going,” I hedged, making my way to the door. “Thanks.”

  “Happy reading!” Her cackling laughter followed me out of the library.

  When I stepped outside, a car alarm was going off. It sounded just like the one I heard on the phone with Lucky. Prickles rose on my skin. It couldn’t have been the same one…right?

  fifty two

  It was almost nine when I finally got home. Ken’s squad car wasn’t in the driveway, which didn’t bode too well for me since I was so late. If he got called into work, Mom would probably be in a mood. Reaching in the back seat, I got all my purchases together and climbed out of the car. Locking the car, I shut the door. A crisp breeze pushed against me as I made my way slowly to the front door. I wasn’t in a hurry to get inside since I was sure I was going to get chewed out.

  I stepped inside and glanced over at the couch as I shut the door. Mom was reading. She glanced up. “Oh, hi honey,” she said cheerily and then resumed reading. She turned the page, engrossed once more.

  Blinking stupidly, I stood there for a moment watching her. What was going on? No yelling? No smart-alecky comments? Was I in the clear? I shifted my purchases.

  Mom glanced up. “Amber, what are you doing?”

  “Um, nothing,” I lied. “Where’s Ken?”

  “He’ll be back soon. He had to run out to the store.”

  “Oh.” Well, no wonder she wasn’t freaking out.

  “What did he go to the store for?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Did you already eat?”

  “What?” She glanced up but she wasn’t looking at me per se, but past me.

  “Dinner?”

  “No.” She frowned. “Why would I do that?”

  “Because you were hungry?” She was acting weird. Granted Mom spaced a lot…but this was just odd.

  “No. Ken wanted to wait for you.”

  “What’s he making?”

  “Ah…” she looked confused. “ What?”

  “Mom, are you okay?”

  “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Because I’m late,” I said.

  “Are you? I hadn’t noticed.”

  What the…? “Oh—kay. When’s Ken coming back?”

  “Not sure.” She flipped another page.

  Prickles rose on my skin. I set my purchases down and walked over to the couch. “What are you reading?”

  There was an empty wine bottle and a half filled wine glass on the table. Her pain meds were right beside it. She was freaking me out. “Are you okay?”

  “Why do you ask?” She glared down at the pages of her book. Normally I wouldn’t pay too much attention to that because she really got into her books, but the book she was supposedly so engrossed in was upside down.

  “Um… because you‘re reading your book upside down,” I said calmly.

  She slammed her book shut with gusto.

  I flinched. “Mom…”

  “What do you want from me?” she snapped.

  I took a reflexive step back. Okay. Now she was really freaking me out. “How many pain meds did you take?”

  “I didn’t take any.”

  “You sure about that?” I walked around the couch and picked up the bottle. There was only one pill left. “Did you take all of these?”

  “I had a few.”

  “A few?” I read the warning labels on the bottle. The normal stuff was on there like no drinking or operating heavy machinery or driving.

  “Yes, a few,” she repeated. “My ankle hurt.”

  “You shouldn’t be drinking.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  “Then why is there an empty wine bottle on the table?”

  “Ken was drinking that.”

  “Was he?” For some reason I didn’t believe her.

  “Amber, what is your problem?”

  “I don’t have one,” I snapped, not meaning to but she was acting really strange. I sat down next to her. “Mom, is everything okay with Ken?”

  “I told you he went to the store.”

  “Okay,” I sighed. “Did you have a fight or something before he left?” I noticed she wasn’t wearing her engagement ring.

  She got a strange look on her face. “Well…maybe.”

  “Mom…”

  “Fine,” she huffed. “He got mad at me.”

  “What was he mad at you for?” I asked feeling slightly relieved. At least there was a reason for her weird behavior.

  “I was just telling him about one of my old boyfriends.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “I don’t know.” She pouted.

  “Mom…”

  “Fine. I was trying to make him jealous.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “I think he’s seeing someone else.”

  “Mom, why on earth would you think that?”

  “Because he has scratches on his back,” she nearly yelled.

  “I’m not sure I’m following. Why would he have scratches on his back?”

  “My point exactly.” She crossed her arms.

  “Well, that doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Really. Then why would he have them?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he scratched his back on something.”

  “Yeah, right. I’m not an idiot. Those were scratches of passion.”

  Eww. I so did not need to hear that. “Are you sure you didn’t do it.”

  “That’s what he said.”

  “What? That you did it?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Can you believe it? Like I wouldn’t remember something like that,” she spat.

  “Well, you have been taking a lot of pain meds lately. Maybe you just don’t remember…err, doing it.” Fine. I was reaching but I didn’t know what else to say.

  “That’s what he said, too.”

  “Well, maybe it’s the truth.”

  She got a worried look on her face. “I swear I didn’t do it.”

  “Mom…do you really think he’s seeing someone else or are you self-sabotaging yourself again?”

  She chewed on her lip, looking unsure suddenly.

  “Listen, Mom. I may not know that much about relationships but I do know how much he cares about you.”

  “How can you tell?�
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  “Gosh, Mom,” I said. “He asked you to marry him and not only that, have you paid attention to the way he acts around you?”

  She shook her head.

  “What about how he treats me like he’s my dad even though he’s not…yet. And all the nice stuff he does for us. I could go on, but you get what I’m saying…right?”

  “But we haven’t…you know…since I hurt my ankle.”

  “Maybe something else happened. Maybe, I don’t know…” I was really reaching now. “Maybe, he scratched it himself trying to itch his back, like Dad used to do with my ruler.”

  “Jessica did that to your father’s back.”

  “Oh.” I cringed, feeling terrible for bringing that up. “Well, maybe in Ken’s case, it’s the truth. Not every guy cheats, Mom.”

  “I know that.”

  “Do you?”

  “Well…” she hemmed.

  “Mom. You have to stop. You’re going to push him away if you don’t. Do you want that?”

  “No. But I don’t want to be dumped again, either.”

  “I know you don’t. But you always tell me to take chances. To go all in because what’s the alternative? To miss out on love because you’re too scared.”

  I could tell what I was saying was sinking in.

  “Well, it’s too late now. He’s gone.”

  My heart sank. “I thought you said he was going to the store.”

  “That’s what he said after he told me I was acting ridiculous.”

  “So, maybe he really did go to the store.”

  She gave me a doubtful look and sighed heavily. “Maybe I should call him.” She lifted her phone.

  “No. Don’t do that.” I was suddenly afraid she would make everything worse. “Just wait a bit. See if he comes back.”

  “What if he doesn’t?”

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, okay?”

  “Oh-kay.” Her lip quivered and she looked like she was about to start bawling at any minute.

  Crap. I couldn’t handle it if Mom started crying right now. “When did he leave?”

  “About an hour ago.” She hugged herself and started rocking.

  “Mom. It’s okay.” I patted her shoulder, trying to console her. “I’m sure he’ll be back any minute.”

  She inhaled deeply and let out a slow stream of air—barely keeping it together.

  The door creaked open.

  We both turned towards the sound.

  Ken backed inside, his hands full.

  “See, I told you he would come back,” I said really low, so only she could hear.

  She nodded but kept her eyes trained on Ken.

  He turned around and she let out a strained gasp.

  His arms were loaded with flowers—carnations in every color.

  “Ken,” Mom sobbed.

  “Eileen, I’m so sorry.” He walked forward. “Can you forgive me?”

  It was like I wasn’t even sitting here.

  “Yes.” Mom nodded her head and held out her arms.

  Ken rushed forward.

  He stopped abruptly when he finally saw me. “Hi Amber,” he said, looking embarrassed.

  “Hi, Ken,” I said as cheerily as I could. “I can take those for you.”

  He handed them to me as I stood up. “I’ll just put these in water.”

  Neither of them seemed to notice I said anything. Before I could turn, they were both hugging each other and kissing.

  Walking from the room, I felt like a huge weight was lifted from my chest. Everything was going to be all right—at least that’s what I told myself repeatedly as I went into the kitchen to put the flowers in a vase.

  fifty three

  When I woke the following day, I was relieved to see Mom was once again acting normal—well, as normal as could be expected for Mom. She was even wearing her engagement ring, which was an even better indicator that everything was okay with her and Ken again.

  “What ya looking at?” I walked over to the sofa with my cup of coffee.

  She had magazines all spread out in front of her and on the table. “Wedding dresses.”

  “Oh. Wow. Where did you get all of those?” This was the first time since the “Announcement” that she even looked at a Bridal Magazine that I knew of.

  “Ken bought them for me.”

  “That was nice of him.”

  “It was, wasn’t it?”

  Not sure if she was asking me a question or making a statement, I agreed just to be safe. “Yeah. It was.”

  “What do you think of this one?” She held up one of the magazines with a girl wearing a mermaid style-wedding gown. It was pretty but I couldn’t see Mom wearing something like that. “It’s …pretty.”

  She frowned and tossed it aside. “What about this one?”

  “Don’t you think the skirt is a little full?” It was a gorgeous gown but a little Cinderellaesque.

  She sighed and sorted through another stack of magazines. “What about this one?”

  This was the worst one yet. The dress was very short with a high choker neckline and no sleeves. I chewed on my lip.

  “Never mind, it’s hideous.” She slammed the magazine shut and tossed it on the floor on top of another stack of magazines I hadn’t seen until now.

  “I wouldn’t say it’s hideous…” Yes it was.

  She pulled her glasses off and rubbed her forehead. “I’ll never find a dress.”

  “That’s not true,” I said. “Besides, it’s not like you don’t have plenty of time to find one. Spring is a long way away.”

  “Spring!” she screeched. “Who said anything about Spring?”

  “Um, isn’t that when you’re getting married?”

  Her eyes widened. “NO! Ken wants to get married before Christmas.”

  “This year?”

  “Yes. This year.” She gave me the hairy eyeball.

  “Oh. OH! I didn’t realize it was going to be so soon.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Ah…” What the heck happened to a long engagement? “Nothing.”

  “Well, you better get with the program. You’re going to be my maid of honor.”

  “I am?”

  “Who else would be?” I was feeling flattered until she added the rest. “I don’t have any friends here.”

  Gee. What was I going to say to that? It was true. She didn’t have any friends here, but she didn’t really have any friends, except boyfriends back in Sunshine, so I wasn’t sure what she was so upset about.

  “What will his family think?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They’ll think I’m pathetic or worse…an old dried up crone.”

  “Oh my gosh, Mom. They will not. I’m sure they will be ecstatic that Ken is marrying you, the woman he loves.”

  “Yeah. Tell that to his uppity sister. She doesn’t like me.”

  “Why would you say that?” This was the first time I had heard this too. What was going on?

  “Didn’t you see how she was looking down her nose at us at dinner?”

  “Um. No.” Fine. I didn’t know if she was or not since I was too busy trying to see who was behind the lattice partition at the time.

  “And those kids. What brats.”

  Where was this coming from? I thought she liked the kids.

  “That little Suzie kept giving me the evil eye.”

  “Mom, she’s just a kid.” Granted, Suzie freaked me out too but I wouldn’t say she was giving anyone the evil eye. That was a bit much.

  “Don’t you think you’re over exaggerating a bit?”

  “I swear she was. And that Steven, he gave me the creeps.”

  Well, I wasn’t going to argue with her on that one. He gave me the creeps too.

  “How am I supposed to get everything done myself?”

  Now I knew what she was stressing about. Mom always got a little edgy and said things she didn’t mean when she had to do something she was unfamiliar with.
“It’ll be fine. I can help you do everything and Glinda is really great with decorating stuff.” Was she? I had no idea but it sounded good.

  “She’d do that for me?”

  “Sure. Why wouldn’t she.” The hole I was digging, just kept getting deeper and deeper.

  She took a breath. “I can do this.”

  “Of course you can.”

  “With your help…”

  “Definitely.”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  “It will.”

  She pulled another magazine over on her lap and put back on her glasses. “Come over and sit down. We have work to do.”

  “Mom. I’m going out to a costume party tonight, remember?”

  “Oh.” She pouted.

  “I know,” I said, thinking fast. “Why don’t you pick out some more dresses and tomorrow we can decide which one is best.”

  “I guess that would work.”

  I just dodged that bullet. “Perfect. Now, do you need anything before I go and get ready?”

  Her brow creased as she stared at me.

  “What?”

  “You’re doing something with your hair, right?”

  A surge of irritation shot through me. “Yes, Mom,” I sighed. “I am doing something with my hair.”

  “Do you feel okay?”

  “Yeah why?”

  “You look a bit piqued.”

  “Gee thanks.”

  “Would you prefer I lie?”

  Yes! “No. Of course not.”

  “What are you dressing up as?”

  “Red Riding Hood.”

  She gave me an assessing look. “Are you sure you don’t want to wear your Sea-Witch costume?”

  “No. I don’t want to wear my Sea-Witch costume.”

  “But you looked so cute as that.”

  “When I was ten.”

  “I still think it will fit. You were heavier back then.”

  “I’m not wearing it.”

  “Fine. Have it your way.” She turned a page with gusto.

  “I will.” I stood there for a minute fighting back a rush of tears. I hated when we argued.

  “Amber,” she sighed. “If you want to look halfway decent for tonight you should get started. The sooner the better.”

  KABOOM. And there it was—another mortal blow to my nearly nonexistent ego. “Yep. I’ll go do that.”

  “Put some makeup on. It’s in my room.”