Glimpse: The Complete Trilogy
Page 24
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Two days of avoiding the two of them hadn’t even been noticed. It had been easy. Meredyth had barely made an appearance, and Wyatt hadn’t been around at all. Something was about to go down. She had been ordered directly home (despite the fact that it was Wednesday or maybe because it was). She didn’t put up much of a fight. She wasn’t sure she was up for pretending that she was all right. Kyle would figure out something was wrong, and she couldn’t explain it. She was very sure that he didn’t know, and the shop was not the place for imparting that kind of information. She needed to see Connor first.
She hadn’t been summoned to Meredyth’s workplace this time. Meredyth was waiting for her in her room. She couldn’t even remember the last time that had happened. Meredyth didn’t make any attempt at small talk.
“You’re going to want to start packing.” She informed her. She inclined her head toward a packet of papers on Lia’s bed. “The list is there. Make sure you follow it.”
“List?”
“Of what you can and cannot bring with you to your new school,” she held up a hand to fend off any questions. “I’m deeply disappointed in you. I’ve already spoken with our father and he agrees that this is our best option. I don’t know what you expected would happen. You had to know that the sneaking out and the undesirable acquaintances would not be tolerated forever. I hope it was worth it.”
“Meri, what are . . . ?”
“I’m not finished,” she said over her, “and I’m not going to be inclined to listen to anything you have to say on the topic when I am. It’s a lovely boarding school with summer sessions, and you will enjoy it there immensely.” She sounded as if she was giving a command. “Of course,” she looked up at her with a smile that was nothing short of triumphant. “With your history of susceptibility to improper influence, your contact with those outside the school will need to be strictly monitored.”
She paused, but Lia found herself too thrown by what she was hearing to try to muster up a response. When she began again, her voice had changed from commanding to almost regretful.
“It’s not all your fault, you know. You hero worshipped Connor so when you were a child. It’s no surprise that he could come swooping in and talk you into whatever he wanted.” She reached up a hand as if she was going to pat her on the head, but she seemed to think better of it. Her voice took on a harder edge.
“It’s time to grow up, Amelia Louise.” Meredyth turned her back on her and made her way to the door. “You aren’t a child anymore, and it’s time that you understand that actions have consequences. These are yours. When you’ve gotten it all out of you system, when you’re back to the way you should be, I’ll be so happy to have you home.”
Lia stared at the closed door for a moment letting her brain catch up with everything. This was the part, she decided, where Meredyth expected her to break down. She was supposed to be heartbroken over being sent away. Unfortunately for Meredyth, she had already had enough of a breakdown over the last few days to last her for a while.
Getting sent away didn’t seem like such a hardship when it meant being away from both Meredyth and Wyatt. She would have trouble being in the same room as the later without feeling like her skin was trying to crawl its way off of her body. Her tolerance for Meredyth wasn’t much higher. It seemed that no matter what she did or tried to think of the notes she had discovered in her sister’s computer haunted her. It was one thing to suspect that Meredyth was capable of being underhanded and downright petty (especially when it came to Connor). It was one thing to suspect that Meredyth wouldn’t have many scruples about coloring outside the lines if an opportunity presented itself. It was quite another to see (with attached photographic evidence) just how far she had already gone.
Being out of the house might help. It might not. Either way, she wasn’t going to be too heartbroken by anything that increased her distance from Wyatt. Her hand reached up and rubbed her left shoulder just a bit. It was tenderer than the other side.
There were, of course, other considerations. She didn’t want to be away from Connor and Kyle and Anna, but she wasn’t going to be offered a choice. Meredyth was never indecisive. This decision was final. She would have to make the best of it, and she would. Meredyth might think she was getting her out of the way (and apparently off to be reeducated somehow if what her sister was saying was any indication), but she would figure out some way to fight back. There was always something. There was always some way. She would just have to find it.
Volume Two