Page 100 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
“You can’t,” Candace argued. Searing panic ran through her veins as she began to understand his insinuation. “Dr. Long—”
“Patricia? Yes, I’ve been in contact with your doctor for some time. She faxed over your file, along with a detailed write-up on the toll your career has taken on your health. The nervous breakdown you had was particularly troubling. And you’ve stopped taking your mood-balancing medication.”
“What? I didn’t have a breakdown. I don’t take any meds other than aspirin! I… No. This isn’t right!”
“According to Dr. Long and signed witness statements, it’s been a drawn-out, sordid affair. I warned you, Candy. The working world is a harsh place. You can do everything right, and your coworkers will still throw you under the bus for client recommendations or a little bonus cash.”
Candace shook her head. Tears fell unbidden as she went limp in Lamarka’s grasp. She recalled what the henchman said when he first threatened her after her date with Ted: ‘Hiccups’ happened to difficult girls, and she had ‘more to lose than a silly career.’ He’d been taunting her with the truth.
“You did it, didn’t you? You’re the reason I was let go… Why I couldn’t get a new job, no matter how many applications I put in… It wasn’t my fault. It wasyouthis whole time. You hate me that much.”
Peter Perry did not need to say it. Candace could see it in his eyes—the same seafoam blue as her own, but so very cold—how he wished she were gone.
“Why? Can you at least tell me that? We’re family. Why can’t you care about me?”
“Care?” He said with venom, “I care that you’re not normal. Youwon’tbe normal, no matter how much I’ve tried to help you. I can’t let you ruin the Perry name.”
“I… I don’t understand. That’s what this is about? My name?”
“Myname,” he repeated in a yell, like a toddler claiming a toy. “The Perry name ismine. I built it up from nothing, with no help from your dead witch mother or anyone else. She had no right to keep that name after she hitched herself to your useless father, much less give it toyou. I’m not going to let you jeopardize my reputation any more than you already have. So, if you won’t behave, I’ll have to make you.”
Disbelief warred with revelation within Candace. She had always thought his hate came from some nebulous, undefinable place. But he knew, and she could hear in every word his righteous conviction. Hated for who she was notandfor who she was through no fault of her own. His reasoning was so illogical, so unrepentantlydisgusting, she could not think of any way to defend herself.
Uncle Perry turned his attention back to the man from the “recovery” center. “When can your facility take her?”
“Well, there’s a waitlist, and—”
“Janice sent over my donation earlier today, correct?”
“Erm, yes… Thank you. It was very generous, which is why I’m here in person to do this evaluation. There is also the issue of your conservatorship paperwork. Once you’ve…”
Conservatorship.
A loud, tonal ringing filled Candace’s ears as that word echoed inside her head. It drowned out the rest of what the men said, their thinly veiled haggling over how much more Perry would need to bribe for the exchange to move along.For just a little extra, some missing paperwork would not be a problem; a little more for a woman’s freedom. Hurricane Mandy was her only saving grace.
“I’ll send a transport over once the arrangements are complete,” he told Perry. “It may take some extra time for them to arrive depending on how the roads are, but—”
“End of day, or I’ll find a more cooperative facility.”
“Y-yes, alright. End of day it is.”
A single, satisfied nod bobbed Peter Perry’s head. With a flippant wave, he added, “In the meantime, give her something to keep her quiet. I’ve heard enough tantrums.”
“Fuck you!” Candace thrashed in Lamarka’s hands as her mute shock slingshotted to wild indignation. The man underestimated her strength. She managed to land a good blow to his ribs, but he held tight. “You can’t do this! Daisy will find me and we’ll… we…”
It was only belatedly that Candace felt the needle pierce her neck. The man from the recovery center came up behind her and jabbed her skin with expert precision. Heaviness tugged her whole being, wiping her will to fight… or run… or doanythingto save herself. She fell into Lamarka’s hold and drifted into darkness.
Chapter 24
Daisy
Possibilities raced through Daisy’s mind.
She stared at her phone, willing the undelivered notification to change. Wonderingwhy?
It was not about last night. The bitter, angry past-Daisy would have jumped to abandonment, and blamed Candace for running away again. She would have thrown a fit, been sullen and withdrawn. That wasn’t her anymore. Daisy knew something had happened, and she was not going to sit on her ass doing nothing.
Outside in the raging torrent, with one last hammer-twack, Daisy finished nailing the final plank to Bagel Bombs’! fortification. The storm was coming in faster and heavier than any of the forecasts had predicted. Any minute, the evacuation sirens would sound and the police would start clearing the boards. She needed to figure out where Candace was before thewhole place went into lockdown. If Peter Perry was planning to use the confusion around the hurricane to do something to her…
