Page 85 of Falling Madly
Peony glanced over her shoulder, maybe to check on her children, then tilted her head. “No, you’re right. But maybe she got a ride with someone.”
The possibility had already crossed my mind, and now it wouldn’t leave me alone. “Did you spot any of her old friends? Anyone she might have known well enough?”
Peony thought of this for a moment, her head still tilted. “Only myself and the Nevilles. I didn’t see anybody else from ourclass. Most of us don’t live here anymore. I didn’t recognize that many people today, but we get quite a few vacationers this time of year and they love these events.”
I sighed, forcing down the rest of the coffee. Maybe it’d kick-start my brain and give me ideas. After a moment, one thought surfaced.
“What happened with the Nevilles? Do you know the details?”
Peony bit her lip, eyes wide. “She… didn’t tell you?”
“She said she burned a car and a building, but I don’t understand why. What does that have to do with the Nevilles?”
She looked conflicted. “It’s really not my story to tell.”
“I’m only asking in case it has something to do with where she is right now and whether she’s in danger.” I hated even saying it.
Peony whipped her head left and right. The only other human within a hundred-foot radius was the stocky guy right behind her—presumably her husband. He gave me a subtle nod.
“I don’t know if it has anything to do with that,” Peony said. “I don’t think the Nevilles would offer her a ride. And I don’t think she’d get in the car with them. Do you?”
“Probably not.”
We stood in silence, watching the kids climb up the slope with their sleds and toboggans in tow. I’d all but given up hope when she finally spoke. “Julian had this car… it sounds lame now, but back in high school, it was the coolest ride. He’d pick up girls in it and take them to the lookout. You know—the make out spot? Every girl had a crush on him. I mean, everybody.” She shifted a little further from her husband, who was pretending with great effort that he wasn’t listening. “And when I made it onto the cheerleading squad, he noticed me. It was right after the summer when I got my boobs, so it shouldn’t have been such a surprise.”
I nodded, keeping my gaze firmly on her eye level.
“I should have believed Teresa when she told me to stay away from him. That he was the kind of guy who wouldn’t hear the word ‘no’. I wanted so badly to think I was special. I heard he wasn’t really into her; he just had a bet going on with the guys over who could pop her cherry.”
“What?”
Peony winced. “Teresa could be a bit scary. She had a sharp tongue and I guess they saw it as a challenge. But she’s the sweetest soul and the best girlfriend you could ever have. Fiercely loyal.” She wiped a tear from her eye, her voice thick with regret. “That’s probably why it all happened. She felt like she needed to avenge all of us. Every girl who’d been picked up in that stupid Mustang.”
“So, she burned the car?”
“She didn’t mean for the shed to catch on fire. Or the school! And the fire department was there so fast there wasn’t too much damage. It was late. She knew he parked by the shed when they had evening practice. It wasn’t even a proper parking space. It was just convenient and since their family had donated the money to build the shed and the stadium…”
“He felt entitled,” I finished. “I know the type.”
“Yeah, well. Teresa didn’t tell us. She didn’t want to implicate anyone else. She just said he’d pay. But I think she struggled with the heavy canister of gasoline and left a trail, so the fire spread.”
“To the shed?” I held my breath.
Peony nodded. “The shed and the school building. It was May and warm and dry. She called 911, then ran away. But of course, they tracked her down. I’m not sure what exactly happened, but I know she didn’t go to jail. She saw a shrink for a while and did some community service. Maybe because she was underage and had no priors.”
“So, justice was served? What do the Nevilles have to complain about?”
She shrugged. “She destroyed their property.”
“If they donated the shed, it’s not their property. That’s not how donating works!”
“The car was, although I’m pretty sure she paid them back. Or her mom did.”
“Then what’s the issue? Why are they being such colossal pricks?”
Peony took a deep breath. “She accused him of sexual assault, so I guess they freaked out. Attack is the best form of defense.”
I swallowed, looking for the right words. There probably weren’t any, but I had to know. “What happened in that car? Did he… pop her cherry?” I cringed at the words. Why couldn’t I think of any other phrase?
