Page 12 of The Lies I Told
“We are,” I said, hoping it made him a tiny bit jealous.
“Congratulations.” Jack laid his hands on Marisa’s shoulders. “You guys need anything? What can I get for you?”
“We’re all set,” I said brightly. “Why don’t you join us for cake? There’s a hat waiting here for you.”
His laugh was easy, quick, and slightly menacing, meaning if I pressed, it wouldn’t end politely. “I wish I could. Jo-Jo, save some cake for me.”
She smiled, her cheeks warming a little. “Sure.”
“As always, great job, Brit.”
He kissed his wife one last time, squeezed Marisa’s shoulders, and stepped back. “I’ve work out front but just wanted to duck my head in. Sorry I can’t stay. Enjoy the balloons, M.”
“It’s not a party until you put your hat on,” Marisa teased.
“The hat’s redundant,” he said, stepping back as he surveyed the Lion hat. “We all know I’m a big scaredy-cat.”
Jo-Jo scoffed. “You’re anything but. But Brit did nail Marisa’s hat. Dorothy. The dreamer. Lost.”
I raised my glass. Leave it to Jo-Jo to say something inappropriate. “There’s no correlation.”
Kurt laughed. “I’d rather be a dreamer than heartless or brainless.”
Marisa touched her hat, adjusting it, likely wondering whether she’d been somehow set up to look like the fool. Since my sister was a kid, she could be paranoid, always feeling like someone was trying to hurt her, likely a hangover from prior drug use, or maybe even the cause of it. Either way, since Clare had died, Marisa’s paranoia had increased a hundredfold.
“What did I say?” Jo-Jo asked. “I thought that was the point. To poke fun at ourselves.The Wizard of Ozwas Marisa’s favorite movie.”
Marisa’s grin widened, but it was too bright. “Clare loved it most. I was aSound of Musicgirl.” That was right. A family escaping tyranny had struck a chord with her.
“Each time I read it to my students, I think of MC,” Jo-Jo said.
“Give it a rest, Jo-Jo,” Jack said softly. “Eat your cake.”
It wasn’t the first time the twins had been mixed up. Still, after thirteen years, it must sting a little.
“Marisa, you’re one of a kind,” I said.
She smiled. “Thanks.”
“Happy birthday, again.” Jack kissed her on the cheek and, as he turned to leave, glanced toward David and me.
Few would have considered Jack’s eyes cold in that instant, but I knew him well enough to see the ice churning behind those baby blues.
5
MARISA
Friday, March 11, 2022
9:45 p.m.
I was grateful when the party finally ended. I’d been ready to walk home, the remnants of my cake and the fondant ruby slippers secured in their original box, and the collection of presents neatly packed in a large paper bag that proved Brit was always two steps ahead. Kurt had insisted on walking me home.
“It was a nice party,” he said. “Brit tried hard.”
“Yes. She always does.”
The box of cake in hand, I approached my building’s locked entrance. I punched in the security code.
