Misfit(61)

“What choice do I have?”

Kendall shrugged and changed the subject, knowing she’d won. “Do you like your gift?”

“Thank you but I’m not interested in it. Keep it.” And shove it.

“Don’t be silly,” she said indignantly. “I bought it for you. We’re friends.”

Fee glared at Kendall.

“We are!” Kendall insisted. “You’ve got to believe me. I wanted you to help me, of your own free will, not through any other means.”

“What would you have done if I hadn’t told you my secret? You had nothing to use against me.”

“I do believe there’s the matter of a party you attended, one where you disappeared with Stretch, and reappeared with both him and Cash.”

Fee gasped, appalled. “You knew about the three of us?”

“Daphne told me you were there. Neither of us know with absolute certainty that Cash fucked you. We suspected. You confirmed it.”

Fee shook her head, hurt at how neatly Kendall lured her into a web. Time and again, she believed in the wrong people, and had her trust trampled.

“As for that camera, it’s yours. You were going to school to be a filmmaker. I’d think you’d be very happy with the gift. Then, again, I never hear you talk about filming movies. Nothing to indicate that’s your true passion.”

“I took theatre in high school as an elective. We had two video projects to complete and I enjoyed it so much, I thought I wanted to pursue that career. Then, my mother was killed, and it didn’t seem so appealing.”

“It was ridiculous to begin with, Fee. You need a realistic profession. As your friend, it’s my duty to point that out. Right?”

“Fuck no!” Fee snapped. “You’re confused about what your duty really is. I hope you don’t discourage Matilda and Rory if they have what you feel are unrealistic dreams.”

“My children will grow up as grounded and pragmatic as I am. Rory will be a doctor and Matilda the head of a company, so fuck off.”

Kendall sounded so certain, Fee didn’t want to waste her breath reminding her that her son and daughter might feel differently. Besides, Kendall had an amazing ability to tune out whatever she didn’t want to hear.

For the rest of the day, the weight of Kendall’s intentions wore on her. She went back and forth about walking away from the job, and giving Christopher some lame excuse as to the reasons why. Just as quickly, Fee would decide to stick it out, rationalizing that once Kendall achieved her goals, things would return to normal. Kendall would feel whole again. Being back at work would also occupy her time and keep her out of trouble. It would give Fee a legitimate reason to stop working for Kendall. One that Christopher could accept. She certainly wouldn’t need Fee’s assistance at the firm.

Before any of that happened, though, a lot was at stake and anything could go wrong.

Tomorrow morning, first thing, she’d visit her brother. Test the waters. If she saw something amiss…Oh my God! What would she do?

She had to tell Cash and Stretch tonight. Warn them that they might go public with their relationship sooner rather than later.

“We’re done for the day,” Kendall announced as she walked back into the room after having disappeared a couple of hours ago.

Uninterested in talking, Fee nodded, then opened the drawer to get her purse, a cute hobo bag she’d purchased a few weeks ago during a shopping day with Meggie and Zoann.

Zoann.

Fee groaned at the thought of Zoann’s reaction to Fee being party to Kendall’s mischief. Her sister would be angry with Fee and furious with Kendall.

Her mood dipping a little lower, Fee stood and put her bag across her shoulder. “Later,” she mumbled, heading for the door.

“Wait, Fee. Please! You’ll return to work tomorrow, right?”

“Does it matter? Or if I don’t will you find something else to blackmail me for?”

Kendall flushed. “You have to come back tomorrow. Otherwise, this won’t work. What reason would I give to Johnnie for you not returning?”

“You weren’t thinking about Johnnie earlier.” Kendall didn’t need to know that Fee wouldn’t have a good excuse for Christopher if she suddenly quit. “I’ll be back. For me, not you. I need the money,” she lied.” Not about needing money. After all, she had expenses. But about needing Kendall’s money. If not for Christopher, Fee would’ve found a job someplace else.

“Afternoon, ladies.”

“Speak of the devil,” Fee mumbled under her breath at Johnnie’s greeting.

Close enough to hear Fee, Kendall laughed nervously. “Fee was just leaving. It’s almost six o’clock.”