Chapter 33: The Seed of Yesterday

I didn’t want to betray Justin’s trust, but I couldn’t refrain from sharing my hypothesis with Haylee.

“Do you think it’s a real possibility?” Haylee posed. “Virginia Cole worked with veteran investigators, and they had a difficult time tracing Rosie. How is it possible that Jackson managed to track her down?”

“Unlike Virginia, Jackson has unlimited resources. It may have taken him some time, but I suspect he found a shady courthouse employee who was willing to unseal those documents for him.”

“I guess money can buy anything…,” Haylee sighed. “It’s unethical, but can you imagine what it must be like to wield that kind of power?”

I recalled what Toby had said about Mr. Jones’s ability to make life difficult for those who crossed him. “I don’t want to imagine it. I doubt I would like the person I would become.”

“If Justin turns out to be anything like his father…” Haylee hesitated; I suspected she was recalling some of the horrific things that had been revealed in Rosie’s journal.

“He is ~nothing~ like his father,” I insisted. “And if he does try anything, you would be the first to know.”

“I would clobber him,” Haylee swore.

Haylee and I didn’t have a chance to investigate our new theory, because my mother reminded us of our lunch date. So, we packed it in, and Haylee made me promise we would try to prove our hypothesis another day.

We had a pleasant lunch with my mother, then Haylee insisted that we return to Maggie’s so she could purchase a pentagram pendant to wear to the concert.

Afterwards, we had no choice but to tag along while my mother ran some last-minute errands, and we returned to the house much later than I had anticipated.

After a quick supper, Haylee and I retreated to our rooms to change. Haylee remained true to the theme and entered my room wearing a tight, black halter jumper, complete with platform sneakers, heavy makeup, and teased hair.

I had used another makeup tutorial to sport a heavier makeup look, but my outfit was far from outrageous—a graphic crop top with jean shorts—and since the concert took place on a fairground, I thought a pair of white canvas slip-ons would be a smart choice.

My mother must have heard our descent, because she was at the foot of the stairs to see us off.

“Dharma, you look cute,” my mother gushed, but then she caught sight of Haylee and tucked in her bottom lip, at a loss for words.

Haylee paused to strike a pose. “Do you think I will be mistaken for a groupie, Mrs. Dupree?”

“You better not,” my mother warned.

I hurried to hug my mother. “I’ll keep an eye on her,” I promised, then grabbed Haylee’s hand and dragged her out to the car before she said anything to cause my mother to rescind her permission.

“We have to stop by Conners’ Market to pick up Toby,” I informed her once we were in the car. “He texted me while you were in the shower and said he had to fill in for a sick employee.”

“That poor kid,” Haylee complained. “I hope he gets out of this town.”

“I think he plans to take over the family business one day,” I told her. “There are worse fates than being a business owner.”

Toby was waiting outside for us as we pulled up, but he wasn’t alone. I recognized Mrs. Conners from Pat’s Pizza Planet; she was standing with her feet planted and her arms crossed, and appeared to be lecturing Toby as he gathered his things.

“Sheesh,” Haylee said. “It seems as if the poor kid is in trouble.”

We watched as Toby leaned over and pecked his mother on the forehead. Though we couldn’t hear what was being said, he seemed to offer her reassurance before he parted from her.

She stood unmoving as she watched him leave. Then, as if she sensed she was being watched, her gaze settled on the windshield of the Rav. I offered her a slight wave of recognition, which she returned with a hard gaze.

As Toby let himself into the backseat, Haylee asked, “Why does your mom have a bee in her bonnet?”

Toby froze, and his eyes darted to me nervously.

To rescue him, I told Haylee, “Justin and I ran into Toby’s parents while we were leaving the restaurant.”

“Oh, on your double-date day?” She grinned widely.

I gave her a light slap as Toby confessed, “She’s not too pleased that I’m going with you both tonight. She’s worried that Dharma will be a bad influence on me.”

Haylee guffawed. “She’s worried about Dharma?!” she exclaimed, then changed her tone as she narrowed her eyes enticingly. “She doesn’t need to worry about Dharma. She needs to worry about me.”

Toby gaped at her, his expression caught between flattery and mortification.

Realizing that she may have taken her teasing too far, Haylee rushed to break the tension. “Are you planning on wearing your smock to the concert?”

Toby blushed. “I have another shirt in my backpack.”

A few seconds later, I heard him unzip his pack, and though Haylee offered him no privacy, I did my best to avert my eyes, but couldn’t help catching a glimpse in the rearview mirror.

Toby was tall and wide-shouldered. His arms hinted that he was strong, but I had not expected him to be in such impeccable shape. I bit my lip and did my best to keep my expression neutral, but Haylee didn’t bother to hide her admiration.

“Damn, Toby, you are ripped!”

“It’s from all the stocking I do,” Toby offered humbly.

I glanced adoringly at the rearview mirror, and for a moment our gazes locked. I felt my neck flush and hurried to look away. Though it was only a minor flirtation, my intrusive thoughts couldn’t help but weigh in. ~Stop acting like a slut~.

I did my best to remain focused on the road ahead of me while Haylee kept Toby engaged. I only interjected to confirm with Toby when my mother’s guidance system insisted on taking me on an alternative route.

I drove around the area designated for parking and was shocked to find Justin next to a shiny silver car that I didn’t recognize. I had texted him and asked him to meet us at the fairgrounds, but I’d been searching for his Aston Martin.

As I slowed the car to a roll, Justin approached the driver’s side and motioned for me to roll down the window. “I saved you a space so you could park next to me.”

I parked next to the glossy automobile, careful to leave plenty of room so no one dinged his car when they opened their doors.

For a moment, I thought Toby would be offended that I had invited Justin, but as he eyed Justin’s car, his feelings for me were replaced by a new infatuation.

Toby let out a long whistle as he emerged from the back seat. “Is that a McLaren?”

While Justin was busy showing off his car to Toby, Haylee pulled me aside. “He is smoking hot. I can see why you dropped your panties for him.”

“Haylee, shush!” I pleaded with her as Toby and Justin approached.

Justin swept me up into his arms. I had expected a warm greeting, but I was unprepared for the long, passionate kiss that he drew me into. His desire was reciprocated, and we didn’t part until Haylee started jeering at us.

Feeling awkward, I glanced at Toby, who averted his gaze. Desperate to charge forward, I stepped aside and gestured at Justin, “Haylee, I would like you to meet Justin.”

Justin offered her his hand, which she shook gracefully. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Justin,” she said. “Now that the preshow is over, I say we go enjoy the main event.”

She linked her arm with Toby’s and started in the direction of the crowd. Justin and I lingered a few paces behind so we could speak.

“That is some car,” I commented. “Let me guess. You maxed out your father’s credit card to teach him a lesson?”

“Actually, Dad took me to the dealership and helped me pick it out,” Justin informed me. “He thought it would be a good way to ease the tension between us.”

When he spoke, I realized something. Rosie had described Jackson’s cruelty and was often perplexed by his profuse declarations of sorrow and grand romantic gestures.

As I gazed upon Justin’s beaming face, I realized he had been gaslit as well.

I snuggled closer to him, determined that one way or another, I would protect him.