“You’re in town for a family thing?” he asks.
“Yeah, just popped in to ruin my grandma’s birthday party.”
He cocks his head in this way that makes my chest hurt a little. It’s his “Lucy is being ridiculous again but it amuses me” expression.
He gestures at the aisles of paint. “Uh … did you need some art supplies for the party?”
“No. I actually just came to see you.”
He looks startled, and also a bit delighted.
“I’m sorry that I never returned your calls or anything back then. I was just…”
“Traumatized?” he guesses.
I bark out a laugh. “Yes.”
“It’s all right. I—”
A bang on the window makes me jump. I turn to see Keaton with both hands on the glass, face twisted with anger.
“Emmett, what the fuck?” He hits both hands against the glass again. He’s right beneath a cluster of little painted hearts on the window, like they’re growing out of his head, which should be funny, but I can’t find the humor in any of this right now.
“I’m sorry. I should have just called.” I take a step toward the door, toward Keaton, and wonder whether anyone will help if he jumps me. Emmett might call the cops, at least.
I’m sure the cops would take their sweet time showing up. And they wouldn’t be on my side when they got here.
“No.” Emmett reaches for me, like he’s going to stop me, but his fingers only lightly touch my arm. “It’s okay. You can stay.”
Keaton stomps away, and I let out a slow breath. “I think it’s best if I bolt before he comes back.”
“Yeah, okay.” Emmett looks disappointed, but he walks to the window and peers out. “He’s going into the restaurant with his buddies.”
I pull open the door and take a step out. Emmett follows me, quickly glancing down the street to where Keaton had been. Still clear.
“Nina’s been meaning to call you and invite you over for dinner,” he says. “Why don’t we do that soon? I’d love to catch up.”
I turn, confused. “Are you and Nina…”
“Oh! Yes.” He smiles. “We’re dating. For a few months now.”
Of course they are.
I force a pleasant expression. “Sure. Dinner would be great.”
If he notices that I’m disappointed, he doesn’t let on. “It was great to see you, Lucy.”
I turn away before I embarrass myself further. “You too, Emmett.”
Listen for the Lie Podcast with Ben Owens EPISODE 4—“THE AMNESIA DEFENSE”
Lucy went to stay with her parents after she left—or was kicked out of—the home she shared with Matt. Joanna walks me through those couple of days after the murder, because I’m still unclear about why everyone became convinced Lucy was the one who killed her friend.
Ben:???????????????So it was Matt throwing Lucy out that made people think that Lucy was the one who murdered Savannah?
Joanna:??????????That started it, yeah. But it was the stuff with her parents that really sealed the deal for most people.
Ben:???????????????What stuff?
Joanna:??????????I don’t want to say too much, because I love Kathleen and Don. They’re good people. But, listen. Kathleen was telling the entire town that Lucy would never hurt anyone right after it happened, and then a couple days later she completely changed her tune.
Ben:???????????????How so?
Joanna:??????????She started getting weird and cagey. Completely stopped defending Lucy. Apparently she said some very weird stuff to Savannah’s family. And Don refused to talk to anyone. Still won’t.
Ben:???????????????He won’t talk about Lucy at all?
Joanna:??????????Nope.
I heard this from several people, so I started to ask around about the Chases.
William:????????Yeah, we got a Starbucks a few years ago, which is fine, I guess. But only go there for coffee. Don’t buy any of those stale muffins or breads or whatever they sell. Go over to Daisy Street Bakery for any of that.
That’s William, one of the bartenders at the bar Norma recommended to me. It’s a quiet night, and William, who has lived in Plumpton for every one of his fifty-three years, is happy to talk to me. He’s a tall, broad man, with a gray beard that extends several inches past his chin. He would be intimidating if not for the friendly smile.
He tells me all about Lucy’s family. Her grandmother, Beverly Moore, was born and raised in Plumpton. She had three children—Keith, Kathleen, and Karen. Keith and Karen both live in Houston now, but Kathleen returned to Plumpton after finishing college. She brought her fiancé, Don Chase, with her. They got married, had Lucy, and opened a bakery together—Daisy Street Bakery, which numerous locals have mentioned to me.