The Eye Unseen Read Online Free Page B

shoes.
    “When I give you direction, Lucy, I expect you to follow it. Look at how much time you’ve wasted. You can count this as your lunch break.”
    In my daze I could barely comprehend her words. They sounded as far off as the chanting Brandy and I heard coming from her bedroom at night.
    “I expect a great party for your sister tonight. You had better not ruin it.”
    She left as quickly as she came.
    My senses were all askew, but I did not breathe until I heard the tires crushing the gravel on their way back to the main road.
    I eased a Kleenex into my ear while I cleaned the refrigerator coils, hoping that by the time I decorated the cake it would stop bleeding.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Brandy burst into the room and halted the moment she saw my face.
    “Oh, no. Lucy….”
    She was cut short as Mom entered behind her, carrying several big bags.
    I had hidden the new scuff marks on the table with the pink plastic cloth Mom had purchased for our party. Streamers and balloons decorated the kitchen, the railing on the stairs, even the toilet handle. Since it was way too early for dinner I had put together a fruit and cheese tray for our appetizer.
    “Well, ladies, shall we get this party going?” Mom asked.
    Brandy and I exchanged glances. Sometimes we referred to the Mom of the last few months as New Mom, the woman we loved and cherished as Old Mom. The woman in the kitchen was definitely Old Mom, come for a visit.
    “Honey, did you put any ice on that bruise?” She asked, touching the side of my face in an amazingly gentle fashion. “I swear, you need to be more careful or one of these days you’ll do permanent damage to yourself.”
    I didn’t know whether she was slipping me a secret threat or if Old Mom really had no idea what had transpired between us today.
    Part of me didn’t want to find out. I stayed silent until she finally walked away.
    “I can’t believe you’re turning eighteen!” I congratulated my sister. “Wow. You’re so old!”
    “Now I can vote! Well, tomorrow I can…why are we having this party today?” Brandy turned and asked our mother.
    “Because tomorrow I have to work late and we have a meeting at the bank that will run forever. I didn’t want to ruin the festivities!” Mom answered.
    She opened the junk drawer in the kitchen — now fastidiously organized, thanks to my cleaning — and pulled out the deck of cards.
    “Gin?” Mom handed the cards to Brandy and went to fetch a pad of paper.
    “Lucy, I love the cheese, but let’s break out the cake!” Mom had candles in her hand and slid them into mine.
    I pulled my masterpiece from the oven so she could admire it. Mom kissed the top of my head and whispered that it was beautiful. My fingers shook while I lit the match, I was so excited by the sudden change in Mom’s demeanor.
    We sang while Tippy danced around us and barked. Brandy was quick with the candles, blew out the flames with her eyes closed and a formidable wish left hanging in the air.
    If she hadn’t asked for Mom to be like this all of the time again, Brandy would have made a dire mistake.
    Mom kicked our butts at Gin and then gave us some pointers at poker while dinner sizzled in the oven. I was thrilled not to be cooking, but also excited about the menu Brandy had chosen for her special night; frozen pizza and Doritos, a rarity in our home.
    We gorged off pink paper plates and at one point remembered to get the Birthday Princess tiara out of the closet for Brandy, a tradition we had carried on since she was seven and Mom found it at Kmart.
    Another round of cake brought us misery in the form of stomach aches, but Mom egged us on to continue with the party. At eight o’clock she presented Brandy with her gifts and together we sang again.
    “This has been the best night, Mom. Thanks for the party. And the cake — wow, Luce, you could go pro with that!” Brandy said as she sat in front of her unopened presents.
    Jealousy struck as my sister opened her