Free The Clockwork Fairy Kingdom by Leah Cutter Page B

predicted another growth spurt.
    Dale and Nora sat on one side of the table while Mom sat on
the other. It had been uncomfortable when they’d spaced out more, sitting on
three sides of the table. The fourth spot had always felt empty, as if they
were expecting someone to join them. It let their mom tease Nora and Dale about
ganging up on her, as well as giving both the twins the opportunity for the
occasional kick under the table.
    Finally, as they finished, Mom said, “I know tomorrow’s the
last day of school and we should do something special. However, I have a doctor’s
appointment.”
    “That’s too bad,” Nora said.
    “Is everything okay?” Dale asked. Mom did look a bit more
pale than usual.
    “Yes, everything’s fine.”
    “You always say that,” Dale accused.
    Mom sighed. “I missed my semiannual appointment with my
cardiologist. It had been scheduled for just after we left. I just need to go
in and have my heart checked, as always. Really, it isn’t anything to worry
about.”
    Dale looked at Nora, but she started talking about the
projects she’d planned for the rest of the summer. Dale restrained himself from
kicking her. Didn’t she see that Mom was lying? No, of course not. Nora never
wanted to see, not when Mom was sick, not when Dad was mean.
    While Dale finished up the dishes, Nora snuck back into the
kitchen. She grabbed a couple hard-boiled eggs, some lunch meat, and an apple. “For
our guest,” she whispered before heading back to her room.
    Kostya wasn’t a guest. He was an
intruder, set on disrupting their lives as much as the move to Oregon had. Dale
thought for a moment about everything he’d left behind. He’d never said goodbye
to Steve or Derik or any of his friends. He’d never tried contacting them. They
had no idea what had happened. Dale figured they’d reason it out—both
Steve and Derik had told him they thought his dad was a jerk.
    Nora had at least said goodbye in a way—she’d sent a
blast text to her friends, referring to the initials of a TV show about people
going into witness protection. Then she’d maintained radio silence, like Dale.
    They both missed their friends. However, Nora seemed to meet
people more easily than Dale. She at least had girls she could eat lunch with, whom
she walked to classes with. Dale bit down on his lower lip, hard, trying to
distract himself. He was not going to
cry. He shook his head, wincing at the pain in his throat. Damn fairies. He
grew more angry, determined not to feel sorry for himself.
    By the time Dale put away the last dish, he was grinding his
teeth. He didn’t want to hear about Kostya’s long
feud with the fairies. All he wanted to know was how to destroy them.
    ***
    Chris could barely contain his excitement. He was going to
see his son! He hadn’t really doubted Robert, or thought the photos had been
spoofed. While a gentleman always paid his debts, it was all right to slide a
little when dealing with people like Robert. He looked like a crooked
accountant, with black-rimmed glasses and a cheap white shirt. The few times
Chris had gotten the private investigator to talk, it had been all about the
horses or the latest baseball scores. A gentleman might make a side bet, but
Robert had a problem. Chris paying him would be enabling Robert’s gambling
habit—so, by not paying him, Chris was actually helping him.
    Robert’s car was both what Chris expected and a surprise: a
ratty old foreign-made vehicle, but meticulously clean on the inside, with an
engine that purred. Chris didn’t want to ride with Robert, but the man had
given him no choice. Plus, they had no time to argue. School let out at noon
that day.
    “This will be the best way to see him,” Robert told Chris
earnestly as he tore out of the parking lot. “Last day of school. It’s going to
be a zoo.”
    Chris nodded. Robert was smarter than Chris had given him
credit. It wouldn’t matter if Chris knew where his son’s school was, not if
today was