Finale

“I’m doing
all the work, and it’s really starting to get on my nerves.”
    “I don’t want anything to do with the party,” I reminded her.
    “You’re just huffy because you don’t have a date.”
    She was right. I didn’t have a date. I’d talked about bringing Patch, but that would require me to forgive him for meeting Blakely last night. The memory of what had happened came
rushing back. Between sleeping last night, training with Dante this morning, and falling unconscious for several hours, I’d completely forgotten to check my phone for messages.
    The doorbell chimed, and Marcie jumped up. “I’ll get it.”
    I wanted to yell at her, “Quit acting like you live here!” but instead, I squeezed past her and took the stairs two at a time to my room. My handbag hung over my closet door, and I
dug through it until I found my cell phone.
    I drew in a sharp breath. No messages. I didn’t know what it meant, and I didn’t know if I should worry. What if Blakely had ambushed Patch? Or what if his silence was merely because
we’d parted on bad terms last night? When I got angry, I wanted space, and Patch knew it.
    I fired him a quick text. CAN WE TALK ?
    Downstairs, I heard Marcie break into a flustered argument. “I said
I’ll
go get her. You have to wait here. Hey! You can’t just burst in without being
invited!”
    “Says who?” Vee shot back, and I heard her bustle up the stairs.
    I met them in the hallway outside my bedroom. “What’s going on?”
    “Your fat friend elbowed her way inside without being invited,” Marcie complained.
    “This skinny cow is acting like she owns the place,” Vee told me. “What is she doing here?”
    “I live here now,” Marcie said.
    Vee barked a laugh. “Always a funny one, you are,” she said, wagging her finger at Marcie.
    Marcie’s chin jutted up. “I do live here. Go ’head. Ask Nora.”
    Vee looked to me, and I sighed. “It’s temporary.”
    Vee rocked back on her heels as though hit by an invisible punch. “Marcie? Living here? Am I the only one who realizes all logic just got up and walked off?”
    “It was my mom’s idea,” I said.
    “It was my idea, and my mom’s, but Mrs. Grey agreed it was for the best,” Marcie corrected.
    Before Vee could ask more questions, I snagged her elbow and dragged her inside my bedroom. Marcie inched forward, but I shut the door on her. I was trying my hardest to be civil, but letting
her in on a private conversation with Vee was taking the idea of courtesy too far.
    “Why is she really here?” Vee demanded, not bothering to lower her voice.
    “It’s a long story. The short of it is . . . I don’t know what she’s doing here.” Evasive, yes, but honest, too. I had no clue what Marcie was doing here. My mom
had been Hank’s mistress, I was their love child, and it stood to reason that Marcie would want nothing to do with us.
    “Gee, everything’s clear now,” Vee said.
    Time to hit her with a distraction. “Marcie is throwing a Halloween party here at the farmhouse. Dates are required, ditto on costumes. The theme is famous couples from history.”
    “And?” Vee said, not warming up at all.
    “Marcie’s got dibs on Scott.”
    Vee narrowed her eyes. “Like heck she does.”
    “Marcie already asked him, but he didn’t sound very committed,” I offered helpfully.
    Vee cracked her knuckles. “Time to work some Vee magic before it’s too late.”
    My cell phone chimed with a text. GOT THE ANTIDOTE . WE NEED TO MEET , Patch’s message read.
    He was okay. Tension left my shoulders.
    Discreetly, I slipped my phone into my pocket and told Vee, “My mom needs me to pick up the dry cleaning and return library books. But I can swing by your place later.”
    “And then we can plan how I’m going to steal Scott from the ho,” Vee said.
    I gave Vee a five-minute head start, then backed the Volkswagen down the driveway.
    LEAVING THE FARMHOUSE NOW , I texted Patch. WHERE ARE YOU ?
    HEADING TO THE TOWNHOME , he responded.
    MEET YOU THERE .
    I drove to Casco Bay, too busy formulating what I’d say to Patch to take in the stunning fall scenery. I was only half-aware of the deep blue water glinting under the sun, and the waves
spraying and foaming as they smashed into the craggy cliffs. I parked a few blocks from Patch’s place and let myself inside. I was first to arrive, and went out on the balcony to gather my
thoughts one final time.
    The air was cool and sticky with salt, with