The Liar Next Door by Nicola Marsh
Sixty-Two
Celeste
“Where are we going, Celeste?” Luna’s wide-eyed with excitement as she leans forward, the seat belt straining slightly.
“On a grand adventure, sweetie, like that video you and Violette watched the other day,” I reply.
“Wow,” the girls say in unison from the back seat and my heart swells with so much love I fear it may burst. Luna is the perfect sibling for Violette. My beautiful daughter has always wanted a sister and now she has one.
I know it’s not going to be easy but I’ve planned for this scenario, though I expected our departure when it eventuated to be leisurely, not a mad panic. I wanted the girls to become inseparable over time and for Luna to completely trust me before I made my move in a calm, orderly fashion when Frankie and Andre least expected it. I had envisaged the police taking longer to track me down. Even if they’d searched Roland’s house and the beach cottage, they wouldn’t find much connecting me to him beyond Violette’s room; we hadn’t been to his house for six months as things between us deteriorated, he always came to us. But Frankie visiting the cottage and seeing any evidence Roland left around of Vi, probably photos, has expedited my departure and I need to stay focused.
There’d been a moment back at the house when I thought it might all fall apart, when Luna hadn’t wanted to get in the car. But I’d soothed her with talk of Frankie and Andre joining us soon on our adventure and she’d been appeased.
If I have my way, she will never see those two liars again.
It’s been incredibly difficult for me to maintain a friendly façade around Frankie and Andre. But I’ve hidden my loathing well, as they never suspected the only reason I moved next door was to reunite Violette with her sister. I hate Frankie for lying to Luna, pretending Andre is her father, and I detest Andre for usurping Roland as Luna’s rightful dad.
Luna deserves to meet her real father and by this time tomorrow, she will. But first, we need to change cars.
“The city is so exciting,” Vi murmurs, and when I glance in the rearview mirror both girls are craning their necks to look out the window. “Look at all the lights.”
“It’s like a fairyland,” Luna says, a moment before she squeals. “Look at that. A real live clown walking on stilts!”
I let the girls’ chatter wash over me, going over the plan in my head. I’ll be at the parking garage soon, where I’ll change cars. From there, I’ll head out to Long Island tonight. I’ll stop at a fast-food drive-thru and get the girls a snack, and with full stomachs and the motion of the car, they’ll sleep for hours.
I can’t risk staying in a motel overnight so I’ll drive straight to the cottage, the one I rented in advance for this very outcome. Then I’ll wait until morning so we can visit Roland.
I assume I have an hour’s head start at least, probably more. I’m certain Andre will be home by now and wondering where Luna is. He’d implied he wouldn’t be at work long, though what kind of father doesn’t specify a time he’ll pick up his child?
My cell has been buzzing with incoming calls I assume are from Andre but I’ve ignored them. I have nothing to say to him.
As for Frankie and what she’s done… no, those liars are a good match and they don’t deserve to parent a darling like Luna.
She’ll be much happier with me.
And her biological sister Violette.