Into the Garden (Wildflowers 5)

"Lotta good that does now," Star muttered. "She's got nearly a year to go."

Misty nodded and then looked back at Geraldine. When she turned to me again, I saw a new glint in her eyes.

"Who's your mother's, I mean your sister's closest friend?" she asked

"She doesn't have any close friends," I said. "In fact, she doesn't have anyone I'd call a friend. She's never invited to anyone's home or invites anyone here. No one ever calls her. She has no one really."

"Had," Jade reminded us. "Had. She's gone."

"Besides," Star said, "just because someone might have been her sister's friend, doesn't mean they'd want to be responsible for Cat."

"I know, but what if..." Misty began, her eyes rolling as she shifted her feet and moved to the sofa, "we didn't tell anyone?"

"Huh?" Star said. "Didn't tell anyone what?"

"About.., her," she said, nodding toward Geraldine's body. "From what Cat's saying, no one will miss her." Star looked at Jade and me before answering Misty. "You mean, keep her death a secret?"

"Yes, exactly. If no one knows she's dead, Cat doesn't have to be farmed out to foster care, right?"

"But ... she is dead!" Star exclaimed. "How do you keep that a secret? Prop her up in the window? Misty, you do watch too much television."

"No, not exactly prop her up. One of us could parade around in her clothes once in a while so the neighbors don't get suspicious. If we need it, maybe we can get a wig that's close to her hair, too. I bet Jade's mother could get one for us."

"Oh, and what do I tell her? I need a wig to impersonate a dead woman?" Jade asked.

"No, you can say it's for a play or something. She won't check up on it, will she?"

"No, but--"

"Yes, we can do this," Misty said, getting excited. "Listen, just listen for a moment," she insisted. "We don't tell the police and we help Cat. We can all take turns staying here. Why," she said, gazing around, "this house can be headquarters for the OWP's!"

Star looked at Jade who shook her head. "What about money, stupid?" she asked. Misty looked to me.

"Geraldine kept all our accounts up-to-date. I know where the books are. I know we have plenty of money in money market accounts, CD's, that sort of thing. She would talk aloud sometimes when she worked," I explained, "lecture me about taking care of your own money yourself. She didn't even use an accountant. She did her own taxes. She said she learned all of it from her father."

"That's Geraldine, not you," Jade pointed out.

"No," I said. "I know a lot about it. I know I can copy her signature."

"Forgery?" Star looked at the others. "How do you know you can do that?"

"I did it a few times when I was too scared to show her something from school. No one questioned it. I would practice tracing it for hours and hours until I got it right. Many of the people who handle her banking and investments never even saw her," I added, wiping my eyes free of tears. "She would speak to them on the phone or keep in contact with them through the mail. She hated going to their offices. It would mean she would have to tidy herself up and put on what she called a 'going-out' dress and spend money on gas."

"She doesn't have to spend it now," Star said.

"Yes, but Cat does. I don't know," Jade said. "What about your school when school starts up again? Won't they be wondering where she is?" she asked quickly.

I shrugged.

"She went with me at the start, but never again. They don't call the parents in. They send letters, sometimes make phone calls, but not often. They believe in handling all the problems themselves and not burdening the parents."

"You see!" Misty cried.

"I don't know," Jade repeated.

"What don't you know? It's a good idea, isn't it? Well? Isn't it?" Misty pressured.

Jade considered. Star watched her and waited. Then Jade turned and looked down at Geraldine.