Into the Garden (Wildflowers 5)

"The bank called for my mother this morning," I said in a voice so hollow and devoid of emotion, everyone snapped their heads around to look at me. "Some funds were wired in from my father's account, part of their settlement, I guess."

"What did the bank want?" Star asked.

"The banker wanted to know how much to put in a money market account. You make interest in that account and it's something my mother always made sure she did," I said. "He asked how much to put in."

"He thought you were her when you talked?"

"I think so I told him to put in half, but maybe I should have said more. The problem is I don't know how much was wired in."

"What did he say?"

"He just repeated it and thanked me and that was that."

"Good," Star said.

"It's not good. What if he calls and asks her to come to the bank to sign something?" Jade followed.

Everyone was quiet. New worries scribbling through the folds in our foreheads. I remembered something.

"I can tell him she's ill and to send it for her signature," I said. "I heard h

er do that once and they didn't question it."

"That's all right, but there'll be a serious problem when something has to be notarized," Jade explained. "You've got to be physically present and have a photo I.D."

"We'll worry about that when it happens," Star said quickly.

"I don't know," Jade said, shaking her head. "It's not going to be easy." She picked at a bagel. "Is this fat-free cream cheese?" she asked Misty.

"Great," Star said as she bit into her bagel.

"I don't like fat-free stuff. It's blah," Misty explained "It's all right for you, but some of us have to worry about our figures." Jade pouted.

"Why is it all right for me?" Misty asked.

"You don't put on weight, obviously. That has to do with your metabolism," Jade continued in her characteristically haughty manner. "All of us aren't as lucky as you," she added.

Misty looked apologetic and hurt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think of that."

"Fine," Star said. "We'll design a menu that pleases Jade, but for now, let's get to some of the important problems, if that's not too much trouble."

"Diet is important," Jade insisted. "And exercise. I'll be in charge of that," she volunteered. "Obviously, I know the most about it, so let me decide what to buy at the supermarket from now on."

"What don't you know the most about?" Star asked, leaning back and folding her arms. She could turn her eyes into small, ebony pearls and hold her lips in what looked to be half a smile and half a smirk of disgust.

"I'm just trying to make efficient use of our strengths," Jade defended.

"I want to be in charge of redecorating," Misty piped up before Jade" could add anything to her own list of powers.

"Redecorating?" I asked. "What do you mean?"

"This house is gloomy. It needs color, life. It's going to be our headquarters, right? We should change the curtains, get some better lights, maybe paint some of the rooms. You don't even have any posters in your room, Cat! Who's your favorite actor? What singers do you like? Stuff like that."

"Oh," I said. "Right," I added, but I couldn't help agonizing about it. Geraldine had made such a point of my keeping my walls uncluttered, and she hated posters.

"Maybe we shouldn't change anything," Star said, seeing the look on my face.