S is for Silence (Kinsey Millhone 19)

“Where’d you put the present?”

“She took it to your room and said she’d leave it on your desk.”

Liza made a beeline for her room, suddenly worried that Kathy had taken advantage of the opportunity to snoop. Her room was much as she’d left it, but when she went to check her diary, hidden behind the bookcase, she couldn’t be sure if it had been moved or not. She sat on the bed and leafed through the pages, waves of anxiety coursing through her. She’d recorded every detail of her romance with Ty Eddings, and if Kathy had read the last few entries, she was doomed. According to Kathy, even the use of junior Tampax was an affront to the notion of Absolute Purity.

Liza found a new hiding place for the diary and then sat on her bed and opened Kathy’s present, which was beautifully wrapped in pink-flowered paper with a pretty pink bow on top. Pink was Kathy’s favorite color. Liza herself preferred shades of purple, which was also Violet’s favorite.

When she saw what Kathy had given her, she could hardly believe her eyes. The box of lily of the valley dusting powder was the same one she’d given Kathy for her birthday in March of the year before. She checked the bottom of the box and, sure enough, there was the same drugstore sticker she’d torn in half when she’d tried to peel it off. Clearly Kathy hadn’t used the powder and didn’t remember who’d given it to her. Now what?

Liza didn’t want to call her at all. On the other hand, she thought she’d be smart to get it over with. If Kathy had read her diary, she’d never pass up the opportunity to chide and condemn her, superior as always.

Liza went to the phone in the hall and dialed Kathy’s number. Mrs. Cramer picked up.

“Hi, Mrs. Cramer? This is Liza. Is Kathy home?”

“Just a moment.” She put a hand across the mouthpiece and Liza could hear her holler up to the second floor. “Kathy? Liza’s on the phone.”

There was a long pause while Kathy clumped down the stairs. “Hope you had a good birthday,” Mrs. Cramer remarked while they waited.

“I did. Thanks.”

“Here she is.”

Kathy took the handset and said, “Hello,” in a voice that was dead and remote.

“Hi. I called to say thanks for the bath powder. It’s really nice.”

“You’re welcome.” Even the two words sounded snippy and clipped.

“Is something wrong?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Kathy, if something’s bothering you, just tell me.”

“Well, where were you? That’s what’s bothering me. We had a date.”

“We did?”

“Yesss. This afternoon. My mother was supposed to take us to the five-and-dime…”

Liza could feel the cold envelop her body as Kathy went on in her martyred, accusatory tone. “We were supposed to pick out a pattern and fabric so we could sew matching skirts and weskits for our new fall wardrobe. Don’t you remember?”

“I remember you mentioned it, but that was weeks ago and you never said what day.”

“Because it was so obvious. It was for your birthday, Liza. I didn’t think I had to spell it out. We drove over to pick you up for lunch and you were gone. Your mom didn’t even know where you were.”

“I’m sorry. I forgot-“

“How could you forget? We always spend our birthdays together. It’s traditional.”

“We’ve done it twice,” Liza said. She knew she’d pay for the sass, but she couldn’t help herself.

“Well, I guess it means more to me than to you,” Kathy said.

Liza couldn’t think of a response so she said nothing.

“So where did you go?” Kathy asked.

“No place in particular. Just out.”

“I know you were out. I’m asking where.”

“Why do you care?” Liza couldn’t believe she was being so ornery, but she was sick of catering to Kathy’s moods.

“I care, Liza, because I want to know what’s so important you had to stand me up.”

“ I didn’t stand you up. I forgot, okay?”

“I know you forgot. You already told me that a hundred times! You don’t have to rub it in.”

“Why are you so mad? It was an honest mistake.”

“I’m not mad. Why should I be mad? I asked for an explanation. Since you were so rude as to violate our agreement, I think you owe me one.”

Liza felt her temper climb, Kathy having neatly maneuvered her into a corner. If she told her where she’d been, Kathy would raise a big stink or she’d sulk for days, or she’d do both, but in no way would she ever leave the subject alone. Liza had seen it before. Once someone made Kathy mad, she never let ‘em off the hook. “I was busy.”