A Missing Key 218 Missed Calls One Family Secret novel Chapter 66

Chapter 5** On the third day, the skies finally cleared, revealing a bright blue canvas dotted with fluffy white clouds. The sun shone down, bathing the neighborhood in warmth. Mrs. Patterson, the cheerful lady from next door, stepped outside to hang her laundry on the line. As she clipped the vibrant clothes, her eyes caught sight of Mom, who was kneeling in the garden, lovingly tending to the plants. “Catherine! Your garden looks absolutely stunning!” Mrs.

Patterson exclaimed, her voice bright like the morning sun. Mom turned, a proud smile spreading across her face. “Thank you! That rainstorm the other day was just what we needed. Look how lush everything has become!” She gestured towards the corner of the yard, the very spot where I lay hidden. The patch of chives, vibrant and flourishing, had grown unnaturally green and plump, nourished not only by the rain but also by the secrets buried beneath. “Especially this section,” Mrs. Patterson said, leaning in closer to inspect the chives. Suddenly, she pinched her nose and recoiled slightly.

“These chives look like they’re on steroids or something! But… what is that smell? Catherine, did you fertilize with manure?” Mom’s smile faltered for just a heartbeat, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. She laughed awkwardly, trying to brush off the question. “Oh, maybe? I buried some vegetable scraps there a few days ago. You know, natural fertilizer!” Once Mrs. Patterson retreated back inside her house, Mom’s cheerful facade crumbled like a fragile glass ornament.

She walked over to the patch, her face twisting in disgust as she took a deep breath, the foul odor assaulting her senses. In an explosion of fury, she shouted, “Mara, you little brat! I was going to let you out after you learned your lesson, but you actually had the nerve to soil yourself in there?! You’ve made the whole yard stink!” Her rage was palpable as she grabbed a hoe from the corner, raising it high before slamming it down repeatedly on the raised mound of dirt. THUD! THUD! Each dull thud reverberated through me, feeling as if they were cracking my very bones.

I watched helplessly as the dirt compacted tighter, and a dark red liquid began to seep through the crevices, mixing with the mud and releasing an even more rancid stench. “You’re disgusting!” she yelled, her voice echoing in the stillness of the yard. With a huff, she tossed the hoe aside and rummaged under the eaves, retrieving a large plastic tarp. She draped it over the clay mound with a sense of finality. “You made the yard stink-now you can smell it!” she declared, her tone dripping with disdain.

After she finished, she dusted off her hands, a sense of satisfaction washing over her, before retreating back inside the house. Ridiculous. **Chapter 5** Absolutely ridiculous. There I was, already dead, and she was still cursing my name. That evening, Dad finally found enough strength to rise from his sickbed. The first thing he did was look for me, his brow furrowed with concern. “Where’s Mara? She still hasn’t come back?” he asked, his voice laced with worry. Mom, busy in the kitchen stirring a pot, didn’t even turn around. “She went to school.” “School?

It’s Saturday!” Dad’s voice rose in disbelief. Mom’s hands froze for a brief moment, as if caught in a web of her own making. Then, with a swift recovery, she corrected herself, “Oh, then she must be out with friends.” Time dragged on, each tick of the clock echoing in the silence of the house. The wall clock struck eight in the evening, and still, I hadn’t returned. Dad was becoming increasingly frantic. He grabbed the phone, his hands trembling. “I’m calling Mrs. Harrison.