Read Online Saving Toby by Suzanne McKenna Link - Free Book Online Page B

Thinking he
might have been involved in this would devastate her. I looked at my father.
“Pete Perelli came to their house while I was there.”
    Dad wasn’t surprised. “The victim is in bad shape. They
could be charged with aggravated assault or ethnic intimidation. That means
jail time.” Dad shook his head, aggravated. “This is a serious crime. I don’t
want you at that house anymore.”
    My mouth dropped open. “But, Dad, Toby wasn’t charged. And
personally, I don’t think he had anything to do with it. He came home early
that night.”
    “What time was that?”
    I thought back to that night trying to remember exactly when
I’d noticed he was home. He’d come inside the house without me hearing him, but
I’d seen his bedroom light on. “It must have been just after nine o’clock
because he came into the kitchen and kept me company for at least a half hour
before I left. I finished at ten.”
    “Did he look like he’d been fighting? Cuts, scrapes, swollen
areas?”
    I didn’t recall any telltale signs.
    “No, he was fine.”
    Dad shrugged. “That doesn’t mean he didn’t do it.”
    “What happened to innocent until proven guilty?” I harrumphed.
    “Watch your tone with me, young lady.”
    “Dad, please. You can’t seriously expect me to quit. Mrs.
Faye needs me.” I tried to reason more demurely. “Besides, would all those
church ladies go over there if it was dangerous?”
    “I’ll only let you keep that job if you agree to check in
with me regularly whenever you’re over there,” he said.
    Resigned, I agreed.
    April came over after I got home from Sterling Saturday
night. I didn’t dare tell her that after the last few days, I didn’t feel much
like going to Jim Ryan’s party. April loved parties. Instead, I was fidgety and
cranky as she twisted my long brown hair into ringlets.
    “What’s up with you?” she asked, as she sprayed my hair into
place.
    I yawned. “My dad is tightening the noose because of this
stuff with Toby and the cops. I’m worried about keeping my job, not to mention
what it will do to Mrs. Faye if it turns out Toby’s somehow involved in all of
this.”
    “The Toby I know wouldn’t do that.” She handed me the new
white dress we had shopped for the week before. “Stop worrying or else you’ll
have wrinkles before you even hit thirty. Everything will be fine.”
    “I hope so. I really like Mrs. Faye.” I slipped into the
dress, and April zipped me up.
    She stepped back to admire her work in the mirror. “Forget
about all that for now. Look at us. We look fan-tas-tic .”
    April looked gorgeous, as usual, with her black hair pinned
in a loose knot and her yellow dress setting off her darker skin tone. She had
worked her magic with my hair, making it curl softly around my face and
shoulders. My white dress with the sheer sleeves accented my light olive
complexion and made my eyes look bluer. We did look pretty fabulous.
    Cars lined both sides of the road as April parked her car in
front of Jim Ryan’s house. The street was buzzing with throngs of kids walking
to the party.
    “We’ll have to keep an eye out for Dario and Toby,” April
said, stepping next to me.
    “Dario and Toby are coming together?”
    “Yeah. It’s strange, but Toby called Dario out of the blue.
He’s picking Dario up. I told them we’d meet them here.” She hooked her arm through
mine and led me through the backyard gate. “Maybe you guys will get together. Then
we can double date.”
    I stopped her just inside the yard. “I already told you, I’m
not interested.”
    “Fine.” She patted my arm gently like she was calming a
cranky spinster. “I’m sure there’ll be a lot of guys here. We’ll find someone
for you.”
    “No, thank you. I don’t need anyone.”
    “ Mamí , we got to get you to kiss a few frogs so you
can find your prince.”
    I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a romantic.”
    I hadn’t seen Jim Ryan in several years, but I remembered
his dad was