Bye-Bye, Evil Eye Page 13

  “Be quiet,” Mrs. P hisses, pointing a finger at me. A second later, she stomps to the sink, leans over, and spits like an angry cobra. Ptoo-ptoo-ptoo! When she’s done, she stands up and turns back to look at me. “Matiasma is very real. Don’t underestimate the role it might have played in your misfortunes.”

  This is the moment when everything becomes clear. Like someone’s just opened a window inside my brain. I realize I have a choice to make. I can walk away from this awful woman. Or I can hold on to my anger and keep fuelling the fire of her jealousy.

  No contest. I raise my hands in surrender. “Know what? I forgive you, Mrs. P.”

  The anger drains from her face. And just like that, I’m free. Evil Eye or just plain old-fashioned jealousy — whatever power she was holding over my life dissolves on the breath of those words. I straighten my shoulders and look over at Kat. Her face is the colour of ashes.

  “What?” she cries. “You’re letting her off the hook? After everything she’s done?”

  I nod. “Your mom’s jealousy isn’t my problem anymore.”

  “But what about Rosie? And all those awful things she did to you?”

  “You’re my best friend, Kat. I don’t want you to have a mother in prison,” I reply. “Just as long as she stays away from me and my family. Forever.”

  Kat spins around and faces her mother, her eyes dark with fury. “Well, I’m not letting you off the hook. You lied, you stole, and you hurt my friend. And all because you say you love me. If you really love me, you’ll apologize to Dani.”

  “Cardia mou, you don’t understand.” She holds out her hands, palms up — like a convict begging for mercy. “I was just thinking of you and your future.”

  But the new, strong Kat isn’t having it. “Apologize now, Mummy. Or so help me, I’ll never speak to you again. And neither will Daddy, because I’ll tell him everything you’ve done.”

  Mrs. P’s face crumples. She slowly turns to me. Her eyes are so heavy, she can’t lift them higher than my knees. “I am sorry for everything, Dani.”

  It’s the first time she’s said my name right. Her once steely voice is now a broken whine. She looks so pathetic in that moment, it almost makes me feel sorry for her. Almost.

  Kat takes my arm and pulls me towards the door. “Let’s get out of here. I’m going to help you explain this whole mess to Nick.”

  I let her lead me out of the kitchen. I walk out of that house feeling better than I’ve felt in weeks. Like I’m seeing the sun again after a long, dark thunderstorm. And the sky’s filled with rainbows.

  Epilogue

  Nick was devastated after Kat and I explained everything. His golden-green eyes flashed with anger as he struggled to control his shock. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea. She’s been like a second mother to me all these years. I — I never imagined she was capable of being so cruel.” He took my hand and pulled me close. His palm cupped my cheek.

  “Can you forgive me, Dani?”

  Well, come on. Of course I forgave him. Wouldn’t you? And would you really be surprised to find out that we’ve been together ever since?

  Now I know what you’re wondering — what about the kiss between me and Kat? Well, to tell you the truth, we haven’t talked about it. Not even once. Although, just between you and me, I was flattered by the attention. Strangely enough, the kiss didn’t hurt our friendship. In a weird way, it might have brought us closer. For the most part, that sad look seems to be gone from her eyes, which makes me happier than I can explain. And just last week, she told me that she took those romance novels out from the back of her closet and arranged them in a neat stack on her bookshelf. Right in plain sight. I don’t think it’ll be long before her other secret comes out too. Believe me, I’m not looking forward to seeing Mrs. P again. But when Kat’s ready to tell her mother, I promised to be right there to support her.

  Because that’s what good friends do.

  But you already knew that, right?

  Yeah.

  Acknowledgements

  Many thanks to the superhuman team at Dancing Cat Books — Barry Jowett, Meryl Howsam, Bryan Ibeas, Andrea Waters, Tannice Goddard, and Angel Guerra — for the tireless hours they spend transforming rough manuscripts into beautiful books. A special thank you to Cormorant Publisher Marc Côté for his ongoing support and encouragement.

  Thanks also to Gordon Pape, Kim Pape-Green, Sharon Jones, Helene Boudreau, Helaine Becker and Tova Rich for agreeing to read this story back when it was just a raw first draft (and for generously telling me they liked it even then).

  Heartfelt thanks to my loving home team, Jordy, Jonah, and Dahlia — who cheer me on daily and come up with the magic answers whenever I’m stuck.

  Huge thanks to the Ontario Arts Council for supporting books like this through the Writers’ Reserve Program.

  And finally, efharisto para poli to the Stavrinos sisters — especially Joanne — for enthusiastically schooling me in all things Greek for the past thirty-five years.

  Filakia.

  About the Author

  Deborah Kerbel’s latest young adult novel, Under the Moon (2012) was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award in the Children’s Text category. Her other teen novels include Mackenzie, Lost and Found; Girl on the Other Side (nominated for the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award, and Lure (nominated for the Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award). A native of London, UK, Deborah now lives and writes in Thornhill, Ontario.