Zoe nodded. "Can't we just wish ourselves past the hard parts?"
"How would we learn then?" Jon pointed out. "You can't always take the easy way out."
"What about this is easy?" Zoe said.
The doorbell rang and they both froze. "Whoever it is, we have to tell them to go away," Zoe said.
"Don't panic...act like everything is all right," Jon said, going to the door and opening it.
Kyla Leeson was standing there. Or...a Kyla Leeson. Jon was used to the Kyla she'd known before, the one who kept her hair tied in a ponytail, who had a bit of an acne problem, wore white blouses with long skirts, and had a pair of unflattering glasses. This Kyla...she was physically the same willowy figure...no one would confuse her with Sarah, for example, but otherwise...
The acne wasn't there, her glasses were much more stylish, her hair was loose...she was wearing a bit of makeup, and her clothes were much more average for a teen. "Hi, Mrs. Madison," she said. "Is Zoe home?" Her voice was different too. This Kyla didn't sound shy. Kyla usually had a very soft way of speaking to most people.
"She's in the living room," Jon said.
"Thanks, Mrs. Madison," Kyla said, walking past her and spotting Zoe on the couch. "Are you all right? I've been texting you for almost an hour," she said.
"Mom and I were just talking," Zoe said.
"Well, I thought you needed help studying," Kyla said.
"Umm...sure," Zoe said, shooting a look at Jon.
"Why don't I get out of your way?" Jon said. So hopefully Zoe could pump Kyla for info. She was still surprised at how different Kyla was. But being friends growing up with a girl like Zoe had definitely had an effect on her. Realizing how much made her worry about Karyn. Jon and Karyn had been friends since they were little, not having Jon could have changed Karyn as much as having Zoe changed Kyla.
She headed toward the master bedroom, and found what she assumed was her purse. "Name...Amanda Madison. Height, five feet, four inches tall. Hair color: Brown. Weight....well, let's not worry about that right now," she mumbled to herself. So now she had a name, Amanda. She continued. Car keys, library card, and a business card that said Amanda Madison, LCSW. She'd have to google that. Linda had worked for a law firm and was a certified paralegal.
From there, instead of snooping further, she found herself looking through the drawers and closet at clothes. Plenty of professional looking outfits, dresses, wedding dress in plastic bag in back of closet, jeans and blouses for more casual times...makeup, nail polish...at least there were more flats in the closet than heels.
At the same time, Kyla seemed very familiar with the way to Zoe's...formerly Jon's room. She shut the door when they entered. "Okay, what's going on?"
"Going on?" Zoe said.
"You've been my best friend since we were 4, I know when something is up," Kyla said, seriously. "You're acting all jumpy. and I'm usually the one acting jumpy and you're the one trying to talk me down. Is this about the stone?"
