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“Yeah, and so what? I talked to Je
“Understood what?”
And he looked so worried. Unbelievable. Was he still this pathetic after all these years? It was infuriating. Barbara was so angry, her cheeks were burning. So angry that she could have spit—at Steve. How dare he sit there and make her explain herself when all she’d done was protect them.
“I asked her to leave us alone, Steve.” Barbara fluttered her eyelashes and smiled viciously. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted. We’re a family, that’s what I said. A happy family. I told Je
Steve was supposed to say that Je
“Barbara, whatever happened, I’m sure you didn’t mean to—”
“‘Mean to’?” Barbara snapped. “‘Mean to’ what, Steve?”
“Barbara, please just tell me what happened.”
“Je
“Yes, Barbara,” Steve said. “I want to know everything.”
“Je
But that’s all Barbara was telling Steve. She wasn’t about to recount how Je
But the more Barbara didn’t listen, the more hysterical Je
It hadn’t hurt Je
“And then what happened?” Steve asked, looking at Barbara like some kind of gap-mouthed spectator. “After she said she wanted to talk to me first?”
“And then, Steve, I reminded Je
MOLLY
JUNE 17, 2013
Justin took the news pretty well. I’d thought he’d fight me when I said I wasn’t going back to Dr. Zomer. But he agreed that I really did seem better. It probably helped that I lied and told him that Dr. Zomer thought I was ready to “transition out of therapy.”
Besides, he’s been so distracted by all the interviews at Ridgedale. That’s academia for you—they practically want you to move in and start teaching before they’re willing to give you a job offer.
Maybe Dr. Zomer is right. Maybe being angry at Justin is better than blaming myself. But I have to believe there’s a better way. A better way to save myself than hating the man I love.
Molly
Steve was at a table near the back of the hospital cafeteria when I got there. It was mostly empty, too late for lunch, a little early for di
“Hi,” I said when I made my way over to his table. I was bracing myself. The fact that I was willing to have this uncomfortable conversation did not mean I was looking forward to it.
Steve blinked up at me as though he had no idea who I was. When I’d called him after Sandy and I left the library, I hadn’t known about Ha
“Molly, sorry,” Steve said, a hand drifting to his forehead. “I was a million miles away—remembering teaching Ha
“How is she?” I asked as I sat down on the edge of the chair across from him. I wanted to be able to spring away quickly when things turned south.
“Off the record?”
“Of course,” I said, even though I could hear Erik’s voice in my head. No. Never. No special favors. Never off the record.
It hardly seemed to matter now. I wasn’t there as a reporter. I was there for Sandy.
“She was awake for a little bit, which the doctors say is encouraging,” Steve began. “She doesn’t have any memory of what happened down at the creek. But she remembers us and herself and the baby. Ha
I wanted there to be a way to tell him about Sandy’s fall from the bike, to give him that last piece of the puzzle. But I couldn’t, wouldn’t do that. “I’m sorry to have to bother you now,” I said. “If it could wait—”
He lifted a hand. “Honestly, it’s a relief to think about something else for a minute.”
I felt queasy. “Sandy Mendelson, Je
“I know,” he said without flinching. “She came to me, too. Poor kid. I’ve had officers out canvassing. I’ll be able to send out more, now that the baby—”
“Do you know where Je
His face tensed, but only for a split second. He could tell there was something wrong in the way I’d asked the question. That I wasn’t just asking the chief of police for an update.
“Like I said, we’ll have more resources now.” He was still acting as though he didn’t personally know Je