THE TEARS THAT HAD BEEN FILLING IVY’S EYES DURING the argument did not fall until five minutes after Will had driven away. Ivy walked back to the lot and stood motionless by her car, watching the road as if Will might come back.
ʺItʹs over. Over,” she repeated to herself with disbelief. She noticed an envelope on her carʹs front seat Opening it, she found the permit for the bonfire. She climbed inside her car, closed the door, and cried.
Ivy drove for an hour and a half — Route 6 first, needing to drive fast, and when she had stopped crying, the winding, dual‐lane 6A. She was tempted to call her mother — but her mother loved Will. Philip loved Will. Beth loved Will. So did she, but maybe not enough.
By the time she returned to the inn, it was nearly dark. Willʹs car was back; Kelseyʹs was gone and no one was in the cottage. Ivy sat in the living room, trying to work on the puzzle, riffling through the box, pulling out one piece, then another, then putting them back. Restless, she walked outside, glanced at the swing, then strode over to the innʹs back steps, where she felt less likely to be cornered by whoever came home first. If Will hadnʹt told the others about their break up, she would have to share the news before work tomorrow.
Behind her, the kitchen door opened, spreading the roomʹs yellow light on a swath of grass. ʺDonʹt get up,” Aunt Cindy said, then came out and sat on the steps next to Ivy. ʺHow are you doing?ʺ
ʺOkay.ʺ
ʺPretty tough, huh?ʺ Ivy nodded. ʺYeah. Who told you?ʺ
ʺBeth. Listen, Ivy, I can make sure that you and Will arenʹt on the same work team for a week or so, but youʹll still be living and working in close quarters. I canʹt have you quarreling in front of guests, and I canʹt have the others taking sides.ʺ Ivy nodded.
ʺIf you feel like you canʹt deal with the situation, youʹve got to let me know.ʺ
ʺOkay.ʺ Aunt Cindy rested her hand lightly on Ivyʹs back. ʺI know it seems as if the pain is so bad that it will never get better. But it will, Ivy. It really will,ʺ she said, then went inside.
Ivy rose and walked slowly across the garden. After all the grime and sweat of the day, sheʹd feel better if she took a shower before facing the others. Then she saw Beth coming around the corner of the renovated barn — from Willʹs roomIvy guessed. Ivy took a deep breath and waited. ʺHowʹs Will?ʺ
ʺHow are you?ʺ Beth asked, as she approached Ivy. The gentleness in her friendʹs voice released an‐other than expected flood of tears.
ʺCome on. Let’s talk,” Beth said, giving Ivy a light push toward the swing.
Beth remained quiet while Ivy cried, ʺI feel so bad about hurting him/ʹ Ivy said, wiping her eyes.
ʺI feel bad for both of you,ʺ Beth replied, then added softly, ʺIt’s hard for Willand for me — to understand. I mean, after all youʹve been through together, how can you not love him?ʺ
ʺI do love him,ʺ Ivy insisted. ʺBut maybe not the way he wants to be loved.ʺ
Beth leaned forward, looking into Ivyʹs eyes. ʺThe way anyone wants to be loved!ʺ
ʺYes, yes, youʹre right,” Ivy admitted. ʺBut, Beth, you canʹt always choose how you love a person. Love isnʹt logical or fair. It just happens.ʺ
In the faint starlight, Ivy saw the silver trace of a tear running down Bethʹs face.
ʺDid you tell him that I saw Tristan the night of the accident?ʺ Ivy asked.
ʺThat you thought you saw Tristan — no. No, heʹs already convinced heʹs competing with a dead guy. Iʹm not going to make it any harder for him. Ivy, did you really forget your date tonight?ʺ Ivy nodded. ʺI was with Guy, helping him.ʺ
ʺGuy!ʺ
ʺYes, cleaning out a barn, so heʹd have a decent place to live, and—ʺ
ʺIvy, you have to be careful,ʺ Beth warned. ʺYou have no idea who Guy is.ʺ
ʺWhat I know about him is more important than the name heʹs forgotten.
Thereʹs a special connection between Guy and me, something Iʹve felt only once before — with Tristan.ʺ Ivy ignored the disapproval that lined her friendʹs face.
ʺBeth, Guy was telling me about his dream house, and it was exactly like Philipʹs tree house. Guy couldnʹt remember what music he liked, but suddenly recognized ʹMoonlight Sonata,’ Tristanʹs song. And without even knowing what melody it was, he hummed a song from Carousel. Donʹt you remember — Tristan tried to communicate with me by playing on my piano notes from Carousel.ʺ
Beth shook her head with disbelief, but Ivy continued. ʺI think Tristan has come back to me.ʺ ʺOh, Ivy, no! That couldnʹt be.ʺ ʺWhy not?ʺ Ivy asked, grasping the edge of the swing. ʺHe spoke through Will and you last year. Why couldnʹt he now be speaking through Guy, giving me these signs that he is still with me? The night of the accident, Tristan promised—ʺ
ʺDoes Guy claim to hear another personʹs voice?ʺ Beth asked. ʺNo, but—ʺ
Beth leaned forward, placing a hand on Ivyʹs wrist. ʺWhen Tristan was here as an angel, we heard him. When he slipped into our minds, we knew who he was.
And we never forgot our own identities.ʺ
Ivy pulled away from her friend. They sat for a moment in silence. Ivy fighting her anger with Beth for not believing as she did. When Ivy looked back, Beth was pulling on her amethyst necklace. Her lips moved silently, then she said aloud, ʺSomething evil is walking among us.ʺ ʺWhat?ʺ
ʺEver since the séance I have felt a presence,ʺ Beth said, her voice shaking. “It’s him. Itʹs Gregory. I havenʹt felt this way since he was alive.ʺ
Ivy stared at her friend, trying to understand what she was saying. ʺBeth, I know you were spooked by the séance. We all were. But why would you think that Gregory is haunting us? Has something else happened to scare you?ʺ
Her friend didnʹt reply. ʺTell me,ʺ Ivy said. ʺA dream.ʺ Beth rubbed one hand with the other, digging her fist into her palm. ʺIʹve had it twice.ʺ
ʺTell me,ʺ Ivy insisted. ʺWeʹre in the cottage, you, me, Dhanya, Kelsey. If s Aunt Cindyʹs cottage, but it has lots of windows, windows everywhere. Someone is circling the house, shooting at the windows. The bullets pierce the glass but donʹt go all the way through. Weʹre running from room to room, and the shooter runs around the outside of the cottage, targeting the windows of whichever room weʹre in.
He keeps circling, but you tell us everythingʹs all right. Weʹre safe, you say, the shooter canʹt break through the windows. Then he quietly opens the door and walks in.ʺ
Ivy sat back in the swing, rubbing her arms, her skin prickling. ʺDonʹt you get it?ʺ Beth said, sounding suddenly angry. ʺYou were careless and let the shooter in, just like you let in Guy!ʺ
ʺBeth, hot every dream you have is clairvoyant. Sometimes you dream about things that people tell you. Will doesnʹt like Guy. Heʹs planted these fears in you.ʺ
Bethʹs eyes flashed. ʺIt makes no difference what Will says. I see what I see!ʺ
ʺSo do I,ʺ Ivy replied, then rose from the swing. ʺIvy!ʺ
She turned back reluctantly. Bethʹs hand clutched her amethyst. ʺIf itʹs Gregory, you will need all the power of heaven to protect you.ʺ
ʺYOU KNOW, 1 THOUGHT YOU WERE, LIKE, MISS Perfect,ʺ Kelsey said to Ivy the next evening. ʺAnd when you were hanging with Will, you were, like, Mr. and Mrs. Perfect. Couple of the year.ʺ
ʺSony to disappoint you.ʺ
ʺSo what exactly did he say to you?ʺ Kelsey asked. They were standing outside the cottage, Kelsey bouncing a badminton birdie up and down on a racket.
Plunk, plunk, plunk.
ʺThe kind of thing people usually say when theyʹre breaking up,ʺ Ivy replied.
ʺSnide comments and sweeping accusations,ʺ Kelsey guessed. ʺIʹve done it myself a few times.ʺ
ʺThen I donʹt need to fill you in.ʺ