“Who needs force, when people are so gullible, so easy to trick and convince?
Not mentioning any names, of course.ʺ
ʺHow can we fight him?ʹ
ʺWe?ʺ Laceyʹs purple mist began to move away from Ivy. ʺIn my movie days, I did some horror flicks, but Iʹm not starring in this one. Youʹre on your own.ʺ
ʺHow do my friends and I fight him?ʺ
ʺIʹm sure you can come up with something. Or maybe the radio can. I have one piece of advice: Be careful who you trust.ʺ
Ivy bit her lip.
ʺLook, chick, Iʹm sorry about this mess youʹre in, but Iʹve got my hands full right now. I think Iʹve found my one true gig, and Iʹm short on time. Iʹve got to cut out these cameo appearances.ʺ The angelʹs violet shimmer was fading. ʺSay hello to Philip.ʺ Lacey had almost disappeared when Ivy said, ʺBut what if Tristan has come back to protect me from Gregory? Her words had the desired effect: ʺWhat?!ʺ exclaimed Lacey. ʺIʹve seen the signs. Tristan is with me, as he promised he would be.ʺ Ivy felt a strong hand anchoring her at the bayʹs edge.
ʺThatʹs a ridiculous idea! If Tristan was here I would see him.ʺ Lacey had a point. Why wasnʹt she aware of him? Was Tristan hiding inside Guy? Hiding from whom?
ʺIvy, if Tristan did give you the kiss of life/ʹ Lacey said, ʺheʹs in deep trouble.
Donʹt try to contact him. Donʹt tempt him further. Youʹve already gotten him killed. Donʹt damn him forever.ʺ
LACEY HAD ALWAYS BEEN MELODRAMATIC IVY TOLD herself, as she sat alone in the cottage Thursday evening. Beth, Dhanya, and Will had left for a seven‐thirty movie.
Spurned by Dhanya, Max had roared off with Kelsey and Bryan to a party in Harwich. As soon as they were gone. Ivy took out her phone, playing a message sheʹd received an hour before, wanting to hear Guyʹs voice again: “ltʹs me. Kip got me a cell. Want to come over tonight?ʺ
Pushing aside the warnings of Lacey and Beth, Ivy drove to Willow Pond.
When she arrived, she saw a pickup parked in front of the house. A dark‐haired woman in her late twenties stood next to it, holding open the door for a golden Lab, which lumbered into the passenger seat. The woman called hello to Ivy and introduced herself as Julie, Kipʹs wife.
ʺI hope you didnʹt have special plans tonight,ʺ Julie said. ʺGuy is on the back porch sound asleep. He and Kip started hacking away at tree stumps at six a.m.ʺ
Ivy smiled. ʺJust hanging out.ʺ Ivy walked around the house and found Guy asleep on the porch that faced the pond, lying on a canvas drop cloth, his shirt off, his body turned so that he was on his side, his head resting on his arm. In the evening light, his tanned skin and fair hair looked golden, reminding Ivy of a painting she had seen once of a sleeping angel.
Then she remembered the subject of the painting: a fallen angel, after his battle with heaven. She turned and walked toward the pond.
Fleabag was snoozing in the long grass. Ivy sat on the bank not far from the cat, gazing out at the water, enjoying the pondʹs reflection of the fiery sky and dark green trees.
The evening was the first really warm one theyʹd had on the cape, balmy and sweet‐scented, the way summer nights were inland. She waded into the pond.
After the brine of the ocean, the freshwater felt soothing to her skin. Her shorts and halter top were as light as a bathing suit She swam and swam, loving the solitude and peace of the place. When she was tired, she flipped on her back to float.
Itʹs such a great feeling, Ivy. Do you know what itʹs like to float on a lake, a circle of trees around you, a big blue bowl of sky above you?
Tristan, she called to him silently. I do know — I know now, Tristan. ʺHey, are you asleep out there?ʺ Guy shouted to her. Ivy raised her head, then pulled her feet under her and stood up. ʺAsleep!ʺ she hollered back. ʺYouʹre the one who was snoring.ʺ
ʺNo way!ʺ He looked around, then pointed. ʺI think you must have heard Fleabag.ʺ
ʺCats canʹt purr that loud,ʺ she teased, and waded toward shore. When she was a few feet from Guy, he said, ʺYou looked so happy out there.ʺ
ʺI was. It’s such a great feeling, floating on a pond, a circle of trees around you, the sun sparkling at the tips of your fingers and toes.ʺ
Perhaps it was a reflection off the water. For a moment Guyʹs eyes seemed brilliant, the color of Tristanʹs ʺbig blue bowl of sky.ʺ ʺCome on in,ʺ Ivy coaxed.
Guy looked down at the water that lapped his ankles and swallowed hard. ʺI donʹt think I know how to swim.ʺ
Ivy tried to hide her disappointment. If Tristan was in Guy, Guy wouldnʹt fear water as calm as a swimming poolʹs.
Live in the present moment, Ivy told herself. Help him, as Tristan helped you.
Tristan had eased her beyond her fear by suggesting they take ʺa walkʺ in the school swimming pool. She reached for Guyʹs hand. ʺCome on. Let’s go for a walk in the pond.ʺ
After a moment of hesitation, Guy took her hand. They walked slowly and quietly together, moving through the liquid gold of the pond. When the water was waist‐deep on Guy, Ivy stopped, and ran her ringers across the waterʹs still surface, sending out plum‐colored ripples.
She faced Guy, then scooped up water, pouring handfuls over his shoulders and chest. Reaching higher, she bathed his cheeks and forehead, remembering how Tristan had done that for her. ʺYou okay?ʺ Guy nodded, then smiled sheepishly.
ʺWe wonʹt walk any farther. Can you crouch?ʺ she asked. Bending her legs, she lowered herself until the water reached her chin. Guy did the same, moving slowly and steadily, but when the water touched his neck, he instinctively pulled up.
ʺEasy does it.ʺ She reached for his other hand, holding them both securely in hers. He lowered himself again, until their faces were inches apart.
ʺNext time Iʹll bring a float and give you a real lesson. Today, weʹll just splash around so you can get used to it. Can you put your face in the water?ʺ
He tried, then jerked his head back, straightening up quickly. ʺThis is humiliating. I‐I couldnʹt breathe. My throat closed up and—ʺ
ʺSymptoms of panic,ʺ Ivy said calmly, ʺwhich is a rational response after what youʹve been through. Here.ʺ She laid her hands palms up on the surface of the water. ʺHold your breath and rest your face in my hands for a moment,ʺ ʺI feel stupid.ʺ ʺNo oneʹs watching.ʺ
Guy grimaced but did as she said, laying his face in her wet hands. He did it repeatedly. Ivy lowering her hands a bit each time until his face was immersed.
ʹʹOkay,” Guy said. ʺIʹve got that down. This time Iʹll do it without you…. You donʹt think Iʹm acting too macho, do you?ʺ he added, laughing at himself.
She grinned back at him. ʺWhen your face is in the water, blow out through your nose.ʺ He did the drill several times, then said, ʺI bet youʹve never had a student progress this fast. Whatʹs next?ʺ
ʺGoing all the way under.ʺ Ivy saw the hesitation and the goose bumps on his arms. ʺBut let’s just hang out and do that next time.ʺ
ʺIʹll do it now,ʺ he insisted.
ʺYou have nothing to prove, Guy.ʺ
ʺIʹm going all the way under,ʺ he said.
ʺWhen youʹre ready—ʺ
ʺI can handle this!ʺ he told her, and Ivy took a step back. His voice lightened.
ʺCount for me, okay? See how long I can stay under.ʺ He quickly dropped below the pondʹs surface.
Ivy counted aloud, ʺOne thousand one, one thousand two,ʺ then saw his back convulse and yanked him upward with all her strength. He had swallowed water and was choking — panicking again.