Once inside the car, Cody finally exhaled. “What was up with the mom? She was a bit…much, wasn’t she? And I think that kid is lying, by the way. I could tell.”

“I don’t think he’s lying. I know he is.”

“You know? How?”

A breath caught in my throat, momentarily wedged there, then released. “Cody, I saw Austin in his bedroom window when I dropped Vera off. He watched her get out of my car. I don’t know what to think anymore.”

My brain felt numb.

“You know what that means, don’t you, Marin?”

I couldn’t find the strength to nod. I had used it up hoping that Austin had a believable narrative to explain what happened. Anything that would prove his innocence.

“I’ve got to tell Felicity and turn Austin into the cops. Felicity is never going to forgive me. You know things won’t be the same between us after this, don’t you?”

Felicity was my family, despite our differences. I loved her like blood. Losing her was a poison I didn’t want to swallow.

“Maybe there’s a way to avoid Felicity finding out?” Cody looked at me—intense, determined.

“I don’t see how. Vera’s life is at stake. I’ve got to come clean to everyone.”

I didn’t realize in the moment that it wasn’t just Vera’s life at stake, but my own with it.

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Felicity

“I need a break.”

The four most dreaded words in the English language between two spouses. Especially between spouses still in love with each other.

It was the last thing Oliver said to me before I blustered out of the house into nightfall, clutching Vera’s journal, not knowing what I was doing or where I was going. Anywhere but home.

It had only taken a stop for ice cream to earn forgiveness from Sydney and Eliot after showing up late to pick them up from karate. Birthday cake flavor topped with sprinkles and gummy bears for Syd, plain old chocolate for Eliot. Their sensei was equally sympathetic after I explained how I was dealing with personal stuff. Forgiveness from strangers came easily when you had a missing child. But not from my own husband. Oliver lost all emotion months ago. All that was left were pragmaticism and survival.