She flashed with anger. How dare he treat her that way? Then the anger gave her guilt, and the guilt made her even sadder. How did you ever know if you were doing the right thing? You could miss or mistake something, so easily. And then it could be too late. Colleen Greevey’s sobs still resonated. She had to bite her lip.

She calmed herself enough and called through the door, “Finish up so you can come out and cool off with us in the pool, OK?”

She decided not to shower just yet. Outside, she pulled a chair off the porch, unzipped her pants and rolled the cuffs up, took her bra off—this was family—and sat with her bare feet in the pool.

Harley gave her a minute. Then, underwater, he pulled her toe. “Feels good, huh?”

“Yeah. Feels good.”

But it didn’t. Everything felt broken. She missed Opie’s old soul, whoever Opie was turning out to be. One little boy was angry, the other was worried into silence. Right now their little family felt out of balance, and as if to confuse things—

She jerked in the chair and her foot splashed. For a few busy hours she had forgotten. She touched her bare skin below the navel.

“What, hon?” Harley looked at her with concern. “Are you OK?”

“Nothing,” she lied to the man who loved her, feeling another layer of guilt. But at least she could tell that Belle hadn’t passed along her rumors yet. “I’m fine.”

She would get up before dawn, she decided, put on civvies, and drive the family minivan to Walgreen’s in La Crosse, where hopefully no one knew her. She would buy a test to confirm, then tell Harley.

More coyotes joined the lone howler. Soon they listened to a full creepy chorus. Then others rejoined from across the hollow.

“It’s going to be OK!”

Dylan blurted this. She leaned and rubbed his little shoulders.

“You’re right. Thank you, sweetie.”

They sat awhile longer. The coyotes kept it up until Taylor startled them, bellowing out the window, “I’m not sorry! For anything! Ever!”

His voice echoed. The coyotes stopped to listen. The sheriff and her husband stared at one another through the gathering night. Taylor’s twin brother poured water over his own head, again and again.

Then Dylan whispered to his mom and dad.

“You guys, come on. It’s what you always say. In the morning everything is gonna be OK. Right?”

Part 4: 95°–103°

Fri, Aug 9, 4:33 AM

To: Dairy Queen ([email protected])

From: Oppo ([email protected])

Subject: The Rickreiner Fairy Tale

The Fairy Tale: Opposition tells a story of suffering and redemption. Father murdered. Son loses his way. Heroin is injected. Crimes are committed. Rock bottom is achieved. Opposition breaks bad habits, leaves bad friends behind, earns degree, deserves your job.

Characters: