When I couldn’t get a word out, he called up the stairs to Vera, then took my arm and led me to the living room. We sat together, his hand never leaving my elbow. His concern was like a salve, but it wouldn’t fix this. Ellie had said she wouldn’t tell Davis, but I knew that promise would only last so long. This news, it would break her. And eventually, she would reach out to her brother, ask him to explain. Maybe it was a matter of hours or days or maybe it was a matter of weeks, but it would come out; I was sure of it. And I was sure of another thing, too. Davis would find a way to manipulate the situation, get her to tell him exactly where I was. I couldn’t sit around waiting for that to happen. I had to go – but I was afraid to go alone.

Vera was there in a matter of seconds, and she sat on my other side – they were my very own protective bookends. ‘God, Lucy,’ she said. ‘Are you okay?’

My lips parted, but I couldn’t find the words.

‘What happened?’ John asked again, leaning forward.

I swallowed, my throat tight. ‘I told you about Ellie.’

‘That’s your ex’s sister,’ John said. ‘Right?’

Vera interrupted. ‘Yes, and her best friend.’

John nodded, releasing my arm from his grasp. ‘Did she call you or email you or something?’

‘I wish,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘I ran into her.’

‘Here in town?’ Vera asked, jaw dropping. ‘Oh god, Lucy.’

John’s eyes caught hers, then returned to mine. ‘But he wasn’t with her, was he?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘At least, she said he wasn’t. She was in Woodstock on her own, getting a drink while her boyfriend did some work back where they were staying.’

‘Shit,’ John said, his eyebrows knitting tightly together. ‘Are you afraid she’s going to tell him?’

‘Obviously she’s afraid of that,’ Vera said.

He tugged at the cuff of the plaid shirt he always wore, not knowing what to say.

‘It’s going to be okay,’ Vera said. ‘It has to be okay. We’ll find a way.’

John nodded. ‘We’ll keep you safe.’

I dabbed at my eyes. They must know how naive, how pathetic their words sounded. Sometimes things weren’t okay. Life decided to ruin you. Or you were such a mess, you found a way to ruin yourself.

‘What can we do, Lucy?’ John asked. ‘How can we help?’

‘How serious were you last night?’ I asked, forcing confidence into my voice.

They exchanged a glance. ‘We were serious, Lucy,’ Vera said, speaking for both of them. ‘We talked about it after you left. John’s come around. But we figured you weren’t.’

John cleared his throat. ‘I don’t want to mess up your life, too. Not after you’ve already been through so much.’