A small body tackles her, hugging her around her knees, and she nearly falls.

“Mommy. Mommy.” Nora throws her head up and gazes at her, that white-blond hair spilling over her shoulders.

She is Wonder Woman, though the mask and the sword are long-lost by now.

“Where’s your babysitter?” Jacqueline asks, then feels bad that that’s the first thing she’s thought of. “She may be worried about you.”

“She’s over there with Daddy.”

Those words send a cool chill down Jacqueline’s spine. She looks up, and indeed, there is Shakespeare—that’s who Greg is dressed as, she remembers in a flash—with the bride. Are they dancing? Just like that, in front of everyone? She turns and sees Kendra whispering to Bettina. They’ve lost their pointed hats but still—as always—look just like witches.

“I see.”

“Mommy, can I stay with you? Please? I want to be with you. For always.”

“Oh, hon. You’re always with me. Go play with your friends.” Jacqueline swigs down her wine and untangles herself from her daughter. She sends her back to Greg and the sitter.

She is slowly burning—a ball of hot ash. Things can’t go on like this, she thinks. Guzzles more wine.

Thinking.

Plotting.

Smoldering.

And Daphne Brown has only one and a half hours left to live.

THIRTY

Kendra

Full Moon, too, had been my idea.

The event started out as a vigil for Daphne Brown, but after the first few years it had morphed into a festival to raise money for the student merit scholarship in her honor. For most people, Full Moon was popcorn and hot chocolate, donated by a local cafe in town.

For the four of us, Full Moon was about tradition and remembrance.

The weather was cold and clear, and when night fell, the moon would be a perfect circle high above the nearly leafless trees. We always held Full Moon down by the lake. Select members of the Woodard marching band played haunting music, and now, from my screened-in back porch, I could hear them starting up with the theme from The Addams Family. It was almost our turn.

“Sloane’s so excited to show you guys their routine.” Bettina had recruited the dance team to perform this year. “They are amazing. Wait ’til you see.”

Paul stuck his head out the back door and grinned, his cheeks pink from the temperature. “Ladies!”

Since he’d come clean about his job yesterday, he’d been a different person. Happy, jolly. Too happy. A little stress wouldn’t hurt. It might motivate him to fix it faster.

“What’s the crowd like?” I asked.

Paul gave us two thumbs up. “They’re ready whenever you all are.” He paused. “You guys look great as usual.”