Chapters (47)
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- Epigraphs
- Prologue
- Part One
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- Part Two
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Newsletter Sign-up
“A drishti. And now I see that house in my head every time I close my eyes. I want to see it the way I used to see it. To see everything the way I used to.” Ann started to cry again.
“It’s OK.”
“I wanted to tell you, I did. You were the first person I went to when I got home, but you were gone, so I went upstairs to talk to Michael. I couldn’t say it—I couldn’t even talk, the words just didn’t come. I just wanted to be with him. He was my other best friend. I didn’t want to be alone.”
Poppy started to put it all together. “That’s when Dad saw you guys and freaked out.”
“And you came home, high out of your mind. You thought the books were dancing in the bookcase. You called Mom Britney Spears.”
Poppy laughed, but grew serious. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
“But you were getting into your own kind of trouble, and I guess I wasn’t there for you, either. That was one hell of a summer.”
“It sure was.”
They lapsed into a warm silence. The fire snapped and flickered, and the rain fell against the windows. Ann looked up, her eyes red. “He’s dead now. Anthony.”
“Well, good riddance. I hope you killed him.”
Ann winced.
“What?”
“I feel like I did. He killed himself while I was there. I think I pushed him over the edge. I saw him die, Poppy. It was horrible, worse than in the movies. The smell, the way his eyes stopped, you know, they stopped looking. I know he did a terrible thing. I’m not condoning it. But he was a person, and he had a family, you know? Everyone’s so haunted by him, including me. I feel like it’s my fault.” Ann’s voice broke. “Everything is always my fault. I handle things so badly.”
“Oh, Ann,” Poppy said. “I know it’s been hard for you.”
“I’m OK. I am. I feel like I’m getting better at least. One thing about dealing with all this stuff—it’s made me stronger.”
“And you know there are good guys out there, right?”
“You mean guys like Brad?” Ann said, smiling. “Swear to God, as soon as I saw you guys together I had this feeling that Dad sent him to you, like he’s part of a master plan.”
Poppy got the chills. She’d thought the same thing. “I guess we’re a good fit.” She expertly steered the conversation away from Brad. “Dad, he was the best. And look at how sweet Noah is.” Poppy hesitated. “… And Michael? I don’t know what to think about him. He’s the part of this story that still doesn’t make sense. I was so happy to see him, but I still can’t figure out why he lied.”