“What’s going on?” Lena says.

“Wait,” I say. “I’m…I was thinking about Sean and I’m…Oh God, I think I’m remembering something. Something Bella said in the woods.”

“Tess?” Max sounds alarmed. “You look pale. Sit down. Take a breath.” He takes my arm and guides me to a chair.

Lena’s there, in my face. “What did you remember? What did Bella say to you?”

“Leave it, Lena,” Max says, and they start arguing and their voices drown out Bella’s and it’s gone. The moment, the memory, whatever it was, is gone.

“For God’s sake,” I shout, interrupting them. “I almost remembered something. It could have been important.”

There’s a long silence.

“Are you sure?” Max asks. “Sure it was a real memory? After all this time?”

“Maybe it’s being back here.” I realize my hands are shaking. Lena shoves a glass of wine at me and I wrap my hands around it. “Seeing you two again, spending time with Julia. Maybe…maybe if I did get Sean and Jack back here, I’d remember it all.”

There’s another long pause that seems to last forever.

“But do you want to?” Lena says into the silence.

“Of course I do. I was there when she died. I was the last person to see her alive, the last person she spoke to, and I don’t remember it.” I take a breath. “And…I had this dream. After Dad called to tell me about Julia. And it was so vivid. Bella was so real. What if it wasn’t a dream—what if it was some kind of memory coming back?”

They look at each other and back at me and I can see the wariness on their faces.

“Forget it,” I say, pushing my chair back. “I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted.”

I go upstairs and shower. When I go back to my room, rubbing my hair dry, I hear a noise from outside and go over to the window. Lena and Max are in the driveway, huddled under the light, Lena with a cigarette in her hand. I keep the light off and stay hidden by the curtain. Lena’s voice is raised and Max appears to be trying to calm her down, his hand on her arm. She shakes it off and points at the house. I step farther into the shadows, wishing the window was open so I could hear their argument. Max looks rattled, Lena angry. What are they arguing about? Me? Julia? Being back here? Or is it an older argument?