Take the Fall(70)

“I never even thought of that.” His voice is grim. “I wouldn’t have put it past her.”

I let out a long breath. “You might think this sounds messed up, but Gretchen wasn’t always awful. Sometimes we just had sleepovers and watched movies or went to the beach. I could talk to her about things . . .” I think of her distracting me with ghost stories in the woods. Of the time I came down with the flu at her house and she insisted I stay a full week until I felt better. One time she’d even offered to track my dad down so I could meet him. “I—I really miss her.”

“You deserved better. . . .” Marcus traces his fingers through my curls, leaning close. I tip my head back, hesitate, afraid to fall into him.

A light comes on inside the house and the back door opens. I pull away, let go of his hand, but not before Dina steps onto the patio. She stands there with her mouth open.

Marcus backs away. “I’d . . . better get home.”

“Okay,” is all I manage to say before he disappears into the shadows. It takes a full thirty seconds to get my heart enough under control to raise my head and look at my aunt.

“Sonia. Why don’t you come inside.”

“They decided to send Noah home, but Elena has no idea when the paperwork will be done.” Dina leans against the kitchen counter, her voice flat. “I’ll be covering his shift in the morning and thought I’d crash here so you could head home.”

“So, he’s okay?” I’m light-headed with relief, only now realizing how terrified I was to think I might’ve been lying to my cousin all evening. “It wasn’t serious?”

“He’s going to follow up with his cardiologist.” She folds her arms and nods toward the back door. “So, you want to tell me about that?”

I stare at the white linoleum. I want to climb into my own bed, close my eyes for about twenty-four hours, and process that myself. The last thing I want to do is stand here trying to explain it to Dina, but she doesn’t ask rhetorical questions.

“The sheriff has someone else in jail for Gretchen’s murder.”

“Yes. I’m aware of that,” she says.

I falter. Of course she’s aware; she’s the whole reason Alex Burke was even arrested. I take a deep breath, trying to pull myself together.

“Look, Marcus and I . . . we’ve both been really mixed up about all this. We were just talking, trying to figure things out.”

“Talking. Here. Tonight.” She raises her eyebrows.

“I . . . didn’t really plan for it to happen this way.”

She steps across the floor and looks down at me. She isn’t that much taller, but I can’t help feeling like a little girl. “Sonia, I’m not your mother. Even if I were, I would never tell you who you can and can’t see. I just want you to be careful.”

“Marcus hasn’t done anything.” I’m a little surprised by the intensity of my voice, but after the moment we just shared, I’m surer of the words than ever.

“That might be true.” She sighs. “But there are still a lot of unanswered questions.”

My phone buzzes in my hand, but I don’t look at the screen. “Please don’t mention this to my mom?”

Her face goes slack. “Noah and Elena think you’re here, snuggled safe on their couch, looking after their kid. I found you outside in the dark with a boy I don’t trust, unaware that anyone had come in the unlocked front door. I’m not mentioning this to your aunt and uncle—they have way too much on their plates right now. But I’m sure as hell going to tell your mother.”

I close my eyes.

“Why don’t you go home and get some sleep.” She hands me her car keys. “We’re short-staffed. It’s going to be a busy morning.”





THIRTY-TWO


Are you in trouble?

I look around the diner, half expecting to see Marcus watching me from some corner, but he isn’t among the Sunday brunchers and post-church crowd, and if he was, it would be obvious. I look up from the coffeemaker at my mom, running back and forth between the kitchen and the register with a smile even though she barely slept and we’re not exactly speaking. She knew everything by the time I walked in the door last night. I could tell because she didn’t say a word about it. She asked a couple questions about Felicia, told me the latest on Uncle Noah, and said she was going to bed. But I heard the television come on around two a.m. and she was up with a cup of coffee at six when I finally gave up trying to sleep and got dressed.

Wouldn’t come in here if I were you.

Need to see you.

Tuesday, library? I have fifth period free.

Why not tomorrow?

I hesitate. I’ve been afraid to ask my mom about the Penn trip, but there’s no way I can miss that appointment. If I have to drive there by myself, I will.

Going to be in Philadelphia.

It’s a long minute before he replies. Text as soon as you’re back.

“That coffee done, Sonia?” Dina passes by, looking pointedly at my phone. “They could use refills at tables six and two . . . whenever you’re free.”

I rush back into action, refilling every low coffee mug I can find and busing a few extra tables for good measure. I know overcompensating won’t really help me, but it keeps Mom and Dina off my back and my mind busy. The bell above the door rings and Kip walks in by himself. I hesitate, the bold red letters on the postcard flashing bright in my memory. I wet my lips, reminding myself that Kip leaving the photo never really made sense even before Alex Burke was arrested. I pick up a menu and cross the room, grateful to see anyone smiling at me.