Chapter 21 #2
She studies me a second longer, then shifts gears, tapping her nails against her teeth, bottled energy oozing off her. “What else did Russ tell you about the ghost?” I keep waiting for her to smile, but her gaze remains intense.
I sink my paddle deeper into the water, savoring the resistance against my muscles. “Why are you so interested in this alleged ghost? You don’t seriously believe there’s a ghost, do you?”
She looks up at the sky and swallows, pulling the drawstrings on her sweatshirt. “Honestly, I don’t know. I think I’ve seen her. Outside my bedroom in the night.”
I splash her with water from my oar. “Shut up.”
She flinches but doesn’t laugh. Her leg taps up and down now. “I’m serious.”
I resume paddling, bringing us around the north side of the island. A sleek modern house looks out over the lake, with black stone steps running up the left side.
“So, you’re telling me you think the ghost of a girl who fell off a Ferris wheel in 1908 is hanging outside your bedroom window?”
She rolls her eyes. “I knew you were going to give me shit.”
“What does she look like, this mysterious phantom?”
“I don’t really know. Both times I was dead asleep when it happened. I heard a noise outside my window. I pulled the curtains to see what it was. There was nothing there. Then I glimpsed a dark-haired girl slip around the corner.”
My mind flicks to the other night when I heard a crunching sound outside my window. “And you’re positive you saw this girl?”
“No. It was the middle of the night. I was half asleep. But it rattled me. Then, when I hear Russ Neuman talking about ghosts, it just made me think.”
I don’t respond. I have enough problems with this island without adding ghosts to the mix.
Olivia presses. “What are you thinking?”
I sigh. “I think I’m going to go home this afternoon, Liv.”
She snaps around in her seat. “What? You just got here.”
“I know. But I don’t belong here. Your dog just died; you’ve got crazy neighbors leaving notes. Your mom hates me. I should leave.”
“First, my mom doesn’t hate you. She’s just been under a lot of stress.
Second, she’s gone now, so you don’t have to deal with her anymore.
And yes, I’m heartbroken about Heathcliff, and Russ Neuman is extremely cringe-inducing, but that’s why you have to stay.
I need my CharBar here to make me smile.
” She flashes me her biggest, brightest grin and bats her fairy lashes exaggeratedly.
“I don’t know. You’ve been getting along just fine without me for the past seventeen years.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to go another seventeen years. Plus, who’s going to help me and Dad take care of the twins? You can’t leave me alone with those hellions.”
A smile escapes, and I feel myself breaking. “I don’t know. I’m probably a negative when it comes to childcare. You’ll be better off without me.”
She drops her playful expression. “Don’t say that. We will never be better off without you. How about this? Stay for two more days. You can take the girls to the local fair while I work. You’ll see; with my mom gone, it’s a much more relaxing time.”
I cast my eyes skyward. I could never resist her.
“My dad’s cooking his famous burgers.”
“Ugh. You’re the worst. Fine. Two more days. But after that, I’m not making any promises.”
She pumps her fists in the air. “Yaaass. Fantastic. That’s my girl. When does your boy get here?”
“Carlos? Um? I told him not to come.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I just figured with everything being up in the air, it wasn’t the best idea. And…”
“And you’re a chicken who’s afraid to have a hot bartender come to the house?”
“Yes, I’m a huge chicken.”
“All right. I think you’re making a big mistake, but at least this will give me more time to hang out with you, and you’ll have more time to stare at my dad.” She winks and laughs.
“Oh, that’s how it is, is it?” I say and splash Olivia with water. She screams, and we both laugh till our guts hurt.
The next five minutes are more of the same. We rip on each other and laugh. I occasionally dip my oar into the water to keep us advancing. Eventually, the laughter dies down, and we both settle into silence, heads back, drinking in the rising sunshine.
As we float around to the west side of Crown Point, a house catches my eye—a sleek, modern place with massive windows cutting through the landscape. A couple sits on their deck sipping coffee, both in crisp workout outfits, watching the world go by.
As our canoe drifts past, I notice a familiar face.
And then my stomach hollows.
It’s Vivek. He reclines in a slate lounge chair, dressed head to toe in white, his gelled black hair parted with surgical precision; a devil masquerading as an angel.
His lithe legs are crossed with theatrical ease, one long finger curling around a steaming mug of coffee, the picture of smug serenity.
Other hand clutching his wife’s. The consummate husband.
The bubble of peace Olivia and I have created on our little canoe ride pops.
“Motherfucker,” I say under my breath.
“What?” asks Olivia, frowning, her eyes following mine.
My gaze stays locked on him. My nails dig into the paddle. The lake water stills. “That’s Vivek, the Winthrop partner I told you about.”
Her head whips toward the deck. “Are you serious?”
I nod, my pulse simmering. The canoe drifts toward the property as though a magnetic force is pulling it toward him. My thoughts jump to that day. The conference room. The bite of his breath. The wedding ring on his finger. Losing control.
Suddenly the lake feels too small, too exposed.
Vivek takes a sip of coffee and turns his head like a cobra. And then he sees me. A slow smile spreads across his face, as if he’s been expecting me all along.