Chapter Thirty-Four
THIRTY-FOUR
I pull my sunglasses down over my eyes to hide the tears that threaten to spill out. “Miguel knew?”
This hurts way more than Kenya and Yumi whispering behind my back. This is my Miguel, my rock, my life partner. “How much did he know?”
“He didn’t know any of the details,” Kenya said. “Only that Holly Stone demanded her bracelet back by the end of Sunday. That’s it, I swear. I told him we would take care of it and not to worry. He had no idea about the specifics.”
“Is that why he came back early?”
“Yes, he was worried about the whole thing.”
“And all this to stop Holly Stone from going to the police about a stolen bracelet? All this to protect a couple of kids from the natural consequences of their own actions?”
“They’re not a couple of kids. They’re our kids,” Kenya says.
“Noah’s my only. My one and only. And in this corrupt, crazy world, where the connected and the uber-rich get away with anything, you’re damn right I’m going to pull every string to make sure my son does not end up entangled in the criminal justice system.
You think they’d let him go to Wharton with a criminal record?
They’re rescinding admissions because of social media posts. I couldn’t take that chance.”
“Okay, I get what you’re saying, Kenya. I can see it.” I turn to look at Yumi. “But you? Why were you protecting them?”
“Because I care about Noah. I care about Rachel. I went about it the wrong way, but I did it out of love. You’re my people, my tribe. Remember when we were moms in elementary school? You’re the one who introduced me to Kenya.”
“That’s true.”
“You said, ‘There’s a new mom in the neighborhood with an only like you, Yumi. And she’s cool and smart and works, and I think you’d really like her.’”
Kenya nods vigorously. “Remember when the kids were little, they’d have playdates and we’d hang out? We used to share recipes, pediatrician recs, you name it.”
I don’t like what they’re trying to do. Draw on our shared memories, as if I’ll forget all the lying and scheming they’ve been up to.
But Yumi seems to perk up with this topic.
Her face, drawn earlier, is animated now.
“After my divorce, when it looked like I might have to sell the house, you two helped me figure out how to stay. And when I got sick, it was you two who helped me balance taking care of my own health with taking care of Ryan. Like I said, we are a tribe, Caren. We’re your people.
Yes, we fucked up. Big-time. But not because we are evil.
Because we love our kids so much that it blinded us. ”
Yumi picks up her glass of iced tea, but before she can bring it to her mouth, it slips from her grip and shatters on the stones beneath the table.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” She jumps up.
“Yumi, it’s fine,” Kenya says sternly. “I don’t want you to worry about it. It’s no big deal.”
Yumi nods, her eyes moistening. “I should go home. I’m very tired.”
She wobbles slightly, unsteady on her feet.
“Are you okay?” I ask. For a moment no one says anything.
I can hear the hiss of a sprinkler next door, the squeal of a toddler.
I look more closely at Yumi. She’s always been pale—she’s never out in the sun since her medication makes her photosensitive—but now she looks especially sallow. “Yumi, what’s going on?”
“I’m not responding to my medication.” She says this softly, in a matter-of-fact way with no hint of self-indulgence. “My kidneys are shutting down. I’ll be going on dialysis soon.”
My anger melts away. Concern appears in its place. “I had no idea. I am so sorry.”
She offers a weak smile. “I didn’t want to tell people.
It’s so boring. Everyone must be so sick of hearing about it.
I’m sick of thinking about it, obsessing about it.
” She forces out a sad little laugh. “Maybe I was in denial before. But the time has come. I’m trying to push dialysis back until after Ryan returns to college.
I don’t want him to see me like that. I don’t want him to know. ”
“You can’t keep this from him,” I say. “He’s an adult now.”
She looks at me, tears in her eyes. “Promise me, Caren, no matter how angry you are at me, even if you hate me, that you’ll take care of Ryan.”
“Of course.” I feel tears of my own wet my eyes, understand her fears about Ryan in my own heart. “I don’t hate you. I love you. And you’re not going anywhere. You’re going to be fine.”
“Just promise me.”
“I promise. I will always look after Ryan.”
Kenya and I walk Yumi out to her car and watch until she climbs in, a little shaky, and drives off.
Once the car has turned the corner, I turn to Kenya. “Did you know she was sick again?”
“I knew her medication had stopped working, but I didn’t know she needed dialysis.” Kenya touches my arm. “Caren, we’re all in this together. We’re not against each other. We have to look out for each other and each other’s kids.”
“Does that include Van?” I ask sharply.
“What about Van?”
“You’re aware that he might have done more than just break into a few houses, right?”
Kenya’s eyes widen in genuine surprise, the kind you can’t fake.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Did you know he was sleeping with the woman that lived in that cement house?” I ask, watching her face carefully for signs of recognition. “The one where the nanny was killed?”
“You mean that single mom?” Kenya emits a little cough. “With the little kid? No, I did not know that. How do you know that?”
“From Tori Price herself. That’s the woman’s name. She basically implied that Van killed that young nanny. She said that she tried to break up with him, and he got possessive. He threatened her.”
“That is the most insane thing I have ever heard,” Kenya says. “Are you sure?”
I nod. “Yup.”
“But you can’t really think that Van— I mean, I know he’s had his issues, but murder?”
“I don’t know what I think. I’m playing catch-up, remember?”
“Caren, you’re not going to do anything rash, are you?”
“Like what? Like call the police and tell them about the burglaries? Or about Jo and Daniel drugging me?”
“Or confront the Allards yourself. If Van was involved in that girl’s death, it could be dangerous.”
“I’m tempted to confront them. I mean, they drugged me at their party. You think they should be able to get away with that?”
She sighs. “No, that’s not it. I really wish you hadn’t gotten caught up in this, Caren, I truly do. But please, please think about your next move. Because I know you’re angry at me, at Yumi, at everyone. But there are kids here whose futures are in your hands.”
“I’m not trying to get our kids in trouble. I don’t want that.”
She shakes her head. “I know. I know you think this is just about the police. But it’s more than that. We’re talking about their college careers. Caren, you need to talk to Miguel. I really don’t want this coming from me.”
“Want what coming from you?”
“Noah and Rachel. You could say we made a deal with the devil. But if we break our end, we will have to answer to that devil.”
“What deal and what devil, Kenya?”
“The deal we made with the Allards,” Kenya says. “You know Yumi works for a college consultant, right?”
“Sure. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Ask Miguel. Ask Miguel to tell you about Crimson Edge.”