What the heck?
“Congratulations, chérie,” Mrs. Girard said, handing me my diploma with a smile. How easily she slipped into the role of cheerful headmistress, I realized, taking the leather case and tucking it beneath my arm as I made my way back to my seat.
The procession continued on—Joshua, then Marissa a few minutes later. I clapped for them all, trying not to notice the empty spot between the R ’s and the T ’s where Kate Spencer should have been. Finally, they called out Amy Zuckerman’s name, and then the microphone fell silent.
The chapel’s pipe organ began to play the alma mater, and at last we tossed our caps into the air with a flourish. And then it was over. High school was done, a chapter in my life complete.
Aidan found me even before I’d made my way out into the crowded aisle. “I didn’t think Patsy was coming,” he said, taking my hand.
“I didn’t either.” I shook my head, feeling a little dazed as I followed him out of the chapel and onto the lawn, where a brightly lit reception tent had been set up. The trees surrounding the lawn were strung with twinkle lights, and paper lanterns lit the path. The sky was clear, the air surprisingly balmy for early June in the Hudson Valley—a perfect night to celebrate under the stars.
“There she is!” came Patsy’s voice, just behind me. I turned to find her there, smiling broadly. “Look at you,” she said, wrapping me in a hug. “You look so grown up. Your father would be so proud of you right now.”
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I said. “You said you weren’t coming.”
“I wasn’t sure we could make it, and I didn’t want you to be disappointed. And then when I found out we could come . . . well, I wanted to surprise you.” She held up her left hand, wiggling her fingers dramatically.
Immediately I noticed the gold band on her ring finger. “What? When?”
“This past weekend. Nothing big, just at City Hall. We’ll have a reception once we get to Sydney.”
“Wow,” was all I could manage.
“Congratulations,” Aidan said, mercifully stepping in and offering his hand. Patsy took it and then pulled him into an awkward hug. “It’s so good to see you. It’s been so long, hasn’t it? Oh, Paul, this is Aidan Gray. Aidan, this is my husband, Paul Layton. My second husband. Current.” She was babbling incoherently now, obviously caught in the web of the Aidan Effect.
“Why don’t we go get something to eat?” I asked, trying to distract her. “I think they’re serving dessert.”
“Sounds good,” Paul said. “Lead on.”
Minutes later, we got our plates of cookies and assorted pastries and found a table, while Paul went off to fetch drinks.
Before I sat, I unzipped my lavender graduation gown and stepped out of it, revealing the simple white sundress I wore beneath. Aidan had already removed his own gown—silver for boys—and wore rumpled khakis and a plain white button-down shirt with a deep violet-colored tie.
“Don’t know how to work an iron, I see,” I quipped, reaching over to straighten his tie.
“Who has an iron at boarding school?” he asked with a chuckle, leaning down to kiss the tip of my nose.
I wasn’t going to admit that I did—it was just one of my many neuroses. Cece always teased me about it, especially the time she caught me ironing a stack of underwear.
“You’re not having anything, Aidan?” Patsy asked as soon as we sat, noticing the blank spot where his plate should be.
“No, I’m not hungry. Big dinner,” he lied, patting his stomach.
I reached across the table for a napkin, and Patsy laid a hand on my wrist, trapping my hand against the table. “Wait, what’s this new ring you’re wearing?” She glanced from me to Aidan and back to me again. “Is there something the two of you need to tell me?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s just a gift. You know, like a . . . umm . . .”
Help me out here, I pleaded telepathically.
“I think they call it a promise ring,” Aidan supplied.
Thank you.
“It’s pretty,” Patsy said, lifting my hand to examine it more closely. “It looks like an antique—a really precious piece, actually.”
I gave Aidan a desperate look.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Yeah, I found it at one of those antique stores. You know, the junky kind. I thought it suited her.”
“Well, you have a good eye. I bet some poor soul had to pawn it for cash and the store didn’t quite realize what they had. I think that happens a lot these days.”
“Yeah, probably,” I murmured. “Oh, look, here comes Paul with the drinks.” Thank God.
Just as he slid back into his seat, Mrs. Girard appeared at our table. “Mr. Gray, if you don’t mind, I need a quick word with you.”
Just like that, his eyes seemed to shift from blue to a stormy gray, his mouth set in a hard line. “Of course. If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
I watched him go, my mouth suddenly dry. I reached for the iced tea Paul had set in front of me, nearly draining the glass in a single gulp.
“Wasn’t that the headmistress?” Patsy asked.
I just nodded, a knot of fear forming in the pit of my stomach.
“You don’t think he’s in trouble or anything, do you?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said, forcing myself to smile brightly. “Go on, eat. You don’t have to wait.”
As Patsy bit into a pastry, I watched Aidan follow Mrs. Girard to the edge of the lawn, right to the spot where I’d slain Julius, I realized with a shudder. Luc joined them, his dark hair gleaming under the bright moonlight.
I couldn’t make out what they were saying—they were much too far away for that. They gave away nothing with their body language either. All three stood stock still while they talked, their bodies rigid. My anxiety soared with each passing minute, and I found myself looking around for Matthew.
He was nowhere to be seen.
Luckily, Patsy and Paul had lapsed back into conversation while they ate, oblivious to my growing discomfort. I decided to give it another minute or two, and then I was going to have to go find Matthew. I wasn’t quite sure why, but something about this felt off, and I didn’t even have my stake with me.
“So, are y’all staying in Tarrytown tonight?” I asked Patsy, mostly to distract myself.
She shook her head. “No. I wish we could, but we’ve just got so much to do to get ready for the move, right, Paul?”
He just nodded.
“Actually”—she glanced down at her watch, the one my father had given her so many years ago—“as soon as we’re done eating, we should probably head back. I hope you don’t mind.”
A wave of relief washed over me. “No. It’s fine. I’ve still got a lot of packing and people to say good-bye to.”
“Do you want me to send a car for you on Sunday?”
“No. I’m pretty sure Aidan’s already ordered a car,” I said, drumming my fingers on the table. Truthfully, I had no idea if he had or not. But now I would make sure that he did. Or maybe Matthew could give us a ride. It didn’t matter—we’d figure it out later.
“Hey,” came Aidan’s voice behind me, nearly making me jump out of my skin. He moved to stand behind me, both hands resting on my shoulders as he leaned down toward my ear. “Can I talk to you for a second? It’s nothing,” he directed at Patsy and Paul. “I’ll bring her right back. I promise.”
They nodded in unison, looking a little woozy. Clearly, Aidan had used one of his mind manipulation tricks on them.
Without another word, I rose and followed him back inside the empty chapel.