ʺIʹm going all the way under,ʺ he said.
ʺWhen youʹre ready—ʺ
ʺI can handle this!ʺ he told her, and Ivy took a step back. His voice lightened.
ʺCount for me, okay? See how long I can stay under.ʺ He quickly dropped below the pondʹs surface.
Ivy counted aloud, ʺOne thousand one, one thousand two,ʺ then saw his back convulse and yanked him upward with all her strength. He had swallowed water and was choking — panicking again.
ʺYouʹre okay, youʹre okay,ʺ she told him. He leaned over, holding his stomach.
He couldnʹt stop shaking. ʺYouʹre okay, Guy.ʺ He turned away from her, as if ashamed. She put her arms around him from behind and wouldnʹt let go until he stopped trembling.
ʺIt’s. . the darkness,ʺ he said. “Being in the darkness.ʺ
ʺI should have thought about that,ʺ she replied. ʺWhen Tristan taught me to swim, we were in a clear, well‐lit pool.ʺ Guy turned toward her. ʺTristan, the guy who died — taught you to swim?ʺ ʺYes. He loved water.ʺ ʺAnd you were afraid of it,ʺ Guy said. ʺTerrified.ʺ Guy reached for Ivy, pulling her to him, holding her roughly, awkwardly in his arms. She could feel his heart pounding against her.
He buried his face in her hair. ʺI will never forget you. Ivy,” he whispered. ʺIf ever I forget you, there will be nothing but darkness left for me.ʺ
BETH AND DHANYA ARRIVED HOME THAT NIGHT before Ivy. She found Dhanya reading, curled in a living room chair, and Beth on the sofa, hunched over the puzzle. ʺHi,ʺ Ivy said. ʺHow was the movie?ʺ
ʺGood,ʺ Dhanya replied. Beth didnʹt respond, and both girls, looking up, eyed Ivyʹs damp clothes and hair, not missing a detail. ʺYou were with him, werenʹt you,ʺ Beth said, making it sound like an accusation rather than a question.
ʺI was with Guy. Please use his name.ʺ
ʺBut thatʹs not his name,ʺ Beth pointed out. ʺIt’s his name for now!ʺ Ivy replied, and continued on to the kitchen, where she grabbed a handful of cookies and headed upstairs.
That night, Ivy tossed and turned. Well after the others were asleep, she kicked away her sheets and sat up. Her alarm clock read 2:43 a.m.
She and Beth had tied up the curtain on the window between their beds, but there wasnʹt a breeze on this unusually warm night. The moon, nearly full, made a bright patch across Bethʹs bed. Her sheets were on the floor, her face bathed in perspiration, but she slept soundly.
There is nothing harder than being around others and feeling isolated, Ivy thought. She dropped her feet over the side of the bed, debating whether to grab a beach towel and sit outside. Cht! Cht!
Ivyʹs head jerked to the left. Something had struck the window — the glass above the screen.
She held still, staring at the window glass. Then, remembering Bethʹs dream, Ivy turned to her. Bethʹs eyes moved beneath her lids and her breath was quickshe was dreaming now.
Ivy moved closer to the window. She saw no one among the trees at their end of the house, but the bright moon threw sharp shadows; it would be easy for a person to hide there.
The cottage doors were rarely locked. Feeling slightly uneasy, Ivy pulled on her shorts and headed for the stairway.
Cht! Cht!
She spun around. At the same time Beth sat up. ʺIvy?ʺ
ʺYes.ʺ
ʺIvy?ʺ Beth cried out again, sounding frightened. Ivy hurried back to her. |Iʹm here.ʺ
ʺIt’s him. Heʹs shooting at the window!ʺ Ivy laid a hand on Bethʹs shoulder, ʺNo, no, itʹs not.ʺ She sat on the bed. ʺIt was probably something from the trees, seeds or whatever.ʺ
ʺIt’s him!ʺ Beth insisted, then saw that Ivy was wearing her shorts and shoes.
ʺDonʹt go outside.ʹʺ
ʺEverythingʹs okay. I was just going downstairs to check things.ʺ
ʺDonʹt! It’s him!ʺ Bethʹs eyes were wide with fear. Ivy put her arm around her friend. ʺYouʹve been dreaming, Beth.ʺ ʺAre the doors locked?ʺ
ʺIʹm going to check them now,ʺ Ivy replied, standing up. ʺNo, Ivy! Heʹll do anything to get you!ʺ
ʺBeth, listen to me. Youʹre getting this mixed up with your dream.ʺ
Cht! Cht!
They both turned to the window. ʹʹWhatʹs that?ʺ Dhanya asked, sitting up in bed.
She climbed out and tiptoed across the room to them.
ʺDonʹt go near the window,ʺ Beth told her. ʺHeʹll see you.ʺ
ʺWho will?ʺ Dhanya asked.
ʺDhanya!ʺ a male voice called. ʺMax!ʺ Dhanya and Ivy said at the same time.
ʺDid you hear? It’s just Max.” Ivy told Beth, feeling both relieved and annoyed.
Dhanya frowned. ʺWhy is he here? I donʹt want to talk to him.ʺ
ʺDhanya!ʺ Ivy went to the window, shoved up the screen, and leaned out. ʺGo home. Max.ʺ He emerged from the shadows. ʺIvy! How are ya?ʺ He sounded pleased to see her — and drunk. ʺIt’s late. Go home.ʺ
ʺI wanna talk to Dhanya,ʺ he said.
ʺShe doesnʹt want to talk to you. Not in the middle of the night.ʺ
ʺDhan‐ya!ʺ
ʺShhh!ʺ Ivy pulled back inside the window. ʺHeʹs going to wake the guests,ʺ she told Dhanya.
ʺTell that coyote to stop yelping/ʹ Kelsey called from her bed. ʺI need my beauty sleep!ʺ
ʺI wonʹt speak to him,ʺ Dhanya said to Ivy. ʺI havenʹt yet decided if I like him.ʺ
She started back to bed. ʺIʹm sorry.” Ivy said, ʺbut if Max wakes the guests or Aunt Cindy, weʹre all in trouble. Youʹre coming outside with me. Youʹre talking to him and sending him off.ʺ
ʺYou go, girl!ʺ Kelsey cried, then flopped back on her bed.
Beth shook her head, holding her pillow to her chest, as if it were protection.
Dhanya reluctantly put on a robe and shoes, then followed Ivy downstairs.
When Max saw them marching toward him, he stood up, and just as quickly, sank back against a tree. Ivy sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was drive to Morris Island in the middle of the night, but she couldnʹt let him drive himself if he wasnʹt sober.
ʺDhanya! Youʹre breakinʹ my heart!ʺ Dhanya rolled her eyes. ʺHowʹd you get here?ʺ Ivy asked him. He pointed unsteadily toward the innʹs lot. ʺBryne.ʺ
Ivy struggled to understand. ʺBryan? Heʹs here? Whereʹs your keys?ʺ
ʺBryne,ʺ Max said again. Ivy turned to Dhanya. ʺTalk to him and keep your voices low. Iʹll check the lot.ʺ The yellow Ferrari sat in the middle of the lot, Bryan in its driverʹs seat, plugged into his iPod. His eyes were shut.
Ivy called his name several times, then shook him lightly. Startled out of his sleep, he swung his whole body toward her, fist raised. ʺHey! Hey, itʹs me.ʺ
ʺIvy!ʺ he said, surprised, and dropped his arm. ʺHave you been drinking?ʺ He pulled out his cell phone to check the time. ʺNot for two hours.ʺ He sounded clearheaded.
ʺWould you mind getting out of the car?ʺ she asked. He laughed. ʺWant me to walk a line, officer?ʺ
“Yup.”
He complied, grinning.
ʺListen,ʺ Ivy said, ʺyour buddy isnʹt scoring any points with Dhanya. Take Max home… quietly.”
Bryan nodded. ʺUnderstood. I apologize.ʺ He retrieved Max, who, after pimply talking with Dhanya, seemed to be a happier camper.
Ivy and Dhanya wearily entered the cottage, and after a momentʹs thought, Ivy locked both the front and back door. When she climbed into bed, Beth was lying with her eyes closed, the sheet pulled up to her chin. Resting on the pillow, close to her face, the amethyst glittered in the moonlight. j§. I ʺGood night,ʺ Ivy said softly. ʺEverythingʹs okay now.ʺ
ʺDonʹt be fooled,ʺ Beth replied. ʺHeʹs making plans. He wants revenge.ʺ
FRIDAY MORNING, BETH AND IVY WERE ASSIGNED TO the garden to weed and deadhead. While Ivy pried at stubborn roots, Beth silently worked her way down the rows of faded blossoms — snip, snip, snip. She had spoken little since the morning alarm went off, bringing each conversation Ivy had begun to a quick close with a one‐word answer.