“They keep showing pictures of us,” Sam said. “Me, Mom, and Dad. Mostly Mom. Where did they even get those pictures?”
“Not from me,” Kate said.
“Some rancid so-called friend probably sold them. Now, look, here comes the body bag again. That’s the other thing they keep running, the medical examiners carrying her out of the house.”
“Why are you watching that?”
“Because I want to know and seeeverythingthat happened to her,” Sam said.
Kate tried to grab the remote, but Sam held it out of reach. At least she’d muted the sound. Kate poured two cups of tea. Sam was sixteen, long legged, and beautiful, a brilliant student getting ready to look at colleges. But right then, curled up on the sofa, she seemed like a tiny girl. Her lower lip wobbled, but she didn’t cry. She had always been stoic. Kate took her bike riding one time when she was six. She skidded on sand and fell off, scraping her elbows.I’m brave,Sam had said.Shake it off, don’t cry.And she hadn’t until they’d returned home, and the minute she had seen Beth, she’d thrown herself into her arms, sobbing. Only with her mother could she let her feelings out.
Kate’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. The state police had flown Pete back to Connecticut from the Vineyard, and he had just been to the morgue. Now he wanted to pick up Sam.
“It’s your dad,” she said, showing her the message.
“I just want to stay here,” Sam said. “I can’t talk to him yet.”
Kate stared at her niece. She could think of many reasons why Sam might be mad at her father; she just wasn’t sure how much Sam knew about the issues between him and Beth.
“Can you tell me why?” Kate asked.
“It’s too hard,” Sam said.
“I know, honey. We’re all so sad. But he’s your dad. You need to see each other.”
“Not yet,” Sam said.
“Sam, you’re each other’s family.”
“Stop!” Sam said, her voice rising.
“Listen, Sam. You need each other.”
“You’re the one who’s not listening. I don’t want to talk about it anymore!”
Kate felt shocked by Sam’s fury.
“Okay,” she said, trying to sound calm.
Sam took a deep breath. She gave Kate a quick glance.
“Thanks,” Sam said, holding Kate’s gaze for a few seconds. Kate felt her wanting to say more, but then Sam looked away.
“There’s one thing we can’t put off,” Kate said. “The detective wants to talk to you too. I spoke to him on the phone, and he’s coming over.”
“I am not ready to talk to anyone,” Sam said.
“I know the feeling,” Kate said. It was 8:00 p.m., barely twelve hours since she had found Beth.
“So don’t let him in.”
“Sam, he has to interview us,” Kate said. “It’s important.”
“Nothing’s important anymore,” Sam said. “Not without Mom.”
Kate closed her eyes. How would a world without Beth make sense for either of them?
“I could have stopped it,” Sam whispered.
