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I’m too late to warn her.
For the longest moment, we stand there on her steps.
Her body trembles from her tears and I’m acutely aware of the fact that her husband must be inside somewhere. Every so often, the sounds of movement on the other side of the door draw my attention, but I can’t find it in me to guide her away.
If he tries to make a spectacle, then so be it.
I’m here for Lily. No one else.
She’swhat matters.
And I’m willing to go to bat over it.
So, I hold her, listening to her breathing surrounded by the ambient sounds of leaf blowers and lawnmowers in the neighborhood. The lingering scent of clipped grass hangs heavy in the air.
I don’t know what she’s thinking. What she’s feeling.
What was said …
“Lily,” I finally whisper, drawing away enough to see her face.
The rims of her eyes are red and the tears cling to her long lashes as she pulls back slightly.
“Are you okay?” I murmur, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Stupid question. But it has to be asked.
Her lips press into a thin line and she shakes her head.
I glance over my shoulder. There’s still an hour or so of daylight.
“Wanna get out of here? Go for a walk?” I suggest, tipping my head toward the street.
She inhales sharply like she’s shocked at my words. Again, instead of speaking, her lips twist slightly and she nods.
“Okay, let’s go,” I offer, taking a step back, and allowing her to take the lead.
Her silence is unnerving. I wish I knew what happened—what’s going on.
Did Seth tell her he quit his job? Did they fight over it?
I wish Quinn had been given that little tidbit from his cousin sooner. Or that he’d come tomesooner, rather than spending the afternoon trying to get in touch with Lily. She’d clearly been ignoring her phone all afternoon.
Maybe I could have driven over here and warned her before …
When we hit the sidewalk, I take her hand and steer us to the left, walking slowly toward Lester Park. I’m not as familiar with these streets as I used to be. But as kids, Lily and I would ride bikes all over town. Lester Park was one of the places we loved to go because there’s so much to do there.
There’s a perfect spot to lie on the ground and stare at the stars—a favorite pastime of ours in the fall, when nighttime came earlier.
The peaceful sounds of water rushing over stones, thanks to the Amity Creek and Lester River cradling the park, are just what Lily needs to relax.
I’ve even found myself there once or twice since I moved back, not even realizing how close I was to Lily’s home. Had she visited the park, we could have bumped into each other.
It’s almost as if I knew on a subconscious level where to find her. As corny as that sounds.
It doesn’t take us long to enter the park. She still hasn’t said a word and that’s weighing on me more than anything else.
I need to know what happened. How can I help her if I don’t?
