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“Talking to her or not talking to her ismydecision. Not yours,” Lenna was saying.
The rain pelted Sadie’s forehead, blurring her vision. She was starting to shiver, but she didn’t dare leave her spot to go back inside. It was probably time to intervene. Despite all that they had been through, Sadie felt protective of Gillian.
Sadie squared her shoulders, ready to step forward.
But then Lenna said, “Get her to unblock me…or I’ll tell Sadie.”
Sadie froze at the sound of her own name.
Gillian looked amused. “Tell Sadiewhat?”
“How you werehappywhen her IVF failed.”
Something got caught in Sadie’s throat. The world went still.
“And…and that thing you said about the meds, too. About something beingwrongwith them. Oh God, you tampered with her medicine, didn’t you?Youmade that treatment fail.”
“Of course not!” Gillian cried.
But Sadie’s knees buckled. She pictured those vials of medicine she’d kept in the fridge. Pulling them out every day, inserting a new needle into the top, drawing out the proper amount, injecting them into her abdomen. Sometimes leaving the tops off. Sometimes tending to other things before she put them away. She stored them in the fridge, in plain view, next to Gillian’s oat milk.
Then Gillian grabbed Lenna’s phone. A moment later—Sadie couldn’t see quite how—it was flying through the air into the canyon. A beat of silent horror stretched long. It was anticlimactic, actually—no sounds of plastic hitting rocks because of the splattering rain.
“Fuck!” Lenna said, rushing to the railing. “Gillian, what the hell?”
Gillian grabbed her shirt, hard. Lenna jerked backward and rounded on Gillian, an accusing look on her face. Gillian blubbered that she was trying tosaveLenna, not hurt her, but from where Sadie was standing, she wasn’t so sure. Especially because right after that, Gillian grabbed Lenna around the waist and pushed her toward the edge again. Sadie clapped her hand over her mouth as Lenna’s feet slid on the wet ground. Lenna tried to fight back, but Gillian had a good grip on her. Her hands circled Lenna’s neck.
Because of this secret?Sadie thought with horror. So itwastrue?
Suddenly, she didn’t want to just stand there anymore.
At her feet was a thick, heavy branch that had fallen from the storm. She grabbed it with both hands and stepped forward, straining under its weight, and she raised the branch over her head. Lenna didn’t even have time to turn around before Sadie clocked her on the temple—hard, but notthathard. Just enough to keep her quiet for a little while.
The tall woman crumpled easily, falling almost gracefully to the ground. When Sadie looked up, Gillian was gaping at her, blinking stupidly through the rain.
“Sadie?”Her gaze shifted to Lenna and then back. “Thank God you’re here. She’s…she’s unhinged. She justranfor me. Thank you for saving me from her.”
“I can’t believe you,” Sadie whispered. “You know how much I wanted a baby.”
She stepped forward, still holding the heavy branch. Gillian blinked hard. “Wait. Hold on. I didn’t do that. Don’t believe her.”
“You’re lying about everything. Who you are. Yourjob.You’re really going to makemefeel crazy for doubting you now?”
Gillian pinched a spot between her eyes. It took a while for her to speak. “What does it matter? I know you, Sadie, you can’t have a baby with your life right now. People try, but something gives.”
Sadie was stunned. “So youdidtamper with my meds?”
Gillian shrugged. “It probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. What is it they say? Fifty percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage.”
It was the most asinine thing Sadie had ever heard. The worst part was that Gillian looked soearnest,like she actually believed what she was saying—that she was being helpful.
“Whoareyou, even?” Sadie hissed. “I want you out of my house. Now.”
“I know.” Gillian didn’t miss a beat. “But you’d better watch it. I’ll tell everyone you just clubbed an innocent woman with a tree branch.” She pointed at Sadie. “You’ll lose your license. Maybe even lose the right to have a child.”
Sadie’s chest burned with fury. “You wouldn’t.”
Gillian put her hands on her hips. “You know, it’s clear we were never friends. I know I’m just your pity case. Just someone to fill the void because you’re so fucking unlovable. Isn’t that what that date said to you that time?” Her smile was teasing.
