Page 28 of Spindrift

Emiliawaited.

“Hannah’sseeing someone else.”

Thewords stole her breath. She’d been expecting them, but that didn’t make themany easier to hear. “Anyone I know?”

“Thatfriend of hers I never liked.”

“Skylar.”

“Yeah.”

Shefaked a shaky laugh. “Well, that figures.”

“Youwere too good for her anyway, Emmy.”

“Ifyou say so.”

“Ido say so.”

“Isthat April or Ruby screaming?”

“Howwould I know?”

“You’retheir mother?”

“I’mtheir hostage. I didn’t know it was possible to love something that drives youthis crazy. Don’t bite your sister!”

“Gosave your children from each other.”

“Ithink I have to. Call me if you need me, and try not to think about Hannah.”

“Iwon’t,” Emilia lied. Quiet settled over her again, made more pronounced by theabsence of her nieces’ screams.

She’dmanaged to come to terms with her breakup with Hannah. Her depressive spiraland subsequent hospitalization, on top of her father’s death, had been too muchfor her ex. Hannah didn’t tolerate extended emotional duress well, and Emiliahad been too lost to care when Hannah broke things off. The hurt came later,but by then it was just one more hurt, like a broken limb when her organs wereall on fire.

Knowingthat Hannah had found solace with Skylar was different. Skylar, with herperfect teeth and Hollywood complexion, who always stood a little too close toHannah when Emilia left her side. Hannah had sworn she had no feelings for theother woman. Maybe she hadn’t. Maybe Skylar had been there for Hannah whenEmilia fell apart, or maybe—and she couldn’t help focusing on this lastpossibility—Skylar had been there all along. She pressed her fingers againsther temples and told herself she didn’t care. She didn’t want Hannah anymore.Let Skylar deal with her uncompromising opinions and her anal retentiveness.

Herphone buzzed again. She moved to shove it far away from her, not wanting anymore bad news, and then saw the name on the screen: Morgan. The textnotification cast its harsh glow over her arm.

MD:16 Bay Road. White farmhouse. 6 PM Sunday. You really don’t need to bringanything.

Herheart ached a little less at the words.

ER:Not even your shop vac?

Thebouncing dots that indicated Morgan was typing further suppressed her darkmood.

MD:Keep it for now. Might be more rabid dust bunnies.

Shouldshe respond?

Shehesitated, then typed: Do dust lagomorphs transmit rabies?

Shedeleted the text. Lagomorphs was a vet word, and she wasn’t ready to tellMorgan about that part of her life. Not that she’d be able to avoid it muchlonger without lying. “What do you do for a living” was one of those questionsthat tended to come up between strangers, and this party would be full of them.

ER:These are more like dust bears.

MD:Do you need a chainsaw?

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