illegal. They were glad to be in on the secret, but also seemed relieved that whatever the secret was it meant they could keep the money they made through the years. I planned to offer them some of the art collection to keep them busy and out of trouble, but they’re super into going on cruises now. They have four planned, they aren’t going to be a problem.”
Quentin said, “I’m glad they were reasonable. It’s good to have them in on it, because there isn’t really a way to explain Magnus and Katie being gone this time.”
“Yeah, and...” She swung Isla to the right and then back to the left. “It got pretty dark though, they asked if they would need to take custody of the children.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, I told them no, that Katie and Magnus would be back any day now, and that I would be responsible for the kids. They seemed convinced, but I hated having that conversation.”
I said, “Well that’s because it was a stupid thing for them to say, ridiculous. No one needs to talk about custody because they’re coming home, any day now. So they didn’t come to Thanksgiving, they’ll be here by Christmas, they’re not going to not come home.” I huffed. “And I don’t want to talk about it anymore, they’re coming home.”
Sixty-six - Hayley
Fraoch met me in the woods. I had one bag and a cooler. The cooler contained turkey leftovers, mayo and bread for turkey sandwiches for me and Fraoch. More coffee. More mocktails in jars. More chai. If I was going to go back and forth wrecking my body with time jumps and stress, I was going to build up my drink supply.
I shook my head in reply to his unasked question.
Then I said, “It feels like it’s all my fault.”
I returned to Florida week after week. I checked in at work. I ate meals with the gang. We watched tv. We barely talked, there was too much to say.
Mom was off in the RV with her boyfriend, and when I talked to her on the phone she sounded drunk. Dad was at his apartment, his new wife keeping him busy. I felt so lonely. And when I looked at Katie’s babies I felt even more lonely. Like they deserved her. Their grief was what mattered. We needed to be strong for them. And we were supposed to be grown-ups.
But my best friend was gone and I missed her so much and I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it.
Except Fraoch. First chance I returned home.
As I talked it over, curled up on his chest, the more I thought about it — Christmas. They would come back at Christmas and what a holiday that would be. I explained it all to Fraoch. “The holiday is a mega-holiday, so many presents. It’s really Kaitlyn’s favorite time of year, so yeah, she won’t miss it. Not at all. That’s what I’ll do, go to the day before Christmas, and that way I’ll be there when she arrives.”
His voice rumbled above my head. “When would ye leave again? Ye are only just returned...”
I raised my head and rested my chin on his chest. “I know, I’m sorry. I just can’t relax without knowing. When I close my eyes all I can see is Isla crying for her mom and it’s tearing me apart. Archie screams and cries whenever anyone leaves, clings to them like they’re abandoning him. If Emma goes to the store he screams and cries the whole time. She can’t go. It’s too tragic.”
“Och.”
“I know. The only person he doesn’t care when they go is me, because I try not to talk to him at all. It’s just too hard. I can’t talk to him without crying and you know what? I blame his mother, and that makes me a terrible awful guilty person, because she’s dead. She died. Then Katie disappeared! This little sweet boy, who Katie loves desperately, is all alone. His fucking mother is to blame. I hate her so much, even though she is dead, and I should be able to put that hate away, but I can’t.”
“Och, ye need tae pray.”
“Ugh. I knew you would say something like that. What I’m telling you, Fraoch, is that I’m sad because terrible things have happened to Katie. I don’t know why I have to go to church over it. It’s not going to help, I—”
“Twill help ye calm down. Twill help ye gain control of yer mind, ye