think once I get Jeremy up and dressed I’ll go back to my apartment.’
‘I’m sure you could use a break,’ said Vivian.
‘No that so much as I want to give you folks a little extra space. And time to get to know Jeremy. He’s a wonderful kid.’
‘He goes to preschool, doesn’t he?’ Vivian asked.
‘Yes. His teacher is an old friend of your family’s – Darcie Fallon?’
‘My goodness. Little Darcie is teaching school? She was an adorable child. Always following Rob around like he was her big brother.’
‘Well, she’s very devoted . . . to both of them. Rob and Jeremy. If you need anything, I know you can rely on her,’ Shelby said.
‘That’s good to know. We’ll all have to pitch in to help Rob now. Jeremy will need all the love and support he can get. Especially from his grandparents,’ said Vivian pointedly.
‘I’m always here for him,’ said Shelby, her voice shaking a little.
Vivian reached out and grabbed Shelby’s hand with her own. ‘I know you are,’ she said.
Shelby was only able to return to her apartment by promising Jeremy that she would see him the very next day. He was uncertain about these strange new grandparents until Vivian assured him that they were going to pick up his dad at the hospital and bring him home. He immediately forgot Shelby’s departure in the excitement over his father’s return home. Shelby felt incredibly grateful to Vivian and Hugh for the kind, low-key way that they handled their grandson. She knew she was leaving him in loving hands, even if it was only for a little while.
Shelby was running a load of laundry in her kitchen and putting together a simple supper for herself when the phone rang. To her complete amazement, it was her sister, Talia, sounding almost cheerful.
‘I’m surprised to hear from you,’ Shelby said. ‘I thought maybe you weren’t speaking to me.’
‘Why wouldn’t I be speaking to you?’ said Talia.
‘Never mind,’ said Shelby.
‘I’m calling because I thought you might want to know, since you were accusing him yesterday.’
‘Who are you talking about?’ Shelby asked. Her sister had never called her to discuss someone other than their mother or Glen.
‘Faith’s father,’ said Talia, and Shelby could hear the satisfaction in her voice. Far from being angry at Shelby, she was proud to have this information to offer her sister. ‘He killed himself last night.’
Shelby’s knees went weak. ‘What?’
‘Yeah. Faith called to say she wasn’t coming in. Apparently, he hanged himself.’
‘Oh my God,’ said Shelby, recoiling from the mental image.
‘Faith said he had a terminal illness,’ said Talia offhandedly. ‘Probably wanted to avoid the slow decline.’
Shelby’s mind whirred. She thought about her confrontation with Bud Ridley and felt a nagging sense of culpability. Had her threats sent him over the edge? No, she thought. If she had been wrong about his part in Chloe’s death, it wouldn’t have affected him at all. It was because she was right that he had taken this drastic step. His actions actually confirmed her suspicions. She was certain now that someone had hired him – it just wasn’t Talia.
‘Did you hear me?’ said Talia.
‘I heard you,’ said Shelby.
‘I couldn’t tell. You didn’t say anything.’
‘I’m thinking,’ said Shelby. Bud’s suicide seemed to say, louder than words, that she had confronted him with at least part of the truth. But Shelby had to know if Bud had admitted to anything before he died. Left a note. Something to implicate the person who had engaged him.
‘What is there to think about?’ asked Talia.
‘I’m just wondering . . .’ Shelby realized that she needed to see Faith or Peggy. To question them. But their hour of shock and grief was no time to start making accusations against their dead father and husband.
‘Wondering what?’
‘Are there services? Or a wake?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Talia impatiently.
‘If there’s a wake, you should really go and pay your respects,’ said Shelby slowly.
‘Why?’ said Talia. ‘I said I was sorry. That’s enough.’
Sometimes Shelby wondered how her sister managed to function in the world. The conventions of life had no meaning for her. ‘Talia. Come on. You work with her every day. It’s the least you can do. You’d expect Faith to show up if the tables were turned. If it were mother.’
‘Mother would never kill herself,’ Talia said indignantly.
‘I meant, if she were to die. That’s how people show that they care about you – by showing up.’
‘I don’t care about Faith that way,’ she insisted.
That’s probably true, Shelby thought. She heard no