Page 111 of The Quiet After The Fall

We walk out to our cars, side by side, Gia slurping on her milkshake, talking about how much work I need to catch up on in Irene’s class. Once we reach her car, she turns to me. “So, all this is going down in a few days. You okay?”

Not really.

“Yeah,” I say, looking past her into the woods across the street. “It’ll be hard, but it’s a good plan.”

“Maybe I love the drama or maybe I’m just a sap, but I’m pretty sure that psycho would do anything for you. He’s obsessed.” She gestures with her milkshake. “It’ll be okay. And if not, we can burn down his house.”

Gia smirks looking like she should be sporting devil horns. I laugh and shake my head. “Thanks for everything.”

“Of course. Like I said, I love drama, and I’m missing home. Happy to play along with any other crazy shit you need.”

“Guess I’ll see you in a few days.”

She salutes with her milkshake, and shifts her car into reverse. “Bye!”

I sit in my own car afterward, staring out the window, not quite ready to drive. Everything Gia told me mixed with what I already know has my hands starting to shake.

It’ll be okay. It has to be. After what we’ve gone through, this is nothing.

Maybe if I say it enough, I’ll believe it.

Chapter 30

Sawyer

The tent is in the same spot it was for Owen’s funeral. I don’t know why, but that detail fucks me up the most. Not their names in calligraphy on the welcome sign. Not the string quartet filling the air with sweet sounding notes. Not the guests chitchatting, holding champagne flutes.

The fucking tent with its white peak raising toward the blue sky, sitting on the same stretch of Aldrich lawn where I watched a bunch of strangers eat hors d’oeuvres a few months ago after burying one of the most important people in my life.

The same tent where Knox claimed me in front of his family, the town, even his own fiancée.

“You okay?” Gia asks, next to me. She’s scanning the property like she’s casing the place.

I guess she is…in a way. I gave her a description of Richard and Moretti and told her to let me know if she sees them. They can’t know I’m here.

“Fantastic,” I lie, looping my arm through hers. Thank God she’s here with me, I’m grateful for the anchor. I may be used to holding my head high in these circles, but it’s never easy on a normal day, let alone what I’m about to go through.

We start toward the chairs and I try to keep my eyes forward. The less I take in, the less I’ll replay later. Of course, my efforts fail the second I see the gorgeous arch covered in greenery and pastel roses.

Someone in a suit hands us a program and Gia pulls him to the side. “Hey, I’m the substitute officiant, first guy got food poisoning. Any idea where I should be?”

The guy starts chatting with her, leaving me alone, staring at the program.

Knox and Ella are written in script with the date and artistic flourishes surrounding the lettering.

Blood rushes to my ears, and I crumple it up, shoving it in my purse. I try to ground myself, glancing around at things I can see.

Men in expensive suits, women in colored chiffon. Servers wearing black and white. Florals and greenery. A water feature somewhere off to the side.

There’s less people than I expected, though. Owen’s services had a bigger turnout. I guess that’s to be expected since he was so adored.

I spot Richard up front, shaking hands with a man who looks to be about eighty. He’s smiling like everything is right in the world. Like he’s getting exactly what he wanted. Too bad I can’t storm over to him right now and wipe that smile off his face.

Knowing it’s coming soon enough helps to ease the aching pit in my gut.

I move so a couple chatting blocks me from view.

Gia reappears a second later, holding her phone. “I’ve got to head out and get ready to do my thing.”