Juliette purses her lips, and Celeste can picture it already, Juliette going back to her cronies, with news that the Gearys give their seventeen-year-old wine. That’s why she’s “bratty” and bunking off school. Celeste’s still not sure how she feels about the bunking-off. Nika has always been a model student. Her teachers love her, she gets top grades, she’s on the Senior A hockey team. Celeste hasn’t admitted it to anyone, not even to Nika, but she’s surprised and disappointed that her daughter was skipping school, and maybe even more so that she hadn’t known about it until Susan O’Donnell sent the message. In a perfect world, she’d rather not have everyone in South Dublin finding out at the same time she did, but it was hardly the crime of the century. That Nika was bunking off to meet a boy didn’t track well, but again, not something to get too upset about. Celeste hadn’t known Nika was seeing anyone, though she doesn’t like to admit that either. Nika usually confides in her—she’d told her about the first sip of vodka at her first party, about trying vaping, about her first kiss—not the kind of thing Celeste would ever have told her own mother back when she was a teen. So she was surprised she’d not been told about this boy and, to be honest, a little hurt. But Nika would give her more details in due course, no doubt. So far, since the message went around on Wednesday, Nika hadn’t given much away at all, though Celeste had noticed shadows under her eyes and a bid to be on her own a little more than usual. Is Nika worried about the message, or could there be something else wrong? She’ll try to grab a few minutes with her once the Sullivans have left, make sure she’s OK. And to find out more about this new boyfriend.
Juliette, too, is trying to find out more about this new boyfriend, Celeste realizes, as she tunes back into the conversation.
“So, any suitors on the scene?” Juliette asks with a tinkly laugh. Like she hasn’t pored over Susan O’Donnell’s message all week. Like she hasn’t discussed it at length with her pals.
Nika smiles. “My dad always said no dating till I turn thirty, so I’ll stick to that.” She winks to show she’s joking, but successfully avoids answering. Celeste mentally high-fives her daughter. Celeste would never actually high-five anyone, the idea is hysterical, but in that moment, she’s proud of Nika’s manners and control. More like her mother than everyone realizes.
Juliette’s not going to let it go, though. “Oh, come on, a pretty girl like you—you must be fighting them off! All the boys—the single ones and the taken ones, I’ll bet.”
Nika laughs, but now it sounds forced, if only to Celeste’s ears. Celeste glances at Juliette, eyes narrowed. There’s something pointed in the way she said it. Celeste has the sense she’s missing something, and that, whatever it is, she needs to get ahead of it before Juliette.
“Nika, your grandmother called earlier and missed you. Would you mind giving her a call back before it gets too late?”
Warren glances up, looking surprised, aware that neither grandmother ever calls.
Nika nods. “Sure thing. Nice to see you,” she says to the Sullivans, and slips out of the room.
“What perfect manners,” Juliette says when the door closes. “Boys and girls are so different, aren’t they?” Celeste feels a flush at the nape of her neck. She can criticize Cody—in her head, to his face, to Warren—but Juliette should know better.
Juliette is still talking. “Has she been OK, since the you-know-what?”
Celeste goes for feigned ignorance. “Hm?”
“The airing-of-dirty-laundry situation,” Juliette clarifies, her face full of concern.
Warren gets up to start clearing plates.
“She’s fine. It’s obviously not a big deal.”
“Well, except to Ariana.” Juliette grimaces.
“Ariana?” Celeste is confused. Ariana is Nika’s long-time friend, although “frenemy” might be a better word. Ariana is the alpha of the group, the ringleader.
Juliette makes a perfect O with her mouth. “Do you not know?”
The heat at the back of Celeste’s neck creeps around to her throat. Warren keeps clearing plates, then disappears through the dining-room door.
“The boy Nika was seeing—Zach—he’s Ariana’s boyfriend. Gosh, I’m probably telling tales out of school now, I shouldn’t really…” Juliette touches her lips, miming regret.
Celeste’s face burns. “Oh. You know. Kids. They’ll get over it.” She attempts to wave it away.
Warren is back, seated again, reaching for wine.
“I don’t know…” Juliette’s brow crinkles delicately. “Ariana was with him for a while. You know how important relationships are at that age.” She laughs and waves around the room. “Well, at any age, of course.”
Warren splutters, choking on his wine. Celeste would like to slap him.
“Anyway,” Juliette continues, “now that the secret is out, it’s jungle law, as you can imagine. All the other pals in the group are rallying around Ariana. Nika’s a little out in the cold.” Juliette reaches across and touches Celeste’s arm. “That won’t be easy.”
A shiver runs down Celeste’s back at that. There’s something so ominous about it. As though there’s a foregone conclusion, an unstoppable teen-justice train. And this, more than anything, unnerves her.
30
Jon
Sunday
Jon watches out the window, Bella in his arms. Susan should be home from Leesa’s by now. She hasn’t replied to his text asking when she’ll be back. That’s unusual. She’s normally quick—a dashed-off typo-filled reply or a speedy voicenote. It might not be because of the bracelet…he shakes himself.Of courseit’s because of the bracelet. He goes upstairs and places sleepy Bella carefully in her crib, then pulls open Susan’s drawer again to dig out the bangle.God. On so many levels, what a shitshow. What had he been thinking? He moves his fingers over the engraving. The tale-telling inscription. And how on earth is it here in their house—how does Susan have it?
