In June’s mind’s eye, she saw herself grabbing Frank’s Purple Heart, her purse, the rainy-day money, Nicky’s toys, the photographs on the hi-fi, because there was a fire headed in their direction. There’d been no time to ponder what to take. All that was really on her mind at that moment was that she’d just told Max that Elwood was in Palm Springs.
The Plan had been set in motion and everything was about to be different.
She’d completely forgotten to grab the script.
28
Nicky didn’t let Melanie out of his sight after she and June returned to Max’s place.
Within an hour of their arrival back in Westwood, the radio station updating them on the fire announced the Malibu blaze had at last been contained. Only residents in areas where the fire had fully been extinguished were currently being allowed to survey what the fire had taken from them.
June wanted to leave right then to make sure the house still stood. She’d been quiet on the drive from Palm Springs to Los Angeles, wanting to listen to news stations reporting on the fire. Melanie thought this was due to June’s wanting to distract herself from the ruse they’d just driven away from. But now Melanie could see June was very worried about the house—more than she had been the day before or the one before that, when the fire had been much worse.
“I’ll drive you out to Malibu, June,” she said. “I need to check on the Gilberts’ house and pack a bigger suitcase than this overnight bag. I don’t have the right clothes for Nebraska.”
“I’ll come with you,” Eva said quickly.
Eva turned to Melanie; her gaze was earnest.
Understanding dropped onto Melanie like a solid weight. The firebreak. Those firemen had said they’d be digging a firebreak in June’s backyard.
Digging in June’s backyard.
“Has anyone been here? Called here asking for June?” Melanie said to Eva, meeting that earnest gaze with an intensity of her own.
Eva shook her head, her eyes wide.
“Why would anyone be looking for me here?” June said quickly. “Who could possibly know this is where Max brought me?”
“I can’t just leave Nicky here,” Melanie said to Eva, ignoring June’s questions.
“Nicky can come, too,” Eva said.We cannot let her go alone,Eva mouthed.
“You girls don’t need to come,” June said wearily, reaching for her purse and car keys.
“We want to,” Eva continued. “Nicky and I have been cooped up here too long. June, you need to let us come.”
June swiveled her neck to look at Eva. “Ineedto?”
Eva opened her mouth and then shut it. Then she looked at Melanie.
“What is going on?” June said tonelessly to Melanie.
Melanie pulled Nicky tighter into her arms. “Come on, Nicky,” she said next as she reached for her own purse. “Let’s go for a ride.”
Melanie ushered June out the door. Eva followed, and as Melanie pulled the door shut, June asked again what was going on.
“You go ahead and get into the back seat, okay?” Melanie said to Nicky. She set him on his feet. Happy to at last be out of the house, her nephew ran to the car parked in the driveway. Melanie turnedto June. “I don’t know if you need to know this yet, but maybe you do.”
“Know what?” June asked.
Melanie exhaled deeply. “Firemen told us they were going to dig a firebreak in your backyard.”
June’s eyes widened in absolute shock. “Awhat?”
“A firebreak. In the backyard.”
For three long seconds June said and did nothing. “Oh, dear God…,” she finally murmured.
