Jeff hugged her tightly. “And the stuff with River?” He looked down at her. “You’ve already blown your life apart. You may as well let her in to help pick up the pieces.”
Marina made a noncommittal sound and slumped against the door once they’d left. A long, hot shower helped her feel a little better, and when she was done picking up the detritus of their day spent talking logistics and emotions, she flopped down on the couch and put her arm over her eyes. The decision to help River had come at her in a rush when they’d left the building after Sheila’s meltdown, and she hadn’t stopped to consider anything other than what she needed to do and how fast she needed to do it.
Now, though… In the silence of her apartment, she pictured the look in River’s eyes when she’d explosively told her that she was in love with her.Fucking romantic.And River had said they needed to talk; she hadn’t said she loved Marina too. But what did Marina expect? She had toed the line, tried to play both sides of the fence, and she’d failed spectacularly. And publicly too.She couldn’t forget that. The news coverage of the protest and Marina’s declaration had been on TV and social media all day long. Pundits played it and then debated the wisdom, legality, and consequences of Marina’s actions.
She suddenly knew what it felt like to be on trial. It felt like shit.
She pushed up off the couch and headed toward her bedroom. If she could manage to get to sleep, at least she could put this day behind her.
Just as she was about to turn off the bedside light, her buzzer rang. And then rang again.
“For the love of all the fucks, I’m coming,” she muttered and hit the intercom. “What?”
“It’s River. Can you come down?”
Marina rested her forehead against the wall. “It’s late, and I’m tired. Can we do this tomorrow?”
“Please.” River’s voice sounded strained. “I need to show you something.”
Marina sighed. “Fine.” She left the intercom and threw on jeans, a sweatshirt, and a beanie. After a quick glance outside, she added a thick coat and a scarf. Silver snow glittered under the streetlights.
She stepped out into the cold to find River leaning against the wall, her face tilted toward the dark sky, snowflakes dusting her cheeks. They fell off when she heard Marina come out, and she turned to look at her.
“Thank you for coming down.” River reached out, then dropped her hand. “It’s important.”
Marina gave a tired shrug. “Let’s go.”
River led the way to a bright, lime green car that looked like a weird mirage in the snow.
“Seriously?” Marina asked.
“I only have the bike, so I asked Audrey to borrow hers.” River gave her a quick smile as she opened the door for her.
“Audrey’s. Of course it is.” Marina let her head drop against the headrest. “Where are we going?” she asked when River dropped into the driver’s seat.
River hesitated. “Can you wait and see?”
Marina shook her head and sighed. “Why not?”
They set off, and Marina didn’t really see anything they passed. It was almost painful, the way she wanted River to reach out, to hold her close, to kiss her and reassure her. But if River didn’t feel the same way, Marina would be damned if she’d be the one to break.
It was only when they passed a house she recognized that she began to pay attention. “River, where are we going?” she asked again, this time with a bit of steel in her voice.
The car slowed, and River parked in an empty lot. Marina stared at the playground ahead of them, snow falling on the brightly painted kids’ area. The swings moved gently in the breeze. “I don’t want to be here,” Marina whispered.
River opened the door and walked around to Marina’s, pulling open the passenger door. “Please trust me,” she said, holding out her hand.
Marina stared at it for a long moment, then met River’s gaze. It was hopeful, wary, and… kind. River would never do anything to hurt her. In that moment, she knew it without a hint of doubt. She took River’s hand and got out of the car.
River walked her to the swings, not letting go of her hand. “Right after I met you,” she said, her voice as soft as the falling snow. “A new ghost showed up at my house. That never happens. I see them here and there, and you met Marjorie.”
When Marina snorted, River laughed.
“But this new one was different.”
Marina shivered at the vague idea of where this was going. “How so?” she asked.
“She wasn’t…formed. She was blurry, just a sense of a ghost. But she wasmad,” River said, with a small laugh. “And then over time, she started to take shape. I could see her a little more clearly each time. I knew she wanted something from me, but I didn’t know what.”
