Page 38 of Sunset on the Solstice

But of course, Richard Kissinger was soon written on the birth certificate, and that was that.

When Shelby and baby Richard—whom she’d already decided to call Billy—returned home, Jared went immediately back to work, ready to gloat about being a father without helping at all with the parenting. Shelby dove into new motherhood with the sort of energy she’d previously only reserved for academia. She learned everything she could about babies: what happened day by day and week by week in their development, how their brains developed and what they could see. Sometimes, when Jared came home from work, he wanted to hold Billy for about five minutes before handing him back and sitting in front of the television again. Shelby told herself not to be resentful. Resentment would only make everything in her life harder.

Not long after Billy was born, Shelby was pregnant again. And after that, there was another pregnancy, another baby. She had Billy, Penelope, and Evie in such quick succession that the years hardly felt like years. They were a string of days, each with their own unique demands. Shelby needed to make sure her babies were fed and well-rested. She needed to make sure the house was clean. She needed to make sure her husband was happy, or at least close to being happy. His moods were continually erratic, a result maybe of the injury, although Shelby would never be sure.

Shelby never heard from Professor Thames. But two years after Billy was born, Shelby read an article in The New Yorker from her, in which she’d written about feminism and the future of work for women in a way that made Shelby feel like she was living in another time entirely.

19

Livingston, Montana: July 2032

The day after Vivian came over for pizza and to share her stories, Rebecca woke up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise over the mountains. Shivering in a sweater, she sipped her coffee outside and tried to prepare her heart for the day that was to follow. She was terrified it wouldn’t work.

Soon, Lily and Chad came out to sit with her, both of them stoic. Nobody wanted to ask the question that they couldn’t get out of their minds. What if she doesn’t want to come with us?

Vivian had spoken about how they needed to reprogram Shelby, that Jared had done a real number on her sense of self. Rebecca was terrified that the woman they were trying to rescue had nothing of Shelby in her anymore. Shelby, her sweet middle child, her sweet youngest daughter. What if she was gone?

Vivan wrote midmorning to say that Jared’s truck was still in the driveway. “I think I can’t break the air conditioner today,” she said. “And I really don’t think Shelby will take the kids to the stream, not when Jared’s home.”

Rebecca’s chest felt like an open wound.

“Tomorrow,” Lily said sternly. “It’ll happen tomorrow. We can’t rush it.”

Shelby knew that Lily was right. But the anticipation was killing her. She wanted Shelby and Shelby’s babies in her arms as soon as possible. She wanted to get on a plane back East yesterday, not tomorrow.

That night, to distract themselves, Rebecca, Shelby, and Chad went into town for dinner. Just like Bar Harbor, it felt like a smallish town where everyone knew each other and gossip ran wild. Sitting with their burgers and dully watching the television, they happened to overhear a few employees complaining about their boss. It wasn’t till they called him “King Kissinger” that Rebecca put two and two together. Lily caught on, too, and they focused in, listening as the employees talked about how Kissinger had been out the past few days with a cold but had terrorized them with awful emails and phone calls all day, checking in on things.

“Sometimes I wonder if he’s a sociopath,” one of them said, taking a french fry from the other’s plate.

“I was reading about narcissistic personalities,” the other said. “My wife told me to quit, but…”

“The money. I know,” the other said, shaking his head. “He’s got a death grip around all of us.”

Rebecca ached to ask them more information about Jared and his work, but Lily gave her a look that meant, don’t ruffle any feathers. They didn’t want any news getting to Jared before they got Shelby out of there if she came at all.

The following morning, Vivian wrote to say that Jared’s truck was gone. She was going to head over and try to break the air conditioner to lure the kids and Shelby out. Rebecca, Lily, and Chad waited at the kitchen counter, gripping their mugs of coffee, aching for an update. Only fifteen minutes after that message, Vivian sent another.

VIVIAN: Actually, they’re already by the stream. They’re already out! I didn’t need to break anything. Come quickly. Park at my place and walk east down the stream, so nobody spots you at their house. I’ll make sure she stays out. (But I won’t chase her away! I hope!)

Terror gripped Rebecca’s heart. Chad grabbed the keys, and the three of them ran to the rental SUV and sped off to Vivian’s place. Rebecca prayed that Shelby wouldn’t take the kids back inside. But if she did, Rebecca wasn’t sure if she could resist storming up the back way and entering the house herself. She’d come all this way. She was a mother on a mission.

When they reached Vivian’s place, which was a tiny cabin in the middle of the woods, they leaped out of the SUV and traced a path to the stream. Up here by Vivian’s place, the stream was rushing, casting white over the stones, but as they neared Shelby’s place, the stream slowed and deepened, allowing a nice area for swimming. From between the trees, Rebecca first spotted a little boy of five. She nearly fell to her knees at the sight of him. Billy. It was her grandson, Billy. And behind him was a little girl not much younger than he was. They splashed and called out, laughing. Rebecca couldn’t believe it. Were they actually going to make this work?

It was then that Shelby and Vivian came into view. Vivian was on Shelby’s picnic blanket, eating a sandwich and talking quickly. At the sight of Shelby, pregnant and beautiful yet exhausted with bags under her eyes and hollowed-out cheeks, Rebecca stumbled on a branch beneath her feet. Chad reached for Rebecca’s hand to steady her, and Lily gave her a big-eyed look. “That’s her,” Rebecca breathed, although everyone knew.

Rebecca stifled a sob. From the looks of things, Vivian was doing her best to keep Shelby occupied. Shelby looked vaguely irritated, although, Rebecca guessed, Shelby liked the company, too. Usually, Shelby was alone with three kids. Speaking to adults, sometimes, was essential. Rebecca wondered if this was part of the reason Shelby had come to the stream. She’d wanted to lure Vivian outside, just as much as Vivian had wanted to lure Shelby.

When they reached the clearing opposite Shelby and Vivian, Vivian let her hands fall and looked across the way. Shelby followed her gaze. Rebecca looked at her daughter, raising her hand. Shelby popped to her feet, mesmerized. Nobody knew what to say. Above them, a mighty eagle swooped low, and a shiver went down Rebecca’s spine.

“Who are you?” Billy asked from the water.

Rebecca’s chest heaved. Quickly, she removed her shoes and stepped into the water. At this, Shelby took a step away from the water, as though she had to keep a particular distance. Lily and Chad followed suit, joining Rebecca in the stream. Shelby looked like she was shaking.

“Are you coming over?” Billy asked.

“I think so,” Rebecca said. “I need to talk to your mom.”

“Do you know my mom?” Billy asked.