Chapter 12: Alone

I went alone, as the text said, and Cal parked at the bottom of the lodge drive with the engine off.

"If you're not back in thirty minutes," he said, "I come up."

"Rule three says no lies, not no rescues."

"Then I'll rescue you honestly."

I pressed record on my phone in my coat pocket and walked up the gravel.

The lodge was shut for the season.

The white chairs were still stacked against the tent poles.

The brass bowl from the cake table sat on a bench by the door.

Cecelia was waiting in the empty ballroom with two paper cups of coffee.

She had her dark hair pinned back, and her eyes were red.

I knew her by the quick soft sound of her shoes, and by the small cough she gave before she spoke.

"Junie," she said. "I'm so glad you came."

"You said you'd tell me everything."

"I will." She set a cup in front of me. "Sit. Please."

I sat, and I didn't touch the coffee.

I took Hoyt's signet ring out of my coat and laid it on the table between us.

Cecelia's whole body leaned toward it before she could stop herself.

It was the smallest motion, a half inch, and I felt it from across the table.

"That was supposed to come to you," I said. "Not Hoyt. Why?"

"It's a family piece. Gene would notice it missing."

Her voice was thin. "June, I need to tell you something terrible, and I need you to hear all of it."

"I'm listening."

She reached up and drew the chain out from her collar.

A plain gold band lay in her palm, scratched from being worn against skin.

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