Evercrossed kbaa-4

by Элизабет Чандлер

She faced Guy, then scooped up water, pouring handfuls over his shoulders and chest. Reaching higher, she bathed his cheeks and forehead, remembering how Tristan had done that for her. ʺYou okay?ʺ Guy nodded, then smiled sheepishly.

  ʺWe wonʹt walk any farther. Can you crouch?ʺ she asked. Bending her legs, she lowered herself until the water reached her chin. Guy did the same, moving slowly and steadily, but when the water touched his neck, he instinctively pulled up.

  ʺEasy does it.ʺ She reached for his other hand, holding them both securely in hers. He lowered himself again, until their faces were inches apart.

  ʺNext time Iʹll bring a float and give you a real lesson. Today, weʹll just splash around so you can get used to it. Can you put your face in the water?ʺ

  He tried, then jerked his head back, straightening up quickly. ʺThis is humiliating. I‐I couldnʹt breathe. My throat closed up and—ʺ

  ʺSymptoms of panic,ʺ Ivy said calmly, ʺwhich is a rational response after what youʹve been through. Here.ʺ She laid her hands palms up on the surface of the water. ʺHold your breath and rest your face in my hands for a moment,ʺ ʺI feel stupid.ʺ ʺNo oneʹs watching.ʺ

  Guy grimaced but did as she said, laying his face in her wet hands. He did it repeatedly. Ivy lowering her hands a bit each time until his face was immersed.

  ʹʹOkay,” Guy said. ʺIʹve got that down. This time Iʹll do it without you…. You donʹt think Iʹm acting too macho, do you?ʺ he added, laughing at himself.

  She grinned back at him. ʺWhen your face is in the water, blow out through your nose.ʺ He did the drill several times, then said, ʺI bet youʹve never had a student progress this fast. Whatʹs next?ʺ

  ʺGoing all the way under.ʺ Ivy saw the hesitation and the goose bumps on his arms. ʺBut let’s just hang out and do that next time.ʺ

  ʺIʹll do it now,ʺ he insisted.

  ʺYou have nothing to prove, Guy.ʺ

  ʺIʹm going all the way under,ʺ he said.

  ʺWhen youʹre ready—ʺ

  ʺI can handle this!ʺ he told her, and Ivy took a step back. His voice lightened.

  ʺCount for me, okay? See how long I can stay under.ʺ He quickly dropped below the pondʹs surface.

  Ivy counted aloud, ʺOne thousand one, one thousand two,ʺ then saw his back convulse and yanked him upward with all her strength. He had swallowed water and was choking — panicking again.

  ʺYouʹre okay, youʹre okay,ʺ she told him. He leaned over, holding his stomach.

  He couldnʹt stop shaking. ʺYouʹre okay, Guy.ʺ He turned away from her, as if ashamed. She put her arms around him from behind and wouldnʹt let go until he stopped trembling.

  ʺIt’s. . the darkness,ʺ he said. “Being in the darkness.ʺ

  ʺI should have thought about that,ʺ she replied. ʺWhen Tristan taught me to swim, we were in a clear, well‐lit pool.ʺ Guy turned toward her. ʺTristan, the guy who died — taught you to swim?ʺ ʺYes. He loved water.ʺ ʺAnd you were afraid of it,ʺ Guy said. ʺTerrified.ʺ Guy reached for Ivy, pulling her to him, holding her roughly, awkwardly in his arms. She could feel his heart pounding against her.

  He buried his face in her hair. ʺI will never forget you. Ivy,” he whispered. ʺIf ever I forget you, there will be nothing but darkness left for me.ʺ

  BETH AND DHANYA ARRIVED HOME THAT NIGHT before Ivy. She found Dhanya reading, curled in a living room chair, and Beth on the sofa, hunched over the puzzle. ʺHi,ʺ Ivy said. ʺHow was the movie?ʺ

  ʺGood,ʺ Dhanya replied. Beth didnʹt respond, and both girls, looking up, eyed Ivyʹs damp clothes and hair, not missing a detail. ʺYou were with him, werenʹt you,ʺ Beth said, making it sound like an accusation rather than a question.

  ʺI was with Guy. Please use his name.ʺ

  ʺBut thatʹs not his name,ʺ Beth pointed out. ʺIt’s his name for now!ʺ Ivy replied, and continued on to the kitchen, where she grabbed a handful of cookies and headed upstairs.

  That night, Ivy tossed and turned. Well after the others were asleep, she kicked away her sheets and sat up. Her alarm clock read 2:43 a.m.

  She and Beth had tied up the curtain on the window between their beds, but there wasnʹt a breeze on this unusually warm night. The moon, nearly full, made a bright patch across Bethʹs bed. Her sheets were on the floor, her face bathed in perspiration, but she slept soundly.

  There is nothing harder than being around others and feeling isolated, Ivy thought. She dropped her feet over the side of the bed, debating whether to grab a beach towel and sit outside. Cht! Cht!

  Ivyʹs head jerked to the left. Something had struck the window — the glass above the screen.

  She held still, staring at the window glass. Then, remembering Bethʹs dream, Ivy turned to her. Bethʹs eyes moved beneath her lids and her breath was quickshe was dreaming now.

  Ivy moved closer to the window. She saw no one among the trees at their end of the house, but the bright moon threw sharp shadows; it would be easy for a person to hide there.

  The cottage doors were rarely locked. Feeling slightly uneasy, Ivy pulled on her shorts and headed for the stairway.

  Cht! Cht!

  She spun around. At the same time Beth sat up. ʺIvy?ʺ

  ʺYes.ʺ

  ʺIvy?ʺ Beth cried out again, sounding frightened. Ivy hurried back to her. |Iʹm here.ʺ

  ʺIt’s him. Heʹs shooting at the window!ʺ Ivy laid a hand on Bethʹs shoulder, ʺNo, no, itʹs not.ʺ She sat on the bed. ʺIt was probably something from the trees, seeds or whatever.ʺ

  ʺIt’s him!ʺ Beth insisted, then saw that Ivy was wearing her shorts and shoes.

  ʺDonʹt go outside.ʹʺ

  ʺEverythingʹs okay. I was just going downstairs to check things.ʺ

  ʺDonʹt! It’s him!ʺ Bethʹs eyes were wide with fear. Ivy put her arm around her friend. ʺYouʹve been dreaming, Beth.ʺ ʺAre the doors locked?ʺ

  ʺIʹm going to check them now,ʺ Ivy replied, standing up. ʺNo, Ivy! Heʹll do anything to get you!ʺ

  ʺBeth, listen to me. Youʹre getting this mixed up with your dream.ʺ

  Cht! Cht!

  They both turned to the window. ʹʹWhatʹs that?ʺ Dhanya asked, sitting up in bed.

  She climbed out and tiptoed across the room to them.

  ʺDonʹt go near the window,ʺ Beth told her. ʺHeʹll see you.ʺ

  ʺWho will?ʺ Dhanya asked.

  ʺDhanya!ʺ a male voice called. ʺMax!ʺ Dhanya and Ivy said at the same time.

  ʺDid you hear? It’s just Max.” Ivy told Beth, feeling both relieved and annoyed.

  Dhanya frowned. ʺWhy is he here? I donʹt want to talk to him.ʺ

  ʺDhanya!ʺ Ivy went to the window, shoved up the screen, and leaned out. ʺGo home. Max.ʺ He emerged from the shadows. ʺIvy! How are ya?ʺ He sounded pleased to see her — and drunk. ʺIt’s late. Go home.ʺ

  ʺI wanna talk to Dhanya,ʺ he said.

  ʺShe doesnʹt want to talk to you. Not in the middle of the night.ʺ

  ʺDhan‐ya!ʺ

  ʺShhh!ʺ Ivy pulled back inside the window. ʺHeʹs going to wake the guests,ʺ she told Dhanya.

  ʺTell that coyote to stop yelping/ʹ Kelsey called from her bed. ʺI need my beauty sleep!ʺ

  ʺI wonʹt speak to him,ʺ Dhanya said to Ivy. ʺI havenʹt yet decided if I like him.ʺ

  She started back to bed. ʺIʹm sorry.” Ivy said, ʺbut if Max wakes the guests or Aunt Cindy, weʹre all in trouble. Youʹre coming outside with me. Youʹre talking to him and sending him off.ʺ

  ʺYou go, girl!ʺ Kelsey cried, then flopped back on her bed.

  Beth shook her head, holding her pillow to her chest, as if it were protection.

  Dhanya reluctantly put on a robe and shoes, then followed Ivy downstairs.

  When Max saw them marching toward him, he stood up, and just as quickly, sank back against a tree. Ivy sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was drive to Morris Island in the middle of the night, but she couldnʹt let him drive himself if he wasnʹt sober.

  ʺDhanya! Youʹre breakinʹ my heart!ʺ
Dhanya rolled her eyes. ʺHowʹd you get here?ʺ Ivy asked him. He pointed unsteadily toward the innʹs lot. ʺBryne.ʺ

  Ivy struggled to understand. ʺBryan? Heʹs here? Whereʹs your keys?ʺ

  ʺBryne,ʺ Max said again. Ivy turned to Dhanya. ʺTalk to him and keep your voices low. Iʹll check the lot.ʺ The yellow Ferrari sat in the middle of the lot, Bryan in its driverʹs seat, plugged into his iPod. His eyes were shut.

  Ivy called his name several times, then shook him lightly. Startled out of his sleep, he swung his whole body toward her, fist raised. ʺHey! Hey, itʹs me.ʺ

  ʺIvy!ʺ he said, surprised, and dropped his arm. ʺHave you been drinking?ʺ He pulled out his cell phone to check the time. ʺNot for two hours.ʺ He sounded clearheaded.

  ʺWould you mind getting out of the car?ʺ she asked. He laughed. ʺWant me to walk a line, officer?ʺ

  “Yup.”

  He complied, grinning.

  ʺListen,ʺ Ivy said, ʺyour buddy isnʹt scoring any points with Dhanya. Take Max home… quietly.”

  Bryan nodded. ʺUnderstood. I apologize.ʺ He retrieved Max, who, after pimply talking with Dhanya, seemed to be a happier camper.

  Ivy and Dhanya wearily entered the cottage, and after a momentʹs thought, Ivy locked both the front and back door. When she climbed into bed, Beth was lying with her eyes closed, the sheet pulled up to her chin. Resting on the pillow, close to her face, the amethyst glittered in the moonlight. j§. I ʺGood night,ʺ Ivy said softly. ʺEverythingʹs okay now.ʺ

  ʺDonʹt be fooled,ʺ Beth replied. ʺHeʹs making plans. He wants revenge.ʺ

  Nineteen

  FRIDAY MORNING, BETH AND IVY WERE ASSIGNED TO the garden to weed and deadhead. While Ivy pried at stubborn roots, Beth silently worked her way down the rows of faded blossoms — snip, snip, snip. She had spoken little since the morning alarm went off, bringing each conversation Ivy had begun to a quick close with a one‐word answer.

  ʺSo you donʹt remember Max coming around, yelling for Dhanya?ʺ

  ʺNo.ʺ

  ʺDo you remember dreaming?ʺ Ivy asked. ʺNo.ʺ I

  ʺBeth, are you mad at me?ʺ Beth snipped off a flower head that was still blooming. ʺNo.ʺ Ivy gave up.

  At three p.m., Aunt Cindy thanked everyone for a solid dayʹs work and shooed them off. Beth, Dhanya, and Will sunned in the garden, the girls falling asleep, and Will finishing up some sketches for The Angel and the Alley Cat. Kelsey, deciding she had been much too available to Bryan, headed to Nauset Beach, targeting an area on the long strip of oceanfront that was known to attract surfers.

  Ivy returned to Pleasant Bay and handwrote a rambling letter to her motherMaggie disliked e‐mail. Describing Provincetown and recounting funny moments with the innʹs guests, Ivy omitted everything of real importance.

  That finished, she debated whether to send a text message to her friend Suzanne. She knew that Suzanneʹs trip to Europe was her way of putting distance between last summer and now.

  When Suzanne told Ivy and Beth that they wouldnʹt be hearing from her for a while. Ivy had understood. Suzanne had been totally in love with Gregory, and he had milked that passion as much as he could. Drawing Ivy into his web, he continually strove to make Suzanne jealous. In the end Suzanne, like Ivy, lost someone she truly loved.

  Taking out her iPhone, Ivy typed in: MISS U. DONʹT HAFTO REPLY. JUST

  THINKING OF U. LUV IVY. Then she left a voicemail on Guyʹs phone: ʺHi. Hope youʹre having a good day chopping at tree stumps. Say hello to Fleabag.ʺ Finally, she lay back and fell asleep.

  Arriving home just before six. Ivy found Dhanya standing in front of the long mirror that was attached to the bathroom door, turning this way and that, studying herself in a short, flirty skirt.

  ʺI think Iʹd better wear my bikini bottom under this.” she said, leaning over, looking at herself upside down in the mirror.

  ʺWell, if youʹre planning to do a lot of that, yeah,ʺ Ivy replied, smiling.

  Beth emerged from the bathroom combing through her wet hair. She smelled of herbal shampoo.

  ʺChase called,” Dhanya told her. Beth frowned. ʺHeʹs been calling my cell all day.ʺ

  ʺWell, now heʹs calling mine. Did you give him my number?ʺ

  ʺNo. Itʹs on my phone and I lent it to him to make a call, but…ʺ Bethʹs voice trailed off.

  ʺAnyway,” Dhanya said, ʺI told him youʹd phone when you finished your shower.ʺ ʺYou shouldnʹt have.ʺ

  ʺBut I thought youʹd want to bring him tonight,” Dhanya said, and turned to Ivy. ʺBryanʹs uncle gave him passes to his indoor rink, and weʹre all invited.

  Want to come?ʺ

  ʺIce‐skating?ʺ It would be awkward with Will, but sooner or later they would have to get used to being around each other. ʺOkay.ʺ

  ʺAwesome!” Dhanya said, and turned to Beth. ʺThe more people we have, the more fun it will be.ʺ

  ʺMaybe,ʺ Beth said, retreating to the bathroom to dry her hair. A few minutes later, Kelsey blew in from surfer land, showered, then tugged on thin, skintight biking shorts and a workout top that was more demi‐bra than athletic wear.

  Chase had earned an invitation on his second call to Dhanya, and Bethʹs mood shifted from obvious irritation to quiet resignation. As they gathered in front of the cottage, she hung close to Will. Bryan, friendly as always, noticed Kelsey in her sexy outfit, but didnʹt ignore the other girls. Cracking jokes, he herded everyone toward their cars like a boisterous camp counselor.

  Twenty minutes later, they discovered Bryanʹs Uncle Pat, the rinkʹs owner, had the same outgo* ing manner.

  ʺGot the date‐night music on,ʺ he told them as they stood at the counter for skate rentals. ʺDonʹt worry, ladies, I didnʹt pick it out. And Bryan didnʹt either.ʺ

  Everyone except Bryan and Max rented skates. Max had ditched his Hawaiian prints for a preppy‐looking shirt with jeans; Ivy wondered if word had gotten back to him that Dhanya found him ʺtacky.ʺ Perhaps after driving him home last night, Bryan had given him a little advice.

  ʺI didnʹt know you were into skating,ʺ Kelsey said to Max as he laced up skates that looked expensive and new.

  ʺHeʹs not,ʺ Bryan replied for his friend. ʺMaxie keeps a complete set of toys at each of his residences.ʺ

  Chase, walking around on his rentals, felt compelled to explain that he had left three kinds of skates at his home in Jackson Hole. Then he turned to Beth and said, ʺLet me help you with those laces, Elizabeth.ʺ

  ʺIʹve got them,” Beth answered, but when she was done, she allowed him to take her hand and lead her to the ice. Bryan and Kelsey followed, then quickly passed them and all the other skaters with their long, athletic strokes.

  Max, Dhanya, Ivy, and Will stood awkwardly on the rubber matting. Then Will reached for Dhanyaʹs hand, which left Max and Ivy to feel like the last ones chosen for playground dodge ball. ʺDo you want a partner?ʺ Max asked. ʺIʹd like to skate with you later on,ʺ Ivy answered politely, ʺbut Iʹd prefer to go alone at first.ʺ

  She skated several circles of the rink, getting lapped by Kelsey and Bryan, but staying behind the couples, enjoying the feel of the smooth ice beneath her feet, and thinking that, if not Bryanʹs uncle, it must have been her own mother who had picked out the date night music. Oh, well, anything with a beat.

  When Chase stopped to adjust his laces. Ivy skated up to Beth and linked arms.

  ʺIʹm snatching your partner, Chase.ʺ Last winter, Beth and Ivy had skated together every weekend, both of them enjoying the exercise. Skating as a pair, matching each otherʹs stride and settling into a comfortable pace, was usually easy for them, but not tonight. Beth skated stiffly.

  ʺI got a text from Philip,ʺ Ivy said, hoping Bethʹs affection for him would serve as abridge between them.

  ʺSo did I.”

  ʺI think he misses both of his ʹbig sisters.ʹʺ Beth nodded. ʺHeʹs really looking forward to the newest adventure of The Angel and the Alley Catʺ ʺWillʹs sending it Monday,ʺ Beth said. ʺHowʹs Will doing?ʺ Ivy asked, then f
elt the jerk in Bethʹs arm. ʺDonʹt pull away from me, Beth. I love him as much as I love you, you know that. Please donʹt pull away from me.ʺ

  They skated the curve of the rink, Beth looking straight ahead. ʺHeʹs okay,ʺ Beth said at last. ʺAnd how are you doing?ʺ Ivy asked. ʺOkay.ʺ

  Ivy felt completely shut out. Striving for patience, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, watching Max ease back to join Will and Dhanya. There was a moment of conversation, then Max skated off with Dhanya.

  Kelsey and Bryan came up from behind and blew past everyone. ʺI guess you call that power skating,ʺ Ivy remarked.

  ʺIʹd call it competition,ʺ Beth replied. ʺThey compete as a way of seducing each other.ʺ

  ʺCompete how?ʺ Ivy asked, glad they had finally gotten a conversation going.

  ʺHow much they drink, how long they party, how fast they drive…ʺ

  ʺReally! Who told you that?ʺ

  ʺDhanya. At the beach, they compete to see who can be the most outrageous flirt — with other people, I mean.ʺ

  ʺSuzanne and Gregoryʹs old game,ʺ Ivy remarked. Beth met her eyes, then glanced away. It had been Suzanne and Gregoryʹs favorite sport, and they had played the game like Olympians, an endless competition to see who could flirt and frustrate the other to the point of explosion.

  Beth and Ivy skated another lap before Chase caught up, slipping in between them. “You know, Elizabeth, playing hard to get doesnʹt always make a guy want you.ʺ

  ʺI wasnʹt playing hard to get or trying to make you want me/ Beth replied.

  Chase laughed, as if she had meant to be humorous. ʺI think itʹs strange — girls dancing with girls, girls skating with girls, waiting for guys to notice them.ʺ

  ʺSometimes,ʺ Ivy said, ʺtheyʹre just skating and dancing.” He turned to her, his gray eyes glittering.

  ʺRarely.ʺ He reached for Bethʹs hand and Ivy watched them skate off, Beth keeping her head turned slightly away. While outwardly compliant; Beth wasnʹt connecting — not with Chase or me. Ivy thought. The difference was, Chase was so egotistical, he didnʹt realize it.

  She exited the ice, wishing she had brought her own car and could drive home.