Page 51 of The Note

“So how’d you leave things with him?” Lauren asked.

“He said it was a lot to process and we should take some time and talk when we were back at home. And then you found that missing-person flyer when you went to the farm stand on Monday. I let myself believe that he had broken up with that other woman and was taking some time to himself to think about us.”

“I’m sorry,” May said. “No, I’m actuallynotsorry. You really expect us to believe that? You’ve been lying to us this entire time. And if you think the police won’t find out about this, you’re an idiot.”

Nate held his hands in a T. “Maybe we can time-out here?”

“Shut up, Nate.” She stood directly in front of Kelsey on the sofa, towering over her, not caring that she was infringing on her space. “You called him on Friday? They obviously have his cell records already. The cops know, Kelsey.”

“I used a Providence burner number so he’d be more likely to pick up.”

Providence. The 959 number that Carter Deckerhad asked about. “You just carry around a bag full of burner phones?”

“No, it’s just an app, CellBurner.”

“You sound like a full-fledged criminal right now,” May said.

“That’s not true,” Lauren said. “A bunch of the women in the symphony use the same app when they book gigs or for online dating so people don’t have their permanent number.”

“I’m sorry,” May said. “Jesus, no, why do I keep saying that? I amnotfucking sorry.”

“Please, May, will you just stop for one second?” Kelsey pleaded. “Calm down. I promise you, I’m telling you the truth.”

“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down after what I’ve done trying to help you. What I see here is a woman scorned, who left that note to try to stir up shit between the guy who dumped her and the woman he was on vacation with, a phone call where you tried to get him back, and now the guy’s dead. And if I see that? You can be damn sure that cop sees it.”

“I can’t believe you’re saying that,” Kelsey said. “How could you possibly think—”

“Tell me: How does all that look to you? Ofcoursethe police suspect you.”

“Well, it sounds like you do, too. Wait, is that why you never reached out to me after Luke died? Did you actually doubt me? Or, let me guess, you didn’t actually doubt me, but didn’t want mystench to tar your perfect little reputation? Tell me, May, when exactly is it that you think I killed Dave? I’ve been with you the entire time.”

“That’s not true. That Friday night, I thought I heard a car engine. And you left for Montauk the next morning to get Josh’s car while we were still asleep, and neither of us even heard it. Until we find out when David was killed, there’s really no way of knowing.”

“You’re being so mean right now,” Kelsey said.

“Mean?Mean?We’re not sixteen years old anymore, Kelsey.”

“I screwed up, okay? I should have told you guys, but I was just so happy to have you back in my life again. And you can be so fucking judgmental, May. I thought maybe you changed after that video, but, nope, apparently you can make a mistake, but I can’t.”

“That’s not anything like what you—”

May jumped at thethwackof the fire poker against the edge of the fire pit. Nate closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened them, he looked directly at May. “Okay, that was a little extra. Sorry. Very loud. But for what it’s worth, I know Kelsey’s telling the truth. When you heard her crying on the phone Friday night? That was when she was talking tome.She told me exactly what she just said to you about the phone call to David. She was happy about the possibility of getting back together with him but really upsetabout the idea of not having her own children. She needed someone to talk to but didn’t want to tell you guys about the note. She was worried you’d be mad at her and it would ruin your whole hive thing or whatever.”

“Pretty ironic, isn’t it?” Now Kelsey was the one glaring back at her.

“How so?” May asked.

“That you of all people would be mad at a friend for leaving an anonymous note.”

May stepped away, as if Kelsey’s words literally burned, nearly bumping into the fire stove. Kelsey raised her chin as her gaze shifted from May to Lauren.

Not now. Not after all these years.

“What exactly am I missing, you two?” Lauren asked. “What note?”

“Please, Kelsey, don’t—” May heard the desperation in her own voice.

Kelsey looked over at May, lowering her chin with a nod. “Forget about it. It’s stupid. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

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