Page 39 of When Stars Fall

“It’s a shame about her dad. She said she’s only met him a couple times.”

“You asked her about her dad?” A balloon of panic forms in my stomach.

“Yeah, sorry. We were chatting. She said she got her sportiness from her dad.” He shrugs as though Haven’s revelations are normal, natural.

Every once in a while, Haven’s quickness and ease with lying makes me concerned about her teenage years. She didn’t lie to Wyatt, but she misled him. I’m grateful and horrified.

“Right.” I take off my clothes while I think of something to say.

Haven pops up beside Wyatt and looks between us. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t think Ellie’s pleased I asked about your dad.”

Haven nods as though his assumption makes sense. I brace myself. “Well, Auntie Ellie, it’s true, though. I do wish I knew my dad better.” She gives me a pointed look. “I wish there was some way that could happen.” She grins and drops under the surface. I can’t blow up at her with Wyatt here, and she knows it. If the stakes weren’t so high, her behavior might even be amusing.

I slip into the water and do a few laps to clear my mind. Haven challenges Wyatt to a swimming race. He creates so many waves I worry I’ll need to refill the pool. His strategy seems to be to drown Haven with his thrashing, but she’s adept at swimming in open water and overtakes him.

“Let’s go again.” Wyatt huffs at the edge of the pool. “But I need a head start.”

Haven puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head. “You’re the adult. You don’t get a head start.”

Wyatt gestures to his heaving chest. “I almost drowned.”

Haven giggles. “You almost drowned yourself. Who taught you how to swim?”

“No one, Short Stuff. My parents stuck around for the money and the drugs, not for me.”

“Wyatt!” I exclaim. Why is he talking about drugs with our daughter? I’m at the opposite end of the pool, but I hear him loud and clear.

“Uggs—the money for the Uggs.” His expression turns helpless. “They loved those expensive boots.”

“I hearddrugs,” Haven says in a singsong voice.

“Okay.” Wyatt points his finger at her. “I said drugs. But if you only remember one thing I tell you, remember this. Drugs ruin families. They don’t bring them closer together.”

Haven’s smile fades. I wade through the pool to stand beside her. “How much longer for the food?” I throw my arm around Haven’s petite shoulders.

Wyatt checks his phone, which he’d propped up by the towel. “Five minutes. I’ll get out and get it ready. You ladies hungry?” He hoists himself out.

The muscles across his back and shoulders ripple. Why does he have to be in such good shape? I’m certainly hungry for something.

“Sorry—I shouldn’t have . . . that was dumb.” Wyatt dries off, and he nods at Haven, who has swum away.

I shrug. Haven will have something to say about his words later, I am sure, but not for the reasons he thinks. “You didn’t mean anything by it.”

He gives a slight nod before he disappears into the house.

Chapter Sixteen

Wyatt

Ten Years Ago

Before today, I’d never thought about the heaviness of a casket, the weight of a body once the soul was gone. But it keeps running through my head as I hoist Kabir’s coffin onto my shoulder. It’s heavy and light, which makes no sense. I mixed too many pills before the ceremony. Since I was eating oxy and Adderall like candy, I didn’t care.

My knees are wobbly, and I’m trying not to stumble out the door to the hearse. There are so many cameras and photographers, I wish I’d put one of the pills back in the bottle. Just one.

Ellie clutches Isaac’s hand. He looks vacant, checked out. My mirrored expression will probably be splashed across the gossip rags tomorrow. We slide the casket into the rear of the hearse. Other people are talking around me, but I can’t focus on anything or anyone.

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