Page 177 of The Glittering Edge

Ron must see it, too, because he wraps an arm around Anita’s shoulders and says, “C’mon, ma’am. The lemonade is screaming your name.”

“I’ll bring extra chairs from the garage,” Penny says.

“We’ll help,” Corey says.

Once Anita and Ron are inside, Corey, Alonso, and Penny stand together on the driveway. This is the first moment they’ve had alone since Penny’s mom woke up. There’s so much that Penny wants to say, but now that she has her chance, the words won’t come.

Alonso breaks the silence. “Your mom looks like she’s back to normal.”

“She is! Physically, anyway.” Penny looks at Corey. “I thought the Council said my mom would be okay even if your aunt wanted to spend time with her?”

Corey shakes his head. “I think this whole thing has scarred her. She doesn’t want to see your mom until the curse is gone forever.”

“You mean the bargain,” Alonso says.

“Right.” Corey crosses his arms, as if he’s armoring himselfagainst whatever he’s about to hear. “How is a bargain different from a curse?”

“You make a big sacrifice and get something in exchange,” Alonso says. “Think Faust.”

“So how do we know when it started?” Corey says. “We used to tie it to the falling-out between my grandpa and Giovanni.”

“Thatiswhen it started,” Penny says quietly.

Alonso’s face darkens. Corey looks between them. “What do you mean?”

“Think about it,” Alonso says. “When was there a seismic change in your family? When did your company start making a ton of money?”

“Money? That’s not what this is about.”

Alonso sighs, but for once, it’s not condescending. “Nine times out of ten, when mortals make bargains, it’s for success. That can look different for everyone, but for your family, you’ve got Barrion Heating and Cooling.”

Corey’s breath catches. “That… no. There’s no way.”

How do you say the words that’ll change someone’s life forever? How do you not feel culpable for whatever comes next?

“I saw your grandfather do it, Corey,” Penny says.

And she tells them everything the Shadow showed her, from the fight between Ellie and Giovanni at Elkie Lake, to the day Charles blackmailed Giovanni, and finally, the murder in the old pharmacy.

When Penny gets to the story about Giovanni’s murder, Alonso sinks into a crouch, threading his fingers into his hair. Penny waits for Corey to break down, to tell her she’s a liar. But his expression is unreadable, and his eyes are distant. It’s as if his body isn’t big enough to hold whatever he’s feeling so he’s resorted to feeling nothing at all.

“I’m sorry,” Penny says, and then she hates herself for it. She wants to say something that makes it all better, but there’s nothing shecansay. That familiar feeling of helplessness creeps up her limbs to her throat, choking off whatever other words she might say out loud.

“My grandpa—” Corey trails off, as if he’s trying to wrangle his thoughts. “He’s always been condescending. He knows how to hitpeople where it hurts. And the company is more important to him than anything, but this…”

“He’s a piece of shit,” Alonso says. He’s still in a crouch, and anger radiates from him like heat waves.

Penny half expects Corey to jump in and defend his grandfather. He’s barely had a chance to process the truth, and Alonso is already slinging insults. But a small, twisted smile appears on Corey’s face instead.

“I should’ve known,” he says. “The curse never touched his kids or his grandkids. Just the people who joined our family. The people he saw as outsiders.” He scoffs. “He’s always been a racist.”

Penny’s nails dig into her palms. There’s a detachment in Corey’s voice; he almost sounds like a different person. A bitter, jaded version of himself.

Corey continues. “I tried to ignore it. It was easier to pretend he wasn’t, I guess, since I was around him all the time, and you’re supposed to love your family no matter what, right? But so many of the people who died…” He squeezes his eyes shut. “They weren’t white. And I guess that was fine with him.”

Penny sucks in a breath. Corey is right, of course. She once again has the absurd urge to apologize, but that would make this moment about Penny and what she’s feeling. And this isn’t about her. It’s about Corey, and his family, and their collective grief. It’s about Charles Barrion. It’s about the pain he’s caused, and the injustice he’s wrought.

Somewhere down the street, a sprinkler turns on. It’s a normal moment that feels wrong.

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