Page 99 of Darling Beasts

Scanning the room, I saw there were thirty or forty people at this party, more guests than years I’d lived. Bailey, the girlwho gave me the idea to create the Collective, looked over and gave a small wave. My heart quickened. Sydney called this a welcome back, but it felt more like starting over.

“Here you go,” Sydney said, handing me a Shirley Temple. “Thought it’d be fun. Whimsical.”

“It’s perfect,” I said, and we clinked glasses. As I took a sip, something caught my attention near the door. A pair of identical figures walked through. My heart—all of my organs, maybe—leapt up into my throat.

“Diane!” I yelled, flying at her for one chaotic moment before stopping short. In front of me stood a set of twins, identical, right down to their clipped brown bobs. I knew about Diane’s sister, but she lived in Canada and we’d never met, so this was freaking me out. After looking back and forth between them, I hugged the twin on the left.

“It’s so good to see you,” Diane said, squeezing me tight, confirming I’d guessed correctly. This woman smelled likeDiane, like a wool sweater and Herbal Essences and a hint of that morning’s perfume. “Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so effusive.”

“New year, new me,” I said, stepping back. “I can’t believe this is the first time I’m meeting your sister. It’s so weird to see another Diane.” The two even dressed alike—dark jeans, boots, and a silky “going out top,” as Diane would’ve called it. Diane’s was blue and purple, and her sister’s was green, and they both had camel-colored coats. The sister was wearing hers, while Diane’s was slung over an arm.

“Dawn was at your high school graduation party,” Diane informed me. “But she didn’t stay long.”

“Oh, right! Silly me!” This explained why halfway through, I’d pulled Ozzie aside to report Diane was “trying to fuck with me” by changing clothes. We’d had a teensy bit of weed before the ceremony, so I’d chalked it up to that.

“Bill wanted me to tell you happy birthday,” Diane said.“He’s sorry he couldn’t be here.” He was in Florida, on a golf trip, with his college buddies. “So. Do tell.” She put a hand on her hip. “What’s this ‘new year, new me’ business? What’s changed?”

“Everything? Nothing?” I laughed. “Who the hell knows? Oh! I have a dog now. He’s at the house. Jindos are runners, so I’m not taking any chances.”

“Yes, I’m familiar with the dog. I want to hear aboutyou. You’ve been quite MIA, my friend. Did you move to California and memory hole your past life?”

She said this jokingly, and with a smile, but her eyes hadn’t come along for the ride. I glanced at Dawn, who stood there listening. They were identical, but Diane was obviously the better twin. I couldn’t explain how I knew. I just did.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I wanted to call you a million times but was giving you space. It felt wrong to bother you since you didn’t work for us anymore.”

“It’s kind of insulting that you deem our relationship nothing more than an employment arrangement,” Diane said, crossing her arms. “For the record, I could’ve left at any time, but I stayed, even as your dad kept ratcheting down my pay.”

This caught me by surprise. “He did?”

Diane nodded. “And rightly so. Who was I nannying?” She frowned. “I’m sorry about his heart attack, by the way. I’m glad he’s on the mend.”

As it turned out, Diane had known about the heart condition all along, which was why she’d pushed me to go to California, not because she considered meeting dos Santos so important. “I knew you wouldn’t find an antidote or anything,” she’d said, laughing, when she told me last week over the phone.Oh, boy, I thought,wait until she hears about the Raj saga.

“Anyway, no more ghosting, okay?” Diane said now, pulling me into a hug. “Let’s keep in touch like regular friends.”

It was all I wanted this whole time.

As Diane began to ask about the PBS and what dos Santos was like, a small woman walked in carrying a very large... poster? Whatever it was, it bonked every person within a one-foot radius.

“Is that...” Diane said as we all squinted. “I didn’t know your sister was flying all the way out from California. What a surprise!”

Chapter Seventy

Talia

Maybe the prop was a bad idea. The party guests certainly thought so, given all the dirty looks.Here’s a tip... maybe move out of the way?Sorry to Gabby, but theater nerds were weird. Speaking of Gabby, where was...?

“I can’t believe you came,” Gabby said, swooping in out of nowhere, trying to hug her around the awkwardly sized gift. “For one dumb birthday. There has to be a better use of your time and money.”

“It seemed like a great use of both to me.”

Things had been quiet at the Ranch, with Dad’s surgery, and Thanksgiving, and orders to curtail his schedule. Talia wasn’t sure what would happen next. His polling numbers hadn’t improved, and the coffers were draining, but he remained in it. Marston Gunn was never great at admitting defeat.

“Is that for me?” Gabby said, inspecting the present, which Talia had wrapped in shiny white paper and tied with a red bow. “So mysterious! Gimme.” She put out a hand.

“Um...” Talia’s eyes flicked around the room. In her excitement, she hadn’t thought this through. “It’s probably better if you open it in private?”

“Ugh! You’re so difficult!” Gabby said, dragging Talia toward the door. “I’m stumped about what this could be. You’re not really an arts and crafts girlie. Oh!” Her brown eyes went wide.“Are these the HR posters you’re always harassing me about? Now everyone at SHCC will be fully informed of our veterans’ benefits and services, or lack thereof. Only you would give me compliance for my birthday, and I love you for it.”

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