Page 21 of The Followers

“I guess so. I’ve never seen a picture of her.”

Never? Molly swallowed back her disappointment in Scott. “Would you like to have it?”

Ella hesitated. “I don’t think my dad will want me to. He doesn’t like being reminded of her.”

Molly’s heart constricted at the longing in Ella’s voice. No matter how much Scott was hurting, he should have understood his daughter needed to feel connected to her mother. Turning, she rummaged through the closet until she found a frame that would fit.

“How about this,” Molly said, putting the picture inside. “You can keep it for now, and I’ll talk to your dad about it when he gets back.”

Ella glanced at the picture frame again, hesitating. Then, with a swift motion, she took it and headed down the hall to her room.

Later that night, Molly went to Chloe’s room and tucked her into bed.

“This is your last night as a four-year-old,” she told Chloe.

Chloe nodded and snuggled against Bitsy. Molly had brought their gentle, dopey dog home from the Humane Society when Chloe was just six months old. The dog had been with them through the best and worst times of their lives. Chloe’s tiny hands stroked her fur.

“Tomorrow I’ll be bigger and bigger.”

“Yep, you’ll be five years old. A whole hand.” She held up her hand, and Chloe pressed her small palm against it.

“And we’ll have my awesome unicorn party,” Chloe said. Awesome was her favorite word lately.

“Absolutely,” Molly said, kissing her forehead.

“Sing me my favorite song,” Chloe said.

Molly couldn’t say no to that. She heaved Chloe onto her lap, the little girl’s legs dangling, and rocked her back and forth. She was thrilled about starting their new life with Scott and Ella, but sometimes a small part of her missed the way things had been. Back when it was just Molly and Chloe and Bitsy, all the time.

She started Chloe’s favorite song, about the bear that went over the mountain to see what he could see—except Molly always changed the “he” to a “she” because she didn’t want Chloe to grow up thinking her experience as a girl was less important than a boy’s. And when the bear got to the other side, what did she see? Just another mountain. Always another mountain.

Molly liked to imagine that bear as a mother with a cub, wandering the forest, searching for a comfortable valley to rest in. Molly understood. Her life for the past five years had been a never-ending series of mountains. But now, with Scott, she didn’t have to face them alone.

She kissed Chloe goodnight and lifted her into bed. Then she slipped into Ella’s room, where she had fallen asleep with a book across her chest. Hoopi, on the floor near her bed, raised his massive tan and black head, ears alert. Guarding his girl child until his master returned.

Molly lifted the book off Ella and set it on her nightstand—next to the framed picture of a newborn Ella with her parents.

Molly smiled and turned out the light as she shut the door.

ten

So far, all I know is the town you live in and the name of the woman you married. Lucky for me, your wife is an imbecile who posts everything she does online. Shouldn’t be too difficult to locate you.

At some point I’ll need to go to Durango, but not yet. I have time to scope out the area, to watch your wife online to see what other details she drops about you. To gather information about her, too—her daily routine, the places she visits, the people she associates with.

Why did you marry this woman, this Molly Sullivan? She seems like a nice human being, too nice to be dragged into your mess.

(I’m using the term “married” loosely here, since she isn’t actually married to you. To Sam Howard.)

Maybe you’re just lonely. Maybe you wanted a normal life, the kind of easy, predictable domesticity you’ve never had. Which, let’s be honest, is your own damn fault. Kristina told you to stay away from her, and you should have listened. Kristina would still be alive, and you would still be Sam Howard, and I would be... well, I guess I wouldn’t be stalking the internet looking for you, would I?

I wonder if you understand what you have. What you took that night.

I’m guessing not, because if you did, you could’ve used it long ago. Still, you could figure it out at any time. And that would destroy everything I’ve worked for.

You made a mistake that night, Sam, and soon you’ll have to face the consequences.

eleven

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