Page 107 of Seven Days in June

Shane was able to live a lusty, unencumbered life, because he answered to no one. His books read the way they did—airy, untethered, allvibe—because that was who he was. Defiantly ungrounded and not accountable to anyone. He didn’t have to check in or be present or keep his promises.

What they had was inarguable, and Eva couldn’t fault him for falling back in love with her. But she did fault him for making her believe that he was ready for it.

And making Audre believe it.

She made place cards. She was so excited to see me excited.

Caught somewhere between her feelings of humiliation, rage, and sadness, Eva excused herself and headed to the ladies’. She felt tears coming and couldn’t let Audre see. Once she was in the bathroom, not a tear fell—staring in the mirror, she screwed her face up twelve different ways to no avail.

You colossal idiot, she told herself, her expression ice cold.How many times do you need to be taught this lesson?

Standing in line at the Delta check-in, Eva felt a pang of desperation at how much she’d miss her daughter. The past week had been a flurry of emergencies, but Audre, as always, would be all right. She had a place at Cheshire Prep next year. She’d have a ball with her dad all summer and maybe get (even more) radicalized at her stepmom’s woke spa. Maybe she’d have her first taste of puppy love. Without Eva by her side. But it was okay, because she knew that she was raising a strong, smart, self-possessed daughter who could fend for herself. Her baby was growing up.

Holding hands, Eva and Audre walked to the line at security. It was time for her baby’s summer to start. Eva swept Audre into a mighty, bone-crushing hug.

“Goodbye, my honey,” she said, letting go. “Have the best time, okay? And be safe.”

“I will—don’t worry,” Audre said with a smile. “And Mom?”

“Yes?”

“I know you made up the IKEA excuse for Shane. I know you’re sad he didn’t come. But give him a chance. He’s a good person. Iknowhe is, and I’m anincrediblejudge of character. You push stuff away that isn’t safe and obvious, Mom, but love isn’t safe and obvious. Love is risky. Take the risk, woman.”

Flabbergasted, Eva didn’t even know which part of this speech to address. So instead, she dissolved into nervous, breathy laughter. “How on earth would you know that love’s risky?”

Audre rolled her eyes. “Hello? I knowLemonadeby heart.”

With that, her very wise little girl was gone. And then Eva took a Lyft directly from LaGuardia Airport to 81 Horatio Street. She rang the doorbell twice. He didn’t answer.

Eva felt it in her bones. He was long gone.

***

Shanewaslong gone. That morning, around 7:00 a.m., he’d awoken to relentless ringing. He’d sprung up, feeling around in the dark for his phone, instantly thinking something had happened to Eva.

“Eva? You good?”

“Hi, Mr. Hall. This is Officer Reid, from the Providence Police Department.”

“Who?”

“Providence, Rhode Island,” the gruff male voice said by way of explanation.

“Okay.” He ran his hand over his face and sank back into the pillows. “Why are you calling so early?”

Why are you calling me at all?he thought, with a sudden rush of dread.

“Well, I have some unfortunate news.”

In seconds, he was wide awake.

“Ty.”

“Yes.”

“What happened to Ty?”

“I’m calling from RI Hospital. Ty was in an accident earlier yesterday afternoon. A scuffle with another teen out on parole. He was shot several times, and…and it’s not looking good.”

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