Carter was shivering when Bel climbed into bed.
Eyes staring, like she couldnโt remember how to blink, like sheโd never been taught.
Bel pulled the blanket up over her shoulders.ย โItโs OK. Iโm here.โ โWhat if someoneย ๏ฌnds out what I did?โ
Bel rested her feet against Carterโs.ย โYou didnโt do anything. And no one willย ๏ฌnd out. We wonโt let that happen.โ
Carterโs breathing was too shallow, too fast.ย โClose your eyes,โย Bel said.
โThey are.โ
โNo, theyโre not. Just take a few deep breaths.โ โIโm trying.โ
Carted shifted onto her back, eyelidsย ๏ฌuttering, struggling to stay shut.ย โIs she back yet?โ
โNo.โย Bel glanced toward the window, the gaps around the curtains. The darkness was softening outside, brightening, theย ๏ฌrst touch of twilight.ย โBut she will be soon.โ
She had to, before the world woke up and realized Je๏ฌย Price was now missing too. That Price family; had a thing for disappearing, they did.
Carterโs breaths slowed, rattling through her half-closed mouth.
โItโs OK,โย Bel said.ย โYou can go to sleep. Iโll wait. Wonโt let anything happen to you.โ
Carter breathed in and out, almost in the shape of a word. She slept, and Bel waited.
Eyes shut because they were too scratchy, and she didnโt want to watch as dawn slowly crept up on them,ย ๏ฌlling the shadows of her room, creating new ones.
She waited. The hum of the refrigerator just a noise inside her head now, imagined, remembered. Carter sleeping too close to her ear.
Bel was listening, but she didnโt hear. Not until her bedroom door nudged open, shushing against the carpet, silent feet behind it.
She opened her eyes, a blurry half blink before they closed again. Rachel was standing there, in the darkened doorway, watching them. She didnโt leave. She stayed.
Bel could feel her there, a calmness that reached her in this in-between place: asleep-awake, today-tomorrow, sister-daughter.
She couldย ๏ฌnally sleep, now that Mom was home. Now she was here to watch over them both.
Bel breathed out and let go.
โ
Rachel didnโt let them sleep for long.
She came in with co๏ฌee at seven-thirty, sat at the end of the bed, crushed both their feet.
โSorry.โย She shifted, handing one cup to Bel. Her favorite mug. Waited for Carter to rub the sleep from her eyes, then passed hers over.
Bel yawned.
โYou can sleep again later.โย Rachel patted her leg through the comforter.ย โHow did everything go?โ
โAll done my end,โย Bel said.ย โThe footage is gone.โ โAnd mine,โย Carter added.ย โAll the books.โ โGood.โย Rachel smiled, strained at the edges.
Bel sat up.ย โYours?โ
Rachel nodded, a faraway look in her eyes, a deep drop behind them, all the way down the mine.ย โAll done,โย she said, quietly.
It didnโt look like sheโd slept at all. And there was a dark bruise forming on her throat, the blues and reds of a dying universe.
โActually, not all done.โย Rachel sighed.ย โThereโs something else we have to do, together. Carterโฆโย She looked at her younger daughter.ย โWe have to decide what to do about Sherry.โ
โFuck,โย Bel whispered into her co๏ฌee.ย โI didnโt thinkโฆHow will we explain Je๏ฌย going missing? What about Carter, Sherryโs not just going to let you go.โ
โSheโll probably be here soon, looking for Je๏ฌย and Carter, wondering why they never came home,โย Rachel said.ย โI have an idea. But, Carter, I want to know what you want to do. This is the woman you thought was your mom your entire life. I want you to know that itโs OK if you care about her, of course it is. You should be the one to decide.โ
Carter took a sip to give herself time, even though it was too hot; Bel could tell by the tightening of her eyes.
โOK,โย she said, tapping the mug,ย ๏ฌngers always moving.
Rachel told them her idea, talked it through, and Carter decided.
โAre you sure?โย Rachel checked.ย โOnce we do this, we can never go back.โ
Carter cleared her throat.ย โIโm sure.โ
โ
The doorbell rang at twenty past eight. One long held note.
They knew who it was, and they were ready. Bel got up to answer the door.
โAunt Sherry,โย she said, blinking against the morning sun, her eyes craving the darkness again.ย โHow are you?โ
โNot good.โย Sherry shu๏ฌed past her.ย โIs Carter here? She didnโt tell me she was staying over.โย She made her way into the living room, uninvited.
โThere you are. Come on, letโs get going. Not sure where your father is. Did he stay at Grandpaโs?โ
Bel shut the front door and followed Sherry.
Rachel and Carter were sitting on the sofa, Sherry standing in front, purse swinging from her elbow.
โCarter.โย She clicked herย ๏ฌngers, impatient.
โTake a seat, Sherry.โย Rachel gestured toward the armchair. She was wearing one of Belโs sweaters, a blue roll-neck, to hide the bruise on her throat.
โThatโs OK, Rachel,โย Sherry said her name hard, biting down on it.ย โWe have things to do today. Carter has dancing at twelve, then weโโ
โSit down, Sherry.โ
โNo, really, Rachel, thatโs very kind, but we need to get going. Donโt we, Carter?โย Giving her no choice at all. But Carter had already chosen.
Bel passed Sherry, sat on the end of the sofa, Carter in the middle. The three of them against one of her. Sherry was outmatched.ย โSit down,โย Carter said this time, through gritted teeth.
Sherry looked at Rachel instead, narrowing her eyes.
โWhatโs going on?โย She sat but not really, perching at the very end.ย โIs there news, about Charlie?โ
โThis is about you, Sherry. What you did.โ
She frowned.ย โRachel, I didnโt know you were getting a cake too yesterday. I was trying to be helpful.โ
โNot about cake, Sherry.โย Rachel leaned forward, steepled herย ๏ฌngers.ย โThis is about you stealing my daughter.โ
Sherryโs eyes snapped open,ย ๏ฌghting a gasp. Her gazeย ๏ฌicked to Carter.ย โWhat are you talking about?โย she said with a hoarse laugh, pulling her
purse onto her lap, using it as a shield.ย โBel only stayed with us for seven months, after Charlie was arrested.โ
โNot that daughter,โย Rachel said, darkly.ย โThe baby you stole, almost sixteen years ago.โ
Eyes wider still, too much white above and below. Sherry shook her head.ย โI donโtโโ
โYes, you do. Wearing fake bumps so you could pretend she was yours.
She was just two weeks old when Pat took her from me, gave her to you.โย Sherryโs mouth moved, but no words came out.
โWe know everything, Sherry. Je๏ฌย told us. But youโve known a lot longer. Tell me, did you always know Carter was mine? You must have, how else did she look like a Price? Did you know, all this time, that Pat and Charlie had me locked up? That makes you complicit, you know.โ
Sherry pulled her purse into her chest. She was trapped; to deny some of it was to accept the rest.ย โI donโt know what youโre talking about,โย she said, choosing another option altogether.ย โIs this some kind of prankโฆfor the documentary?โ
โNo,โย Carter said.
โWell, itโs not funny, whatever youโre doing,โย Sherry snapped, rising to her feet.ย โCome on, Carter. Stop messing around. You have dancing.โย She grabbed Carterโs arm, tried to pull her up from the sofa.
Carter snatched her hand back.
โNo,ย Aunt Sherry,โย she said, taking aim.
A shift; from shock to anger. It happened quickly.
โDonโt call me that!โย Sherry shouted, a globule of spit falling to her chin.ย โIโm your mom!โ
โNo, youโre not. Rachel is.โ โDonโt be ridiculous.โ
โSherry,โย Rachel said, a low warning growl.ย โItโs over, stopย ๏ฌghting it. Je๏ฌย told us everything last night. Carter is my daughter. You stole her from me.โ
โNo, no, no,โย Sherry said, her denials weakening.ย โI gave birth to that girl. Sheโs my daughter, Rachel. Mine!โ
Rachel cracked her neck, set her jaw, the same way Bel did before aย ๏ฌght.ย โYou wonโt mind if we ask the police to do a DNA test, then, will you? But of course, youโll be going to prison for the rest of your life, because Carter is evidence of what you and Je๏ฌย did to me. Maybe you didnโt know Pat was keeping me, that Carter was my daughter, not until I returned, but thatโs not what it looks like, Sherry. It looks like you and Je๏ฌ
were involved in my abduction and captivity, then you kidnapped my child. The whole family in on it.โย Rachel clicked her tongue.ย โIโm not sure youโre the kind of person who does well in prison.โ
Sherry spluttered, and the anger became something else. She smacked her hands to her face, sobbed into them. Bel couldnโt see any tears.
โStop that,โย Rachel said,ย โthereโs no time. You have a choice to make, Sherry. The same choice I presented to Charlie, and to Je๏ฌย last night.โ
Sherry wiped at her empty eyes.ย โWhere is Je๏ฌ? Whereโs my husband?โ โHeโs gone. He admitted everything to us last night and he left. I gave
him two options. Either I tell the police everything, get Carter tested, and you, Je๏ฌ, Charlie and Pat all go to prison. Or I give you another choice, because youโre family.โย Rachel paused.ย โYou leave and never come back, never contact us again. Start a new life, somewhere else. Charlie took that option a couple of weeks ago. So did Je๏ฌ, last night. Heโs gone.โ
โGone where?โย Sherry wailed.
โHe followed Charlie,โย Rachel said,ย โto Canada. Probably there by now. He wants you to go with him, asked me to explain everything, so you could both start a new life together. Neither of you wants to go to prison, do you?โย Sherry swallowed, a shudder as she forced it down, eyes straying over to
Carter.ย โNo.โ
โYou sure, Sherry?โย She nodded.
โGood. Je๏ฌย will be happy. You canโt contact him but heโs waiting for you. You have to listen closely, Sherry, things you have to do to make this work. First, you need to pack, just a small bag, canโt take everything. Then youโll go to an ATM. Je๏ฌย said to use all the cards, max them out. Get as much cash as you can, youโll need it, and you wonโt be able to access your accounts after this.โ
Sherry stared down at her hands.ย โAre you listening, Sherry?โ โYes,โย she croaked.
Rachel pulled two items out of her back pocket.ย โHe asked me to give you these. His phone, and his car keys.โย Rachel dropped them into Sherryโs
hands.ย โHis car is parked down the street, outside the cemetery. He left it for you, said itโs less conspicuous than yours. Once youโve packed and you have the money, he wants you to drive to Barton in Vermont. His friend BobโRobert Meyerโlives there. You remember Bob?โ
Sherryโs hands closed around Je๏ฌโs phone and keys.
โBob will help you, OK, Sherry? Tell him you and Je๏ฌย are in trouble and you need his help. His phone number and address are in Je๏ฌโs phone. You can turn it on when you get closer. Iโve written them down for you, in case the battery dies.โย The details still memorized from her time in the red truck.ย โBob will get a new passport for you and Je๏ฌ. New names, new identities. Youโll have the cash to pay him, need to wait with him until theyโre done. Je๏ฌย didnโt have time, so you need to do it for him. He was going to stow away on a plane this morning because he wasnโt sure what choice youโd make, wanted to leave the country in case I got the police involved. But youโll both need new identities if this is going to work, so now you have to help him.โ
โOK,โย Sherry sni๏ฌed, like it all made perfect sense.
โWhen your IDs are ready, you drive to a John Mayne air๏ฌeld, just outside Newport. The same place Charlie and Je๏ฌย went to. The address is on that same piece of paper. When you get there, you need to dump all your bank cards and old IDs. Any trash can, no one willย ๏ฌnd them.โย Rachel was a good liar, when she wasnโt lying to Bel, when she needed to, to protect her daughters.ย โYou wonโt need them anymore, and you donโt want any trace of your old life following you there. Then you need to get on a small aircraft thatโs crossing the border. Theyโll ask to see your passport for theย ๏ฌight plan, for the authorities, but thatโsย ๏ฌne, because youโll show them your new ID. Itโll pass all their checks and no one will know it was really you. OK, Sherry?โ
โYes.โย A muscle twitched in her chin.
โOnce you land, wherever you land, you make your way to New Brunswick. Youโre looking for a small town in the north, called Dalhousie. Je๏ฌโs waiting for you there, Charlie too. Itโs a tiny town, youโll be able toย ๏ฌnd them. Itโs a nice place. Beautiful, mountains, quiet. Youโll be happy
there, Sherry. A new life.โย The life the three of them were supposed to have
โRachel, Bel, Carterโand now she was giving it to Sherry.ย โBut once youโre gone, Sherry, you donโt get to come back. Whatever happens. If we hear from you at all, Iโll have no choice but to go straight to the police. Iโm giving you this chance. Donโt waste it.โ
Sherry dropped Je๏ฌโs phone, keys and the small slip of paper into her purse.
โAny questions?โย Rachel stood and Bel helped her, weight on her good ankle.
Carter rose too, and Sherryโs attention drifted up to her.
Her lips twisted, a downward curve.ย โNone of this is my fault, you know.
I love you, Carter. Only ever tried to do the best for you.โ
โThatโs not a question,โย Carter said,ย ๏ฌddling, making mountains into valleys in the fabric of her sweatpants.
Sherryโs eyes werenโt empty anymore. Sheโd forced one tear to the surface, a slow crawl down her cheek.ย โDo you really want me to go? I raised you.โ
โNo, you didnโt,โย Carter said, voice small, keeping it almost to herself.ย โBel raised me. Youย canย choose your family. And I choose them. Iโm sorry.โ
Sherry wiped the tear away, let it trail down herย ๏ฌnger.
โItโs time to go, Sherry.โย Rachel nodded her head, just once. Not unkind, even though she had every right.
Sherry didnโt say another word; she knew she was beaten, that sheโd lost. Bel thought she might have put up more of aย ๏ฌght, like a mom was supposed to: bared teeth and glittering eyes.
Sherry hugged her purse to her chest and turned toward the hallway. They followed, Rachel leaning on Bel, staggering beside her.
Sherry pulled open the front door, paused on theย ๏ฌrst step. She turned back, eyes only for Carter.ย โBye, then,โย she said, her lip threatening to go, taking her eyes with it, and her feet.
โBye,โย Carter said, theย ๏ฌrst crack in her voice. Her eyes told the truth; this goodbye was harder than she thought. Maybe sheโd cry later, maybe they all would.
They stood in the doorway, their family of three, all that was left now, and they watched Sherry leave. Down the steps, down the street.
Carter broke free, leaning out for that last look, holding on for just a little longer, waiting until she was really gone.
โWhat about Grandpa?โย she asked, to hide it.ย โI know Charlie started this, but Grandpa played a big part. He made his choices.โ
Rachel wrapped her arm around her younger daughterโs shoulders, other hand reaching for Bel.
โHe did make his choices, and I hate him for what he did to us. Butโฆit seems almost cruel, to punish an old man who canโt remember any of the horri๏ฌc things heโs done.โย Rachel bit down on her lip, ghost imprints of her teeth when she let go.ย โHe doesnโt have long left. We wonโt visit. But Iโll keep paying for Yordan to take care of him, some comfort in the end. Saving him, but not really saving him. Heโll die alone and confused. I think thatโs enough. Do you?โ
Bel nodded.
Carter looked at her sister and nodded too.
They had to decide these things, together, as a family. Make their choices, to undo all the ones made for them.
Across the street, the door to number 32 opened, Ms. Nelson standing in her doorway, like they stood in theirs, watching them. A mother and her two daughters, though no one would ever know that, not even her, no matter how much she watched.
Bel raised a hand, waved, and Ms. Nelson waved back.
โStop being nice,โย Carter hissed.ย โWeโre supposed to act normal.โ โIโm sometimes nice.โ
They turned to her, her mom, her sister, the same look in their eyes. Bel smiled.ย โYouโre right, that was physically painful.โ
Rachel laughed, twirled herย ๏ฌnger in the ends of Belโs hair.ย โYouโll live, Bel.โ
And Mom was right; she would.
