Marty stood in the doorway. His hair was disheveled, his face crawling with a wiry black beard. His clothes looked like they had been slept in for at least a week. His complexion was pale and waxy. And the dark circles beneath his eyes made every expression more sinister. “Go back inside,” Marty said.
Isabel led her sister back into the portable, both of their heads down.
“I’m sorry,” Sarah said. “I didn’t mean—"
“I don’t care what you meant,” Marty said. “I don’t want you talking to my children or giving them instructions to do anything. They are not your responsibility.”
“Mr. Schwartz,” Sarah said, speaking as respectfully as she could, “I’m incredibly sorry for the loss of your wife. I knew Ali from my visits at the fire station and every time you guys came over for dinner. She was a wonderful person. And this world is a far darker place without her.” “
“I don’t need your condolences,” Marty said. “And I don’t need you thinking that you know what’s best for my family.”
“No, I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes,” Sarah said. “I just came here to tell you about a memorial that we’re holding in Ali’s honor. We would like you and the girls to attend, and if you’d like, you could say a few words.”
Sarah didn’t know if Marty was going to scream at her or cry, but when he finally spoke, he was struggling to remain calm.
“I don’t have anything else to say about what happened to my wife,” Marty said. “I don’t want any memorial. And I don’t want your family using my wife’s death as some rallying cry for the community.”
“Mr. Schwartz—" the door was slammed in her face before Sarah could finish. She stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door, listening to the girls whisper to her father about how they wanted to go outside.
Sarah half expected Mr. Schwartz to be just as angry and forceful with his daughters as he had been with her, but he was incredibly calm and quiet as he spoke to them. It wasn’t the tone of a man who was a danger to himself or his family but of someone who needed to remain in control of what small measures he could take to keep his family safe.
Sarah stepped off of the front porch and walked away. She had never seen Mr. Schwartz so upset, but considering the circumstances, it was understandable. She considered letting him cool off a bit and come back to try again, but she wasn’t sure how far she should push her luck. The man looked like he was already on edge, and there was only so much punishment one person’s psyche could take.
“Sarah!”
Sarah looked up from her clipboard and saw Rachel jogging toward her. She had been avoiding her aunt because of the situation between her and Cole. She should have known better than to think she could have avoided her forever. “Hey.”
Rachel smiled. “I’m glad I caught up with you. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
Sarah’s aunt had never been one to shy away from a bold confrontation, something she always attributed to her red hair. Rachel and Sarah’s mother didn’t look much alike, and they didn’t act alike either.
“What’s up?” Sarah asked.
“I know Cole told you about our relationship,” Rachel said.
It was rare for Rachel to show signs of remorse or regret. She’d always been the kind of woman who enjoyed living life on the edge. She was a risktaker, but as Sarah saw her aunt flush with embarrassment and avoid eye contact, she knew just how difficult this was for her.
“We should’ve told you,” Rachel said. “But you have to understand that it wasn’t just your father’s decision to keep it a secret from you. It was mine as well. So, if you’re going to be mad at him, you need to be mad at me.”
“I am mad at you,” Sarah said. “You kept this a secret from me for six months. While we were living together!” She was yelling, but the anger felt false because it had already run its course. “But I know the both of you were trying to protect me in case it didn’t work out.”
Rachel nodded. “We thought it best that if we ended things that it was better that you never knew something had existed at all.”
“So, it’s serious then?” Sarah asked.
Rachel smiled, brightening her expression. “Yes. Very serious.”
Sarah knew that staying angry with both of them wasn’t going to help matters. It was time to move on. “I’m over it. Really. Even though I still think you should have told me what was going on, I understand the secrecy.”
A sound that was half-relief and half-happiness escaped Rachel’s throat. She reached for Sarah’s hand and squeezed it firmly. “Thank you,” Rachel said. “Your father and I, when we first got together, we thought it was a mistake. We were both prepared to end it, for you, for your mother, for the whole family. We understood the risk we were taking in us coming together. And you and Cole were becoming so close, I didn’t want to ruin that.”
“You really love him?” Sarah asked.
Rachel wiped away a tear, and for once, she did not downplay the emotions she was feeling. “I do.”
“I’m happy for you,” Sarah said.
Rachel lunged toward Sarah and wrapped her in a big hug. “Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that from you.” She kissed Sarah’s cheek. “Anytime you need to talk, I’m always here. You know that.”
“I know,” Sarah said. “And if I’m being honest, I’ve missed our late-night chats.”
Sarah had been living with Rachel while she attended college in Charlotte. The pair had grown very close, almost like a pair of sisters. Rachel had always been the fun one in the family. Sarah could
