Page 20

Chapter Twenty

I head onto the deck just as a pop-up thunderstorm storm passes over South Haven.

The weather can be such an ironic little bugger, can’t it, knowing exactly when to match your mood?

A line of clouds marches toward the shore. Lightning flashes, and the lake illuminates as if being lit by a strobe.

An errant firework pops near the lighthouse and its boom echoes over the lake. I see the silhouette of a boy dashing about in circles, excited that his contraband Fourth of July loot can still be used.

The wind gusts, and an acorn from a towering oak hovering over the house ricochets off the deck.

“The acorn wasn’t buried deeply enough, GiGi,” I say out loud. “Let’s start at the very beginning, shall we?”

Over the water, the horizon brightens.

A sign?

Another firework explodes.

The little boy is armed and ready.

My cell rings. Jess.

Do we have enough ammunition to win a war?

As soon as I answer, I tell her about my call with Marcus, word for word.

Then I tell her of my plan.

“You actually might be smarter than he is,” she says. “And by smarter, I mean demented. Emma, that’s genius.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“And I have a plan of my own. I rented the Hamptons house Mom and Dad wanted to buy through Labor Day.”

“What? Why?” I can’t deal with the thought of selling Eyebrow Cottage right now.

“Hear me out,” Jess says. “Someone had to take it off the market until Mom and Dad came to their senses. They think Marcus is their savior. They were going to buy the house, Emma, and that would have been a nightmare considering what’s happening. I signed a short-term lease to give us some time.”

“How did Mom react?”

“Let’s just say I now know what it’s like to be in Mom’s line of fire. She actually told me that you were the grown-up now.”

I laugh.

“She’s coming to her senses,” I say. “But how can you afford to rent that place? I’m sure it was outrageous.”

“It was,” Jess says. “But it’s better than losing everything. And I just signed some big, new clients.” She waits a beat. “Actually, Marcus signed me to help with his new book, and he’s paying me well. I think he not only wants to stay on top more than ever but that he wants to keep me under his thumb until this is all a done deal. He thinks he has the Page sisters all figured out, but we’re a chapter ahead.”

“Are we?” I ask weakly.

“For now,” Jess says. “I do think the Hamptons house is a good ruse. I casually mentioned to Marcus that mom and dad signed a lease-to-own deal. He laughed, saying how bad their credit must be, but now he believes they’re still spending wildly, still about to buy the house and have zero concerns about anything. It also makes it look like you haven’t said a word either.”

Jess takes a breath and continues.

“You said that we were going to go old-school on him and new school on him. What’s that mean exactly?”

She explains, and I laugh.

“You know what you need to do next, don’t you?” she asks.

“I do. I’ll call VV immediately. I’ve been waiting for your Bat-Signal. But I will have to tell her everything. You know that.”

“I do, and you know what’s ironic?” Jess asks. “I actually trust her. She may not like me, or Mom and Dad, but she hates Marcus even more. And she’s old-school. She’s ethical. She knows the difference between right and wrong.” Jess hesitates. “Just tell her to stay sober. I worry what she might say after a martini.” She hesitates again. “Or four.”

“Right,” I say. “That’ll be easy, like telling a Swiftie to boycott Taylor’s music.”