She inhaled on a hitch of breath. “I thought we were doing okay. We even went to counseling, and then she kept up solo sessions with the therapist. But it turned out she was just holding her rage inside all this time.”

“Is there anything else you know about what might’ve happened to my mother?”

Alice shook her head. “She was such a good friend to me and I’ve always regretted that the last words I said to her were angry. Nina helped me. She would’ve helped Diana, too, if she’d had the chance.”

The entire world went silent. “With reaching Sarah? Diana’s sister?”

“What? Oh, no.” Alice gestured toward the bottle of water on the bedside table. It had a straw poking out the top.

She took a couple of deep draws after I held it to her lips. “Thank you.”

“You were saying, about Diana.”

“You know I used to work at the same private hospital as Calvin, right? Back at the start of my career, before I specialized in the ER.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“I was in a different department, but gossip travels. Anyway, I started hearing that he had a thing with one of the other doctors. Didn’t really pay much attention because that type of gossip is always going around, and Calvin’s such a straight arrow—but then I saw them kissing.”

So, Trixi and Lexi hadn’t been blowing smoke up my ass. “You told Diana?”

“I was torn. I mean, she loves Calvin so much and the other doctor was married, too, with little kids. I didn’t want to destroy Diana’s marriage because of a short affair.” She raised her unbroken arm to wipe the tears off her face. “I asked Nina what I should do.”

I couldn’t predict what my mother’s answer might’ve been. She’d known her own husband was cheating and had stayed in the marriage out of a mix of spite and who knew what other toxic emotion. “What did she say?”

“She got really quiet, then said, ‘Diana’s happy. Let’s not throw a grenade into her marriage if it’s just a fling.’ I got the impression she was really sad, because Diana was the one we both used to tease for having the perfect husband.”

“So you never told Diana?”

“No, but Nina said I should keep an eye on Calvin and the other doctor, in case things changed. The other doctor ended up dying suddenly of a heart attack not long afterward, so I was glad we never mentioned it.” Alice held my gaze. “I’ve kept the secret all this time. Diana’s the kindest person I know and she’s had enough to deal with, with her sister being so awful to her.”

“Did she ever say what caused the break between them?”

Alice glanced away, then back. “No, but I was a young woman madly in love when I first came to the Cul-de-Sac, and the way Calvin looked at Sarah . . . that was the way Cora used to look at me.”

The silence turned into a roar. “You think Sarah had an affair with Calvin?”

“Sarah would’ve never.” Alice’s voice was fierce. “She was devoted to Diana. But the way Diana always takes the blame for the fight, I think she might’ve accused her sister of it. That would’ve broken Sarah’s heart.”

I nodded, Diana’s guilt-ridden voice whispering in my mind, talking of faith and broken promises. “I can see how it might’ve played out.” A baseless accusation that had permanently ripped apart the bond between two sisters.

The door opened, Elei’s and Shanti’s voices preceding the two women. I sat back and let them take over the conversation. I had plenty to think about.

 

* * *

 

—

When my phone beeped at around eight, an hour after we’d arrived back at my father’s house, I glanced at it to see an alert for a message from a VIP email address. I had very few people on that list, but I’d added Sarah to it after Mia forwarded me her address.

I scrambled to open up the email. It had just been sent:

Aarav, what an unexpected message. It’s been a while. How are you? I saw the news about your mum. I’m sorry.

 

I replied quickly, hoping she was still online.

Thanks, can I give you a call?

 

The response downloaded only seconds later.

It’s not convenient right now, but we can talk this way. Did you have a particular reason for getting in touch?

I was talking to Mia and thought it’d be nice if I could arrange a meeting between you and your sister.

 

The answer took time.

That’s sweet of you, Aarav, but it’s been too long. I like my life and I don’t really want to go back into the past. I’ve moved on.

Even from your family?

My family always had weird dynamics. It’s better this way. We don’t hurt each other anymore.

 

I stared down at the screen.

Diana really misses you. She almost cried when talking to me about you. Whatever she did, she’s sorry about it.

 

Another long wait for a reply.

I trusted her and she broke my trust. You can’t fix that.

Is that why you tore up her roses?

It was an immature thing to do, but I was immature back then. I saw them as I was leaving and just ripped them out. Got my hands torn up by thorns, but I didn’t care. I hope her roses are thriving now.

They are. Sarah, can we talk again?

Email me anytime. I have to go now. Bye, Aarav.

 

I sat there staring at the screen for long moments. When my stomach rumbled, I ate half a bag of the fudge in my desk drawer while considering Sarah’s words. Was she right? Should I take her lead and stop walking back into the past? Should I let sleeping dogs lie?

The answer was easy: no, not so long as my mother’s killer roamed free.