“Caro told you—” Ada said.
“I know enough,” Beau said. He sat in the chair next to Ada and she offered him a beer. He took it and drank. “I was real close to telling that cop to his face that I’d wanted to kill Trey myself. Honestly? I just wish y’all had told me about it in advance so I could’ve helped.”
“That’s the same thing I said to Ada. I don’t even want to think about what could’ve gone wrong…what he could’ve done to them if it’d gone sideways,” Grayson said, rubbing his face. Ada knew that move and heard the change in his voice. Grayson wasn’t scared of a lot of things, but he’d do anything to protect her and the boys. Ada had seen that what-if fear in his eyes when she had told him what they’d done. It was the only thing he’d been angry about, really—that Trey could’ve killed her or Rosemarie or Kasey. That he wouldn’t have been there to stop it.
“So don’t. We don’t have to think about it,” Ada said, putting her hand on her husband’s knee. Hoping the words we don’t have to think about it would help put an end to her own intrusive thoughts.
“Damn. Y’all love people the way people are supposed to,” Beau said. “That’s how you’re supposed to love your friends, your family. Anything less and what’s the point?”
“You can’t tell anyone any of this,” Ada said to him.
“I’m an outlaw, Ada; don’t worry about me,” Beau said, smiling at her. “I ain’t saying shit.”
“I’m an outlaw undercover for about another month,” Silas said, causing Beau to let out an easy laugh. The boys shook hands. Beau asked Silas if he’d ever put anyone in handcuffs besides Trey, and Silas said no, but he was tempted the one time he saw Lawrence Acklin going a smidge too fast on his horse.
“There wasn’t another choice here,” Grayson said after some quiet, touching Ada’s knee for reassurance, just in case she needed it, and she did. She was so grateful for their telepathy; she put her hand on his.
“Y’all, I can’t even picture being in New York right now,” Kasey said. “Like, being out here…Goldie on a summer night…I feel like a completely different person. I don’t know which part feels more like the dream, though. Here or the city. Just listen to that,” she said, tilting her head. They sat there with the sound of the water, the low hum of the night, all of it churning around them the same way it had when they were growing up. The same way it would when they were gone.
“I like you,” Silas said, putting his arm around her.
“I like you too,” Kasey said, leaning in.
“Will you tell your auntie that we’ll owe her forever?” Ada asked Beau. “I want this all to be fucking over.”
“I’m betting it will all be over soon. This is for y’all and this is for Caro, but also, this is bigger than all that. It’s bigger than everything, honestly,” Beau said.
2018
52
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Hey Ladies
I’m bummed we can’t all find a time to meet up anytime soon. I know everyone is busy, though! And Kase, Caro told us you’re not able to come back to Goldie for the wedding this Christmas and I know how much I hated not having you here when Grayson and I got married. It’s hard without you here! I don’t want to make you feel bad about it, but you know it’s not the same without you, and we all want to meet Devon too. Maybe next year when Taylor and Ben get married? I’m genuinely keeping my fingers crossed for that, although I know it’s a long shot. I know there are things here you’d rather forget…
I miss RACK. I barely get to take a breath with work and the boys. Earlier today I was thinking of those days between junior and senior year when we’d launch our rafts off the Castelow lake house dock and float all day. Remember that?
Let’s promise we’ll do that again. One day.
I love you so much.
RF.
Ada
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected],
Subject: Re: Hey Ladies
I wish we could get together soon too! I haven’t even seen much of Esme lately, she’s working so much on film stuff.
Leo was in town last week. He was playing a string of shows on the coast.
I’ll deffo be at the wedding, Caro! I cannot BELIEVE you’re marrying Trey Foxberry!!!? Maybe now we’ll learn the secrets about why we’ve never known anything about him. And MAKE SURE he knows that if he ever hurts you, we’ll kill him! ☺
Of course I remember Raft Summer, Ada!
Also, I promise.
LOVE AND RF.
Roses
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hey Ladies
RAFT SUMMER!!! squeal I promise too. Let’s do Raft Summer ASAP!! Kasey, it’s mandatory, so no excuses.
And yeah…becoming Mrs. Trey Foxberry…I didn’t see that on my Bingo card either, but here we go.
Kasey, my heart is broken you can’t be here, but I understand. Or I’m trying my best to understand!! I’ll miss you so much.
LOVE AND RACK FOREVER.
Caro
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hey Ladies
I’m sorry I can’t be there but! Just picture it’s Raft Summer again and we’re not busy anymore and nothing bad ever happened in Goldie. It’s only us and the lake. The Chicks and Popsicles. Caro’s chocolate chip cookies and Ada’s strawberry lemonade. “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé + that day Caro’s bikini strap broke and she had to run up to the lake house to fix it! Me and Rosemarie mega-stoned on her dad’s weed, pretending like we were Ariel from Little Mermaid…that same night the boys were lighting off fireworks and Mateo kept playing the one Coldplay song he knows over and over again on Leo’s guitar. Also, Ada, you made the BEST tacos that night. I’ll remember those tacos forever.
We can make it all happen in 2019! Let’s plan for 2019, somewhere! I promise.
I love y’all so much.
RACK FOREVER.
X
Kase
2019
53
Lucinda Bramford: Coroner
（Additional Notes）
Although the final autopsy report will not be available for six to eight weeks, my preliminary findings （which conflict with the Foxberrys’ independent findings） are that Mr. Maxwell Mason Foxberry III died as a result of drowning.
He appears to have suffered no real harm to his body before his death. The scratching and bruising as well as the damage to his skull appear to have occurred postmortem when his body went over the falls and （presumably） hit the rocks.
Lysergic acid diethylamide （LSD） as well as traces of Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata were found in his system according to the hair test results. Traces of opioids were also found.
The stomach contained mushroom lasagna, pecan pie, a hamburger, and fries.