It had survived every winter since.
“Ellen,” Patricia said.
“Are you there?”
“Yes,” I said.
“I’m here.”
“This is going to become public.
Once charges are filed, it will be in the local news.
People who knew Daniel, who knew your family — they’ll see it.”
“I know.”
“Are you ready for that?”
I looked at the lavender.
Chloe had been right about it.
“I’ve been ready since the morning Ava showed me that jacket,” I said.
The charges were filed on a Friday.
Vehicular manslaughter.
Obstruction of justice.
Filing a false police report.
Coercion of a minor witness.
Daniel’s name appeared in the local paper online that evening.
My sister called within the hour.
Then my neighbor.
Then a woman from Chloe’s old school who I hadn’t spoken to in three years.
I let most of the calls go to voicemail.
I called my sister back and talked for an hour.
