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that followed was long. Heavy.
    “Paige?”
    “I’m here.” When she spoke again, her voice was quieter. “What do you mean, boiling?”
    “Bubbling. Swirling. Like it sat over an enormous pit of fire.”
    “But how did they—? How could they possibly—”
    “Know about what happened last fall? When we were all so careful to make sure no one found out?”
    “Yes. Charlotte sweet-talked the police who were there, right? So they wouldn’t say anything. Were the other houses on the lake not totally empty, the way we’d thought?” As if to convince herself, she added, “But that’s okay. If someone saw, they probably blamed it on more weird weather. And whoever was there today was just curious.”
    I paused. “That’s not all they were talking about.”
    She swallowed. “What else?”
    I closed my eyes, remembered the hushed, excited voices. “Ladies of the sea,” I practically whispered. “Otherwise known—”
    There was a loud
bang
on her end of the phone. She screamed. I jumped.
    “Vanessa, I hate to ask, but can I call you back? Louis is granting us all the pleasure of another world-renowned temper tantrum.”
    “Of course,” I said, slightly relieved. Just because we neededto talk about what I’d heard didn’t mean I wanted to. “Good luck. Call me when you can.”
    We said good-bye and hung up. I looked across the yard and saw my parents still in the kitchen; I quickly dialed our new home phone number and watched Mom take the cordless from the wall. I assured her I was fine but just a little tired, and asked if we could postpone our family sit-down till later tonight. When she agreed, I hung up and went inside my bedroom.
    My brand-new bedroom. With its new four-poster bed. Its new dresser and desk made out of newly reclaimed wood. Its new comforter, pillows, paint, and area rug. Its new stone-and-tile bathroom.
    It was unlike any bedroom I’d ever called my own. It should be the perfect place to start over, move forward. The way Mom wanted me to. The way
I
wanted to.
    The question was, would it be enough?
    Trying to answer the question was exhausting. So, still wearing my damp swimsuit, I climbed into bed, pulled the blankets over my head, and slid both hands underneath the pillow.
    Where I’d put the Bates sweatshirt and water bottle. They were the first things I’d seen when I woke up, alone, after passing out at the lake house that afternoon. They didn’t belong to me, but I’d taken them anyway.
    Because they were Simon’s.

C HAPTER 5
 
    “T ABLE FOR TWO, PLEASE.”
    “Betty!” I closed the
Winter Harbor Herald
and hurried out from behind the hostess stand. “Paige didn’t tell me you were coming by.”
    “That’s because she didn’t know.” Paige’s grandmother opened her arms and gave me a squeeze. “But it was so nice out, I decided to come see these amazing renovations she’s been talking about.”
    Our eyes met as we pulled apart. Hers were clear, bright—like a cloudless blue sky. They looked nothing like they had this time last summer, when Raina and Zara had locked Betty away and kept her severely dehydrated until her body weakened and her vision began to fail. They were also clearer than they’d been last fall, after she’d regained her strength but was still being manipulated by the resurrected sirens. Paigehad said her vision was still compromised, but the sight made me so happy, I gave her another hug.
    “Next time tell me the circus is in town, so I can bring peanuts,” Oliver, Betty’s boyfriend, joked as he scanned the paint cans and tarps spread throughout the lobby.
    “It can’t be that bad,” Betty said.
    “Compared to a tornado’s destruction? No. You’re right.”
    I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “It’s nice to see you, Oliver.”
    His face softened. “Vanessa. Hello. Don’t mind me, I’m just—”
    “Looking out for his family’s best interest.” Paige strode toward us through the dining room. “As always.”
    “Can you