Gemma snorted. “You think getting a divorce will make us feel safe?”
“I think it will show you that sometimes you have to move on,” Brian said. “Sometimes bad things happen, and it’s nobody’s fault, but you can’t dwell on them. You have to make the best of this life, and I don’t think I’ve been a good example of that.”
“We know you tried the best you could, Dad.” Harper smiled wanly at him.
“That hasn’t been good enough,” he said.
“So what’s going to happen to Mom now?” Gemma asked.
“I talked to the lawyer that was handling Bernie’s estate, and your mom actually qualifies for more benefits if we’re divorced,” Brian said. “She’ll be eligible for better care.”
“So she’s going to move?” Gemma asked.
Brian shook his head. “No, no. That was a big condition. I would never go through with this if it meant taking your mom away from you or putting her in a bad situation. I’ll still be her legal guardian, and she won’t move. When you girls are older, if you want to, you can step up and take over her guardianship, but I don’t want to put that on you. I’m fine handling her affairs.”
“I still don’t understand,” Harper said. “Why now?”
“I want you both to be happy. That’s honestly the most important thing in the world to me. That you two are happy and healthy.” He paused. “But you’re growing up. You have lives of your own now. I hardly ever see either of you.”
“Sorry, Dad,” Harper said.
“No, don’t be sorry. That’s the way it ought to be. But I’m forty-one years old. Pretty soon I’ll be alone in this house. And I can’t still be in love with a woman who is never coming back.”
“If this is what you think is best,” Harper said, “then I support you.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” He reached out and touched her head gently.
“Gemma.” Harper leaned over and took Gemma’s hand. “It’ll be okay.”
“I just feel like everyone’s abandoning her.” She swallowed hard. “And it’s not her fault. Mom didn’t do anything wrong. She can’t control who she is anymore.”
“I know,” Brian said. “And she’s not being punished. This isn’t about it being her fault. Nobody’s abandoning her. I want to make that perfectly clear.”
“I know it shouldn’t matter, because I’m sixteen, and Mom’s not even around. Nothing will really change. But…” She exhaled.
“Nobody will forget about her or leave her behind,” Harper said. “You know I would never let that happen. Right?”
“Right,” Gemma said reluctantly. “I know. Sorry.” She wiped at her eyes. “I’ve been emotional lately, and this just … I don’t know. I’m sorry, Dad. I know that you wouldn’t take this decision lightly, and you love Mom. So if you need to do this, I understand.”
And she really did. Deep down, she understood.
But just then it felt like a tidal wave was rushing over and crushing her, destroying everything in her life. And no matter how hard she tried, Gemma felt powerless to stop it.
THIRTY-ONE
Madness
Thea had begun wearing powdered white wigs to cover up the patches of hair that were missing. Nearly every moment she wasn’t with Bastian, she spent in the sea outside of the house.
It was all she could do to silence the watersong, and even with that, it was nearly driving her mad. It woke her in the middle of the night, and she’d have no choice but to slip out and hope the salt water would clear her head.
Nothing really worked anymore. On top of the body aches and constant migraines, she’d begun hallucinating. She’d hear crows cawing in her room when there were none, and out of the corners of her eyes she’d see the flutter of wings. She felt on the brink of madness.
The thick curtains were still drawn, but the windows were wide open. A wind was blowing off the Mediterranean, making the curtains billow out and allowing some light into the room.
Despite the icy temperature, Thea wore only a thin sleeveless slip. Her coarse red hair had been woven into two braids along the sides of her head, carefully covering up the bald patches, until they became one frayed braid in the back.
She paced the room, alternating between gnawing on her broken fingernails and scratching at her skin. The constant hum of the watersong nearly drowned out every other noise, and she didn’t hear Bastian open her bedroom door. When she realized someone was sneaking in—she’d forgotten his usual morning interlude with her after spending the night with Penn—Thea nearly attacked him.
“Thea!” Bastian grabbed her slender wrists before she beat them against his chest. She’d leapt at him as soon as he slipped inside. “What has taken over you?”
She’d been snarling seconds before, but as soon as she realized it was him, her body relaxed and she made a pitiful sob.