Page 27 of The Followers
“Yeah, that’s really brave,” one of the other moms said, fanning herself with a paper plate. One of the Stephanies, Liv thought. “Letting them get so... messy. Most moms wouldn’t want party clothes to be ruined.”
Liv recognized that tone, the faux-compliment grenade being lobbed in Molly’s direction. Liv had been the object of plenty of those back in high school. That’s so unique, Lilah Anderson had said when she’d shaved her head after Kristina’s death. Most girls wouldn’t want to look like a cancer victim.
Most girls hadn’t lost their sister in a brutal unsolved murder, either.
“We can just hose them off at the end,” Molly said, waving at Chloe on the lawn, who seemed delighted.
The Stephanie blinked. “Delilah’s wearing a new dress.”
“How much of this is going online?” another mom asked, and Liv couldn’t tell if she was worried or excited about the possibility.
“I won’t post anything with your girls,” Molly assured her. “Just pictures of Chloe and the decorations.”
“Oh,” the mom said, frowning.
Liv sat in a chair on the edge of the group and tried to swallow past the tightness in her throat. None of the girls were obviously Gabriela, and now this entire business seemed like a silly, misguided waste of time.
“Liv, this is Sarah,” Molly said, motioning to another woman nearby. “She’s an Army wife, married to a member of the Southern Ute tribe—did I get that right? She runs the river-rafting business with Scott. Sarah, my new friend Liv.”
Sarah, fortyish with wavy auburn hair and a sleeping toddler on her lap, stuck out her free hand to shake Liv’s. “Scott runs the rivers, I run the business. And Maya runs the books.”
“Nice to meet you,” Liv said. “Who’s Maya?”
Sarah laughed. “A pain in my ass.”
“Scott’s friend,” Molly explained. “Maya and Sarah inherited the business from their dad when he passed away, and then Scott joined in.”
“How do you know Molly?” Sarah asked after Molly walked away to snap pictures and play hostess.
“We met the other day. I just moved to Durango for work—”
“And Molly immediately invited you.” Sarah nodded, shifting the sleeping toddler against her chest. Liv caught a glimpse of sweaty black hair and dark lashes.
“Pretty much.”
“Molly’s the friendliest person I’ve ever met, but it can be a little overwhelming,” Sarah said, laughing. “She’s great for Scott. Have you met him yet?”
Liv shook her head, hoping Sarah would keep talking. She had learned early in life that the best way to keep someone talking was to stay quiet but attentive, like a therapist or a priest. Most people would end up saying much more than they planned.
The toddler in Sarah’s arms whimpered, and she patted his back. “We were lucky to convince him to settle down here and buy into the business. After Dad died, we tried to keep it going, but Maya’s too laid-back. Meaning lazy as shit.” She shook her head but smiled, as if she loved her sister despite her words.
“How did you meet Scott?” Liv asked. “Is he from Durango, too?”
“No, he moved here a few years ago. He and Maya became good friends, and we asked him to join the business. He’s done a great job turning it around.”
Liv wondered about Maya, this woman Scott was such “good friends” with, but she couldn’t think of anything to ask that wouldn’t sound nosy.
Out on the lawn, Molly had gathered the girls to open presents. Liv recognized her daughter, with her freckles and messy blond hair. Today, instead of a princess crown, she wore a headband with a golden unicorn horn protruding from it.
Liv dug her fingernails into her thighs. So many long years of hoping she’d find Gabriela were culminating right here, right now. She scanned the older girls. A few could have been Kristina’s daughter, could have had Gabriela’s dark hair and olive skin.
Possibly. Which wasn’t good enough.
It took Chloe five minutes to rip through her presents, to squeals and screams of laughter from the girls. Liv’s head started to ache. The girls gathered around the unicorn cupcakes, singing Happy Birthday off-key. Soon enough they were running to the far ends of the yard with cupcakes and juice boxes, and it was quiet for the first time since Liv had arrived.
“Great party,” Sarah said as Molly sank into a chair nearby. “So much work, though.”
“Look at those smiling faces,” Molly said. “That makes it all worth it. And not just for Chloe, either. Look at Ella.”