They’d slowly made their way back to Mabuz Villa.
Plum’s heart had been warmed to hear the cheers as she and Marlowe helped Sofia up the path.
And she was shocked to see her sister’s tear-streaked face first.
Peach rushed up to Plum and caught her in a tight hug, unintentionally hurting her shoulder
“Oh my God, Plum!” Peach wailed. “I thought he was going to get you! When I looked out the window and saw you running and him chasing you with a knife! I just—” Peach started sobbing, clutching at Plum, pulling her closer, then pushing back to check with her own eyes that Plum was okay, then clutching her closer again.
Plum felt a confused rush of gratitude and love at the display. “I’m good,” Plum said. “Except my shoulder . . .”
“I’m sorry!” Peach wailed again, squeezing Plum tight again. “About your back! And not being in touch more. I should call more . . .”
“Yeah, but I mean, you’re busy,” Plum stammered. She glanced around her sister and met Cici’s eyes.
Cici mouthed, You’re welcome, and flipped her ponytail over her shoulder in a self-satisfied way.
“It’s okay,” Plum said. “We should talk and stuff.”
“Yes!” Peach agreed. She squeezed Plum into another tight hug.
Plum let out a gasp of pain.
“Oh my God, you’re hurt!” Peach cried. She abruptly let go of Plum and rushed around her. “Your poor back!”
“It’s okay,” Plum said. She couldn’t explain it, because even though her shoulder did hurt, she felt fine. Better than fine.
She squeezed Marlowe’s hand. “I feel great,” she said.
“That’s the endorphins talking. Sit down. I have a linen jacket in my suitcase—we’ll make you a bandage.” Peach tugged her sister toward the ballroom doors.
“You did it!” Jude rushed up and squeezed Plum’s arm tightly, a delighted smile stretched across his face. “I’m so glad you’re not dead!”
“Me too!” Plum agreed, laughing.
“I’m so glad it wasn’t you,” Sofia said, hugging Jude.
“I never suspected you, for the record,” Jalen told Jude. “You don’t have the face of a killer.” Jalen looked pleased at his own words. He held up his phone. “He didn’t have the face of a serial killer,” he intoned. “But then, what does a serial killer look like?”
“Not me, at least!” Jude called, angling his mouth toward Jalen’s phone.
Plum started laughing, and then Sofia did. It was like a trickle that started a waterfall. Soon they were all hugging, laughing, and talking.
Inside, Peach sat Plum down and ripped a bandage and strips to tie it with from her linen coat. Marlowe squeezed Plum’s hand and tipped her chin toward the atrium. Marlowe and Sofia quietly stood, heading upstairs to get Henrietta. Cici, Jalen, and Jude nodded at Plum and slipped out the door.
Plum was alone with her sister.
For the first time in . . . forever.
Peach seemed to recognize it at the same moment. She swiped her fingertips underneath her eyelashes. “I’m glad you’re okay,” Peach said.
“Me too. Glad you’re okay, I mean,” Plum replied. “Thanks for throwing your shoe. And for busting down the wall like that.”
“You’re welcome.” Peach gave a little sniff and swiped under her eyelashes again.
“Useful thing to know,” Plum joked, feeling her own eyes well up inexplicably. “You can use a shoe to break through drywall.”
“You never know what’s going to come in handy,” Peach agreed. She nodded sagely, then turned, staring into Plum’s eyes intently. “Plum, I’m so sorry. That you feel . . . left out. That I made you feel bad. Like I didn’t care.”
“It’s okay. I know you’re busy,” Plum interrupted.
“It’s not okay!” Peach replied. “I did exclude you! But I didn’t think you cared.”
“What? No!”
“I mean . . . that didn’t come out the way I wanted. I meant that I didn’t realize you missed me.” Peach gave Plum a decidedly watery smile. It was the kind of smile that seemed happy, and brave, and remorseful all at once.
“Of course I missed you!” Plum felt like she was looking at one of those weird pencil drawings where you think you’re looking at birds, but then it turns into sets of grasping hands.
Had Peach never realized how much Plum cared about her? Or how much she simply missed her big sister?
“I missed you all the time,” Plum said.
Peach laid her hand gently on Plum’s arm. “I know that now.”
Peach blew out a slight breath. “It’s just . . . I’m ten years older than you. And look at you! You’re practically grown, and you’re so cool. You’re your own person, you’ve got your own world, and friends. And—”
“I still need you.” Plum put her hand over Peach’s, resting on her arm. “I love you. And I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Peach’s lower lip trembled and pushed out. “I never meant to make you feel abandoned!” she cried.
Plum had to swipe under her own eyes now. “It’s okay,” she said. “Just . . . promise not to do it again.”
“I promise!” Peach traced her finger over her heart. “Cross my heart and hope to . . . okay, to not actually die, but to live longer so I can do better.”
Peach leaned forward, gingerly hugging Plum around the bandage.
“I’m so glad I came,” Peach said, starting to wail again a bit. “Because it brought us closer as sisters. And now that we’re closer, as sisters, we’ll be better, closer.” Peach’s voice got wobbly, each word drawing out longer with her tears. “I’m so glad I came to the murder festival!” she sobbed.
Plum had to laugh. She couldn’t help it.