EVERYONE LOOKED UP
Rachel’s hands twisted into David’s jacket.
“She pushed me,” she whispered.
The words were so quiet only he heard them.
David’s body went still.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
Margaret stood on the balcony with one hand pressed to her pearls. Her gray-blonde hair was perfect. Her cream blouse was perfect. Even her fear looked practiced.
“David,” she called down, voice shaking. “It was an accident.”
No one moved.
The family guests stood behind her, pale and stunned.
Aunt Caroline covered her mouth.
One cousin stared at Margaret like he had finally seen her without lighting.
David did not answer.
He looked down at Rachel first.
“Are you hurt?”
Rachel shook her head, crying too hard to speak.
His hand trembled as he checked her shoulder, her face, her breathing.
Then he looked at Helen, the housekeeper, who stood near the bottom of the stairs with tears in her eyes.
Helen nodded once.
David understood.
She had known something was coming.
Maybe not this.
But something.
Margaret began descending the staircase.
“David, sweetheart, listen to me before this becomes ugly.”
David let out a laugh so cold it silenced the room.
“Before this becomes ugly?”
Margaret stopped halfway down.
“You know how emotional she’s been,” Margaret said. “She stumbled. Everyone saw her lose balance.”
Rachel flinched.
David saw it.
That small movement broke whatever was left in him.
He stood slowly, keeping Rachel in his arms.
Then he looked up past Margaret.
Past the chandelier.
May you like
Past the balcony.
At the small security camera blinking above the hallway.
