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Evelyn rubs her hand up and down my back. “You never have to. You’re more than a best friend to me, Rose. You’re the sister I never had.”
“But this is just so much more than you needed to do.” I wipe a stray tear from my eye as I step back. “I would have been happy with some shack in the wine country.”
“Hell no. You will not live in some bloody shack, and you will not raise my niece or nephew there either.” Evelyn takes my hand in hers and stares down at our clasped hands for a long moment. Finally, she says in a soft voice lined with sadness, “I will never understand the pain you felt when you lost your mum and brother. And although your father’s behavior afterward was dreadful, I can’t help but feel a little grateful because it brought you to me. Still, I hope I never meet the man because if I do, I’m pretty sure I’ll commit murder, and I’m far too pretty for prison.”
I choke out a small sob, emotion filling my chest again.
“What I’m trying to say through all of that is I admire your resilience and your courage. Anyone else would have turned to drugs or alcohol to escape the pain. Instead, you took all that anger and sadness and turned it into something beautiful and powerful. You are a force of nature no one can control or stop, and it is a sight to behold. You are a sight to behold, Rose. And if there is anything I could do to help you, it’s this. I can at least make sure that you want for nothing while you finally achieve a little peace and quiet. Because you deserve it.”
The tears are back tenfold, and I’m sobbing like a hormonal idiot again. Evelyn’s words trigger a flood of memories and emotions that I thought were long buried. She holds me for a long while as we cry together, neither one of us saying a word because we don’t have to.
Evelyn leans back and checks her watch before grimacing. “Okay, we’re cutting it really close. Come on, let’s get you dressed.”
I change into a pair of skinny jeans, a simple white T-shirt with a gray cardigan, and slip my shoes back on. Next up, Evelyn helps tie my hair back in a low bun so she can slip a blond wig over my head.
“I am a terrible-looking blond,” I point out as I study my reflection. “Why couldn’t you make me a brunette?”
I catch Evelyn’s smile in the mirror. “Because I think you look great as a blond. We could be twins.”
“Sure, except for your stunning blue eyes and curves for days.”
“You have the same curves for days, baby, believe me. And you have that pregnancy glow going on, too. You’re hot as fuck right now,” Evelyn says as she finishes pinning the wig in place.
“Yeah, a real hot single pregnant lady right here, gentlemen. Come on down,” I joke with a dry laugh.
“If you put that out in the universe, you’ll have all the Italian men in that tiny town lining up outside your door.” Evelyn wiggles her eyebrows at me, choosing to ignore my dry humor.
“Stop.” I playfully shove her.
Evelyn just laughs and steps back. “There. You’re perfect.”
I glance at the girl in the mirror. The girl staring back is me…but not me. It’s an odd feeling, like looking into a carnival fun mirror.
Evelyn finishes re-packing the suitcase, and then it’s all too soon for us to say our goodbyes.
“You have your ticket and passport?” she asks.
I hold up the long rectangular piece of paper and passport. “Yes.”
Without thinking, we both reach out at the same time and hug one another tightly, savoring the moment because it will be quite a while before we see each other in person again.
“Remember to call me the second you land, okay?” Evelyn commands.
“Of course. The very moment I can.”
“Be safe, you hear me? If anything looks out of place or suspicious, you get the hell out of there, and we meet in Milan like we talked about.”
“I will. You need to be safe, too.” My father won’t just let me disappear. There will be heat on everyone I know, and if Dad convinces my uncle to help search for me, Evelyn is the first person he’ll go to.
Evelyn snorts. “A little stalking is nothing new to me. Comes with the status.”
I chuckle. It’s true, but still. “Promise me, please.”
“Okay, fine. I promise.”
Evelyn leaves the bathroom first and will text when the coast is clear. Silence falls around me, and I grow anxious, staring at my phone as I wait. I’m worried something has gone wrong. That Dad’s men will come barreling into the bathroom any second. Finally, a little notification lights up the screen, and the relief is sudden.
Evelyn: All clear. Love you!
