That was really nice.
Full of plans to repeat last night’s adventure, I hurried to escape to my uncle’s cottage. I rushed around the corner of the hall and bumped into something.
That something screamed.
“Hush, hush,hush!” I hissed, swallowing my own start of surprise. Warm wetness soaked the front of my shirt.
Arabella sagged against my hold. “Mama mia! You scared the shit out of me, Rae!”
Did she just…swear? “What are you doing?”
Arabella turned the light from her phone on. “I was hungry!”
Milk dripped on the floor, and the sandwich she fisted was squished. Letting out an exasperated growl, I bent and swiped at part of the puddle on the hardwood floor with the bunched-up dress I held.
“Your shirt—” She stopped.
I looked up at her. There was no good way to explain any of this. The harsh light blinding my eyes made her invisible. It was impossible to see whatever was written on her face.
“You can turn that off now,” I snapped.
Arabella bent, unwrapped the paper towel from her sandwich, set the food on top of her glass, and mopped up the rest of the spill.
I didn’t miss the fact that fisted tight in her left hand was one of her dark glass tincture jars. I needed to figure out what the hell was in those, and why she carried them around.
“I’m not allowed to eat these fatty meats, but Franky leaves them for me, and I eat them most nights after the Grimaldis are in bed,” she explained. “I was too tired from the party to get it, though. I woke up and remembered.”
I remained squatted in front of her, looking at her in an entirely new light. “They monitor what you eat?”
She snorted. “You think I’m a bird like the signora?”
That woman picked at her dinner, never finishing anything except the veggies and salads.
“I had no idea,” I breathed. “Do you want me to sneak you a burger sometime?”
Arabella groaned. “That sounds heavenly.”
I was usually a better judge of character. She wasn’t the spoilt princess I first thought. I couldn’t believe I misjudged this woman, how off I really was about her. I hadn’t wanted to believe her kindness was genuine, but the small interactions had added up, and I finally saw her for what she was.
Someone stuck in a nightmare.
Arabella reached out, and I went still. She smiled softly as she brushed her fingers over my cheek.
“You still have your party glitter on, Rae.”
The shimmery highlighter? That wasn’t the worst of it. The smokey makeup around my eyes was probably smeared to look like a raccoon.
“Did you have fun?” Arabella tipped her head to the side and took a bite of her sandwich. “You caused quite the fuss, you know,” she said around the bite of cold-cuts and bread.
I nodded. “So much fun.”
“Good. I’m glad.” She plucked her milk off the ground, balancing it in the hand that held the phone. “Better hurry and get your face cleaned. I don’t want anyone finding out it was you,” she added.
“Thanks.” I rose.
“Don’t mention it. You’re good for us, Rae.” With that, the younger woman hurried away.
I resolved right then and there to help her. I didn’t know what that would look like, but there had to be something I could do. Even if it was just being her friend and bringing her treats.
