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I held the note close to my chest as I made my way out of the cafeteria, blazing right onto the lush, wet grass at the entrance.
The first rain of autumn knocked softly on my face, making me blink as the world shifted in and out of focus.
The first rain of the season.
A sign.
Most cities were the most romantic during springtime, but Chicago thrived in the fall. When the leaves were orange and yellow and the sky as gray as my husband’s eyes.
The note was wet between my fingers. It was probably ruined, but I still clutched it with a death grip.
I stood in the middle of the turf overlooking the road, under the open sky, and let the drops pound over my face and body.
Come rescue me, Wolfe.
I prayed, even despite my bitter knowledge and everything Kristen had told me, that he would fulfill the last note and be my knight in shining armor.
The love of your life will shelter you from the storm.
I inwardly begged, and pleaded, and sobbed.
Please, please, please shelter me.
I wanted a promise that he would not discard me after he was done with my father.
That despite hating my family—and for good reason—he loved me.
This morning, after I read the last note, I tucked it in my bra, just like I did the night of the masquerade. Smithy drove me to school. On our way there, rain started dancing across the windshield.
“Goddammit,” Smithy mumbled, flicking the wipers on.
“Don’t pick me up today.” It was the first and last order I gave Smithy.
“Huh?” He popped his gum, distracted.
My EPAs shifted in their seats, exchanging looks.
“Wolfe is going to pick me up.”
“He’ll be in Springfield.”
“Change of plan. He’s staying in town.”
I was only half-lying. If Wolfe was the love of my life, he would be here.
But now I was standing in the rain with no one to turn to.
“Francesca! What the hell!” I heard a voice behind me.
I turned around. Angelo was standing on the stairs of the front entrance, shielded by an umbrella, squinting at me. I wanted to shake my head, but I didn’t want to interfere with fate anymore.
Please, Angelo. No. Don’t come here.
“It’s raining!” he yelled.
“I know.”
I stared at the cars whizzing by, waiting for my husband to somehow show up, out of the blue, and tell me that he wanted to give me a ride.
