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Isabella grew increasingly more tense as they got in a taxi and headed for her mother's apartment.Nick had helped her access her texts on his encrypted computer before leaving the hotel, so she had her mom's address, and she had decided against calling her mother first.She was just going to drop in and see what happened.
Nick put his hand over one of hers, and it was only then she realized she was tapping a relentless beat on her thighs.
"I want to say it will be okay," he began."But I don't know if it will."
"Me, either.And I appreciate you acknowledging that."She drew in a breath and let it out."But I'm not going to see her so we can suddenly repair a relationship that broke a long time ago.This is about the paintings, and I want to make that clear to her.I don't want her to think I have another reason for visiting."
"Isabella, don't do that."
"Don't do what?"
"Put up barriers before you need them."
"That's when you put barriers up—to prepare for disaster," she said.
"Or…you can see how things go without trying to control or define everything in advance."
"You really don't know me, because I always prepare."She didn't like the gleam of amusement in his eyes."It's not a bad thing.It saves me from being surprised."
"Or it prevents you from being in the moment."
"Well, it's my mother.I get to do what I want.I'm not telling you to go to your parents' vow renewal and try to rebuild that relationship.So, I'm not sure you should give advice."
He put up a hand."Fair point.I just have one more thing to say."
"Am I going to want to hear it?"
"Probably not.Let's find out."
"What?"
"I'm not telling you to keep an open mind for your mom.I want you to do it for yourself.You feel conflicted about her.You have good memories and bad memories.You don't really know who she is anymore, and until you let her show you who she is, you're always going to be confused."
His words made sense, even though she didn't enjoy hearing them."You're not completely wrong.It's just messy and complicated.And I don't like messy and complicated.I don’t think you do, either.That's why you're trying to solve big problems and clean up the dirt in the world."
"One thing I've learned from going undercover is that I can't control what's happening around me.All I can do is adapt.I have to be flexible and trust in myself."
"That doesn't sound easy."
"It's easier when I stay focused on the goal.Our goal today is not to fight with your mom, but to get her to help us."
"I can't make any promises."
"You really have a thing about not making promises," he said dryly.
"It's better than promising things I can't deliver."
"I suppose."
She saw the disappointment in his eyes and knew she had to say something else."I heard you, Nick.I'll try."
He met her gaze."Good."
A few minutes later, the cab pulled up in front of a building in the Murate art district, a mixed-use neighborhood with apartment buildings interspersed with cafés, boutiques, and artisan shops.
After exiting the taxi, they walked through an iron gate to the front door of a three-story building.There appeared to be three units, and her mother was renting the bottom floor from the owner of the art gallery where she worked.
She took a breath, squared her shoulders, and rang the bell.The door opened a second later, and she stared into a face very much like her own.Her mother had the same dark-brown hair, down to the wild waves that were hard to tame.Her eyes were also brown with flecks of gold, but her mom was shorter than she was by about four inches.
