“I am Eve.” I brushed past him. “Look for
Rainey.”
“River is going to apologize to you.”
I ignored him.
I walked to the lobby.
Luke followed.
“What’s going on?” Linda asked.
“Nobody,” I said.
- 20.
I couldn’t get on my flight.
Luke was the cause.
Г
I wasn’t surprised.
I let Linda leave.
I grabbed my bag.
Luke was standing there.
He looked at me.
I waved.
Luke walked over.
“Rainey.”
“You did this, didn’t you?”
“I did,” Luke said. “I want you to stay.
Г
“Do you know why I left?”
“You and Mark are dead to me.”
“You’re less than strangers.”
Luke looked down.
11
“Rainey, I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you.”
“I’ll give you a chance.”
“You helped River, because you thought I’d
always be there.”
Luke didn’t answer.
“Mark is on his way.”
“Mark is on his way.”
“No,” I said. “I’m gone.”
I went to the hotel.
Mark was there.
He held files.
“Rainey, I got all of River’s stuff back. It’s
yours, just sign.”
His hands shook.
“I’ll make it up to you.”
He looked at me.
I was okay.
L
I had moved on.
“No,” I said. “You don’t need to do that.”
“Mark. Luke.”
“This is it.”
“Don’t bother me again.”
Mark was quiet.
If I was mad, we could be okay.
I was too calm.
I was gone.
- 21.
く
Luke brought River and her mom.
They looked bad.
River’s mom was old.
River was skinny.
They’d been hurt.
I felt good.
I felt sad.
Luke and Mark loved River.
Mark had been there for River’s mom.
I went through hell.
They were hateful.
I hated Luke and Mark more.
River was evil.
Luke and Mark were helping.
I didn’t want to see them.
I looked away. “I’m out of here.”
Mark looked lost.
Luke sent River and her mom away.
He said, “Rainey, I won’t let you go.”
I was stuck.
Luke and Mark did everything.
I didn’t respond.
I didn’t eat.
Finally, Mark let me go.
On day 17, I got on the plane.
Luke and Mark were there.
Hours later, the plane landed.
I was home.
The couple next door was gone.
Someone new moved in.
く
It was Luke and Mark.
I saw them a lot.
One night, I saw Luke.
He looked sad.
“Rainey, you’re home.”
I kept walking.
He gave me a box, saying, “I made this for
you. It will look beautiful.”
It held a bracelet.
His hands were hurt.
“I don’t want it.‘
“How can I get you to forgive me?” Luke
asked.
I stopped. “Stay away from me forever.”
“You are cruel.”
I smiled and walked away.
- 22.
Luke wasn’t around for days.
I liked that.
I entered the design contest.
I got to the semi–finals.
<
Five days later, I got to the finals.
I asked Linda and some coworkers to dinner.
Mark rang the bell, handing me the box. “It’s
from a fancy place. You’ll love it.”
“I don’t need it.”
“Don’t bother.”
Mark said, “Rainey, what can I do?”
“I’m moving on. You can too.”
Mark asked, “Mom’s anniversary is coming
- up. Are you going?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t go before.”
<
I looked at him.
He chose River.
I took care of Mom.
I said, “Tell that to her.”
Mark apologized and left.
Linda walked over, putting her hand on my
shoulder. “Another fan?”
“Somebody.”
