I smile wide.
I haven’t known Maggie or Aurora for long, but I already feel like they’re family.
I want to keep them in my life forever.
The camera shifts, and I see Angelica beside Aurora.
She narrows her eyes at me through the screen.
“Hi, Liliya,” she says, crossing her arms. Her hair is slicked back in another bun, like she’s ready for a business meeting.
I give her the friendliest smile I’ve ever made. “Hi, Angelica!”
“She’ll warm up to you,” Aurora says. “By the tenth time she sees you, she’ll start treating you like family and ask you what your favorite meals are so you can have them when you visit.”
I perk up and laugh, a rush of excitement hitting me at the mention of visiting again.
I planned to ask Maggie about moving in during this call, but I decided against it.
The timing isn’t right, and I don’t want to put her on the spot.
But once we talk alone, it’s the first thing I’m asking her.
And maybe, now that the Lombardis know Aurora is alive, she can visit here too.
My heart hurts as Dasha comes to mind.
I swallow hard, hoping I haven’t lost my sister forever.
We were supposed to stay close for the rest of our lives.
Have babies at the same time.
Raise them like siblings.
Celebrate all our holidays together.
Now, I don’t even know when I’ll talk to her again.
I stay on the phone with them for thirty minutes, talking and laughing, and when we finally hang up, I wander into the library.
I pull out paint samples and hold them against the wall.
I plan to remove every memory of Emilio’s father here.
After narrowing it down to four shades, I curl onto the sofa and grab my book I brought down. I make myself comfortable and read, waiting for my husband to come home.
Not knowing when he does, it’ll be complete chaos.
46
When I arriveat Aleksy’s, the front gate is glitching.
Opening and closing, like it’s caught in some mechanical failure and stuck in a loop.
As I get closer, I realize what the problem is.
Two bodies lie motionless in line with the control sensor.
