to Izzy, a flicker of

th the gallery invest

d a dismi

me for my flight to Aspen, remem

napped back to

of course

a quick, almost

Ellie? You

st n

felt u

was already guiding Izzy towards

eaving me alone in

nce was

ed divorce papers a so

, Marcus cam

ving room, staring ou

me, put his hand

re. It used to m

felt lik

s voice soft. Trying to be gentle

urse

pset about last n

n a dark highway, sick and in

set, Marcus?" I as

sound of prac

ed. Her car really did break do

I said, turni

zy' s perfume on his shirt.

last time, Mar

Me helping Izzy? She' s my oldes

d. "The last

rce papers from my purse

at them, t

ef. The

is this? You can

made excus

e. She' d had a tough life, d

ds, they were a

nvis

coffee in the mornin

morning,

in the gu

d a sma

essen

oom. His side of the clo

t to his watch and wallet,

him and Izzy, years ago, lau

d that

it before. Or maybe

e redecorate last month," he' d said once when

even try

mere sweater, the one he sai

t, then un

back in t

lt ta

nt felt tainted by his cho

through t

all study I used. Blueprints for a new boutique hot

ne thing that

ects. The ones connected to his family. The o

clients, their

harity gala that night. The

onsor. Thorne L

ld be there. Fr

n' t

I thought

at the world

ering. Chandeliers, ch

ourt near the sile

edly to a group of wom

ntauk in that dreadful storm to rescue me. My car was completel

I vaguely knew, gushed, "He' s so d

picture of mo

mile widened, but it d

rself and glid

so glad. Marcus was worr