Page 24 of Set In Stone

“No, I don’tactually.”

“Let’s just say that I don’t think his family would appreciate him being with someone like me, someone who’s an active member of several women’s rights organizations. His family is super old school Italian,” she tried to waveoff.

I arched a brow. I knew my friend and I could sense her conflict, almost as if she was second guessing her beliefs. That wasn’t like her. There was more to this than just Matteo’s old-fashionedfamily.

“His family isn’t him, Ally,” I pointed out nonchalantly. Allysonsighed.

“You’re right. He isn’t his family, but he is the forever type. Like, the settle-down-and-have-lots-of-babies kind of guy. I’m not ready for that sort of thing. Not for a long time,” she paused and flashed me a devilish grin. “For now, I’m content leaving all that toyou.”

“I don’t know about the baby part,” I laughed. “Alexander and I haven’t even broached the subject yet. I’m sure that’s a long way off, if atall.”

“You should probably have that discussion before you tie the knot. Just saying.” Sheshrugged.

“I suppose you’re right, but I’m not entirely sure what I think about having kids. I wouldn’t even know how to bring it up to him. I’ve barely just gotten back on my feet. I have so many plans. Alexander, my career…I just can’t imagine taking on anything else at themoment.”

We walked toward the exit of the boutique. Samuel held open the door for us. Hale trailed behind in our wake. If I turned around, I was sure I’d find his observant gaze taking in everything around us. I envisioned them following a smaller version of Alex or myself wherever they went. School, dates, proms. No privacy. They’d be shielded and protected from the world, yet there would always be somebody watching. While I had begrudgingly grown accustomed to it, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to subject my children tothat.

If. If I havechildren.

And it was a bigif.

I shivered, finding just the mere thought of being responsible for another human absolutelyterrifying.

* * *

alexander

Istared blanklyat the news article on my computer screen. It was the one Hale emailed to me around noontime. I read it over at least one hundred times since receiving it. I didn’t need to read it again. I had already committed every word to memory. It hadn’t been published yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time. The draft that sat open on my computer monitor was fromThe City Times. It was the story Charlie gave to that relentlessreporter.

I wanted to be angry. I wanted to lash out, to hurt someone. But I couldn’t get past the shock of what I hadread.

Why didn’t Justine tellme?

I picked up my cell phone and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail.Again.

I glanced up at my computer screen and scrolled to the top of the article. I pushed the computer mouse away, not wanting to see the words any longer. Instead, I stood up and went to the window. I stared out at the city, the East River coming in to view. The sun was low in the sky and glittered off the water’s surface, but I wasn’t really seeing it. My head was too full of childhood memories. They flashed fresh in my mind as if they only happenedyesterday.

"Justine! Whathappened?"

"I don't know," she says through hersobs.

"Why do you have dad'sgun?"

"Mommy's going to be so mad. I ruined myshirt!"

I shakeher.

"How did this happen?" I ask heragain.

Her face goes blank and she looks strangely at me through vacanteyes.

"Alex, do you know where my blue dress is? The pretty one with the flowers. Mommy likes when I wearit."

She didn’t answer my question then, just as she wasn’t answering my calls now. My sister knew. She knew the whole time. Her betrayal sliced through my heart and tore at every fiber of my being. I racked my brain trying to come up with a reason for her deceit, but I came up empty handed. I thought about the years I spent searching for an answer, searching forher, never knowing that the answer lied with the one person I thought would never betrayme.

However, when I thought back, I should’ve suspected. I should have seen the signs. Her paranoia over a media circus was always over the top. I recalled the last time she came to me, fearful that Charlie would leak our secret past – the one I had successfully buried to protecther.

“It’s bad, Alex. He’s been makingthreats.”

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