Page 20 of The Unraveling of Julia

That’s about to change!Mike had jumped out of bed in his plaid boxers, then ran out of the bedroom and back in a few minutes later, wearing two giant white cartoon hands and a Mickey Mouse hat with big ears.We’re going to Disney World!

What?Julia had asked, astonished, and Mike had pulled her from bed with his cartoon hand.

Get dressed! I packed your bag! Courtney and Paul are downstairs! Our flight’s at noon! Happy birthday, babe!

Julia’s mouth had dropped open. She hadn’t known what to say. All she knew was what she’d felt, which was a rush of warmth, gratitude, and for the first time, true love.I love you, she’d blurted out.

I love you, too,Mike had said, his smile full of happiness. It was the most thoughtful thing any man had ever done for her, and so much like him, a grand gesture, a spontaneous showing that he cared, listened, and believed he could make her happy, which itself was an act of self-belief and will. Miketriedall the time, in every way, and she tried,too, and they had been happy together until the moment she never wanted to remember, the night he was stabbed to death.

Julia could feel grief approaching closer and closer, like a tidal wave of darkness. But this time, something told her not to hold it off. Maybe letting it come was the way to get a sign from him.

“Mike,” Julia heard herself say, looking around.

“Mike?” Julia found herself sinking to her knees, surrounded by twisting, coiling vines so thick that they formed a wall, closing her in.

“Mike, are you there?” Julia whispered like a prayer, feeling foolish but not letting that stop her. “Will you give me a sign?”

There was no response except the faintest of breezes. Did that count? Was that him? Was that his ghost? Or a shift in barometric pressure?

“Mike, I’m sorry I don’t talk to you. I should have, all this time. I never even tried.” Julia heard herself, guilty and desperate. “But can I have a sign? Please?”

No response except the shuddering of the leaves.

“Mike, please?”

Nothing.

Mike, I’m sorry I didn’t save you.

I tried but there was so much blood.

Mike, please forgive me.

Mike, please don’t leave me alone.

Mike, I love you and I always will.

Julia felt tears brimming in her eyes. She wiped them away, but they kept coming. Soon she began to cry full bore, lost in emotions pent-up for days. She’d been white-knuckling through airports, flights, and crowds. Maybe even through life.

Choking sobs emanated from deep within her chest, leaving her body so racked she vomited.

It wasn’t the sign she was hoping for.

“Hi, Anna Mattia.” Julia entered the kitchen from the back door, keeping her face down because her eyes were puffy and her nose leaky. She crossed to the sink to wash up.

Anna Mattia stood aside, then put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“I didn’t get a sign.” Julia rinsed her face, then twisted off the water.

Anna Mattia handed her a dish towel.

“Thank you.” Julia dried her face then hung the dishcloth on its little rack. She straightened, recovering her composure because she’d remembered something after her crying jag. She needed to go through Rossi’s belongings for her DNA. “Anna Mattia, I didn’t see Signora Rossi’s things. Did you store them somewhere?”

“No. All gone.”

“I know, but where? Are they in storage?”

“No.” Anna Mattia frowned with disapproval. “Signora burn.”

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