Page 75 of Stolen Fate
Evelyn
I calledKatie early Sunday morning, on my day off.
A much-needed day off since I took Elliot on his playdate yesterday afternoon.
Elliot wasn’t awake yet, but Jace was. I heard him head to his home gym not too long before, and I knew he would probably be there for another hour or so.
She picked up on the first ring. “Hey, you. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me.”
I smiled. “Of course not. How could I forget you when you text me every day?”
She mock-gasped and my smile widened. “Are you saying you don’t like my text messages?”’
“Not at all. Thank you, for letting me know you’re thinking of me.”
“Of course. I worry about you, Evelyn. You know I just want you to be happy, right?”
I could hear a small yawn on the other end as she said this.
There was no time difference between Boston and New York, but it was pretty early for her. I was surprised she even picked up at seven in the morning.
Admittedly, it was the reason why I called at this hour—I was hoping to get her voicemail.
I had been avoiding everyone back in Boston, except for my dad, though our phone conversations were a bit stilted.
I hadn’t wanted any reminders of my life in Boston to intrude on the peace I had found in New York, and I knew it was selfish to ignore both Katie and my siblings, but I had wanted to put myself first for the first time in my life.
“How are things going at home?” I asked. The word “home” in reference to Boston sounded foreign on my tongue.
She must have noticed it, too, because there was an odd note to her voice when she said, “It’s going great. Emilia really likes the apartment. I think she much prefers living here than back with your dad, since it’s more convenient for her to commute to work.”
“Oh, she got the job?”
Emilia had been applying all over Boston to be a dance instructor. She had wanted to work in a similar position she had back in London, but the only position remotely close to that was at Boston’s Dancing Stars, a prestigious dance studio that specialized in training for children as young as three so they could get accepted into prestigious places like Bowing’s.
But it was nowhere near the same league as Bowing’s. Not even close. Nonetheless, it was a good job for her, and she would be thriving there. I didn’t exactly know what her plans were for the future, but I thought she might want to follow in our mom’s footsteps and open a dance studio, perhaps.
“It looks like things are falling into place for her,” I said with a smile. I was happy for my sister, especially that she was able to be independent and that things were going well for her. And if I was being honest, I was happy I didn’t have to worry too much about her anymore. It was a lot of work to be responsible for everyone in the household. It was made much worse when those people were grown adults.
Although Ethan hadn’t been that careless boy for a while now. I supposed my burden had lightened in the past years anyhow.
“What’s new with you?” Katie asked. “Have you met anyone? Gone on any dates? Came home with a man and let him show you a good time?”
I laughed at the teasing quality of her voice. We both knew I wouldn’t. I never told her about my one-night stand with Jace, and I didn’t plan on it, but even I could see how out of character that had been of me that night.
“No, no man. The only guy in my life right now is Elliot, and although he’s too adorable for his own good, he’s five.”
“Ooh, and the dad? You know you never really talked about the dad. What’s his name?”
“Oh, um, Jace.”
Something about my voice must have given me away, because Katie paused at the other end of line, and I could feel the tension even though we were states apart.
Then she said, “Tell me about him,” and judging by her voice, I knew I was right. I gave myself away.
“He’s a good father. And a good employer.”
“That’s all?”
