But I’m going to anyway.
I find Jag in the hallway. “Hey. Quick question. Where’s Isotta’s ceramic mixing bowl?”
He gives me a look. The kind that says he knows exactly where this is going and wishes he didn’t. “Kitchen. Top shelf.”
I go to the kitchen and look. Yep, there it is.
I grab a step stool. Reach up. Snatch the bowl.
It’s beautiful. Hand-thrown pottery with a soft cream glaze. I can picture Isotta using it. Can see her hands covered in flour. Can imagine her laugh when Marco probably made some terrible joke about proper flour to water ratios.
This bowl needs to go.
I wrap it carefully in dish towels. Place it in a box. Add a label in neat handwriting: “Isotta - Kitchen.”
I carry the box upstairs. Knock on Marco’s door.
Silence.
“Marco. I need to talk to you about something.”
More silence.
“Your in-laws called. They want Ben for theholidays. And...” I take a deep breath. “I packed away Isotta’s mixing bowl. Not to erase her. Just to make... space.”
“Where is it?” his voice comes from the other side. His voice is rough. Unused. It sounds... irritated.
Well, at least I’ve got some sort of emotion out of him. Other than the usual resignation.
“I have it right here,” I answer. “I—”
“Give it to me,” he orders.
The door opens a crack. Just like last time. His right hand appears.
I give him the box.
“Fine, we’ll store her bowl,” he says. “But the lemon tree on the roof stays. The hard hat by the back door stays. The photos in Ben’s room stay. Non-negotiable.”
“Marco—”
The door closes.
Great talk.
Really productive.
I head back downstairs and find Ben where I left her. Still organizing stickers. Still not okay.
None of us are okay.
I’m making lunch when my phone buzzes again. Amara this time.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Jess,” she says. “Quick heads up. That mommy blogger? Marlowe Pennington? She’s been posting about you again. Posted a photo of Marco’s townhouse. Asked her followers to ‘send prayers to the family’ but in a way that’s really just broadcasting the address. Basically doxxed you guys.”
My stomach drops. “Shit.”
