“We’re gonna keep this G-rated,” Tommy chuckles. “We all know what comes next. Franky doesn’t need it explained.”
“What did you get for Christmas two months ago?”
“Err…” Rose’s smile falters. “I-I don’t know. I don’t think I celebrated Christmas that time.”
“That’s okay.” Franky walks six feet to the left, pacing, then turning and walking six feet the other way. “What did you do after Doctor Darling left for work this morning?”
“I had a shower and got dressed, and then I snuck into his room and sat on the bed for a little bit.” Giggling, she scoops her wine off the table and chugs. “He doesn’t know I did that though. It’s kinda weird. I turned on the TV for a while, but that was boring, and then I went out the back because I thought I could finish the deck, but I don’t know how to use the tools to cut the wood, and I knew Doctor Darrrrling would be mad if I chopped my hands off by accident. So I didn’t.”
“That was the correct choice,” I grumble.Fuck.
“After that, I went for a walk. That’s when things got kinda blurry.”
“Cos of your memory loss?”
“Naw. Because there were a lot of people and a lot of wine.” She twists and points my way. “Now Ollie’s here and he’s still cute as ever, huh? ‘Cept when he broke Dara’s heart and didn’t even tell me. She drives theambulance bus, right? She’s an important friend to have! But now I heard you totally stood her up on Valentine’s Day, which is a douchebag move, so next time her grandma hits me with her car, Dara probably won’t even peel my sorry butt off the road.”
Firming my lips, I rotate my head and glower at my sisters. “The hell is wrong with you two?”
“It’s a conspiracy!” Raquel howls. “Barbara’s been wanting you and Dara to marry since your fifth birthday. Remember that? It’s no coincidence that old bitch ran Rose down before she could sweep you off the market.”
“Sucks to be her!” Eliza hoots. “I never wanted Dara to be my sister-in-law anyway.”
“What’s your real first name?” Franky asks.
Eager to keep playing, Rose swings back around and chirps, “Rosaline. After my grandma.”
Stunned, I freeze and stare at the back of her head. Then I bound up off the couch and slam my knee against the corner of the coffee table. Yelping in pain, I hop-skip and skid around to crouch in front of her. “You were named for your grandma?”
“What?”
“You just said so! You said Rosaline, after your grandma.”
“Oh.” Her mouth falls open. Then she closes it again. Guppy style, she frowns and considers. Then she flashes a wild, wonky grin. “I guess so! That’s kinda sweet, huh? I guess that means I have a grandma somewhere, and my parents liked her enough to name me after her.”
Franky nods in my peripheral. “Bodes well.”
“What’s your surname?” I press. “Do you remember that?”
“Dawson!” Raquel giggles. “Née DeWitt Bukater. Duh!”
“Why’d you toss the diamond overboard, Rose?” Fox noisily climbs forward, swiping the wine bottle from the table and shakily refilling her glass. “That fucker was worth oodles.”
“Fox!” Alana growls. “Cussing.”
“Shit. Sorry.” Her shoulders bounce with a giggle, liquid sloshing and spilling over the lip of her glass. She drags her tongue along her wrist, cleaning the mess she made, then she casts a taunting, devious grin over her shoulder at Chris. “You look handsome tonight, honey. If I had the diamond, I would give it to you so you could be a cachillionaire. You deserve that kinda bling, baby.”
“Rose?” I pluck the wineglass from between her fingers and set it on the table, then I take her hands in mine and draw her focus around. “You were named Rosaline to honor your grandma. What’s your last name?”
“I don’t know.” Her eyes turn glassy, wetting her lashes, and her lipsdrop into a devastating pout. “It doesn’t feel good not knowing these things. And it doesn’t feel good when Billy calls because some weirdo creepo thinks if he says he knows me, he’ll get money.”
“I know.” I inch forward on my knees and tuck her against my chest, wrapping my arms around and holding her extra tight when she sniffles. “It feels awful. I know.”
“I don’t know if I’m running away from someone who wants to hurt me. Or if I’m hiding away because I hurt Liam. And maybe I’m just a crappy person who doesn’t want to deal with what I did, and that’s why my brain isn’t remembering. I’m not trying hard enough.”
“You’re giving it all you’ve got.” I press my lips to her temple. Her forehead. Her hair. “And no matter what happened before, you’re a good person. I have no doubt about it.”
“Ihave doubts.” She pulls back and sobs. “Maybe Darcy was my boyfriend, and maybe I cheated on Darcy with Liam, and maybe I hurt Liam to avoid admitting I’m a bad person to Darcy. And maybe Darcy is my dog, so none of it matters anyway. And oh God, I think I’m one of those ugly cry drunks.” She puffs her cheeks wide and looks to Franky. “Autistic children have a knack for knowing who is good and who is bad, right?”
