Francesca tilted her head as if pondering the question. “I meant what I said, Catherine. I missed you. Being away from you for so long was difficult.”
I growled in frustration. “Don’t piss in my earand tell me it’s raining, Francesca. From the sound of it, you were having the time of your life. Excuse me if I find your professed pining a little hard to reconcile with the facts.”
“You really don’t get it, do you?” Francesca frowned and shook her head, her perfectly coiffed hair bouncing with each movement. A brittle laugh escaped her lips. “I’m prepared to sacrifice certain things for a better life. It’s been hard work getting to this point, but I’ve set myself up for the future. And you might be a little more grateful that I managed to do the same for you.”
“What do you mean, grateful? You’ve meddled in my life. I never asked you to do that. What if that isn’t what I wanted?”
She shrugged. “You know how hard it is for women to make it in this world. You’d be silly not to take a leg up. It isn’t like the Daltons can’t afford it.”
“You’re unbelievable.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and sucked in a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure. “So, you’re marrying Jeremy for his money, and you think that’ll make you happy?”
“Yes, to a degree it will. But I very much plan to enjoy a life beyond what Jeremy has to offer. It’s a means to an end.”
“You don’t love him, do you?”
“Don’t give me that look. You’re being awfully naïve, Catherine.”
In front of me sat what I could have, but it wasn’t what I wanted, or what was good for me. Maybe the walls I’d built were stronger than I’d thought after all, although Iwished I could tell that to the fat tears rolling down my cheeks.
During my battle of head and heart, my voice escaped as a pathetic squeak. “Please leave.”
Francesca released a nasal laugh. “Alright, have it your way. When you’ve stopped sulking enough to know what’s good for you, come find me. But I won’t wait around forever.”
“Francesca?” I called to her turned back. She spun around, eyebrows raised. “I want my bunny slippers back.”
A smirk tugged at her lips. Then, without a word, she left.
26
EXORCISM
PRESENT DAY
Catherine stilled as she caught sight of the woman sitting at the bottom of the stairs, elbows perched on her knees. She’d know her anywhere.
“What are you doing here?”
Francesca stood, a wide grin spreading across her lips as she turned. She looked good,really good, in a pair of tailored slacks and a soft-looking chiffon top that fell elegantly around her neck. Her hair tumbled in loose curls to her shoulders.
“Waiting for you, of course.” Her lips stretched into a crimson smile.
“How did you get in?”
“The door was unlocked.”
Catherine rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.
“I hope I’m not disturbing anything.” Francesca’s gaze flicked to the staircase.
“I’m having dinner with my new neighbour.”
“How quaint!”
“Yes, well… what can I do for you?”
“May I come in for a moment?”
Catherine’s eyes darted to her door. Behind it washer space.
