“But—”
“Don’t youdare,” she repeated, pulling out of her sister’s arms. “You remember how this works, right? Florence could be in danger if I disappear. I’m not risking that.”
“And what if I don’t care?” Florence demanded.
“Maybe you don’t for your own sake.” Vivian tilted her head toward Danny. “But he does. And you’ve got more than just you to be thinking of right now.”
Florence clenched her hands into fists, as though they wanted to pull protectively around her belly and she wouldn’t let them. “But you’re already here,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “And I can’t let you go.”
“It’s all right, Flo,” Vivian said gently, wanting it to be true. But even if it wasn’t, she needed Florence to believe it, or at least pretend to believe it, long enough to keep her safe. “It’ll be okay. You’ll be okay. Just promise me you won’t do anything to risk yourself or the baby.”
“But—”
“Promise me.”She had spent so long trying to set them both free. Florence had made it. Vivian wasn’t going to let her give that up. “Please.”
There were tears in Florence’s eyes as she nodded. “I promise,” she whispered.
Vivian looked at Danny, her voice catching as she asked, “You’ll make sure of it, right?”
“Always,” he said, nodding. The smile he gave her was sad. “Are you coming, Viv?”
“Where?”
“To the Nightingale, of course. Don’t you want to say good-bye? Just. You know. Just in case.”
More than anything,she wanted to say. Vivian wondered if her chest had finally cracked open, if both of them could see every selfish, longing heartbeat inside her. But she couldn’t. Not tonight. She glanced at her sister. “But—”
Florence turned her face up toward Danny. “You’ll make sure she’s safe?”
“For as long as I can,” Danny said, laying his hand on her shoulder. When she reached up to press hers against it, so tightly that Vivian could see white around her knuckles, he took her fingers in his and brought them to his lips, then bent to kiss her mouth, so softly, so sweetly, that Vivian had to look away.
A moment later, she felt Danny nudge her arm. “Come on, kitten. Get your glad rags on and meet me downstairs.” He gave her a smile. “When the party might end, you can’t waste a moment, right?”
“But—” Vivian tried to call after him, but he was already out the door. Vivian wiped her eyes before any tears could fall and give her away. She turned back to her sister. “I’m not going anywhere, Flo. I’m staying right here with you.”
But Florence shook her head. “Go home, Vivi. And I don’t mean that miserable little room where you sleep.” Her smile was like heartbreak as she laid her palm against Vivian’s cheek. “I mean your real home.”
Vivian dragged in a breath, leaning into her sister’s hand. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Florence had always known her, even the parts she wanted to hide.
TWENTY-NINE
Vivian couldn’t see the stars that night. The city lights were too bright, the dingy clouds too thick. But inside, Danny would pour her a drink, and champagne stars would fizz inside the glass. They’d dance like the couples on the floor, the people who found their way there hoping to escape something.
The band was just getting started, Mr. Smith counting them in on a syncopated rhythm, Bea catching it and starting out quiet, her voice growing louder and bolder until the brass joined, swinging in fast and hot while the dancers tumbled onto the floor.
Vivian took a deep breath. This corner of the world would go on, night after night, even if she wasn’t there. But if she was going to go, she sure as hell wasn’t going quietly.
She caught the hand of the first person going past.
“Hey, fella,” she said, her smile wide and dazzling while her heart ached. “Want to make a scene on the dance floor?”
THIRTY
By midnight, Vivian thought she must have danced with nearly everyone in the Nightingale. The ankle that she had twisted at the lodge ball throbbed, but she ignored it. It didn’t hurt bad enough to stop her. Not tonight.
She could have sworn Bea was singing just for her, all her favorites filling the air. She danced with men and with women. She laughed and flirted and poured her heart out into the night, wanting to leave part of herself there forever.
