I just got a phone call from Thisbe that made me realize
There are things you need to know.
I am so sorry, and I only hope that
Please understand that
I will write everything down and you
I love you.
Simon
9
Cleo
Danny stood next to his bags at the entrance to Mumberton Castle. He checked his phone. “My Uber will be here in thirty-eight minutes,” he said.
“I’m glad they even have Uber here,” said Cleo. She exhaled, gazing down the road that led past the Gatekeeper’s Cottage to the A6 and eventually, Carlisle. There was a low mist over the lawns. Cleo thrummed with clarity: She was going to clear the air with Sylvie and then return home to Isaac and whatever her confession to him would bring.
“I’d prefer if you could leave me alone,” said Danny. “I feel dumb enough as it is.” He had packed quickly and efficiently, saying he’d be out of their apartment by the time she got back to Brooklyn Heights.
“Where are you going to go?” said Cleo.
“That’s really not your problem,” said Danny.
“Well, there’s no rush,” said Cleo. “We can sort through everything when I get back.”
“It’s not my brownstone. Nothing there belongs to me,” said Danny.
“Your notebooks,” said Cleo. “And…your guitar.”
“Oh yes, my guitar,” said Danny morosely. He released a large sigh.
“You can stay for the wedding if you want,” said Cleo. “I mean, we can still be friends, Danny.”
“As if,” said Danny. “Sorry, Cleo, but no way.”
“I’ll see you back in the city,” said Cleo.
“Probably you won’t,” said Danny. “We don’t even have anything in common.”
“That’s not true,” said Cleo, though it was, actually, true.
“Just leave me alone, OK?” said Danny.
“OK,” said Cleo.
“I hope I never see you again, and I mean that,” said Danny.
Cleo blinked.
“I mean it. Seriously. Leave me alone, OK? Please, Cleo.”
Cleo wanted to protest but held her tongue. It was the least she could do. She went back into the castle, leaving Danny to wait for his car. She felt very sad, hungry, and tired. Cleo wandered into the octagonal library and fell asleep on a gold velvet divan.
“Cleo?”
