“I love you, too,” said Cleo.
“Danny posted that you were the devil on his Instagram,” said Isaac. “I drank a glass of gin and booked a flight. The only rentalcar they had in Carlisle was this thing. I got here as soon as I could.”
“What about Rebecca?”
“She’s very nice, but she’s no Cleo Peacock.”
Cleo pressed her ear to Isaac’s rib cage. “I can hear your heart,” she said.
9
Louisa
Items recovered from Mumberton Castle Fire
Number 602
Phoenix Rising
Pre-fire condition: Stored in the basement.
Salvageability: Yes.
Damage description: Minor.
Item description:
“Phoenix Rising” depicts a scene of a mythical bird emerging from flames. It is a part of the tapestry series “The Lady and the Phoenix.” In previous tapestries, a woman, clad in flowing robes and with an expression of glacial serenity, has been portrayed as aninfant, young woman, and bride, and has now transformed into a bird.
The background of the tapestry features a landscape with trees, buildings, and mountains. The colors used in the tapestry are vibrant and include shades of blue, green, red, and gold.
The tapestry “Phoenix Rising” dates back to the early 16th century and was created in Brussels, Belgium. It measures 12 feet tall and 32 feet wide and is woven in wool and silk.
Signature and date:Louisa Freck, July 2025
10
Emma
DEBT-FREE; $2,500/MO (PLUS HOUSING)
Outside the door of her mother’s hospital room, Emma steadied herself. Smoke inhalation was serious and would require monitoring and rest. Rich, Guinness, Penelope, and Jameson had been released by their doctors, but Donna remained. The Catalfamos had already missed their flight back to Montana.
Donna’s eyes were closed, her mouth covered by a mask attached to a breathing tube. Her inhalations and exhalations were even and deep with the aid of an oxygen machine.
Emma had never seen her mother weak. It was terrifying. Donna opened her eyes.
“Of course it’s you,” she said. “And not Noah. Just you.”
“I love you, Mom,” said Emma.
“I told the doctors to call and say I was dying, but I guess even that wasn’t enough to get him off the couch,” said Donna. “So much for my love story.”
“I’m here,” said Emma.
“Of course you are,” said Donna. She turned her head away. “All I wanted was to be loved,” she said.
Emma was invisible to her mother. Donna had not consideredher—a small, scared girl in the grass—while she made love to Noah; Donna had not thought of Emma when she moved to Arizona. Of course Emma felt bereft and angry and sad as hell. But she was sad for want of a mother who did not exist.
