Page 24 of Till Death Do Us Part

Caitlyn’s jaw dropped. “Elaine!” she screamed, turning to me. “You got engaged?”

“Well, no, technically…”

Vera smiled, squeezing my shoulder. “Am I not what you had in mind for a sister-in-law?”

“Elaine!” Caitlyn screamed, louder this time. “You got married? What? When!?”

“It’s a… it’s a long story. I’ll tell you everything another time, okay? I wanted you to know I’m going to go away for a little bit—”

“On a honeymoon with your new wife!?”

“Well…”

“That’s right,” Vera said. “If you need anything, reach out. Just make sure you’re not doing it as a proxy for your mother. I don’t think I made a good impression on the mother-in-law.”

“Elaine!” Caitlyn clasped her hands over her face. “You’re married?”

“Like I said, I’ll explain everything later,” I laughed, standing up. “But I promise everything is going to be all right. I love you, okay?”

“How long have you… I didn’t even know you had a girlfriend! When… what…”

Vera’s posture tightened next to me, in that slight, subtle way I was learning to pick up on, and my stomach clenched. I glanced at her, and she pursed her lips.

“Vera?” I whispered, and she shook her head, whispering back.

“It’s too quiet.”

“What?”

“The birds stopped. Even the wind seems to be holding its breath.”

Caitlyn cocked her head. “Are you two whispering about marital drama instead of answering my questions?”

“What’s going on?” I whispered to Vera, and she narrowed her eyes.

“Yulia is here.”

Chapter 11

elaine

“Sorry, Caitlyn,” Vera said. “We were just stopping by, but we have to run to make our flight.”

“Your flight?” Caitlyn blurted. “Where are you flying to?”

“Vera!” I whispered. “Are we leaving her? What if Yulia does something to her?”

Vera grimaced. “We cannot bring her with us.”

“I’m not abandoning my sister!”

“What are you whispering about?” Caitlyn shouted.

Vera sighed, hard. “Do not leave this spot,” she said, and she turned to Caitlyn. “We’re just heading to a house upstate. Do you want to come? It’s a big place. And your mother isn’t invited.”

Caitlyn’s eyes shone. “You… do you really mean that?”

“You could stay as long as you wanted.”