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Robbie asks, “Lizzie?” I nod. “How’s it going?”

“Too good.” I grin.

“Sometimes too good can be everything.”

I roll my eyes and hang up on him. It’s what we do.

My ma asks, “When you do the thing you have to do, will it hurt? Neither of you should have any more pain because of what that man did. Both of those awful men.”

I grin at my mother whose past pain wins all the contests.

I push the chair back from the table and pull the bowl from the sun porch where the focaccia dough was rising. I flour the counter and plop the dough in the center and begin to knead. “I’m going to have to break some hearts to accomplish this. I hope I can put them back together in the aftermath.”

She leans her cheek over and I kiss it. And then she smacks my butt.

“Go. Do your thing. Trust yourself. And draw me a nice picture. I need a new one for my living room. A great big one. Maybe a painting this time. Mio caro artista.” She pinches my cheek like she’s an old-world grandmother. She’s so beautiful and young. She’s only fifty-three. She didn’t see anything except him for the longest time. And now she’s settled into an existence like her mother before her. That of an old neighborhood Italian sage.

* * *

“Hey, Soph!”

She stands in one of Dax’s tank tops that hangs to her knees. She still doesn’t trust me.

“Heard from Bette?” I ask.

“Don’t you call her Lizzie?”

“Not sure what your deal is, but people usually like me.”

She turns away without saying a word. She’s tough. Dax lopes around the corner and kisses her before he gets to me.

I nod in her direction. “She live here now?” Dax shrugs. “You cool with that?”

“I want her here. If that answers all your questions.” I lean on the doorframe as Dax sits down on his hall bench. He’s like Mr. Rogers. He has inside shoes and outside shoes.

He looks up at me as he slips on his Adidas. “You really want to do this?”

I texted him my plan. My face settles into a resolute grin. “I think it’s the only way. It will be a hell of a surprise. She’s going to be so fucking pissed. I would freak the fuck out if she did this to me. I’m so glad I get to do it first.”

Dax laughs. “That’s for fucking sure. Like a killer prank. Hell, you’ll outdo the ping pong balls. You’ll go out on top with the penultimate prank.”

“I might regret it for a long time, but in the end it’s what’s best for me and ultimately her. I can’t pull this off without you.”

Dax stands and slaps me on the back. “Cool. I think it will be fucking awesome. Pull the rug right out from under her.”

I embrace my friend and partner. “Let’s go to the office.”

BETTE

HAYDEN: That was some good cyber fucking. Thanks, my lady. I’m so fucking excited to see you tomorrow.

BETTE: I miss you.

HAYDEN: There are things to be said. I want to tell them all to you.

BETTE: And I want to hear them. Sorry, this took so long. I think we’re in really wonderful shape for the pitch. I’m so proud of you.

HAYDEN: You have no idea how impressed, proud and grateful I am for you. I’m more pleased with fate, but you’re a close second. And I have a surprise for you.