“You can’t. The show’s televised; what if we’re seen together?” Anna didn’t say her boyfriend’s name, but it was obvious that’s what she meant.

“I have to get the box back,” he reminded her. “You’re the one who said you wanted to return my gifts.”

Anna knew she was caught. “Fine, I’ll keep them. But you should go. Now.” Anna wasn’t sure she could handle being near him for a moment more.

He didn’t press her on the matter. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Anna,” Vronsky said, embracing her before she had a chance to refuse him. Anna inhaled his heavenly scent even though she knew she shouldn’t.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Alexia,” she murmured back, before pulling away from him and running into the Garden.

When Vronsky climbed back into the waiting taxi, the driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “Man, how did you let that pretty thing go?”

“I haven’t,” Vronsky replied, speaking the only truth he knew. Vronsky pulled out his phone and texted his cousin Beatrice his next move, hoping it would be checkmate. Need assistance. Need house party ASAP. Maybe country house?

Her reply was immediate. No doubt, Boy Scout. Costume party?

He replied, You’re the boss.

How was V-day?

Vronsky sighed, more like a groan, and sent his cousin one last text. Woof!

XIII

Although Kimmie had now spent an entire week in bed, she still didn’t feel better when she and Lolly arrived at their dad’s brownstone on Sunday night. Her father took one look at his pale, skinny, youngest daughter and immediately pulled out his phone, calling his ex-wife to discuss what was going on. Kimmie sat on the steps, her chin propped up on her hands, listening to the conversation start to get heated between her parents, her mother blaming him for not taking her to the doctor earlier. She stood and went upstairs to her room, not caring that her parents were fighting, not caring about anything at all.

An hour later, her sister knocked on the door and asked if she could come in. Kimmie didn’t answer, so Lolly entered. Seeing Kimmie was already in bed, Lolly walked over and climbed under the duvet. “Mom hung up on him twice, but he called her back both times,” Lolly reported. “She answered, which means she’s really worried about you. You know how one of Mom’s favorite things is to ice Daddy out.”

Kimmie just nodded, too tired to care about her parents’ squabbles, even when she was the topic of discussion.