It was better that she left. Better for her. What could I offer her? Life as my—what? Wife? I couldn’t condemn her to that. Gia had been born into this world, but she could get out. She needed to get out. For all her talk of vengeance, she couldn’t stomach it, couldn’t take the reality of it. I knew that. I did. I think it’s one of the things that drew me to her. As fierce as she was, inside her, the light of her innocence burned bright.

In a way, I sought absolution.

She was clean.

And I had no business dirtying her, no business staining her with my sins.

I opened the desk drawer and took out the letter Effie had written me, picked up the phone, and dialed. I only checked my watch after it started to ring and realized it might be too late to call her, since it was past ten at night.

But then she answered.

“Hello?” came her little voice.

I smiled, tears warming my eyes as my heart thudded.

“Hi, Effie. It’s me, Dominic.”

“Uncle Dominic! You called!”

I heard her elation, and it felt so fucking good.

“Well, you made those delicious cookies, how could I not?” I said. There was a pause. She didn’t know what to say, how to proceed. “Effie, I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to call. I’m very sorry, and you don’t have to say you forgive me. I just want you to know I made a mistake, and I hope I can make it up to you now. I’m going to do everything I can to do that.”

“Oh, Uncle Dominic.”

I heard her sniffle.

“I’ve already forgiven you, silly. I just really miss you.”

“Me too, honey.”

“Where are you, Uncle Dominic?”

“I’m in New Jersey, but I am planning a trip to Florida very soon.”

“You are?”

“Yep. I just have to talk to your mom to arrange some things. Maybe you can show me around?”

“I’d love that! And I’m a great tour guide. I know everything around here. Hold on!”

I heard Isabella’s voice in the background, asking if she was still awake. Effie made up an excuse that she had to get a drink of water, and she would get back to sleep if her mom would stop interrupting. I laughed at that. A few moments later, she came back on the line. This time, she spoke in a whisper.

“Sorry about that. My mom thinks I’m a little kid.”

“Well, you are a kid, and I probably called you pretty late. Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“Yeah, but no big deal. I’ll be fine.”