“It’s fine,” I reply, eager to drop the subject. “I only went to the one game.”

“You should mention it to Lionel the next time the Vanderbilts are over,” my father suggests. “You know he’s a big fan of the sport.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Who are the Vanderbilts?” Katie asks.

“Vivienne hasn’t mentioned them?” my mother replies, sounding surprised. “They’re some of our oldest friends. Their son is the same age as Vivienne. Charles.”

“Oh,” Katie says, putting the pieces together.

She gives me a sympathetic glance. We haven’t discussed the marriage law, but I’m not surprised she already knows about it. Along with the rumors regarding who I’ll end up marrying.

Katie and I exchange an emotional goodbye the following afternoon. I promise her that I’ll call more often, and I actually mean it. Now that the topic of Jace has been broached, it also feels more settled.

I’ve been simultaneously clutching my memories while also trying to forget about him, and it’s gotten me nowhere. There’s only a handful of months before I need to be married. I can’t keep holding on to him.

The resolution resulting from Katie’s visit carries me through the week. I make an effort to be more talkative with my parents and invite Charles to attend a formal fundraising gala with me one evening. I can tell he’s thrilled by the invitation, and I end up enjoying myself more than I expected to.

On Thursday, my father informs my mother and me he’s planned for us to take a trip with the Vanderbilts for the weekend. I agree to go, figuring it will be an opportunity to bridge the gap with Charles more. My excitement grows when I overhear my mother telling her assistant Helga we’ll be staying at the Vanderbilts’ German estate. I’ve never been to the country before.

Early Friday afternoon, my mother and I board a plane with the Vanderbilts. My father travels separately on his own plane. I end up sleeping for most of the flight, but wake up to look out the window of our private plane as I start to feel it descend. To my surprise, I realize I recognize the small hangar sitting next to the runway we’re rapidly approaching.

The plane’s wheels hit the asphalt with a jolt, and I look over at my mother accusingly.

“This is not Germany.”

“Believe me, that would have been my preference. Charles told your father he thought you would prefer to return to the States rather than visit their German estate. That you’ve been missing it here. Lionel and Margaret graciously offered for us all to stay at their beach house.”

Panic swirls within me as the meaning behind her words begins to fully register. The door to the plane opens, and the Vanderbilts exit first. It seems like a cruel twist of fate I’m being forced to face the most potent reminder of Jace since I left Lincoln mere days after resolving to forget him.

Charles smiles at me as he walks past, pulling a pair of sunglasses out of his pocket to slip on before disembarking into the hot air already infiltrating the plane. My mother follows after them. I reluctantly do the same, trailed by the six agents that traveled with us.