“Okay. And, sweetie … you don’t need to tell me everything now. When you’re ready. But if you have a girl in your life, and you want me to know her, I would love to meet her.”

I want to cry, because there’s nothing I want more in the world than to introduce Rose to Mom. But Mom doesn’t mean Rose. She means Harriet. She thinks Harriet is my girlfriend.

“Sure,” I say. “Maybe.”

With that we say goodbye, and we disconnect.

I put the phone on my bedside table and curl up to stare at the wall.

THIRTY-SEVEN ROSE

William visits me at Bramppath directly after lunch. At least he let me eat first. Rather thoughtful of him.

The interviews this morning went perfectly. I’d anticipated no less from Molly, Eleanor, and myself, but Danni surprised me after all her talk of being terrified of standing front and center. Somehow, she managed to spin her entire question session in our favor. In the photos Danni stands stoic, calm, chin raised. She held unwavering eye contact.

These months in the spotlight have changed her more than I realized. I can only hope it was for the better.

Of course, William rather disagrees.

“I don’t know how much clearer I could have been,” he spits out. We’re sitting in one of the office meeting rooms, across from each other at a long wooden table. His suit has a coffee stain down the front. I wonder if he’s noticed. “So, please explain to me, Rose, why your friend chose to speak directly to the media rather than liaising with me for a statement as I instructed?”

Well, that would be because I had never told Danni it was an option at all. Let alone a directive. “She was outed to the world today,” I say. “Against her will. She at least deserved full control over what she had to say about it.”

And I certainly didn’t want her being manipulated or guilted into saying something that would save my reputation at her own expense.

“But for you to go and make your own statement,” he says in a wretched tone. “What could possibly have possessed you to do that? You do not speak to the media. You willfully ignored that.”

“So there wouldn’t be a statement released implying Danni was inappropriate with me,” I snap, “or that she kissed me against my will—just in case there’s ever a photo leak and we need the plausible deniability set up in advance—or that I secretly hate her, or anything along those lines. I will not allow you to use her as a human shield to defend my reputation!”

“Yes, it’s become quite clear this year that your reputation is of very little importance to you,” William says in an icy tone, folding his hands on the table before him.