“Ah.”

“How did you find out?” I finally ask.

“I knew the night I met you. I Googled it to confirm, but I was fairly certain. My ex followed the story obsessively. She was heartbroken for your family. For you, in particular. She and her own sister are inseparable.”

I nod, taking this in. “I don’t really know what to say.”

“I’m not trying to put you on the spot. I won’t say anything. But for what it’s worth, I don’t think anyone would judge you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

I laugh, but it’s heavy as a stone. “Well, that was definitely not my experience back home.” As the shock of Edward’s revelation recedes, I realize it’s a relief that someone knows.

Edward shrugs. “Maybe, but it’s different here. Everyone came here for a reason. Everyone’s life is a mess back home.”

“Not quite like mine though.”

“Well no,” he acknowledges, “and I’m not trying to minimize what’s happened to you. I just thought an outside perspective might be helpful.”

“It is,” I say. “I’m not ready to talk about it. But thank you. For not saying anything.”

He shrugs. “It’s not my story to tell, Liz.”

We have a wine-soaked lunch in Colonia’s Plaza de Mayo.

“God,” Gemma says. “I could eat a fucking horse. I’m a monster when I’m on the rag.”

“Gemma.” Edward rolls his eyes.

“Oh I’m sorry, darling, does my healthy, functioning female body offend you? Don’t be prissy.”

I laugh and it occurs to me that I can’t remember when I last got my own period. Before the past year it was like clockwork, but the stress has made my cycle erratic. I guess it still hasn’t gone back to normal yet.

We take a languorous walk around the small, picturesque city. We stroll through the artisanal market and Gemma buys up an armful of leather goods. We buy ice cream at the edge of a park where children are running around and people are walking dogs of all sizes.

If Cali hadn’t seen him, we might have missed him altogether. He could have so easily disappeared into the idyllic tableau of the park on a sunny Saturday.