Chapter 24: Every Day of You

By dawn every piece of her had come home.

She lay against Elio's shoulder with Gemma at seven, asleep on her bed in a ribbon-pink nightgown, still in her head.

It hurt, and it was hers.

"Is it done?" he said into her hair.

"Yes."

"How do you feel?"

"Like it's all mine again," Chiara said. "Even the parts I don't want."

He kissed her temple and asked her nothing more.

On Sunday she cooked.

Taylor's flat smelled of lemon and butter.

The cake came out of the oven tall and gold, with zest in it, from the card in her mother's slanting hand.

Taylor cut three slices and ate hers standing at the counter, with the cat on her shoulder.

"This is criminal," she said, with her mouth full. "This is a crime and I want to be arrested for it."

"It's just cake."

"It's the best cake that has ever been made by a woman who got revenge."

Elio stood in the doorway, because he had not been invited farther.

Taylor put a plate in his hand and pointed at the table.

He sat and ate a bite and put the fork down.

"Is it right?" Chiara asked.

"It's the one from our wedding," he said. "Your mother made it. You fed me the first bite in front of two hundred people."

"I remember."

"I know you do."

She looked at him across the table, and he did not look away.

Taylor took the cat and quietly went into the bedroom and shut the door.

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