Chapter 4: Half My Mother's Face

Two of Gabe's friends stepped through the connecting door, drinks in hand.

"Told you she'd cave."

"Pay up. Gabe wins."

One of them glanced at Allegra's wrist.

"All that drama, and a bracelet was all it took."

Gabe's relieved smile died when he saw my face.

"Claire. It wasn't like that."

"A bet?" I asked.

He turned on the men. "Get out."

Neither of them moved until his voice dropped.

"Now."

They left.

"I'll explain," he said.

"Keep the explanation. I want the bracelet."

Allegra undid the clasp.

"Here. Since it's so precious."

She didn't put it in my hand.

She tossed it.

It fell short.

The little glass oval hit the edge of the marble table and shattered on the floor.

For a moment I couldn't hear anything.

Then I was on my knees, gathering silver links and slivers of glass.

The painted portrait had split down the middle.

Half of my mother's face lay beside the chair leg.

A tear landed on the back of my hand.

She had been gone so long, and there was so little of her left.

"Sorry," Allegra said above me. "I thought you'd catch it. It's only an old bracelet."

"Shut up, Allegra."

Gabe crouched beside me.

Blood welled across my palm where a sliver had cut it.

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