Chapter 36

Evie

Ilie awake in the queen-size bed, thinking. The last few hours have been crazy. The moment I agreed to go public with the ruse, I switched gears, feeling an immediate sense of relief to not have to leave for a flight back to New York.

Now I"m Ronna.

Anna has clearly fallen for it.

Fallen for it.

I cringe. It makes me sound like a scheming con artist.

The situation which started out as a funny favor has now become real. But there"s little I can do. Having met Anna and agreeing to attend Steph and Brad"s wedding, I"m in too deep.

I yawn, the fatigue of the morning's stress suggesting I need sleep.

When several thought-flooded minutes elapse without slumber, I glance at my phone on the nightstand and do the math. It"s afternoon in Rome. Jeffrey will be in the middle of his school day. I picture him, a hint of his earlier boyishness in his stubbly cheeks.

Daniel, on the other hand, will be at his Manhattan desk, bleary-eyed, after a night of either binge-watching YouTube or out with friends.

Oh, how I miss my boys.

I spoke with Jeffrey after my phone died. But no word at all from Daniel.

I yawn once more and dial my eldest.

"Mom?" He sounds fully awake and mildly distracted.

"Yes, honey."

"All okay?" Daniel asks.

"Just saying hi. It's been a while. What are you up to?"

"Watching Breaking Bad."

"It's nearly noon."

"And?"

I"m about to say, "Don't you have a job?" then stop myself. I"m mothering him.

So what? I am his mother.

Still, I hold my tongue.

"Nothing. So, tell me how's Donna?" I ask, in an attempt to change the subject to the more neutral topic of his girlfriend.

"Fine."

One word and I know. Something is off. "What happened?"

Daniel sighs. "We hit a rough patch."

"Did you break up?"

"It's a trial separation."

The words hit me like a locomotive. There's no way he could know they were the exact words Marco said the day after he left me.

Left us. Me and the boys.

I never considered Marco's insulting suggestion. By then it was beyond too little, too late. It was a slap in the face. But this is not about me. It's about Daniel.

"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

"Getting there. It happened a few days ago. I'm taking a personal day."

I feel awful. Here I am wondering why he hasn't reached out to me and he needs me.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You finally took a vacation, I didn't want to ruin it."

"Sweetheart, you can always ruin my vacation."

The absurdity of the words makes us both break out in laughter. "What I mean is, you can always call me, day or night. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, Mom. Thanks."

I can hear his breathing change, like he's holding back a sob. My heart breaks a little with him.

"How is your trip going?" Daniel asks, changing the subject once more.

"It's been great. Seems like it's going to be an unexpectedly extended one."

"Why is that?"

"Well, here's the thing. I just got fired."

After explaining what happened with Bill, and that I already lined up something new, Daniel says, "Sounds like it"s working out." Then, "Heard you met someone."

Apparently my boys are in touch with each other, which makes me happy.

"You'd like Adam. But someone and the one are not necessarily the same."

A light chuckle. "Got it, Mom."

I share with Daniel how my short-lived unemployment could lead to an exciting new role on the horizon. I tell him how I love the mountains, the clean air, and the slower pace of life. I share how I"m going to a wedding in Breckenridge, Colorado. He listens intently, asking questions.

We speak for twenty minutes. It"s the best call we've had in a long time. The conversation feels almost like speaking to a contemporary.

It's weird when kids become adults. And wonderful at the same time.

But he's still my child. Which is why I never mention that I now go by Ronna, the adoring fiancée of a man he has never met.