The next morning I was crouched in the courtyard teasing a barn cat with a length of ribbon when the gatekeeper rang through.
Someone's here for you.
Liam stood beyond the gate with an enormous bundle of red roses clutched against his chest. He had dressed for it,pressed shirt, polished shoes, the gold watch I had once helped him pick out. When he saw me he produced the kind of smile a bad actor practices in a mirror.
"Elena. I know you're still angry. Look, I brought your favorite,please, come home with me."
He stepped forward. The gatekeeper put an arm out.
I leaned a shoulder against the doorframe and let my voice go cold.
"What do you want?"
"I'm here to take you home." He hoisted the bouquet, gave it a little shake as though it were proof of something. "Why are you wasting your
