30
Julia took a seat in the back of the funeral parlor, and Alex left to join the volunteers and kids from Shenandoah Preservation.
They’d arrived in time for the last speaker, a young teacher who spoke about Kay’s personality, sense of humor, and service to the community.
The mourners listened, their heads bent in grief, and there was an undercurrent of shock and confusion in the aftermath of Courtney’s arrest.
Julia tried to keep it together, her emotions all over the place.
She felt terrified to think white supremacists were the ones who framed Courtney.
She wracked her brain, going over their conversation with Glushenko, trying to suss out if he was behind some sort of conspiracy.
Meanwhile thoughts of Samuel and his stalker photographs flashed through her mind.
She couldn’t help but suspect him of killing Kay and wondered if Alex liked Samuel too much to be objective about him.
The funeral ended, and Mel and his staff handed Shasta daisies to the mourners, a poignant touch that Kay herself had arranged.
Each mourner went to the front of the room and placed a daisy at the base of the urn, and Julia watched as the pile of flowers grew higher, the cheery yellow centers, soft white petals, and verdant green stems of the daisies a beautiful natural tribute to a loving gardener.
Alex led the Shenandoah Preservation group to the urn, where they placed their daisies, then helped the children do the same, each one on tiptoe to reach the pedestal, a sight that set everyone’s eyes brimming.
Mona and Susan went next as a bittersweet pair, and Julia fought to remain in emotional control.
She was waiting respectfully until last, since she felt as if she were standing in Courtney’s shoes.
She flashed on the vision of the killer she had at the urn last time.
Her heart began to beat faster at the prospect that it could happen again, in front of everyone.
She didn’t know if she would experience the same agonizing chest pain, feeling the impact of the mortal gunshot wound. She never knew what to expect.
The notion terrified Julia until she realized that maybe she could get a different vision, one that could show the killer’s face. She felt mentally pulled in different directions, both afraid of another vision but at the same time, welcoming one.
She thought of Courtney’s note in the urn and her vow to find Kay’s killer. Maybe Julia could solve the crime right now.
She approached the urn, holding her breath.
She felt Alex, Mona, Susan, and everyone else watching her, knowing she was Courtney’s best friend.
Julia placed her daisy on the pile before the urn, on tenterhooks.
She had no vision and experienced no chest pain.
She turned away slowly, ready for anything, but nothing happened.
She felt a wave of sadness that she was no closer to finding Kay’s killer than before.
“Julia,” Mona said, coming to her side with Susan. They opened their arms for a hug, and Julia hugged them both, sharing their grief.
The sun was setting by the time Julia left the funeral home.
She’d regained her composure, but she was reeling from Courtney’s arrest. She felt like half of her was missing, with her best friend behind bars.
It was topsy-turvy that she’d gone to Kay’s funeral without Courtney.
It was even strange to be in Courtney’s hometown without Courtney.
Julia walked to her car, climbed inside, and closed the door, realizing that her chest didn’t hurt as much as it had before.
The ache was finally going away. On impulse, she peeked under her blouse and checked her skin.
There was nothing there, not even a bruise.
She shook her head, confounded. Her psychic ability was a puzzle with missing pieces.
Reflexively she started to turn on the car ignition, then caught herself.
She had nowhere to go. She wasn’t sure what to do next.
She sat a moment, trying to collect her thoughts.
So much had been happening that she couldn’t wrap her mind around.
There was no pattern to what she foresaw and what she didn’t.
She felt more confused than ever, but she had to find a way to use her powers to free Courtney.
Her thoughts turned to Gianluca, and she worried about him, too.
It struck her that his being accused of sexual abuse was yet another thing that she hadn’t foreseen or gotten any premonition of.
She could only imagine how upset he was, how shaken.
She wanted to check in on him, and it would be evening in Tuscany.
She called him on FaceTime, and he picked up after one ring.
“Hi,” Gianluca said, curtly. He was sitting in the living room on the couch, and the lights were low.
“Honey, how are you? I’m thinking of you.”
“I’m trying but it’s not easy.”
“What’s happening?”
“Where to begin?” Gianluca shook his head.
His expression was strained, and his olive skin had gone pale.
“Leni finally settled down, but it took forever. My mother’s crying in the next room.
My father feels guilty that he told me to go to the doctor.
I can’t breathe a word of this at work. I’d die of shame if they found out. They’d never think of me the same way.”
“I’m so sorry, honey.”
“Meanwhile the authorities are beginning an investigation on me. They already called and told me to get a lawyer. So then I had to find a lawyer, and I did, but can you imagine, me calling lawyers about such shameful allegations?”
Julia felt heartsick for him.
“I had to tell a complete stranger that I’m suspected of sexual abuse.
I told him I didn’t do it, but I’m sure all of his clients say that.
” Gianluca raked his fingers through his hair.
“I found out that one of my old classmates practices family law. He could help me, but he’s the last one I’d call.
I was at the top of my class, Julia. I have a reputation to uphold.
My family has been in Florence for generations.
I’m the director of the city’s finest historical library.
Now I’m a molester, of my own child? That’s incest!
What’s worse than that? Murder? Maybe that, maybe that one thing. ”
“My God, honey, this is so awful, and I’m so sorry.”
Gianluca straightened in the chair. “The authorities have to schedule an interview, an initial interview that is, and they want to interview the both of us. You have to give background information and also show that our marriage is a happy one.”
“Of course, of course I’ll do anything.”
“So when are you coming home? They need to schedule it.”
“When do they want to do it?”
“They said this week or next.”
Julia swallowed hard. She thought of her promise to Courtney. “Can it be next week? Or later?”
“Julia, really?” Gianluca frowned, his lips parting. “There’s a Sword of Damocles hanging over my head. Why the delay?”
“Yes, but I told you Courtney was arrested. I can’t leave her alone.”
“Courtney is a married woman. Where’s Paul?”
“He’s not here yet.”
“Excuse me, he should be.” Gianluca’s dark eyes widened, incredulous. “Everything is out of order. Paul should be with his wife. You should be home with me and your daughter.” He shook his head. “What can you do there now? You said she has a lawyer. Let the lawyer help her.”
“This is an emergency.”
“So is this!” Gianluca frowned. “I’m sorry about Courtney, but she can’t be your problem. I need you, Leni needs you. You can’t put a child on simmer, like Bolognese sauce.”
“She has you guys. She has three adults taking care of her, who love her.”
“Sometimes, there’s no substitute for a mother. This is one of those times.”
Julia felt it like a knife wound. She had no immediate reply.
“I don’t know why you would choose your friend over your family.”
Julia realized that Gianluca’s closest friends were his family, which was very Italian, but that wasn’t the case with her and never could be.
“Gianluca, not everybody has a wonderful family like yours. I had a troubled family, and Courtney got me through it. She was there for me every step of the way, growing up and in college, where she practically saved my life, from that guy from the library. And after Mike died, she made sure I fed myself, got out of the house, and survived. Courtney is my family.”
Gianluca shook his head. “Family is blood.”
“Really? Well, I’m an adoptee, remember? Fiamma is my blood, and I didn’t meet her till five years ago. Same with my birth father, whom I never see.”
Gianluca seemed to take it in. “Okay, I understand that. It’s not an easy choice, but you’re making it the wrong way.”
“I’m making it the only way I can.”
Gianluca’s dark eyes narrowed. “Julia, I know you. You were at the police station all afternoon. Don’t tell me you’re not looking into Kay’s murder.”
“Just a little,” Julia had to admit.
“This is exactly what I was afraid of. Are you having visions?”
“I had one, that’s all.”
“Are you following it up? Are you going to unravel, like last time?”
“This is different from last time. I feel stronger, I can do this, I have to.”
“Julia, this is everything I warned you about.” Gianluca shook his head in anguish. “You promised me.”
Julia’s gut wrenched, torn between her promises to Gianluca and to Courtney.
“I know, but I never dreamed that Courtney would be arrested for Kay’s murder, never in a million years. I’m doing the best I can, and you have to trust me and let me do what I need to do.”
“Okay, I hear that, but then what’s the plan?” Gianluca asked, resigned. “When can I tell the authorities my wife will be joining me to attest to our happy marriage?”
Julia winced. “I’m not sure. I’ll get home as soon as I can.”
“Is that a promise? Another promise? Is it more reliable than the first promise?”
Ouch. “I love you and I’m trying.”
“So am I, cara,” Gianluca shot back, wounded, his dark eyebrows sloping miserably down. “Enough, I don’t want to fight anymore.”
“I don’t, either. Just know that I love you and I’ll be home as soon as I absolutely can.”
“I love you, too. Goodbye.” Gianluca ended the call, and Julia hung up looking at her home screen, which was a beautiful picture of the three of them smiling in the vineyard.
Tears came to her eyes. Her family was hurting on two different continents, and she prayed they would all get through this somehow.
She set the phone and purse on the passenger seat, then noticed a white piece of notepaper on the cushion. She picked it up and read its handwritten scrawl, stunned:
I DID NOT KILL KAY
SAMUEL