Do Not Disturb

by Freida McFadden

“I guess you really have a gift,” I say. “I will tell you a secret, Rosalie.” Her fingers linger on mine. “I cannot really read the future. Or the past. I am just an ordinary woman.” “Really.” There’s a note of sarcasm in my voice, but I’m a little surprised by her admission. Not that I ever believed in that stuff, but sometimes Greta did seem truly clairvoyant. After all, she predicted a happy ending for me and Nick when it seemed impossible. “Yes. It is true.” “Well.” I shrug. “It looks like your prediction about me and Nick came true after all.” “Yes. It did. Of course, I had to help it along.” “Help it along?” She hesitates as her eyes stare into mine. “Rosalie, I want you to know that I never had children. And I always thought of you like a daughter. I wanted you to be happy.” “Yes…” “Nick would have left you,” she says. “That girl, Christina… she was a vixen. She set her sights on him—she wanted him. And no offense, my dear, but you were not doing much to hold on to him. You were delivering him to her on a silver platter! She told me how she thought Nick would be better off without you.” My mouth falls open. I didn’t know about any of this. I had always assumed it was a fling—not that I asked for many details.