His index finger made small circles around his ear as he began his pacing again. “Your mama was a little coo-coo, jumped off a fire escape to her death when you were eleven. The state couldn’t find anyone to take two girls your age, so they split you up. You went to Michigan where you lived with the Walkers. Nice couple. They raised seven? Or was it eight? Yes, eight hard to place kids. You were one of them. You were also quiet the basketball player. Three state titles. Impressive. You tried your hand at landscaping, but that was a flop. And then you worked a titty bar, where you thrived. Explains why you’re so good at making those drinks. Huh?
“I left you alone with my kids. How fucking stupid could I be. I don’t even know what to say to you right now. I wish you could feel the fury pumping through my veins right now, Gabriella. I want to slice your throat, take you out to the ocean, and feed your body to the sharks.”
“I would never her Row or Phi. You know that.”
“I don’t even know who the fuck you are.”
I was suddenly scared for my life. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m not going to do anything. You are. Just remember, baby girl. We’re all innocent until proven guilty.”
My eyes turned to the time on the fancy clock trimmed in gold, and then to the photo of Rowan and Phi. Right beside it. Happy smiles, Rowan in a full blown laugh and Ophelia’s straight and fake. The one she used when she was told to smile.
I didn’t hear anything after that. Loud shrills rang in my head while I tried to wrap my finger around what was happening. Once again, I was left doubting the realness of my life.
“It’s for you,” Paxton smirked. His hand yanked me from his chair by my hair.
“Ms. Delgado?”
“Get this trashy slut out of my house,” Paxton said with an angry shove toward two uniformed police officers.
My footing was lost with the shove and the sudden plummet of my heart. I fell on my knees, terrified out of my mind.
Both men helped me up. One with handcuffs. I barely remember even hearing my rights being read. It was more of an echo in my head. Something about the impersonation and disappearance of Gabriella Pierce.
One last plea to my husband, and I was whisked away by strangers.
“Paxton?”
He stood at the door with his hands in his pockets and tension on his face. My eyes never left his, not even when I felt a hand on my head, guiding me to the back of a police car. The sunny day suddenly turned gray. I never let my eyes leave Paxton’s. Not even when my world spun and I felt like I was going to pass out. I tried to blink away the blur and stay focused on Paxton. Beg with my eyes, but I couldn’t. It was all too much. Everything faded.
~~
“I don’t want to go. I want to stay with you.”
I hugged her tight behind the closed door while our new parents’ and a social worker discussed our lives. The lives that would pull us apart. Separate us, and nobody cared. I couldn’t live without her. I didn’t want to. I needed her. She was a part of me, and not in the cliché way like an arm or a leg. She was my heart. Gabby was half my heart.
“Listen to me. I want you to listen really close. You’re not Gabby from this moment on. You go live with the Walkers and have an amazing life. I swear, we’ll be together again if it’s the last thing I do,” I removed my pink shirt and slipped out of my shoes while I rattled off the way it was going to be. I had to. I had to protect her. I knew the part of town Ms. Porter lived in. I’d already been there, a few blocks from her house. A foster home on the shitty side of Fort Myers. The hood. The ghetto. I didn’t want Gabby there. She’d never survive that.
“Izzy, what are you doing?”
“No, not Izzy. I’m Gabby and you’re Izzy.
“Izzy! What are you doing?”
“Gabby. I’m Gabby. Give me your shirt! Hurry,” I said, eyes darting to the door.
“This isn’t going to work,” she worried while slipping out of her purple shirt.
“Yes it is.” My heart pounded a million miles a minute, adrenaline had my nerves on fire, and my hands trembled like an addict. I did what I had to do because I loved her.
“Izzy, I don’t want to live without you,” Gabby cried, one last desperate attempt to get me to change my mind.
“I’m Gabby. You’re Izzy,” I said through a croak in my throat. I hugged her, taking in the scent of her hair and the feel of her body. “This way we’re always going to be a part of each other. Okay? I’m going to see you. I promise, we’ll be together again, Izzy. I swear to God,” I said while making promises I couldn’t keep.
“That’s my favorite shirt. Keep it. I want it back.”