Page 41 of The Unraveling of Julia

Julia’s throat caught. “It’s not—”

“Of course it is! You’reseeing things.”

“I can handle it, I’m stronger than you think. Stronger thanIthink.”

“Is this your horoscope now? Am I talking to Cancer the Crab?”

Julia shuddered, thinking of the crabs that tore her to pieces. She couldn’t speak for a moment.

“Stop with that astrology crap. Listen to me. I’ve known you since high school, and it’s a fuckingapp.”

“It’s real—”

“No, it’s not—”

“It is—”

“Then fine!” Courtney snapped. “If you want to believe that, knock yourself out. You insist on believing it. Do what you want and don’t ask for my blessing.”

“I’m not—”

“Then why did you wake me up?”

“I’m sorry, I was upset,” Julia answered, guilt-stricken. She never should have called Courtney. It was selfish.

“You’re putting yourself in a terrible situation! You have to help yourself and the way to do that is to come the fuck home.”

“I can’t, not yet.” Julia wanted to end the conversation. She had to calm down. She had to get it together. She knew she wasn’t making sense. She was crazy and now she was driving Courtney crazy. It was late, and Piero and Anna Mattia were probably waiting for her, wanting to go back to bed. She’d put them through enough for one night, for two even. “Look, I have to go, I’m sorry I bothered you—”

“Jules, really? You’re hanging up?”

“I have to, I have to go to bed.”

“Okay, then go.” Courtney cleared her throat. “I’m going back to bed, too.”

Julia swallowed hard. “Love you.”

“Love you, too. Get some sleep.” Courtney paused. “And Jules? Be careful.”

25

The next morning, Julia ate breakfast in the kitchen rather than the dining room. She’d spent a sleepless night on Anna Mattia’s couch, and the sleep deprivation was making it hard to process what was going on. Anna Mattia and Piero looked even more concerned about her mental state than before. They were both silent, and Anna Mattia kept stealing glances at her while she scarfed downstrapazzato, or scrambled eggs, and toasted rustic bread with sunflower seeds.

Julia read her horoscope again while she finished her meal.

You’ve heard the saying: It’s always darkest before the dawn. You’re entering the darkest. Stay strong. Surround yourself with those who support you, not those who restrict you.

Tell me about it.Julia worried that things were about to get worse, and her horoscope had a heartbreaking resonance after her fight with Courtney. They’d never had cross words, and it felt as if a riftwas forming between them, which upset Julia at soul level. Plus she respected Courtney’s opinion; it made her doubt herself.

Suddenly her cell phone rang, and she hoped it was Courtney calling back. She checked the screen, but it was Franco. She picked up. “Yes, Franco?”

“Julia, how are you this morning?”

“I’m fine. You?”

“Wonderful! I have excellent news. We got a fantastic offer on the property. Two million one hundred euro incash.”

“Really?” Julia asked, amazed. “But how? They haven’t even seen it.”

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