“Do you know why Micha was looking into Cherry? Did he know who she was?”
“He didn’t confide in me,” Kate says, “but I suspect he found something in Carlo’s files. I knew he was looking into Cherry, and I thought that would be all right. If he found out she was a sister, well, he could argue with your father about how to handle it. That was before we lost Micha and before you and Cherice met, of course.”
“And where would that have left me? If Micha knew who she was and brought her back here, where would I have been? Shipped back to the Ramsays?”
“You are part of this family, Nataniele. You always have been, and I don’t think there is anyone living in this house that would disagree with that.”
I should have known it all along.
“But…I always thought Micha and I looked alike.”
“You do, to a certain extent. Carlo took you overseas—somewhere in Europe—and had plastic surgery done on your chin and cheekbones so you would look more like an Orso. He didn’t want there to be any doubt. Rosa was against it, but of course, he didn’t listen to her.”
“Who knew about this, Kate? Aside from you, who knew this happened?”
“Only Carlo, Rosa, Mario, and I knew from our side. I don’t know who was privy to the information in the Ramsay family. They may have kept the information from the others. Roland was certainly involved, and clearly both Leanne and Sophia knew what was happening. I don’t know about anyone else, but I think they all must have passed on by now.”
“Why was Cherry sent to live with Sofia Ramsay?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“I don’t know how the others will feel about this, Nataniele. I won’t be the one to tell them—that’s all up to you. I’ve kept the secret this long, and I can keep it until my dying day if I must. I couldn’t keep it from you any longer—I needed to tell you so you knew you hadn’t done anything wrong with Cherice, and if you want her back…well, you’ll have to decide if you want all of the truth to come out. I just wanted to make sure you knew you had the option. After all, we do still need a wedding, and—”
“Seriously?” I stand and throw my hands into the air, and Kate cringes. “Are you really concerned about the family numbers right now, Kate? Is that all that matters to you?”
“To me, no.” She looks away from me, her shoulders tight. “It’s tradition though—old tradition.”
“Fuck tradition!”
“I know you are upset, but please control your words.” Kate huffs a breath through her nose. “Ultimately, it’s your choice. We lived by the old ways for many generations here in this country. The Orsos haven’t had any true ties to the major organizations in Italy for years. Maybe it’s time we make our own changes—changes that work for our family. That’s your choice, Nataniele. You are still the head of the family.”
“Really? In what way am I the head? I don’t belong here at all, and frankly, I’m starting to think that’s in everyone’s best interest!”
“Please, don’t think that,” she whispers. “You are a part of this family, and you always will be.”
“I’m not sure that’s up to you. Nora has the best claim now. Hell, Antony has a better claim than I do.”
And the thought hits me right in the face.
I’m not a part of this family. I will not be a part of the Ramsay family. I don’t have to be involved in any of it. I have no duty to this life. I can just walk away.
“You know what?” A short burst of laughter erupts from me. “They can have it. They can have the whole fucking thing.”
“Nataniele, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying you should go ahead and tell them all, because I don’t care anymore.”
I storm out of the office, stomp to the front door, and slam it on my way out. I don’t even bother with the phone—I just jump into the first car I come to and head to Cherry’s apartment.
New images of a life outside of Cascade Falls fill my head as I make the short drive from the Orso house to Cherry’s apartment. We could go live in Accident, if she wants to. We could move to a city where no one knows us or even live out on a farm with a bunch of goats for all I care. As long as I’m away from this town, and Cherry is with me, I’ll be fine with it.
The tires screech as I round the turn into the apartments’ parking lot. As I pull up to the building, Nora and Cherry are exiting, heading straight to Nora’s car. Nora helps Cherry into the passenger seat and then starts around the back of her car as I jump out of mine.
“Cherry! Cherry, wait!”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you.” Nora steps in front of me, blocking my view of Cherry in the car. “Now is definitely not the time.”
“I have to talk to her. You don’t understand.”