“So you’re the girl who’s brought Ryan to his knees,” the man says with a wide grin.
Ryan turns to me and says, “Evie, this is an old friend of mine, James Bernard. James, this is my girlfriend, Evie Porter.”
I place my hand in his and he shakes it enthusiastically. James is tall and thin, with the look of someone who struggles with substances. It’s in the hollow places in his cheeks and the smudge of dark under his eyes. The tremor in his hands and the clothes that are a tad too big. Nice dress clothes he probably dug out from the back of some closet just for today. His companion looks to be in better shape, and not just her clothes but her general well-being. Her dress is a cream sleeveless shift that hits midthigh, the shoes are Italian and expensive, and the jewelry is simple but classy. They are a mismatched pair.
“I’m not sure I’ve brought him to his knees quite yet but I’m working on it,” I tease.
James turns to Ryan. “Man, I’m so happy for you.”
Ryan and I share a look. It’s not like we’re engaged, so this hearty congratulations seems a bit much. “Thanks,” Ryan says as he wraps his arm around me. We both look at the woman standing next to him and Ryan nods in her direction. “Introduce us to your friend.”
James turns around quickly, obviously embarrassed he forgot who was standing next to him. “Ryan, Evie, this is Lucca Marino.”
Her name runs through me like a shock of electricity.
“Lucca,” I say quietly, rolling it around on my tongue. “That’s an unusual name.” I realize I sound just like Beth on the night of the dinner party.
She smiles and rolls her eyes. “I know. I’m named after the town in Italy where my grandparents were from. Two c’s. No one ever spells it right.”
My eyes go to the silver cup in her hand; the script L is visible in the spaces between her fingers.
James and Ryan start talking about who they bet on in the upcoming race, but I’m still stuck on the woman.
“Are you from here?” I ask. My mouth is suddenly dry. I take a quick sip of my drink but no more than that.
“No. I’m from a small town in North Carolina, just above Greensboro. It’s tiny, I’m sure you’ve never heard of it.”
“Eden,” I blurt out before I can help myself.
She flinches slightly. “Uh, yeah . . . Eden. How did you—”
“Just a lucky guess. I knew a girl in college who was from that area.” I’ve got to pull it together. Dragging in a deep breath, I hold it a moment before letting it out in a soft rush of air. Twice more until I feel my heart rate start to slow.
“Do you still have family there?” I ask once I feel centered.
“No,” she says with a frown. “It was just Mom and me, but she passed away when I was in high school. Breast cancer.”
I had already noticed how similar we looked, but now my eyes devour her. I take stock of every inch of her so I can compare it to every inch of me. Both of us have hair that reaches to our mid-back and has a slight wave to it, but hers is lighter than mine. The color mine would normally be if I hadn’t dyed it when I moved here. Eye color: same. Complexion: same.
She notices my inspection and does one of her own. I feel her stare, as it starts at my feet and runs straight up to the big ridiculous hat. Is she surprised by how much we resemble each other? “Have you been to Eden?” she asks.
“I have. The friend I mentioned brought a group of us to some festival. I think it was called something like . . . Springfest? Is that right?”
A test. A test I need her to fail.
A smile breaks out across her face, her eyebrows lifting. “Y’all came to the Fall Riverfest. It’s always in September around my birthday. I love that festival!”
No. No, no, no.
I nod to her then turn to Ryan. He’s in deep conversation with James, but I interrupt him anyway.
“Hey, I’m going to find the ladies’ room. Be back in a moment.”
Before he has a chance to say anything or offer to help me find the way, I’m gone. Walking fast in my tight black dress and four-inch heels, I almost drop the metal cup with the letter E that is slick with condensation. I nearly fall onto a woman as I close in on the ridiculously nice portable bathroom station that was brought in for this event.
“Oh, are you okay?” she asks, her hand on my arm as she steadies me.
I nod, unable to speak. She shares a look of concern with her husband after I gently shake her off, then they both watch me as I move away.