"Grace, I just don't understand why you're being so stubborn." Nadia said with a groan. "What in the world do you want to go to the dinner for? What do you think is going to happen?"

"Really, Nadia- you have no vision." Grace said with a shake of her head. Nadia watched her pace about the room, glancing at the clock and noticing the time. It seemed like tonight would be another sleepless one. She would have to stop answering her messages- it wouldn't hurt Grace to have to wait every once in a while.

"Picture this..." Grace said, dramatically waving her hands as if to set up a scene. "Romantic anniversary dinner, intimate family setting... Luke and I interacting and laughing in a warm social setting. Up until now every time we've met it's always been... well you know."

Nadia frowned, she knew but she definitely did not need to know... he was her cousin.

"Yeah, okay." Nadia said, semi disgusted.

"He hasn't taken the time to get to know me because he hasn't had too." Grace said with a smile, "But at dinner, he'll have no other choice. I'll be in my best element, you'll be there to help me look good, highlight my wit and your parents love me, so that'll be perfect."

Grace went on and on for a few more minutes while Nadia rose her brow skeptically. It would be true that Grace would shine in a small setting like that one, after all, it would only be Nadia and her brother, her parents, Luke and another cousin on her father's side, a cousin who was easily bowled over by a pretty face.

She would stand out beautifully and if anyone knew how to charm a room, it was Grace. She knew what types of things to say and how to bridge awkward silences. The only problem with this plan was that unknown to Grace, Nadia's parents actually couldn't stand her.

Nadia had tried, really tried, over the years to make her mother and father see that Grace was a sweet girl, a lot sweeter than she seemed to be but it didn't work. Of course, her parents always greeted her warmly, treated her kindly, welcomed her into their house but when she was gone, her mother was always warning her against Grace. Her mother had insisted that Grace was too self absorbed, too aware of her own beauty and always ready to make sure everyone knew it. She'd noticed immediately that Grace hated not being the center of attention, another thing that just rubbed her wrong.

Nadia could understand this- her mother was an extremely picky woman and could be elitist at times, something that wasn't unusual considering her father had been Don and now her nephew was. It was true that her parents could be snobs, but they were generous in their own way and very good judges of character.

"So what do you think?" Grace asked after Nadia had been quiet for some time.

"I think you're expecting a lot. What if Luke isn't pleased to see you there? You know he doesn't like for his private life to mix with his family." Nadia said.

"And yet he got involved with me knowing I was your best friend." Grace challenged.

"You're getting your hopes up Grace." Nadia said.

"Why shouldn't I? Can you think of any reason why he shouldn't want me? Oh come on, Nadia. It'll be fun, and if it doesn't work, then no harm done." Grace said and Nadia shrugged.

"Of course, you're invited to come and I'll do my best to help you shine." Nadia said, biting her lip and looking down.

"But...?" Grace said, noting her doubt.

"Well, Grace you told me you haven't heard from him in weeks... almost two months, right?" Nadia said, "That's a long time. I don't know how these things usually go but I would say he's probably..."

"Moved on?" Grace completed the thought, making Nadia look up. Grace moved towards the sofa and sat down slowly, letting her smile disappear.

"Did something happen?" Nadia asked, watching as Grace played with her nails.

"Nothing... and everything." Grace said with a sigh. "He texted me a couple of weeks ago."

Nadia sat up on the edge of the seat.

"Well, out with it!" Nadia said.

"He told me that he would take care of everything through December." Grace said, her voice very low, "and then he wished me the best and thanked me for my company."

"Oh dear." Nadia muttered. It was typical of Luke to end his affairs suddenly and for the most part, there was no hard feelings. Luke was careful about not involving himself with women who could get easily hurt, and always very clear about his intentions. Considering how very imposing, and intimidating he was, most women were glad to take what they could and walk away. But she could tell now, looking at Grace that this was not the case. She just wasn't entirely sure why.

"Well, it's not that bad. December, that gives you plenty of time to find work and save money." Nadia said, trying to cheer her up.

"Work? What am I supposed to do? I didn't go to school like you." Grace said, frustrated.

"You did just fine when you worked at the hotel." Nadia said, "You were an assistant manager quickly. You'll find something just as good."

"It won't be enough for my apartment." Grace said but Nadia shrugged.

"So then, you find something smaller. I have a spare room you can use as long as you need." Nadia offered and Grace stood up, stomping her foot angrily.

"Of course you would say that." Grace said, her face red and flustered. "Look around you, Nadia. You have always had anything you wanted, your parents have given you everything you wanted. You had the fancy nursing school, the summers in Sicily, the trip to France after high school..."

"I brought you with me plenty of times..." Nadia interjected.

"Yeah, thanks. Your poor friend who had to depend on your charity." Grace hissed. Nadia was quiet- that certainly stung. "I can't stand it, being poor. You don't know what that's like."

Nadia was silent. Grace had grown up with only her father, a hard working man who never made much money. He had an honest job but he worked long hours and so Grace was often left alone to worry about making sure the house was taken care of. Nadia knew that her parents were lucky and that they had more than most people but she'd never noticed how unhappy her friend was in comparison.

"I'm sorry, Grace, that I didn't realize how unhappy you are." Nadia said with a shake of the head. "I can't say I agree with this, and I don't think it will work but you're my friend, my best friend. I am happy to help you as much as I can."

And with that, a beautiful and brilliant smile swept over Grace's face as she leapt out and hugged her.

---

Echo was quiet as she moved through the bookstore. She'd come into the city to drop to speak to her editor about taking on less projects in the coming months. She'd found that she just wasn't focusing as much as she had before. Once a month, there were large staff meetings in which the writers all gathered, pretended to be good friends and then went their separate ways.

Echo had a habit of showing up precisely on time and sitting in the back, then sticking around and staying to speak with the editor. She always timed it precisely so that she wouldn't deal with the danger of running into them on the way out and having the others try to invite her to lunch. They'd done it in the past and although she always had an excuse and said no, they continued to do so. It was very nice of them but still, entirely too stressful for her.

Usually, once her meetings were done, she'd immediately drive home but the new bookstore caught her eye and she couldn't resist. Now a days, everything was electronic or mailed. She could get practically any book she wanted either in a kindle version or printed mailed to her front door. It was how her editor sent her notes and projects and it was how she managed to get them back to him...

But there was something about walking in a bookstore that Echo loved. The scent of a printed book, the texture of the cover and the page, being able to scan it quickly before making up her mind about it. It was really as simple as standing around with piles of books and feeling like this was where she belonged. Echo had always loved to read but she especially loved discovering new writers and new books by luck, something that didn't happen as easily when she bought things online.

"Echo? Hi!"

Echo practically jumped at the sound of her name. She brought the book down from her face, peeking over it.

"Hey." She said with a weak smile. It was one... no, two... lord, no. It was a whole gaggle of females... six of them, all from work. She should have known they would be curious to see the new bookstore too.

"It's such a nice surprise to catch you, we never seem to." She said with a friendly smile.

"I know, she disappears every time." Another one of the women in front of her said.

There was some laughter and chatter and Echo nodded along with a nervous smile, unsure what to do.

"I... Well, I have..." Echo said, trying to sputter out an excuse but her mind went blank.

"Oh don't tell us you can't come with us. We're going to go grab a drink." The first woman said again.

"I..." Echo managed to get out once more.

"Echo!" The sound of her name made them all turn and Echo all but had a heart attack in that moment. She was surrounded it seemed. She shuddered as she turned, wondering who it would be now.

"Marco?" She said in confusion as she turned.

"Sorry, I'm late. Are you ready?" he asked, leaning over and kissing her cheek and making all the women stare in surprise.

"Echo, is this your boyfriend?" One of the women asked, elbowing her in the side with a giggle. Echo turned to her in some shock.

"I'm sorry I can't join you, we have to be going." Echo managed to say firmly, turning to Marco. "Let's go."

"Don't look back, just keep walking." Marco whispered as they moved out of the bookstore.

"Thank you," She whispered back. "I thought I faint."

"I thought so too." He replied with a chuckle as they were finally out of earshot. "They'd seemed harmless enough though."

"They are, and nice." Echo said with a nod, "I'm just not good at that... Lucky coincidence you were nearby, huh?"

"Do you really want to know?" He asked.

"I'm aware that you're keeping an eye on me. I'm not dumb." She said with a smile, "not sure how I feel about it though."

"It's funny." He said, making her turn to him, "I mean, you're a funny woman, Echo. Interesting for sure."

"All I do is sit around at home all day." She replied and he laughed.

"Yeah, you do." He replied, stopping as they neared her car.

"I have to get going but thank you, for saving me." She said.

"Any time." He replied as she turned and walked away. He stood, watching her as she drove off, taking out his phone to warn a man to follow her home.

He could see why Luke enjoyed having her around and as he turned on his heel, he thought with some regret, what a shame that he'd seen her first...