Page 6 of The Love Hoax

“Dad and I told her she’s being ridiculous.”

I stare out the window at the mountains. My happy place. “I didn’t make it up, Mom. She’s just crazy busy.”

“Okay, just make sure you bring her to the wedding. If you don’t, Steph won’t get over it.”

Nor will you, I think.

“Okay, Mom. I’ll make it happen,” I say. “I promise.”

When will I learn to keep the words inside my head?

“Great! See you in a couple of weeks!”

I hang up, fully aware I have just stepped off a very dangerous cliff.

Chapter Five

Evie

Istand under the safety of the awning outside my building on Sixty-Fifth and Amsterdam, scanning the Manhattan traffic as heavy raindrops bounce off the pavement. I rub my hands together for warmth, my wheeled Samsonite perched beside me. A yellow cab speeds past, splashing puddles onto the sidewalk, missing me by inches. Fall has arrived with gusto.

Where is she?

Caroline is not known for her punctuality, but tardiness is out of character for Paul, her punctilious driver.

Caroline relies on him for every detail. Since her husband Bernard’s passing, Paul has taken on a variety of roles. Driver, personal shopper, travel agent, and everything in between.

I try calling Caroline once more. Still no answer.

If we don’t leave in the next few minutes, we will miss our flight and have to rebook. Which would be a shame. I planned a full first day. We’ll hit the ground running. Get the car, head forthe park, and take our first hike, an easy three-miler around Mirror Lake.

I feel an excitement I haven’t experienced in years. The great outdoors has always called to me. Now it’s shouting. Kayaking on crystalline lakes, biking the mountain passes. But hiking out West is my favorite of all.

I open the Uber app. I will hurry to Caroline’s place, see what the hold-up is. The Dakota is only a few blocks north. The famed building has housed some of the most prestigious and famous New Yorkers. John Lennon, Judy Garland, Leonard Bernstein. Now Caroline Page.

I’m about to clickRequestwhen the call comes. Thank heavens!

“Where are you?” I say, unable to keep the frustration at bay.

I hear some voices in the background. “Is there some issue with Paul? If so, we could just take a cab like normal people.”

“No, he’s here.”

I glance at my watch, irritated at my friend’s carelessness. Maybe Caroline’s subconscious is sabotaging our trip. She doesn’t want to spend a week with a backpack weighing her down while she eats protein bars and pees in the woods. “There’s a chance we can still make it.”

“I can’t come.”

“What? Why not?”

“I’m in the emergency room,” Caroline sobs.

Caroline never sobs.

Fear forces away my irritation. “Oh my gosh, what happened?”

“I got up early to hit the gym one last time. Paul came to get me and as I was rushing to the car, I wiped out on the sidewalk.”

“Oh no!”