Page 91 of The Unraveling of Julia

“The same.” Sherry’s voice softened with pain. “He’s in a medically induced coma, but I think you know that already. The nurse told me my cousin from San Francisco was here. When she described an American who looked like you, I cracked the case.”

Arg.Julia’s face went red. “Now it’s my turn to apologize. The nurse mistook me for your cousin, so I went with it because I wanted to see him.”

Courtney tugged at her collar, mouthingAwkies.

Sherry said, “I understand, and Gianluca would want to see you. If you want to visit him, you’re welcome.”

Julia felt her heart leap. “I would love that. When’s a good time?”

“Tonight around seven. I bet we can get you in to see him.”

“I thought only family was allowed.”

“My cousin isn’t coming. So maybe we keep up the ruse?”

“Aw, thanks,” Julia said, liking her. “See you then.”

“Bye now.” Sherry hung up.

Julia breathed a sigh. “That’s better, but I’m worried about him.”

“Of course. Sounds like she is, too.”

Julia felt her chest tighten, then returned her attention to the vineyard. She realized that she was about to try to find a well that could contain the remains of her birth mother. The prospect was so horrifying that she couldn’t think about it another minute.

“You okay?” Courtney looked over.

“Does it matter? Let’s go.”

51

Julia and Courtney whacked through weeds, underbrush, and overgrown grapevines using a shovel, a scythe, and a machete they found in the tool shed. Their progress was slow but steady, and every step stirred up bugs, birds, and vermin that had taken up residence.

Courtney squeaked when she saw a snake, and Julia kept it to herself when a rat raced away from them, but they kept going. Nettles scratched their forearms, and thorns tore their jeans. They were about to give up when Julia spotted a rim of an alberese stone embedded in the ground. She’d seen so much of it that she recognized it immediately.

Julia pointed. “Is that a fieldstone or a well?”

“Get it!” Courtney answered, and they worked to clear the stone, exposing the top of a small, circular well, about four feet above ground. The stones at the rim were bigger than those on the body of the well, a decorative element, and dark green moss and slick algae covered it in patches. Sedum grew between the stones, having pushed out the mortar in chunks. They figured the earth had mounded around it from erosion.

Julia scanned the well, wiping her forehead. “It’s narrow.”

Courtney looked grim. “It’s wide enough for a body.”

Julia sniffed the air. “It smells bad.”

“The whole place does. So who’s going to look first?”

“I will.” Julia braced herself, went to the well, and looked inside, but it was too dark to see anything. Bramble, ferns, and spiderwebs filled it, and beyond was darkness. “Hold on.” She’d slid a flashlight out of her pocket, turned it on, and shone it inside the well. There was plant material all the way down, and she felt the dampness of water below, but couldn’t see that far. “In the good news department, no bodies.”

“Whew.” Courtney leaned over, looking inside the well. “Hold on, shine the light to the right again.”

Julia did, then noticed a rusted chain. “What’s that for?”

“Probably a bucket.” Courtney scrambled to her. “Pull it up and let’s see. Go slow or the chain will break.”

Julia pulled on the chain and gathered it up. It clanked and jangled, shedding flakes of rust. Her heart began to pound. “It’s not heavy enough to be a body.”

“Skeletons aren’t heavy.”