“You deserve it,” Evelyn says as she appears at the top of the stairs and walks down to meet us. She is in jeans and a T-shirt but has kept her hair and makeup. She looks gorgeous but also plain. Two things that only Evelyn Hugo can be at once. “Are you sure you don’t need me here? I thought Monique would be around to keep you company,” Grace says. Evelyn shakes her head. “No, you go. You’ve done so much for me lately. You need some time on your own. If something comes up, I can always call downstairs.” “I don’t need to—” Evelyn cuts her off. “Yes, you do. It’s important that you know how much I appreciate all that you’ve done around here. So let me say thank you this way.” Grace smiles demurely. “OK,” she says. “If you insist.” “TI do. In fact, go home now. You’ve been cleaning all day, and I’m sure you need more time to pack. So go on, get out of here.” Surprisingly, Grace doesn’t fight her. She merely says thank you and gathers her things. Everything seems to be happening seamlessly until Evelyn stops her on her way out and gives her a hug. Grace seems slightly surprised though pleased. “You know I could never have spent these past few years without you, don’t you?” Evelyn says as she pulls away from her. Grace blushes. “Thank you.” “Have fun in Costa Rica,” Evelyn says. “The time of your life.” And once Grace is out the door, I suspect I understand what is going on. Evelyn was never going to let the thing that made her be the thing to destroy her. She was never going to let anything, even a part of her body, have that sort of power. Evelyn is going to die when she wants to. And she wants to die now. “Evelyn,” I say. “What are you...”