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Chapter 57

"You've been spending nights here again lately, Rhea," Remufel said to her when she came in from work. He was sitting at the kitchen table, as usual.

"Yeah," she said.

"Want to talk about it?"

"No, not really."

"Want some chocolate cheesecake then?"

"N—" She paused. She'd been making bad decisions all day. "Yes, Remmy, please."

He cut her a slice. "I made it myself," he said.

The floor by the counter was covered with chocolate. "So I see." She took a bite. "It's good," she said.

Remmy nodded, and watched her intently as she finished the piece. She put down the fork and he continued to watch her.

"He wants to marry me," she said finally.

"That's commendable of him," Remmy said. "Very honorable."

"You know the rules, Remmy. If I say yes, I have to tell him everything."

"Yes," Remmy said.

"He'll know I'm a fiend from Hell."

"Right." Remmy nodded.

"He won't love me anymore! He won't want to marry me!"

Remufel cocked his head. "You won't tell him you'll marry him because then he won't marry you."

"Yes!" Rhea sobbed as tears welled up.

"So then, exactly what are you gaining?" Remmy asked quietly.

Rhea wiped her eyes and thought. After a few minutes, she grinned tentatively. It felt good. Very good. "Where's Mir?" she asked. "She would have said I was doing the right thing."

"Then," Remufel said slowly, "you're lucky you got me, aren't you? More cheesecake?"

When Rheabeth left the kitchen, Miramuel reappeared. "Do you think that will work?"

Remufel shrugged. "When he finds out what she is, he might decide he doesn't want to be with her anymore. She has to show him her true self. Maybe when he rejects her, she'll give up what she's doing and leave. And if she does, the funding will fall through and the project will die, and she won't be in trouble anymore."

"Do you really think we did the right thing by removing all evidence of the TRITEL contracts and luring Roberts out of the state?"

"Do you want Avy safely out of Lucifer's reach?"

"Yes."

"I hope Jack runs screaming when he sees her. Then she won't have anything left here to hold her."

"I hope so, too. I just wish we knew we were doing this right."

 

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Framed