Judy went to live in the de Winter house and without further ado I returned too, sending Rosalind some money that I had kept when I worked long ago. The rent was high but she refused her parents' money, so I hid it under a cup then ran away.

It was fall and leaves were changing into my more loved colors, red, yellow, and trees looked golden from their place. I thought of bringing Dylan to see it from outside the treehouse, or a higher place.

When I entered the house I learned from Irene that Claribel and Scarlett both left. Calvin wanted to leave, too, but Ruby wanted to see me. So it was Judy, Dylan, Vaughn, Calvin, Ruby, and I.

Judy had briefly met them, even Dylan, and when I came I saw her at the table.

"Good afternoon, Judy," I whispered. She was definitely upset at my choice to refuse and testify against Dylan, but she only nodded.

"Rosemarie Blackwood, right?"

"Listen, Judy, I'm not really Rosemarie. I pretended to be a dead girl," I explained suddenly, not caring Irene was standing at the doorway. "I'm a poor girl. My dad died and my mom threw me out of the house, and I didn't live in this rich area growing up. I had a rough life."

"But of course I know your suffering can't be compared to anything I've ever experienced," I lied.

"Oh, you have a transatlantic accent. Like how they speak in the films," Judy remarked softly.

What? Out of everything, this was not what I expected to hear from her. Was this mockery? No, it didn't sound like one.

"Yes," I said slowly, suddenly overtly aware of my words, "I have indeed copied famous actresses on movies." I sat down. "I can even do impersonations. Look." I changed my voice before I spoke again.

"Excuse you, watch where you are going, young lady!" I snapped, stretching out the word 'lady'. I had Scarlett's voice in mind.

Judy smiled, amused at my dumb theatrics.

"Fine, do one of a rich and tragic young heiress," she said.

"Oh, woe be me! I must find a husband, of all people! This is ridiculous, if only my father in Heaven knew how much I missed him!" I wept.

"Oh. That's really just...not me." Judy turned away. "I'm leaving this country."

"What?"

"You knew what happened to me, and how Hughes betrayed me for the eldest son." Judy gave a glare, vexed at my betrayal she heard from Vaughn, I'd guess. "However, I'll be marrying and receiving money. Vaughn has agreed. I decided I won't need or want this empty and creepy house."

"Wait, what?" I said quickly. "Vaughn agreed? To marry you?"

He was a jealous snake! He wanted the fortune—

"Before you get this wrong, we agreed to go on with our own lives and the money will all be mine. I simply didn't want any of you winning," Judy said again, as though I was a de Winter. As though I were Scarlett the witch or Claribel the Great. Or maybe, in her eyes, I did look like a well-off and greedy crone.

I sighed and tugged at my hands, raising my head to look at her, ashamed. There were no excuses for my choice.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "Did you hate Auguste, too? He designed this house himself and I'm sure he would've liked it if you kept it."

"I liked Auguste. He was like you, always the clown to entertain me. I knew his jokes and smiled hid a second life I didn't know of, but I was happy. My name is Judy, he named me. One day, he told me, I'll be Blanche, but I really never wanted to be part of this family."

It was a name that suited her. But then again I saw the resemblance to Ruby in both her face and somehow the name. Ruby and Judy.

"Did you meet Ruby yet?" I asked quickly. "I'm sure you two will get along, she puts on no airs and she's real nice to talk to."

"No, I'm not here to make friends. I'll be leaving after Vaughn and I sign all the papers regarding marriage and also the will," she said bluntly.

"Oh," I whispered.

"But don't get me wrong, I'm interested in you." Judy pointed her finger at me. "How you act like five different people. How you always know what to say and catch the drift and yet, somehow, still choose Dylan over your morals. I'm not trying to start an argument, but I'm just so curious as to why?"

"Love," I whispered lamely.

"Love?" Judy repeated almost mockingly. "I mean, why him?"

Oh no, I felt the judgement and my hands shook.

"You don't understand," I said quickly, "It sounds so mediocre but he's a man who loved me and carried guilt and cried. He's a man who respected my choices, sometimes, and didn't mind most parts of my life." I didn't know what to say. "My whole body trembles when I'm with him because of how much I am afraid he'd leave me. And now he's feeling that way. I'm the one with the upper hand, I'm the beautiful girl who reminds him of his past guilt and he'd never leave!"

"Oh God." She shook her head disappointingly before just shrugging. "You two are suited for one another. Have fun at your wedding, then."

"I'll invite you," I offered.

"I kindly refuse, I'll be leaving this country by the end of this month. Just don't interfere, because I sense that from you," Judy said with her narrowed eyes.

"Oh, sure. I meant yes, I won't interfere. I promise."

I stood up and went to see Ruby in our tea room. We hugged and she was so much more different. Calvin was there, of course, I had almost gotten used to him as furniture by that point.

"Have you met Judy yet?" I asked after the greetings.

"Yes," Ruby said. "How are you?"

"Truth is, I think I'll be engaged to Dylan."

"Oh my God!" Calvin first reacted, shaking his hands in the air. "Oh my, oh my, I am so happy, I'm so—ahh!"

He was so ecstatic he had lost all capability of speech.

"If you're sure, I'm supportive of you two. I'll even go against Aunt Scarlett." Ruby laughed at her brother and spoke with no stutter now with her 's's.

"She'll chase after Vaughn, I bet," Calvin joked.

"Oh, and um, Judy will be marrying Vaughn." I swallowed and looked at them. "But please don't interfere. I promised I wouldn't."

"I don't care about them either," Ruby joked. Calvin's jaw dropped.

"Wait, I care! I mean, what? They hardly know each other!" Calvin shouted, way too loud. "So if they are getting married who's getting the fortune? Is Vaughn stealing it from her? He's fishy, I never thought he was a gold digger! No wonder he never liked Scarlett!"

"No!" I hastily interrupted. "They've decided, of sane minds, to get married. Blanche will receive her portion and be happy, and I guess some things are hard to imagine but it's going to happen."

"Back to you and Dylan, when will you marry?" Ruby asked, steering me back on track. "Did he propose?"

"Actually..."

My 'actually' took way too long and I noticed them growing frigid.

"I'll tell Dylan!" Calvin offered, always interfering—God, now I knew what Judy meant!

"I need to talk to Dylan, alone," I begged.

"I can help in some way?"

"I'll have cookies ready before you go?" Ruby asked. "Dinner?"

"Yes, I'll tell Irene to make extra!"

I smiled at how glad the siblings were to have me back. I wasn't exactly ready to move right in and Irene had kept my trunk in the edge of the hall before I tested the situation and was sure I was staying.

I knocked on Dylan's door and he wasn't there, so I went to his office, and he wasn't there. To make a long story short, he simply wasn't in the house. I asked all the maids before I decided to go to the treehouse.

The back door was there and once I opened it I screamed.

"It's me, it's me!" Dylan stepped aside, his figure just scaring me.

No, was I admitting that face scared me?

"Dylan," I whispered.

"Rose. Your scream is extremely, uh, piercing." He laughed as though it was funny.

"Look, I'm really sorry about that." I closed the door behind me. "Why are you here?"

"I mean, Judy is there." Dylan sighed. "And Vaughn, God! Not having Hughes or Vaughn is awful, horrid! I know I lost them due to my selfishness and maybe that's why it hurts so much."

He turned me stared at the evening moon that was still a foggy figure with the cloud and lavender skies. The breeze was surprisingly loud and he hugged me.

"Don't leave me, Rose."

I reached out to hug him.

"I'm so lonely. I fear the long life I would have to live with no goals in life," Dylan sobbed.

"Then make goals. Say you'd want to see the spring next year. Say you want to get the legal contracts signed and over with. Say you'd marry me next spring," I said. I laughed against his warm coat that smelled like sunshine, like rain on trees and soil. "Of course, I'm jesting."

"No, marry me."

He held my hands and stared into my eyes.

"But—"

"Just a year of engagement, and I won't touch you," Dylan said. "Until you allow me."

I wanted to hear this.

I had wished for this.

I had to forgo my morals to stay with this man. Vaughn might be right about the whole women in curses, and I believed it. For Dylan and I we were cursed to love each other, no matter how flawed they were.

Such as when he looked at me with those solemn eyes, he would always reach out before I did even though I was planning on kiss him already.

Our lips met against one another, chapped by the cold air and somehow he tasted of coffee and I laughed, kissing him again, even though I was crying.

"The truth is, Angel loves you too," I said. I've been lying to myself for far too long. Men I don't love and the first man I love.

"I don't care. Marry me, please." He kissed my knuckles and I tousled his hair. It was softer than the fur of a cat.

"I've been waiting," I laughed, smiling through the tears.