Chapter 3

My granddaughter dragged me back from the window, snapped the lock shut, and clung to me, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

I stroked her hair. My fingertips were slick with cold sweat.

I'm sorry.

This was the only way Grandma could force you to stay.

Slowly she calmed, sniffling as she asked me, "You said Patsy lied to me… lied to me about what?"

I wiped my face, my mind racing.

"Call her." I handed over my phone. "Tell her you ran into her yesterday afternoon outside the women's and children's clinic. See what she says."

My granddaughter frowned.

"The clinic? What would she be doing there?"

"Just call."

She hesitated, then tapped the voice call and put it on speaker.

Three rings, and Patsy picked up, her voice still thick with tears.

"Star… did your grandma let you come out?"

"Patsy," my granddaughter said, gripping the phone tight, "did you go to the clinic yesterday afternoon? I think I saw you there."

Two seconds of silence on the other end.

"Huh?" Patsy's voice hitched, just for an instant. "I… I went with my cousin. She had a prenatal checkup."

My granddaughter glanced at me, then pressed on.

"Isn't your cousin in Los Angeles?"

The line went quiet.

Then Patsy sniffed. "Star, why are you asking me all this? I feel awful right now. Can't you just come over and keep me company…"

"Answer me first."

"I… it's just…" Patsy suddenly broke into sobs. "Star, I'm pregnant. I don't dare tell my parents. My boyfriend's family is squeezing me over the bride price, and they won't marry me unless I sign a paternity test agreement first. What am I supposed to do…"

My granddaughter went rigid.

"You're pregnant, and you still wanted to go drinking at a bar?"

"What's wrong with a bar!" Patsy's voice shot up. "I was just going to sit for a while! If you don't want to come, then say so! Don't interrogate me!"

She hung up.

My granddaughter slowly lowered the phone, turned, and looked at me, her eyes rimmed red.

"Grandma… she really was lying to me."

I walked over and pulled her into my arms.

"It's over now."

She buried her face against my shoulder. "She never meant to tell me the truth, not once…"

"If she hadn't said anything, I'd have gone tonight. And if something had happened with the drinking…"

I closed my eyes and rubbed her back.

"You're not going anywhere. You're staying home."

She cried in my arms for a long time.

She was eighteen, just into college, and she still believed everyone was good.

She didn't know that in that phone call just now, her best friend had been setting a trap for her with every word.

But tonight she was safe.

My phone rang.

It was my son, saying he had to work late and telling me and Star to go to sleep first.

I said all right and hung up.

Ten thirty.

Half an hour more, and it would be the exact hour when, in the last life, my granddaughter came to harm at that bar.

I looked toward the bedroom.

She was already asleep, curled up under the blanket.

This time she hadn't gone.

She was safe.

I sank into the couch and finally let out a breath.

Then, at eleven on the dot, frantic pounding erupted at the door.

"Open up! Roberta Barnes! I know you're in there!"