Em knows to be ready before nine so that Daisy doesn’t head into Atlantic City without her. She is showered, dressed, and packed, waiting outside beforehand. She hugs Hanna and Gabriel on their way out with Ruby to deliver Hanna to pre-school. Em’s heart doubles in size, watching her sister interact with her children, moving …
The next several weeks pass with Ruby attending counseling weekly and caring for her children. This change for Em provides her free time. Time that she hasn’t had in over a year and taking that into account, her first order of business is a salon appointment where she has everything done. She leaves after her …
Should she answer the call? Her heart pounds in her ears and her hands are sweating. Her mom would not be happy that she called a boy. Sorry. A man. Her mom would not be happy that she called a man. The ringing stops. She solved her own problem. He hung up before she decided …
Reaching her house, Em heads in on unsteady legs. The door flies open. Her brow wrinkled, Ruby asks, “Well?” Em walks in and collapses on the wooden step of the staircase that leads to the second floor, slumped against the railing. “A neighbor saw her and invited her in for tea. Mom is mad at …
