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"Tom," Valerie said into the phone once his voiceover to the train station now Don’t bother picking me up Meet me on the platform If I don’t see you, I’ll take the train and find you at the Garden"

Her mother scowled "I don’t know that it’s safe for you to go into the city by yourself"

"If we don’t ame"

"Well, at least take this lipstick" Val’sand handed it over

"How is that going to keepher backpack over her shoulder

Her phone was still clutched in her hand, plastic heating in her grip

Val’s ht Do you have your keys?"

"Sure," Val said She kissed her undy lip print reone And tell him he’s an asshole"

Heraard about her expression "Wait," she said "You should wait for hioing"

With that, she darted down the stairs, out the front door, and across the small patch of yard It was a short walk to the station and the cold air felt good Doing so lot of the train station was still ith yesterday’s rain and the overcast sky swollen with the pronals started to flash and clang in warning She round to a stop, sending up a billow of hot, stinking air

Valerie hesitated What if Tootten his cell and waited for her at the house? If she left now and he took the next train, they ht be able to leave his at the ticket booth, but he ht not think to check there And even if all that worked out, Tom would still be all broody When or if he finally showed up, he wouldn’t be in the ht She didn’t knohere they could go, but she’d hoped that they could find someplace to be alone for a little while

She chewed the skin around her thu so a tiny strip of skin ca, despite the tiny bit of blood that welled to the surface, but when she licked it away her skin tasted bitter

The doors to the train finally shut, ending her indecision Valerie watched as it rolled out of the station and then started walking slowly home She was relieved and annoyed to spot Tom’s car parked next to her mother’s Miata in the driveway Where had he been? She sped up and yanked open the door

And froze The screen slipped froh the mesh, she could see her mother bent forward on the white couch, crisp blue shirt unbuttoned past the top of her bra To up to kiss her His chipped black polished fingernails fu buttons on her shirt Both of the and turned toward her, faces expressionless, Tom’s mouth messy with lipstick Somehow, Val’s eyes drifted past theiven her for their four-month anniversary They sat on top of the television cabinet, where she’d left theo Her otten She could see the stelass vase, the lower portion of the withsound and fu her shirt closed

"Oh fuck," Toe carpet

Val wanted to say so that would burn them both to ashes where they were, but no words came She turned and walked away

"Valerie!" herLooking back, she saw her mother in the doorway, Toing against her hip She only slohen she was back at the train station There, she squatted above the concrete sidewalk, ripping up wilted weeds as she dialed Ruth’s number

Ruth picked up the phone She sounded as if she’d been laughing "Hello?"

"It’s me," Val said She expected her voice to shake, but it came out flat, emotionless

"Hey," Ruth said "Where are you?"

Val could feel tears start to burn at the edges of her eyes, but the words still ca about Tom and my mother--"

"Shit!" Ruth interrupted

Valerie went silent for a ? Do you knohat I’lad you found out," Ruth said, speaking fast, her words al over each other "I wanted to tell you, but your ed me not to She made me swear I wouldn’t"

"She told you?" Val felt particularly stupid, but she just couldn’t quite accept that she understood as being said "You knew?"