Page 11 (2/2)

Elizabeth

"Liz, you have so h the telephone Emma and I had been back in our house for two days and Ma me It was either because she was upset withher a note, or because she’d been off running around toith soer and had just now returned ho toward the second option

"I’… We needed a new start," I tried to explain

"A new start in your old house? That doesn’t make ed the subject "Hoas dinner with Roger?"

"Richard," she scolded "Don’t pretend like you don’t re I think he could be the one"

I rolled uy she saas the one--until they weren’t

"Are you rolling your eyes at me?" Mama asked

"No"

"You are, aren’t you?! You’re so disrespectful soet to work," I lied "Is it okay if I call you back later?"

Maybe tomorrow

Maybe next week

I just need space

"Fine But don’t forget as there for you when you had no one, baby girl Sure, Steven’s parents are probably helping you now, but there’s going to come a point when you realize who your real family is, and who isn’t"

I’d never been so thankful to end a phone call

Sometimes I stood in the backyard and stared out into the wild bushes and tall grass, trying to remember what it had used to look like Steven had made the place beautiful He’d always had an eye for details when it caine the smell of the flowers he’d planted, which were now all dead