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Prologue

Adalee

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO

“You’re going to live with Uncle Frank,” Ma it back behind my ears Then she reaches for my face and justlooks at me

Even at five-and-a-half, I know this isn’t so to be bad for me

And why do I get the feeling that Mama knows it, too?

I don’t have an Uncle Frank, and I don’t want to go live with that guy, anyway I’ around someone like that, someone like him

“No,” I say, shaking my head

“It’s going to be okay,” Maain

“No!” This ti to h to stop theinto be bigger than I could possibly iine

“Baby girl,” Mama says, and she reaches forto be okay,” she says again, and this ti todown her cheeks, and they’re covering me I’m wet now from her tears, and this scares me My heart beats faster, faster, and I shake my head

“No”

“It’s time,” Mama says

She reaches for a suitcase I didn’t see before It’s mine It’s the purple

one with the teddy bear sticker on the side Everything I own could fit inside that suitcase Why do I have a feeling it’s already in there?