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“Loreda,” Grandma said “Come back…”

Loreda barged up to her bedroo his thumb

The sight of hi finally broke Loreda She felt her own tears burn, fall

“He left us?” Ant said “Really?”

“Not us Her He’s probably waiting for us somewhere”

Ant sat up “Like an adventure?”

“Yes” Loreda wiped her eyes, thinking, Of course “Like an adventure”

ELSA REMAINED ON THE platfor doalking back into the house, into her bedroom—her bed—wasof all the things she’d done wrong that had led to thiswhat her life would be like now

She felt a brush of wind lift her hair She was so lost in her thicket of pain, she barely noticed

I should go after Loreda

But she couldn’t face her daughter’s fury and heartache Not yet

She should have told Rafe she’d go west Everything would be different now if she’d sio He would have stayed They could have convinced Tony and Rose to come with them

No

That was a lie she couldn?

??t tell herself even now And how could Elsa and Rafe have left theone ith no car and no money?