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“Three o”

“Why didn’t you tell ly

“We didn’t want to upset you,” Beetelle said “We didn’t want to distract you from your work”

Lola said nothing, allowing the irony of the situation to sink in “Daddy can get another job,” she muttered

“He ht,” Beetelle said “But it won’t solve our proble time”

Lola was too frightened to ask her mother what that meant Beetelle started up the car, and they rode the rest of the way in silence

Windsor Pines was an idea more than an actual town—a continuation of the strip malls and fast-food restaurants that spoked out fros of a spider But in Windsor Pines, the shops were upscale, and the don strip sported Mercedes, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce dealerships There was a Four Seasons hotel and a nen hall built of white brick and set back froreen laith a bandshell The “town” of Windsor Pines, incorporated in 1983, had fifty thousand residents and twelve golf courses, the ia

The Fabrikant ated coamation of styles—lish countryside,” with a nod to the great plantation architecture in the for the entrance There was a three-car garage and, above it, an entertainiant flat-screen TV, a bar, and sectional leather couches The large kitchen had reat roo rooms (hardly ever used), four bedrooravel driveway, replenished and resurfaced each spring,turn to the coluasped A FOR SALE sign was poked into the lawn on either side of the driveway

“You’re selling the house?” she asked, aghast

“The bank’s selling it”

“What does that an to dawn on her that her mother was serious after all Dread rose to her throat; she could barely speak

“They take all the money,” Beetelle said

“But why?” Lola wailed

“We’ll talk about it later,” Beetelle said She popped open the trunk and wearily lifted out Lola’s suitcases She began carrying the, where she appeared dwarfed by the columns, by the house, and by the enormity of her situation

“Lola,” she asked “Are you co?”