“She said she is with Frances.”
I gripped the phone like a lifeline.
“Spending them where?”
Carol went quiet.
“Susan, I think the girls have been lying to both of us.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m calling Frances again. The second I reach her, I’ll call you.”
That didn’t help.
Not even a little.
“Susan, I think the girls have been lying to both of us.”
At least Frances had told Carol she’d be with Maddie. I didn’t know how much that meant anymore.
Carol called me back 10 minutes later. Frances hadn’t answered her either.
So I waited.
***
Saturday morning, the front door opened at 9:12.
Maddie walked in carrying the faded bag.
I didn’t know how much that meant anymore.
“Morning!”
I looked up from my coffee.
“Good night?”
“Yeah.”
“What’d you watch?”
She named a movie.
“And Frances?”
Maddie froze for a second.
“What about her?”
“Still snoring?”
