Page 160 of The Forbidden Center

I look at the date in the bottom corner.

Weeks ago.

“That was before,” Tova says.

“Before what?”

She shrugs without looking at me.

“Before we moved in all the way.”

I fold the paper along the same crease and put it back exactly where I found it.

I set the adaptor beside the suitcase.

“You are going for three weeks, not immigrating.”

Tova looks at me.

Too soon.

I hear it after she does.

I sit on the edge of the bed.

“That was not fair.”

“No.”

“I know.”

She goes back to the sweater.

I leave the fold alone.

After a minute she says, “Mamma?”

“Yes?”

“I’m coming back.”

She keeps her eyes on the sweater.

“I know.”

This time, I mean it.

Chapter thirty

Colt

Ruth is still here when I come down, which means she has found something in this house that offends her.

She’s putting glasses away in a cupboard that’s not where we keep glasses.

“Those go on the other side.”

“They did.”