“I’m scared he will find out before we know what happened,” I admitted.

“Then let’s discuss where you feel safe and how you want communications handled,” he said.

“There are practical ways to reduce unnecessary confrontation.”

I called Laura after we hung up.

She offered to have me stay at her place that night.

I told her I wasn’t ready to leave yet.

She didn’t insist, but she asked me to put an overnight bag somewhere accessible.

At home, Gertrude demanded to know why I’d missed her afternoon appointment.