“Tell Lily I kept her silver locket,” Vanessa whispered.

“I kept it in my velvet box until the bank came for the furniture.”

“She’s got a new locket,” I said.

“Mark bought it for her twelfth birthday.”

Vanessa took a slow step out onto the top concrete step.

The thin sole of her boot made a gritty scrape against the cold stone.

She didn’t look back again.

She pulled the lapels of her thin coat tight around her neck and went down the steps toward the gravel driveway, her high heels clicking on the dark stone.