I could hear her behind him, going on about something, and then he hung up.” Elena clutched her handkerchief.

“I should have called you right then.

I didn’t have your number.

That’s the whole of it.”

“You have it now.”

“At eight forty-one Abigail called me on my kitchen line.

Crying so hard I had to ask her twice to slow down.” She worked the corner of the handkerchief between her fingers.

“She asked to come stay at my house.