all night. But I insisted Danny go to school, telling him it would only make the time pass that much faster. Besides, he had a spelling test and a geography test to take, and I didn’t want him kicked out of school.
When I pulled into the school turnaround, I shut off the ignition and looked over my shoulder at Danny. He made no move to get out of the car.
“Danny, I’ll pick you up today same as always. By then, we should know what’s going on. Just do your best in school, and don’t worry. Your dad will be fine.”
He met my gaze with anguish in his eyes. “I told my dad about my suspension and about taking Erica’s car. He didn’t get mad. He was too worried about Aunt Jessica.”
“Well, now that he’s told the truth, he shouldn’t have to worry about that anymore. When they find the other Camry, it should lead them to the person who killed her. And that’s not your dad, right?”
Danny nodded then his lips turned up in a rueful grin. “I told my dad what you said.”
Surprised, I tried to recall what it might have been. “What’d I say?”
“You know.”
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to. I say a lot of things, Danny.”
“When you said, ‘What were ya thinkin’?’ You know, when I took Erica’s car and when I got in the fight.”
“Oh.” I smiled. “What did he say?”
“He said that was a good question. He wanted to know the answer.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him I wasn’t thinking.”
An honest answer. How often do we all do things without thinking them through? At twelve, Danny was entitled to a few more mistakes than we adults. “Okay, well, listen, think hard when you’re taking your tests today, so you can tell your dad all about your good grades later. I’m sure Ray will take you to see him tonight.”
Danny’s face brightened considerably. He hopped out of the car without another word. Two boys approached him and greeted him. They headed toward the building together, scuffing their feet and talking.
As I watched Danny walk into the building, my cell phone rang. I thought it might be Ray, but when I checked the display, I didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello?”
I waited, straining my ears and thinking it must be a wrong number. “Hello?”
I heard a sigh. I knew that sigh. “Erica?”
More silence. “Erica, if it’s you, say something. Otherwise, I’m going to hang up and I won’t answer again.”
“It’s me. Who else do you know in the tower?”
“I didn’t recognize the number.”
“You should have it memorized by now.”
I tried not to respond in the same combative manner she was addressing me. It was hard, because I was the one with the right to be pissed. Erica had stopped taking her medicine, failed to show up for her doctor’s appointments, lost her job, and run away to marry a geek. I swallowed hard and tried to be congenial. “I take it you’re feeling better.”
“I hate it here.”
“What does Dr. Albert say? How long do you have to stay?” I left off the words “this time.”
“He might let me come home in a couple days, if someone stays with me to monitor my medication.”
For the last fifteen years, that would have been me or Ray. Now Maury was in the picture. “Did you marry Maury?”
Another sigh, this time heavy enough to make the line crackle. “Yes.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“You sound like Dr. Albert. You know, I don’t like Dr. Albert anymore. He’s really not even that good-looking.”
He was, but again, I didn’t want to argue. “What about Maury, Erica? Are you planning on living with him?”
“Of course. He’s my husband.”
“So, you love him?”
She heaved another sigh. “Of course.”
Her response didn’t make me feel any better. It was the same response I would have gotten if I asked her if she wanted me to bake chocolate chip cookies. “You’re going to live in the apartment where I found you?”
This time she hesitated. “Can we live in the apartment on Wells Street?”
“Sure, if you can afford it.” I hated to start trouble, but I wasn’t going to pay Maury’s bills. He would have to step up.
Erica caught my less than subtle implication. “Maury got a new job.”
“Where?”
“He’s going to be a delivery man for a florist shop.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “That sounds like a great job for him.”
I doubted it would pay the rent, but Erica could get another job, too. She never had