CHAPTER III. The Way Home

When the lights came on, everyone stood up. Parents crowded towards the stage while teachers tried to keep the children behind the curtain.

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I couldn't see Mum anymore, so I called Dad. He answered on my second try.

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“We're getting Jamie,” Dad said. “Where are you two?”

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“By the doors,” I told him. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuecz8mlJh

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“Is Nora with you?”

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I looked at the woman standing beside me.

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“Yes.”

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“All right,” Dad said. “You two can head home if you want. We'll get Jamie something to eat.”

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Before I could mention the strange calls, someone spoke to him in the background.

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“I'll see you at home,” he said, and hung up.

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Nora held out her hand.

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“Let me see the number that's been calling you.”

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I gave her my phone. She checked the earlier calls, then handed it back.

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“It really is my number,” she said. She wasn't smiling anymore.

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“Could someone else be using it?” I asked.

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“I don't know.”

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She sounded worried too. Somehow, that made me feel a little better.

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Outside, the car park was still full. Nora stopped beside a blue car, checked the number plate and shook her head.

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“Wrong car,” she muttered.

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“You parked by the fence,” I reminded her.

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“Oh, right. Sorry. It's been a long day.”

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We walked to her car. She took the keys from her bag, unlocked the doors and got into the driver's seat.

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I waited beside the open passenger door.

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It was her bag, her keys, her car. Even the scratch beside the handle was there, from the time she'd parked too close to a brick wall.

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I couldn't find anything wrong.

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Then my phone rang again.

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Nora's name appeared on the screen.

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I answered, keeping my eyes on the woman in the driver's seat.

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“Lilith, listen to me.”

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The voice on the phone sounded exactly like hers. This time, I could hear every word.

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“Mum's coming. Wait for her.”

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“Where are you?” I asked the caller.

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“I fell outside. They took me—”

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“Took you where?”

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“Where are you now, Lilith?”

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“In the car park. Nora's in the car.”

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There was a short silence.

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“Don't get in,” the voice said.

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The Nora in the driver's seat leaned towards the open passenger door.

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“What are they saying?” she asked.

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I covered my phone's microphone with my hand.

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“She says you fell.”

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Nora looked down at herself, then back at me.

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“Lilith,” she said quietly.

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She sounded hurt, as though I'd accused her of something.

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I moved my hand away from the microphone.

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“Get away from her!” the caller shouted.

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I flinched.

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Nora got out of the car. She didn't try to take my phone or come closer. She stood a few steps away.

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“Do you want to wait for Mum?” she asked.

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I looked back towards the hall. Families were still coming through the doors. I could have gone back inside and waited with them.

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The person on the phone was crying now.

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“Please, Lilith. Just go back inside.”

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Nora hardly ever cried, especially in front of me. The voice sounded like hers. But crying didn’t sound like her at all. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDvhJJILKC

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But the woman beside the car was watching me with the same worried expression I'd seen so many times before.

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She rubbed the little scar on her chin with her thumb.

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I knew that habit. Nora did it when she couldn't find the right words.

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“Remember when you got lost at the pool?” the woman beside the car asked softly.

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I nodded, still holding the phone to my ear.

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“You hid behind the lockers because you thought Mum was going to shout at you,” she said.

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“You said you'd tell her it was your fault,” I replied.

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“And she shouted at both of us,” she said.

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I let out a small laugh before I could stop myself.

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Then the voice in my ear spoke.

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“I know that too.”

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The woman beside the car fell silent.

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“Lilith,” the caller said, “Ask me something else.”

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I looked from my phone to the face in front of me.

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I had thought the memory would help. Now I didn't know what else to ask.

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The woman beside the car held out her hand, palm up.

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“We can wait here,” she said. “You don't have to decide right now.”

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I took her hand.

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It was warm. Her fingers closed around mine with a familiar squeeze.

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“Lilith?” the caller said.

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I looked at the woman holding my hand. I could see her face. I could feel her fingers. The other voice was coming from somewhere I couldn't see.

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I ended the call.

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“Let's go home,” I said.

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────── ✠ ──────

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On the way home, we talked about Jamie and the little girl who'd walked offstage.

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Nora laughed in the right places. She sounded like herself.

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Whenever we passed under a streetlight, I glanced at her face. I wasn't even sure what I was looking for.

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At a red light, she noticed.

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“What?” she asked.

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“I'm sorry about your coat.”

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“It's only a coat,” Nora said.

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That should have made me feel better. I'd wanted her to say it all day.

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At home, she put the kettle on while I went upstairs to change. When I came back, she'd made tea and put my mug in my usual place.

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The handle faced my right hand. She knew I hated picking up a hot mug by its sides.

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We sat at the kitchen table until a car pulled up outside.

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Nora glanced towards the window.

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“I'll get the door,” she said.

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She left the kitchen. A moment later, I heard the front door open.

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“Lilith?” Mum called.

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“In here,” I answered.

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I waited for Nora to come back, but Mum entered the kitchen alone. She was still wearing her coat.

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“Where's your sister?” Mum asked.

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“She just let you in,” I said.

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Mum stared at me.

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“No, Lilith. The door was already open.”

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