When dawn came, Helen’s worry hardened into something heavier, the feeling that she was being left behind. By morning, Helen decided she couldn’t take the guessing anymore. If Lisa wouldn’t call, she’d go see for herself. She told herself she was just dropping off the bag and nothing more. But as she slipped it over her arm, she could feel the tremor in her fingers.
The drive to Lisa’s house was quiet except for the sound of the wipers brushing away a fine drizzle. When she turned onto their street, the sight of the empty driveway sent a ripple of unease through her chest. She parked and stepped out, clutching the bag like a lifeline. The blinds were closed. The front porch looked bare. She knocked once, then again, louder.