side of the road at night. Bring it over. I’ll take care of it.”
Later, he wouldn’t even let me pay for the repairs.
“Robert, this is too much,” I told him.
He only replied,
“One day you’ll understand.”
I didn’t like the way that sounded.
Things became even stranger at Jake’s birthday party.
There were a lot of guests. Jake was outside with his friends, Susan was busy in the kitchen, and for a few minutes I was
alone in the living room. Robert walked over to me.
“Emily, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
He stared at me for a long moment. That same look again.
“Is your mother’s name Margaret?”
My heart suddenly started beating faster.
“Yes. How do you know that?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
“Jake must have mentioned it, I suppose.”
But I knew Jake hadn’t. I had never even talked to Jake
