What Tammy wants is for Tessa to hang up the phone. Tammy’s hit “redial” six times and the phone just beepbeepbeeps at her. Reminds her of those old Road Runners, how the Road Runner’d flick his tongue at the coyote when the coyote noticed he was out of cliff.

And then the call goes through, rings five times while Tammy flicks ash into a commemorative ashtray.

When it picks up, Tammy starts yelling: “Goddammit, Tess, what the Hell gives you the right to come in here when I’m at work’n’take my suitcases without asking?”

Tammy stops for drama and air. There’s a snuffle on the line, a tentative voice. “Aunt Tammy?”

Tammy’s mortified.

“Oh Jesus. Jennybaby. I’m so sorry about that. Is your mom home?”

Jenny’s been her heart since she was born – the only thing in the world she loves more than her baby sister, not that she’d ever admit it to Tessa.

“She’s meeting someone.”

That damn Josiah and his friend. Whatsisname? Leo. That crowd’s a train wreck.

“When’d she leave, child?”