Chapter 12: The Coat

Cassidy's POV

Eli gave me the little pink cap in the morning, with the whole of what Ron had said.

I sat in the recliner with my daughter asleep against my shoulder, turning the cap over in my fingers.

A pompom, tiny stitches, a price tag still tucked inside the brim.

Handmade at the shop by the dealership, Ron had said.

The tag said twelve dollars.

I laid it on the arm of the chair next to the school photo.

Then I thought of Kendra on my friend's porch in the sleet.

Ask Ron why he buys the coats.

"Eli," I said. "Could you hold her?"

He took her the careful way, with a hand behind her head, and stood by the window.

"I need to go see Kendra," I said.

"I'll drive you."

"I'm taking my friend. You stay with the baby."

He frowned.

"I can wait in the car."

"I know you can." I picked up my coat. "That's why I want you here."

Kendra's duplex was on a street of identical beige houses with the same small porches.

My friend stopped the car at the curb.

"Fifteen minutes," I said. "If I'm not out, you call him."

"I'm calling him at ten."

"Fine."

I knocked on the door and held my own elbow, because my body still felt like it belonged to somebody else.

Kendra opened it in a sweatshirt, with her hair in a clip.

She saw me and went white.

"Is the baby..."

"She's fine. She's with someone I trust. Can I come in?"

She stepped back.

The kitchen was small and clean and smelled like toast.

There were crayon drawings stuck all over the refrigerator.

A house, a sun, a stick-figure woman with long hair.

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