Chapter 9: Two Women, One Table

At seven in the morning I borrowed Nolan's phone and called the number that had texted me.

Alana answered on the first ring.

"Come to breakfast," I said. "Come alone. Do not bring anything."

"Keeley, I..."

"Grandma wants to see you."

There was a long silence.

"Okay," Alana said. "I'm twenty minutes away."

She was there in fifteen.

Grandma Ardis was waiting at the head of the table in her good cardigan, with her cane laid across her lap.

Nolan stood by the stove with his arms crossed.

I sat at Grandma's left, with the box beside my chair.

Alana stopped in the kitchen doorway and wouldn't come further.

"Hello, Grandma," she said.

"Sit down, Alana Anne."

She sat, in the farthest chair.

Grandma waited until she had stopped fidgeting.

"Did you sleep with your cousin's husband?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Six months."

"Did you know he was married to her?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Look at me."

Alana looked.

Grandma studied her for a long moment and then rapped the floor once with the cane.

"Good," she said. "You can say it. That's more than most people in this family could do. Now eat, both of you, and then we'll talk about the rest."

Nobody moved.

"Eat," Grandma said, "or I'll hit one of you."

Alana took a piece of toast.

I hadn't known I was hungry until I smelled the butter.

For a few minutes, there was only the sound of forks and Nolan's coffee cup being set down.

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