"Oh, he was, Ariel. It's lonely, you know, when you lose the person who remembers your stories." She went quiet for a moment, then turned to me. "Who's in your corner, Ariel?"
"How much longer for you?"
I stared at the street, willing myself not to cry. "Nobody... not anymore. My ex, Lee, bailed when I told him I was pregnant. And I got the call this morning, foreclosure. I don't know what happens next."
She studied me, searching my face. "You've been doing this all by yourself."
I gave a half-smile. "Looks that way. I'm stubborn, I guess."
"Stubborn is just another word for strong," Mrs. Higgins said. "But even strong women need a break sometimes."
The rest of the lawn took forever. My body screamed at me, but finishing was the only thing that made sense. When I was done, I set the mower aside, wiped my hands on my shorts, and tried not to notice how my vision blurred.
"I'm stubborn, I guess."
Mrs. Higgins squeezed my hand, her own surprisingly firm. "You're a good girl, Ariel. Remember that." She looked at me with a strange intensity, like she was memorizing my face. "Don't let this world take that from you."
I tried to joke. "If the world wants anything from me, it's going to have to wait until I get a nap."
She smiled. "Get some rest, honey."
I waved as I trudged home, grateful for the shade. That night, I lay in bed, hand on my belly, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. I felt lighter, just for a moment.
"Get some rest, honey."
***
A siren woke me at dawn. Blue and red lights streaked through the blinds, painting my bedroom walls in panic. For one wild second, I thought maybe Lee had come back to cause trouble, or maybe the bank was already here to take the house.
When I pulled on the first cardigan I could find and stepped outside, the street was a circus.
There were two patrol cars, a sheriff's SUV, neighbors clustered on the lawns, faces pinched with curiosity. I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and stepped onto the porch, trying to look braver than I felt.
The street was a circus.
A tall man in uniform approached, broad-shouldered, serious, the sort of person who makes you want to stand straighter.
"Are you Ariel?" The sheriff's voice was clipped, but not unfriendly. His eyes flicked to the cluster of neighbors. "I'm Sheriff Holt. Can we step inside for a moment?"
I opened the door, my heart hammering. The living room suddenly felt small. The radio on his shoulder crackled as his gaze moved over the family photos and the stack of unopened mail.
"Is everything okay?" I managed.
He lowered his voice. "I wish it was. Mrs. Higgins collapsed on her porch early this morning. A neighbor saw her and called it in. Paramedics got there first, but..." He trailed off.
"Can we step inside for a moment?"
