Words could not describe how horrified the look on Joyce’s face was when she heard all that. But she still managed to respond in a gentle tone. “I’m glad you’re finally being honest with me.”

“Joyce, please. If I don’t go to the hospital, I’m going to bleed to death.”

I couldn’t believe what she did and said next. She set the telephone down and walked back over to me. “The only place you’re going to go is hell. Have a nice trip.” And then she casually clicked off the lamp and walked out of the room.

CHAPTER 43 - JOYCE

CHAPTER 43

JOYCE

THE LONG, BUMPY BUS RIDE FROM HARTVILLE, AND SITTING IN MY darkened living room crying nonstop ever since I’d got home, had worn me out. If Odell hadn’t stumbled in when he did, I probably would have cried myself to sleep on the couch and stayed in the same spot all night.

I had no idea who had tried to rob Odell and ended up stabbing him. The way he flaunted how prosperous he was, I was surprised somebody hadn’t tried to rob him sooner. But how did that fit into why he had come back home from Hartville tonight? It was possible that Yvonne and Milton had gone back into the restaurant and told him they’d brought me to Hartville and that I’d seen him. If so, maybe he’d come to confront them and one of them had stabbed him. If that was the case, how come he hadn’t mentioned that as soon as he saw me? And why would he tell me that a would-be robber had stabbed him? If that was true, that person could still be lurking around outside and might bust into the house to finish him off. They could even attack me. But I was already in so much pain and feeling so ugly—and stupid—I didn’t care if somebody came in and stabbed me, too. I never knew pain could be as severe as what I was feeling now.