“Okay,” I whispered. Crumbs flew out of my mouth.

“And I let him out to do his business. Simple as can be, right? But when he comes back, he’s this vicious wolf. Gone mad up here.” She tapped her hair. “And he’s run off and torn up everyone’s gardens. What could I do? If the dog catcher caught him he’d put that choke chain around Chicken’s neck and throw him in the back of his van. We’d never see him again.”

I lifted up the sandwich, but I couldn’t take another bite.

“He’s like an animal down there. It’s so frightening, Bids. Not Rowan at all. I mean, your brother did some terrible stuff when he was gone off. Really terrible things I can’t begin to try and explain. I’m fixing everything, but let me tell you, it’s not straightforward in the least.” She frowned. “I thought Telly would help, but that man messed it all up. And then that idiot tramp goes and tells everyone he’s drowned Rowan. Out in some stupid lake. Which was a lie of course, but how could I tell anyone? And after that, it got to be such a tangle. It was only supposed to be a couple of days until me and Telly got settled. Now that boy’s turned worse instead of better. I’m stretched to my limit. But because I’m Gloria, I’m not giving up.” She squeezed my hand hard. “I’m still trying to straighten everything out. Do you understand now?”

I still didn’t know. Rowan was a wolf? He didn’t sound like a wolf. He sounded like Rowan. He called me Turtle. But he was knocking on the door. He wouldn’t stop. A wolf might do that if it was angry.

“You’re thinking about that man who told all the lies?”

I pushed the food into one cheek. I wiggled my arm away from hers. “Carl?” He put Rowan in the lake. But Rowan wasn’t in the lake. Or maybe he was and he didn’t stay in the lake.

“Carl.” Gloria made a snort. “Doesn’t matter what he calls himself, he was a wolf. A nasty wolf. You listen to me real careful, Bids. That animal is exactly where he deserves to be. Even better than he deserves, if I tell the truth. And you know Gloria always tells the truth.”

I nodded.

“He hurt Rowan beyond what you can imagine.” She patted her chest with her hand. “I can’t even get the words out. None of this would be happening if that Carl man had stayed away. If Rowan had stayed away from him.”

She was talking fast. I couldn’t hear it all. “Well?” she said. “You understand?”

“I do,” I said.