“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry for worrying you. It was a stupid thing to do.” She reached for her mother and began crying for the twentieth time that day. “Red took me there after school. It’s terrible, Mama. Johnny is never going to walk again. He doesn’t want anything to do with me. I don’t think he loves me anymore.”

Alice held her daughter at arms’ length and forced her to meet her eyes. “Dr. Perkins called earlier, Violet. He wanted to tell you about Johnny’s emotional state and ask you to wait several days before visiting the hospital.” She bit her lower lip. “Violet, they need time to grieve. To heal. Your father and I knew that. You’d do well to listen to us, honey. We usually know what we’re talking about.”

“Have you ever been through anything like this?” Violet had trouble believing her parents had experienced much of anything prior to her birth.

“Of course we have. Everyone on this earth has been through pain and loss, Violet. Please try to see beyond the tip of your nose for a minute and start considering other people’s feelings.”

“You make me sound like a terrible person, Mama.”

“No, I think you’re one of the finest people I’ve ever known, Violet. You are warm and caring and kind. I’m only trying to point out that you often act without considering the consequences. For instance, scaring your mother to death with a lie about pregnancy.” Alice rubbed her forehead. “I’m going upstairs to lie down. Your father will be home soon. There are leftovers in the icebox if you’re hungry.”

“I love you, Mama.”

“I love you, too. Do your biology homework.”

Violet wondered—not for the first time—if her mother had spies following her.

Two mornings later Violet opened the Glenns’ front door to find Chet waiting on their front porch, rocking in her dad’s favorite chair and seemingly unaware he was at the wrong house. He grinned at her and patted the seat next to him. “I only want to talk to you for a minute. My train leaves in two hours.”

Violet sat and offered him her prettiest smile. “Are you excited?”

“To be going to Aunt Junie’s? No.” Chet shook his head and reached into his pocket. “I came to give you this.” He placed a small gold nugget in Violet’s hand. “It’s not real. It’s Pyrite.”

Violet suppressed a grin and said, “It’s beautiful, Chet, thank you.”

“I bought it on a field trip we had to Noccalula Falls last week.”

“It must have been expensive,” Violet turned the rock over in her hands, thinking about what Mr. Wilson had told her.