“No one here. We’re your family, Tia. We would never do something like that. The reason we want you to come back is because we want you to be happy, and this is the only path that leads to happiness.”

“Does that go for Rachel, too?” she asked.

Suddenly, the phone switched hands. “Sarah?”

Her father refused to acknowledge her name change. “Hi, Dad.”

“Rachel’s right here. Tell her,” he demanded aside. “Did you call the paparazzi?”

“Of course not,” she heard her sister say. “I wouldn’t even know how to find one.”

“Did you hear that?” he said. “She didn’t call the paparazzi. Abram didn’t call the paparazzi. No one here called the paparazzi. You may not think much of the way we live, but you have to respect our honesty.”

“Okay, Dad. I’ve handled it, so it doesn’t matter anymore, anyway.”

“It matters to me,” he said. Then her mother came back on the line.

Tia made small talk with Naomi, asking about the quilt she was making and how sales were going in the local gift shop. Naomi told her the Harders had broken down and purchased their very first car, but the Wiens had gotten rid of their TV after realizing that the content it was bringing into their home wasn’t conducive to the worship of God.

Tia did her best not to say anything when she disagreed and, instead, focused on trying to make the conversation a positive one.

“How was your Christmas?” Naomi finally asked.

Tia was surprised by the question. Her mother was usually careful not to inquire about her life because she didn’t want to imagine her daughter living in a way she couldn’t approve of.

Tia glanced over at Seth, who was watching her closely, obviously hoping that the call was going well. “Now that I’ve had the chance to speak to you, I can say it’s been the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” she replied.

After a startled pause, her mother said, “Despite the accident and what it has done to your career?”

“Yeah. Despite that.”

“I’m glad,” her mother said. “We love you, you know. Your father has a hard time showing affection. It’s just not his way. But I can tell how much he cares about you. I hear him pray for you every single day.”

“I appreciate his prayers,” she said, but what she really needed he couldn’t give her. “Please tell him I love him, too.”

After she hung up, Seth poured two glasses of wine and carried one over to her. “You okay?”

She nodded. “For us, that was a good conversation. I hope it’ll be the first of many more.”

“So do I.”

“They said they didn’t call Kouretas.”

“Do you believe them?”

“I do.”

“Which means...”

“Barbie had to have done it.”