I have to fight the urge to call my sister immediately. I don’t want to get Marion into trouble. If someone sees my name flashing up on her screen, it will probably cause a huge argument.

It makes more sense now why I haven’t heard anything from my mom or any of my sisters. Mom has decreed the punishment of silence—an old favorite of hers, probably because it normally works. Before I ran away, being cast out of our family would have been my idea of torture. I went along with things that made Mom happy because I didn’t want to upset the family dynamic—didn’t want to lose her good grace, or my only place in the world.

The difference between when I’ve previously been given Mom’s silent treatment and now is distance, and the little bit of history I’ve carved out over the last few weeks that doesn’t involve her. Memories and experiences where she’s not the center of things.

Maybe it was the understanding that doing what my mom wanted was going to cost me any kind of control over my future that’s allowed me to hold my nerve and stay here. Mom played her hand, dished out my punishment, but it didn’t work this time. The stakes were too high.

I type out a text.

I miss you too, Marion.

I do miss her. But I don’t miss being responsible for her. For our entire family. I feel lighter here in Star Falls, with nothing but possibility in my future. I don’t know how I stuck it out in Oregon as long as I did. Looking back, I don’t understand how as a twenty-eight-year-old woman, I still felt I had to do everything my mother said.

Another text appears almost immediately.

You’re so lucky you escaped.

My heart clenches in hope and pity.

I am lucky. I’m lucky I found Polly Gifford outside the hotel, and even luckier that she was heading to the airport. As I watched myself in the mirror the morning of my wedding, I knew I didn’t want to get married, but I didn’t see a way out. Not until Polly offered me a ride. If it hadn’t been for her, I’d still be in Oregon, either begging forgiveness from my mother or married to Frank. Neither one was a future I wanted.

What happened?

Marion must have hit call right away, as her name flashes up on my phone.

I tuck the cell between my cheek and shoulder and scoop up my salad before heading out for some privacy.

“Hey,” I answer, as I make my way along the corridor to one of the back exits.

“I miss you so much,” she repeats. “Mom’s been a complete monster since you left.”

A dull ache radiates from my stomach. I can only imagine how difficult it’s been.