This morning I woke up and went to check on Father. He was in bed, snoring loudly, and there was a bottle on the nightstand. I went to wake him, and the smell of alcohol was overwhelming. He told me he didn’t feel well and that I would have to work by myself, again.

I didn’t argue with him. It wouldn’t have done any good.

I set off for the pharmacy and arrived to find more past due notices.

A little past noon, a man walked into the pharmacy. He was tall with broad shoulders, and a bald head. He casually surveyed the shelves.

“Can I help you find anything?” I asked.

“Is Mr. Harker here?”

The tone with which he asked about Father worried me.

“No, he’s not,” I replied.

“Do you know where he is?”

“No,” I lied, knowing he was probably at home, passed out drunk in bed.

“Do you know when he’ll be back?”

“No.”

He eyed me for a moment. I don’t know if he knew I was lying, or if he was trying to intimidate me, or both.

“What’s your name?”

“Susan,” I said, not wanting him to know that I was his daughter.

“Well, Susan, you don’t seem to know much about your employer.”

I was too afraid to speak.

“When he does come back, can you give him a message?”

I tried to nod without letting the rest of my body tremble.

“Tell him Mr. Lloyd dropped by to discuss his delinquent accounts. Can you do that for me?”

I nodded again.

“Thank you.” He gave one last appraising stare. “Good day.”

He turned and walked out.

Once he had disappeared out of sight and I was no longer immobilized with fear, I ran to the door and locked it, fearing more visits from collectors. I went into the storeroom and began pacing. As bad as I had imagined things to be, they were so much worse.

I didn’t know who to turn to, until I was struck by a thought: maybe Thomas would help. If he cares for me at all, maybe he would help a little. It would mean so much, and I wanted to see him. I wanted him to comfort me. I decided then and there that I would see him.

I went through the back to the alley, where the bicycle was waiting.

The sky was overcast and the morning was still cool. I rode out of town and tried to think of what I was going to say to him but by the time I reached Willow Lake, I hadn’t decided.