“Well, guess I’d better get on my horse!” She turned away, then back again. “Oh, did you hear? They found blood all over some old lady’s house in Westley.” Jerram winced at the mention of the town, but Barney didn’t notice.

“And she has a strange man living with her,” Barney added in a conspiratorial whisper.

“Really?” Jerram whispered back. Barney looked gratified. Jerram managed to inch her out and firmly shut the door.

Jerram shook his head. “I read about that in the paper. It was only some old rust stains in the bathroom.” He laughed. “The strange man is her tenant, some salesman whose been there for years.”

Rose left him in the kitchen and went to find Mom. There were important questions that needed to be asked.

Mom was lying down on her bed, something she hardly ever did during the day. The room was shadowy; she’d pulled the drapes closed. “I have a headache, Rose,” she said.

“I need to talk to you. It’s really important.”

Mom sighed and patted the bed next to her.

“I’m sorry for not telling you about the car. I know it was stupid of me,” Rose said.

“Yes it was. But I should apologize, too. I just lost it for a moment. I shouldn’t have yelled.”

“All this has us upset.”

“It’s not only that.”

“Yes,” Rose said. “I know.”

She sat up then. “What do you know?”

“I know there’s something different about me. Isn’t there?”

“Oh ..

“There is, isn’t there? You can’t keep hiding it from me, Mom. You’ve got to tell me.”

“Don’t give me orders, Rose.”

“Mom, please!”

She smiled a tentative, painful smile. “Why is it so important?”

“Don’t you already know? The dreams, the messages from Nancy. It’s scary. Seeing Nancy’s face at my window, seeing her in school, like she’s standing right there. And, other things, too.”

Hesitantly, she related the visit to Miss Mackey’s. But she couldn’t bring herself to tell it all. Not everything. Not being inside that. .. she gave her mind a shake. “I couldn’t share all this,” Rose said, “because I didn’t know it all until now. Until Miss Mackey told me that I had to find out what made me different.”

Mom looked away, her lips a thin, angry line. “So you want to believe her instead of your own mother?”

Rose reached out but Mom pulled back. “Mom! I have to know the truth, and you have to tell me. What about honesty and sharing now? Who’s not following the rules now?”

“Keep your voice down,” she said. “This isn’t easy for me.”

Rose wasn’t sympathetic. “Do you think it’s easy for me?”