She used her key and went through the back door. At first she thought what she was hearing was giggling, but then she realized that someone was weeping. She removed her coat as she picked up her pace until she was practically jogging through the clothing room to the front office. Surely no one had died or Sally would have called her.

“What’s going on?” Lily threw her coat and purse on the counter.

Tears streamed down Sally’s face. “Ryder’s girlfriend, Macy, had a miscarriage last night.”

“I caused it,” Teena wailed. “I didn’t want him to be married and be a father at nineteen.”

Lily crossed the room and hugged Teena. “I’m so sorry, but this is not your fault. If we had that kind of suggestive power, then Wyatt would have dropped dead years ago, and Victoria would have lost all her money. They would both be living in a cardboard box in an alley behind a beer joint.”

“See, I told you that you didn’t cause it,” Sally said.

“Stop crying and go see Macy. Where is she right now? At her apartment?” Lily asked.

Teena nodded. “At her place, and Ryder is with her.”

“That’s even better. Go see both of them. This was Ryder’s child as much as hers. He has to be strong for her, but he needs your strength,” Lily said.

“Did you go with them to the ER?” Sally held the trash can out for Teena to throw in a fistful of tissues.

“Ryder didn’t call me until an hour ago, and he’d already taken Macy home.” Teena pulled more tissues from the box. “I came straight here. I didn’t want to be a grandmother, and now I feel like I’ve lost a part of me. It’s confusing as hell . . . and crazy! But you’re right, Lily. I need to go see them both, but not with my face a mess.”

Lily handed her the whole box of tissues. “Don’t do one thing to your face. Go just as you are, and let them see that you’re grieving with them. Remember how you felt when you lost that baby when the twins were a year old.”

“You were on a guilt trip then, too,” Sally reminded her. “You were devastated when you learned you were pregnant again, and then when you had the miscarriage, you thought it was your fault.”

“What’s that got to do with now?” Teena asked.

“You’re reliving the guilt,” Lily answered.

Teena took the box of tissues from Lily. “Should I take anything? Flowers? Food? I don’t know what to do.”

“Just take that box and give them both a hug,” Lily said. “The rest will take care of itself.”

Teena stood to her feet, put on her coat, and picked up her purse. “I’ve taken the day off work. I’ll be back after a while.”