I manage to press some buttons on my phone.

“What’s up, Lucy?” he says.

“What’s up is the recording I sent you just this second. When I’m out of here, give it a listen.”

“Give me a preview,” he says.

“No,” I say. “I’ve got a baby who needs a nap.” Then, as the baby and I head toward the door, I say, “Oh, and, by the way, when you listen to the recording, be sure to have a Russian language translator standing by.”

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

“YOU TAKE MY BABY out for a walk and where’d you walk her? Africa? Canada? Nicaragua?”

“Are all your guesses going to be countries that end with the letter a?” I say.

Understandably, Sabryna does not appreciate my humor.

Loudly she says, “Where you been, lady?”

Here we go. Sabryna is pissed. So much for my thinking that she calmed down. I can’t say that I blame her. I move to hand her the baby. Sabryna reaches out to me and quickly pulls Tyonna into her own arms.

“Come on, Lucy. Start your confession. You owe me a fine explanation.”

I am just no good at lying. When I tell someone a lie, he or she always knows I’m lying. My voice becomes sing-song. My eyes look everywhere except into the other person’s eyes.

“It’s like I told you. I got a call from the hospital. They were backed up. I thought it wouldn’t do any harm to go there and take the baby with me.”

“Well, you thought stupid,” says Sabryna. “All’s you have to do is call me on your phone and tell me what’s happening. I worried so’s my head was bursting until I heard from you. And I’m not too sure that I’m believing your story even now.”

Oh, shit. I knew this wasn’t going to work.

“Tyonna had a great time at the hospital. You know, with all the other babies.”

Sabryna tilts her head. Her forehead wrinkles with a quizzical expression. “What in hell’s wrong with you, Lucy? They’re stealing babies like they were candy bars in my store, and you go bringing Tyonna to a hospital, the place where they’re doing the stealing.”

Okay, my mother was right. Once you tell a lie you end up drowning in it. And, sweet Lord, I am twenty feet underwater.

“Okay, okay. I was wrong.”

No response from Sabryna. But I’m coming up for air.

“In any case, I’m sorry. But tell me. How did Willie and Devan do?” I ask.

“They did just fine. Willie is up in your place sleeping. Don’t worry. I checked up on him thirty minutes ago. He’s fine. Unlike some people, I’m a very reliable caregiver.”

Sabryna could not have said that last sentence any more emphatically.

“And where’s Devan?” I ask.