Here Amelia’s careful tone and manner started to disintegrate. “That shit never goes away.” It was as if she’d run out of the lubricating oil she’d been applying to her voice and, all of a sudden, we could hear its true, shrill quality.

Lucia visibly flinched, like she’d been cut.

“You need to know the truth,” Amelia continued. “Before the baby turns one, Ron will take off, best-case scenario. Worst, he’ll stay and slap you around when he’s had a few too many.”

I needed to eliminate Lucia, but Amelia was doing a better job alienating her than I’d ever be able to on my own. With Amelia’s last speech, Lucia turned off. It was clear to me she’d made up her mind and there was no going back.

“You don’t know him.” Lucia’s distress surrounded her like a dense fog. She was unreachable.

“I know enough,” Amelia said.

“I need to leave.” Lucia pushed her chair back and stood up, using the table to support her weight.

Amelia froze for an instant. It was as if she were drunk and someone had thrown a glass of ice water in her face. She rushed around to the opposite side of the table. “Sweetheart, I didn’t mean that. I didn’t mean that.” She tried to push Lucia back down into the chair.

“I understand you.” Lucia elbowed her aside. She was stronger than I’d realized.

I saw the markings of unspeakable pain and loss etched on Amelia’s face. It was like gravity’s weight on her had increased tenfold in the last three minutes. “I’m feeling so anxious,” she said to Lucia. “Please forgive me.”

“You don’t know him. You really don’t.” Lucia had no need to convince Amelia of Ron’s character. But I could tell that she wanted to. The disparaging statements about Ron were painful to her.

“Please give yourself a few days,” Amelia said. “To weigh all the information you have.”

Lucia nodded reluctantly, but we all knew which way this was going.

While Amelia called a car for Lucia and walked her outside, I found my coat and boots. I felt that it would be in my best interest to leave quickly.

As I was on my way out the door, Amelia stopped me. “Stay for a minute, Delta.” She reached for my hand with cold fingers and a searching look in her eyes.

I followed her to the back of the house and sat down across from her at the dining table. She leaned toward me so she could speak quietly and still be heard, though we were alone in the house. “I offered Ron money to give up the baby.”

This was beyond what I’d expected, but I was nevertheless impressed and strangely proud. I admired her audacity.

“When did you talk to him?” I asked.