I went up to my bedroom and lay down. I forced away tears with balled fists. At first, I was angry—how dare Mrs. Shaw think that way, and after all her palaver about wanting to take care of me until I got my memory back. I had a good mind to get up right now and leave. I heaved a sigh. But where was I to go? I had no money and no way of getting away from this godforsaken place by myself. No matter; I would wait for her to come home and demand she drive me back to New York City so I could sail for Ireland. The fact that I had no money for a ticket never occurred to me. And even though I had no idea where in Ireland I belonged, and even though the thought of going back on a ship terrified the life out of me, it was better than staying here, so it was.

Just before dinnertime that night, I heard the roar of the car coming up the driveway, and I stood up, smoothed out my dress and put on my shoes. My anger was still boiling when I went down the stairs and waited for her in the hall. She blew in, as always, like a gale-force wind, the front door slamming behind her. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me.

“Why, hello, my dear girl. Did you have a good day?”

She took my arm and started leading me toward the dining room. I supposed she couldn’t see the anger on my face in the shadows. I shook her hand off my arm, turned around and lifted my face up to hers. She stared down at me.

“How dare you?” I shouted. “How dare you treat me like a stray animal? If that’s how you think of me, you may take me back to New York this minute and I’ll make me own way from there. And no worries, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding another stray to take my place!”

The words took all the breath out of me and I stood there, trembling. I could have sworn she smiled at me. My anger exploded.

“How dare you laugh at me, you cruel oul’ bitch!”

She grabbed both my arms in a strong grip so that I couldn’t pull away from her.

“My dear girl, I am not laughing at you. I just find your outburst so preposterous. Who on earth put that idea in your head? Certainly, I take care of stray animals and those I cannot keep I take to a shelter. But never in a million years would I put you in that category. Where on earth did you get this notion?”

My lips curled up like a child ready to cry.

“Teresa’s after telling me. She said one of your hobbies is taking in strays like myself.”

She made a tutting sound and sighed.