“No, I can’t,” Grace said. “I’ll tell her you called. But, Quinn, it’s time to feed the chickens, so I need to go.”

The phone went dead.

Quinn sat there, still holding it to her ear.

Finally, she put it down and leaned back, crashing into the pillows again.

She’d have to face everything by herself.

Suddenly she only wanted to shut everything out and sleep.

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Quinn was navigating a long hospital corridor, a folder with her name on it stuffed under her arm. The folder held her identifying information, including the name of her father. She’d dodged the mysterious faces pursuing her and had just pulled the folder out from under her arm and was opening it to peek when the fire alarm began to shriek, and medical personnel from every room, nook, and cranny came storming at her.

She awoke sweating, her heart racing.

It wasn’t a fire alarm.

It was her phone.

Ethan?

For a second, she felt a happy rush that he was calling her. Then as she struggled to reach the phone, she remembered what he had done.

She picked up the phone and squinted at the screen.

Unknown number.

Usually she wouldn’t answer unknown numbers, but this time, something told her she should do it.

“Hello?”

“Quinn? Is that you?”

Quinn sat up in bed and switched the lamp on. “Maggie! It’s me! I can’t believe you called me back.” She felt a rush of emotion just hearing her best friend’s voice, so familiar she’d recognize it anywhere.

“Of course. Mama said it sounded urgent. And you do sound weird.”

“I was asleep. I’m in Maui, six hours behind you. It’s two in the morning here.”

Maggie laughed. “Oops. Well, you did say to call you. What are you doing in Maui? Vacation?”

Quinn wondered how to tell Maggie everything she needed to say. Especially after she’d pretty much dumped her.

“My mom died,” she blurted out, getting the worst of it over with.

“I know,” Maggie said, her voice softening. “Mama saw it somewhere. That’s all she does is sit on the computer. I’m sorry I didn’t call you, but I didn’t know until after the service.”

“No, I’m sorry,” Quinn said. “And it wasn’t much of a service. You know my mom. She kept to herself. Not really anyone in her life except me. And her clients. But even those she kept separate from her personal business. They sent flowers.”

“I’ve missed you,” Maggie said.

Three little words that held a lot of forgiveness. Before Quinn could answer, she was crying. Finally, she had someone who cared about her and who could listen. Give her advice. Soothe her and tell her that it would all work out.

Quinn couldn’t hold back the sniffles.

“What is it?” Maggie said. “Is Ethan okay?”