LAMONT, MARGO, AND Maddy climbed the steep stairs to Jessica’s apartment. Their clothes were ripped and their faces were streaked with blood and soot. For Lamont, every step was agony.
When they got to the top of the stairs, Maddy reached up and ran her hand along the ceiling molding over the door. The spare key was stuck in the notch where her grandma always kept it. Maddy pushed the door open.
As they walked in, Lamont grabbed a gallon container of water from the kitchen counter. They passed the jug around, taking deep gulps until the water spilled down their chins and necks. Maddy realized that Margo was seeing the apartment for the first time.
“So this is it,” said Maddy. “This is where I live.”
Margo looked around, taking in the tiny kitchen, the battered tile floor, the chipped walls.
“Not quite your style, I know,” said Maddy.
“It’s a home,” said Margo softly. “That’s all that matters.”
“I can give you the tour,” said Maddy. “Won’t take long.”
“Sure,” said Margo. “I’d like that.”
Maddy led the way from the kitchen into the living room, where the sofa took up most of the floor space. A worn blanket hung over the armrest. Bando’s scruffy bed was pushed up against one wall. Maddy’s eyes started to sting, but she blinked back the tears. She took a deep breath, in and out.
“This is me,” she said, leading the way through the curtain into her tiny alcove. Discarded clothes covered the rumpled bed and half-melted candles lined the windowsill.
“Suits you,” said Margo.
They walked back into the hall and hooked around the partition into Jessica’s room. The bed was neatly made and three pairs of shoes were lined up against the wall. A hairbrush and a jar of lotion sat on the polished nightstand.
“And this is…this was Grandma’s,” said Maddy.
Margo ran her fingers along the blanket on the bed and picked up the jar from the nightstand. She lifted it to her nose, closed her eyes, and sniffed.
“Lilac,” she said, with a soft smile.
“That was her,” said Maddy. “That’s how she always smelled. Like lilacs.”
Margo pushed aside the pale blue curtains and paused for a moment to look out on the street below. She turned to follow Maddy back into the living room. Then suddenly, she froze. On the dresser near the door sat a photograph of a young woman. A blonde. Margo was staring at a black-and-white image of herself.
“Maddy,” she called out. “Why is this here? How is this here?”
Maddy turned back into the room. Lamont stepped into the doorway. He let Maddy do the talking. And Maddy could only say what she knew.
“It was Grandma’s,” she said. “She got it from her parents.”
“I don’t understand,” said Margo softly.
She took the photograph in her hands. She passed her fingers lightly over the image of her own face. She remembered the day it was taken and the name of the studio. And she remembered how much she was looking forward to seeing Lamont at the restaurant that night. That’s when she would tell him…
Suddenly, Margo’s knees gave way. Lamont jumped forward to catch her as she fell. He helped her onto the bed. Margo felt a rush in her head and saw a flash of images, like a movie playing in fast motion. A restaurant with toys hanging from the ceiling. Glittering lights. People laughing. Lamont smiling. And then—her hand on her belly over a smooth white dress.
Margo bent forward, silent. Tears started pouring down her face.
“What is it?” said Lamont. “What’s wrong?”
Margo’s throat was burning. She could hardly speak.
“Lamont,” she said softly. “I was going to tell you—that night. I was planning to tell you…”
Lamont wrapped his arms around Margo’s shoulders. She was trembling, struggling to find the words.
“Lamont,” she said, “I was…I was pregnant.”
Lamont’s face went white as Margo shuddered in his arms. And then a jumble of feelings rushed into his mind at the same time—sadness, pain, regret, guilt. That was her secret! He should have guessed that night. He should have known! Margo was sobbing so hard now that her words came in short, unfinished bursts.
“We lost everything…” she said softly. “We lost…” She couldn’t finish her thought. It hurt too much.