GLORIA

“How do you feel about breaking the law?” Gloria asked Iris.

“I suppose it depends on which law.”

“Well.” Gloria waved her arm in a broad sweep over the burial ground. “This is all very moving and nostalgic, but it’s not a good idea for you to be here. We need to call your daughter and then get you someplace safe to stay tonight while we figure out the next step.”

“What does that have to do with breaking the law?”

“We may have to illegally enter that building I mentioned. Haskell.” Gloria stood up and offered Iris her arm. “But one thing at a time. First, let’s go call your daughter.”

Fifteen minutes later at the library phone booth, Iris hesitated with her finger in the air above the numbers. She turned to Gloria.

“Why am I so nervous? She’s my daughter. I know she’ll help me.”

“I wish I had a daughter. Call her.”

Iris nodded, then punched in the phone number. The phone rang twice before Lexi answered.

“Lexi,” Iris said. “Don’t say my name. Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

“Can you talk privately?”

“Yes. Yes. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, dear. Where are you right now?”

“On your porch. Where are you?”

“I’m calling from a pay phone, so they can’t trace my call.”

“Pay phone? Do they still exist? Never mind that. Who’s they? Is someone hurting you?”

“Oh, no, dear. No one took me or hurt me. It’s such a very long story. But I need your help. And please, you can’t tell your father or the police where I am.”

“I think I know the story. At least, I know what Dad did.” Her voice cracked and broke.

“Don’t cry. We’ll figure this out. Just please don’t say anything to your father. Or the police. Promise me?”

“Of course. Can I come to you?”

“Not yet. I’m nowhere safe now.” She turned to Gloria and asked, “What should I ask her to do?”

“Collect warm blankets, a flashlight, thermos bottles with hot tea. Tell her I’ll call her tonight with our plan.”

Iris relayed the instructions to her daughter, adding, “Bring me some clean underwear from my top dresser drawer too. I have to hang up now. Can you get that stuff together?”

“Of course, but why?”

“My friend will call you later and tell you where to meet me.”

“Wait, don’t hang up. What friend? This is nuts, Mom. You don’t need to camp out. You can stay with me. Or, I’ll get us a hotel room.”

“Too risky. The police are probably watching you and I’m not ready to be found. I’m with a friend and I’m safe. I love you, dear.” Iris placed the receiver on the hook but didn’t let go. She felt frozen.

Gloria took Iris’s hand off the receiver. “Are you okay? Won’t your daughter help us?”

Iris roused herself to answer. “Of course, she will. It’s me. I can’t remember the last time I told Lexi I love her.”

“Well,” Gloria said, “you’ve told her now.

“Yes, and let’s get away from here. I think I’m ready to break that law.”