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"I don't want to talk about it." Megan slid off the bed and left the room.
After she closed the door, Ria punched in her mother's number. "It's me," she said when her mom answered. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm not sure," her mother said. "I might just be being paranoid."
Her stomach tightened. "Tell me."
"I've seen a car a couple of times in the neighborhood. This afternoon there was a man in the front seat and he was talking on the phone. I got a license number, and I asked a friend of mine's husband if he could check it out for me."
"What friend is that?"
"A woman I play tennis with. Her second husband is a police officer. I told her I'm part of a neighborhood watch group, and I'm trying to be vigilant."
"I hate to get the police involved."
"Well, I have other children to worry about, and I need to make sure this car is not connected to you."
"I understand. Let me know what you find out."
"How's Megan?"
"She's doing well," Ria said, realizing it was true. Megan had really begun to blossom in San Francisco. She was finally living the kind of life she was supposed to live. "She's going to the prom on Saturday."
"Really?" her mother asked in surprise. "You're letting her go out?"
"I don't have a choice. She's trying to be normal, and normal kids go to the prom. We bought a dress the other day, and she looked gorgeous. She has Kate's smile. I just wish Kate could see her."
"I do, too," her mom said with a sigh. "I remember when Kate went to the prom. It was right before your dad left, before everything turned upside down, and she decided that she hated me. It seems like a different life now."
"It is a different life. I can barely remember when it was the four of us together. And now it's just me and Megan."
"You've acted with great courage, Ria. You're saving Megan's life. I'm very proud of you."
Ria was shocked at her mother's complimentary words. She didn't think she'd ever made her mother proud. Most of her decisions, like not going to college, had filled her mother's eyes with disappointment. "Thank you," she said slowly.
"I know we haven't been close in a long time, and a lot of that is my fault. But I do love you, Ria. And I love Megan, too, even though I don’t even know her."
Her mom paused, and Ria could hear her talking to someone, telling them they couldn't have ice cream unless they ate their green beans. One of her half-siblings, Ria thought, feeling both connected and disconnected to the woman on the other end of the phone.
"I have to go," her mom said.
"Call me if you find out anything."
"I will."
Ria closed her phone and returned to the living room. She'd expected to find Megan talking Drew's ear off, but instead the two of them were on their feet playing an interactive videogame called Street Fighter. Drew seemed to be frustrated with the game, which didn't surprise her. Megan was an expert player.
After they'd first left the island, they'd had to stay out of sight for weeks at a time, and videogames had been their sole entertainment. At first Ria had shied away from the battle games, but she'd soon come to realize that Megan gained confidence and strength by defending herself, even if it was only in the virtual fighting world.
"What the hell," Drew muttered, looking down at his controller. "Mine is broken."
"It's not broken. I'm kicking your ass," Megan said.
"Don't feel bad," Ria interjected. "She kicks my ass on a regular basis."
As Megan gave Drew a few tips to improve his performance, Ria moved into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She had eggs and vegetables, so it was going to be omelets for dinner. Megan would appreciate not having anything tough to chew, and if Drew didn't like it, he could certainly find his own dinner somewhere else.
She sautéed vegetables in a pan, then whipped up the eggs and folded in the vegetables. She cut up some fruit, made toast, and set out plates on the small table. "Dinner is ready," she said a few moments later.
"Gotcha again," Megan said, a triumphant note in her voice. Then she set down her controller and headed to the table.
