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“What? Why?”
“It’s a rule. No men on the property, and no communicating with menwhileon property. I’m so sorry.”
Lenna stares at her. “That’sa rule?”
“I told you when you got here. I’m sure I did.”
Lenna tries to remember. Had she? Then she realizes something else. “SoIcan’t even call him back, either?”
“Technically, no.” Rhiannon put her hands on her hips. “You said you explained to him where you were going and that he was fine with it.”
“I…did,” Lenna lies. “But, well, he’s a new father. He wants to know the baby is okay.”
Rhiannon pulls in her bottom lip. “He should trust that he is. He should trustyou.”
“He does, but…”He doesn’t really know who I am. At least the me that knew you.“I didn’t realize I couldn’t check in with him at all.”
“If you want to talk to him, you’ll have to leave the property.”
Lenna swallows hard. “You mean just go outside the gate? Could you unlock it for me?”
Again, Rhiannon looks conflicted. “I don’t have access. Only Marjorie has the code.”
Lenna’s gaze darts to the gate, visible from where she’s standing. There’s a huge padlock holding it shut along with the keypad. Barbed wire hugs the top of the fence. Her stomach swoops, suddenly.
“And anyway, that’s not really what I meant,” Rhiannon goes on. “It isn’t a matter of stepping outside the physical property. You’d have to gohome.”
“Who wants to go home?”
Lenna whirls around. One of the twins, Melissa or Naomi, is coming toward them. She feels her muscles stiffen. What did she overhear?
“No one, Mel—all good,” Rhiannon says. Then she holds out her forearms. “God, look at my skin! I’ve got a film of dust all over me.”
“You look fine,” Melissa says, winking at Lenna. Lenna’s relieved it’s the nice twin. “Though Lenna might be used to actual decent-smelling companions at dinner.” She glances at Lenna and gives her a warm but concerned smile. “You ready for tonight?”
“What’s tonight?” Lenna asks warily. She feels exhausted, suddenly.
Rhiannon turns to her. “A group dinner. We’d love for you to come, but if it’s too much, I totally get it.” She touches Lenna’s arm again, and then adds, under her breath, “Get in touch with him when you’re back in the room. Just this once. Tell him you’re safe.”
Lenna nods. She notices Melissa watching them carefully. She straightens and gives her a brave, guileless smile.
Then Rhiannon stretches, turning back to Melissa. “I want to see if Teddy will take a power nap before dinner. You’ll be able to get to your room, Len?”
“Uh-huh.” Lenna’s voice sounds far away.
“See you, Ree,” Melissa says. She turns and eyes Lenna, too. “Bye, honey.”
Her voice cracks on the last word. Her smile twists. Lenna turns to go, but she glances over her shoulder at the last minute. Melissa is watching her.
It’s not entirely welcome.
In the safety of her room, Lenna texts Daniel again. She doesn’t know the repercussions of breaking the rules, but she doesn’t want to get kicked out before she’s made any headway with Rhiannon.
Talk to her. TALK to her.Lenna kicks herself for chickening out on the mountain. She vows to say something tonight.
Then she picks up her phone and starts to type.
I’ll explain everything when I’m back. I know what I’m doing, I promise.
