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mattress.”
    â€œWhy do you insist on calling your parents by their first names?”
    â€œSo I can pretend they’re not my parents. See you in five.”
    Gemma hung up the phone. “I have to go out, Anna. Get your sister to ask you the last six words. You know them all so far. Good for you.”
    Anna beamed. “Are you going to Augusta’s?”
    Gemma nodded and got up to leave.
    â€œWhy are her kids so mean to her? I’d never be mean to you.”
    â€œLife is complicated, Anna. Sometimes people lose their way. When that happens, you have to rely on your friends.”
    â€œAnd you’re Augusta’s friend.”
    Gemma smiled and kissed her. “Bed by nine.”
    It took them twenty minutes to get to Augusta’s door. This time, Bette came in with her. Augusta didn’t look surprised to see them, just worn out. The three friends sat in the kitchen. The girls were upstairs with music blaring.
    â€œTell me it’s not true,” Gemma said.
    â€œLook, I’m sorry, there’s no point. I wouldn’t have a good time anyway. They’re right. What if something did happen? In today’s world, you never know. Then who would look after them? I’m not like you, Gemma. I don’t have a husband and relatives all over the place. There’s Mom and that’s it. I have to be careful.”
    Bette and Gemma looked at each other. It was Bette who spoke first.
    â€œYou could fall down the basement steps with a load of laundry, too. It amounts to the same thing.”
    Augusta hid her face with her hands. Bette jumped out of her chair and put her arm around her friend. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
    Augusta took her hands away. “No, you’re right. That’s the problem. I’m always afraid something’s going to happen, to me or to them. I’m walking on eggshells all the time. It’s hard.”
    Gemma straightened her back. “Life is hard. Everyone has something they’re terrified of, but you keep walking anyway.”
    â€œI’m tired of walking.”
    â€œThen you should’ve laid down beside Tom and died too.”
    Augusta gasped.
    â€œGemma, don’t,” Bette said.
    â€œNo. I’m sick of this, Augusta. For three years I’ve watched you get smaller and smaller. Do you think Tom would’ve wanted you to be so afraid of your own shadow that you stopped living?”
    Augusta gave her a dirty look, but it didn’t matter. Gemma couldn’t stop now. “And I know something else. Tom was a great papa and I think he’d be horrified if he knew how these girls blackmail you. You have got to stop apologizing for the fact that you lived and he didn’t. Of course they’re angry about it. But it wasn’t your fault, so they have no right taking it out on you.”
    Augusta’s shoulders slumped. “I know. I just don’t know how to fight it.”
    â€œOne day at a time,” Bette said. “That’s how I get through life. Otherwise I would’ve blown my brains out years ago.”
    The three friends smiled at each other.
    â€œYou’re coming with us,” Gemma said, “because if you don’t go, we don’t go. It’s as simple as that. And you know how much Linda needs this right now.”
    â€œAll right, but how do I tell the girls?”
    â€œDo you mind if you leave that up to me?”
    â€œI’m such a coward.”
    Gemma rose from the table. “Make some tea. I’ll be down in a minute.”
    She left the kitchen, walked up the stairs, and poked her nose into Summer’s bedroom. Summer jumped, as if she’d had a fright. “Why are you here?”
    â€œGet your sister, please. Then come back in here. I want to talk to you.”
    â€œWhy…”
    â€œJust do it.”
    Summer stomped past her and did as she was asked. A minute later, two girls with mutinous