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“That’s Rosie.”

“Who’s Rosie?” Rachel asked.

“She’s the previous owner of the house. And that woman was with her when we signed the papers. Stay here. I’ll be okay.” Violet opened the door after putting the car in park and walked around it. “Rosie?”

“You remember me?” the woman asked.

“Of course, I do. You sold me this house. I don’t rememberyourname, though. Sorry,” she said to the other woman.

“I’m the wife.” She nodded to Rosie. “Felicity.”

“Hi.”

Violet turned to see two more women standing by the other car. They were holding hands and started walking toward them.

“This is Eliza and Lydia,” Rosie said. “And we need to talk to you about something.”

“I’m sorry… My wife and I just got home from the doctor. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I need to get her inside. She’s pregnant.”

“Congratulations,” the woman named Eliza said.

“Thank you,” Violet replied. “But can this, whatever this is, be done another day?”

“I’m afraid not,” Rosie told her. “I need to get something I left here.”

“You haven’t left anything here. I would’ve found it by now. We’ve lived here for–”

“You wouldn’t have foundthis,” Rosie interrupted. “And I’m sorry to have to ask you this, but I need to do something you’re not going to be happy with.”

“We’ll pay for it,” Felicity added. “Don’t worry about that part. And if you want to stay in a hotel or something while the work is going on, we’ll pay for that, too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“What’s going on, Violet?” Rachel asked after she opened the car door.

Violet moved to stand between her wife and the four women because she didn’t know what was going on and didn’t trust them.

“Babe, can you get back in the car, please?”

“We’re not going to hurt you,” Lydia said. “If that’s what you’re thinking.”

“You can take your wife inside,” Eliza added. “We could all go inside and talk. In fact, I think we probablyshouldget out of this driveway, Rosie. It’s–”

“You’re right,” Rosie said and turned from Eliza to Violet. “Violet, I’m sorry to bother you both, but do you think we could go inside and talk? Get out of this driveway in view of the street. The backyard is fine, too. Preferred, actually.”

“My backyard is preferred? Why–”

“Oh, my God,” Rachel said from behind her.

Violet thought for a second before she also said, “Oh, my God.”

Five Minutes Later

Eliza and Lydia were sitting on the loveseat. Rosie and Felicity were standing in front of the fireplace. Violet and Rachel were sitting on the sofa. Rachel held on to Violet’s hand tightly, and Violet was glad for it because it gave her something familiar to hold on to. Without a word, these women had walked through her garage, past the cabinet where the device still sat locked up, and into her home. Violet knew this visit from four women, one of whom had lived here before her, was not a good thing. The looks on their faces told her as much, but even if theyhadbeen good actors, Violet had a feeling that she couldn’t shake.

“Can I get anyone something to drink?” Rachel asked, trying to play hostess. “We have everything, I think.”

“No, thank you,” Eliza replied.