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"Me too."

"You're sure you're all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine," I said.

He kissed me good night and left. I watched him get into his car and pull away. I waved and then looked at the street. It was dark and quiet, but still I sensed I wasn't alone. I stepped back quickly and shut the door, locking it with the safety bolt. Then I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The phone rang just as I got there. I stared at it. It rang again and again.

Maybe it's Star, I thought. She did say she would try to come over later. I lifted the receiver and said hello.

"I want to speak to Geraldine," he said. "Why doesn't she ever answer the phone when I call? I called all day. Where is she?" he demanded.

"You're not supposed to be calling here," I said. "She told me you're not."

"Put her on."

My heart was thumping so hard that I started to lose my breath.

"We know you broke into the house and stole the safe. Why did you take my letters, too? They're mine. I want them back," I demanded.

"What's that? Someone broke into the house?" he said. I could almost see his smile.

"I know it was you."

"Why didn't Geraldine call the police and ask them to question me, huh?" He waited for my answer, but I had none. "What's going on there, Cathy?" he asked with suspicion now dripping off his words. "She wouldn't let you have a boy over there this late. Where is she?"

"Leave me alone!" I screamed, "or I will call the police."

"Put her on. I have legal business to discuss. I can call her for that. Go on, ask her."

Oh, God, I thought looking about helplessly. What do I do? I literally turned around, struggling to come up with some solution.

"She's not here," I finally told him.

"Not there? This late? Ridiculous. Where is she? You're lying. Put her on. I'll keep calling," he threatened. "I'll come over there. I have a right to do that. I don't have to break in."

"She's in the hospital," I blurted. "That's why she didn't call the police. I haven't told her what you did yet."

"What?" It gave him pause. "What do you mean? Why is she in the hospital?"

"She had a problem with her heart and the doctor wanted her to stay and be observed for a few days. She told me if you came over here, I was to call the police immediately?'

"What hospital?"

"I'm not supposed to tell you. Her doctor doesn't want anyone calling her or visiting. Even I have to limit my visits," I said.

He was qu

iet a long moment.

"If she finds out what you're doing in her absence, she'll get even sicker," he said.

"Leave us alone!" I cried and then hung up and held my breath, waiting to see if he was going to call back. He didn't, but then I thought he might deliver on his threat and come to the house. I went around turning off all the lights and then I sat at the front windows and watched the street and the driveway. I sat there for hours, my eyes closing on their own sometimes. I know I kept drifting off because suddenly I would shudder and awaken.

He didn't come so I made my way upstairs, and after making sure my door was closed and a chair was up against it, I went to bed. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep, but I tossed and turned all night, waking periodically in a terrible sweat, listening for sounds and then falling back asleep like someone in a coma. By the time morning came, I was more exhausted than I would have been if I had managed to stay up all night, I thought.

I moved slowly, lethargically, washing, dressing, and going down for some breakfast. I wasn't very hungry and barely nibbled on some toast with my coffee. Stuart called to see how the rest of my night went and if I was all right.

"I'm just a little tired," I told him, "but otherwise, fine."