Page 52 of Sycamore Circle

“Why are you keeping him a secret? Joy, how much do you really know about him, anyway?”

He was driving her crazy. “That isn’t any of your business.”

“I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

That was sure rich—considering that he hadn’t had any problem breaking her heart several years ago! “Don’t worry about me.”

“Someone needs to. You run yourself ragged.”

She wouldn’t have to if she wasn’t a single mom and if his lawyer hadn’t fought her for every dime he paid in child support and alimony. She would also have more time if he ever volunteered to be more than a one-night-a-week parent.

But all of that had been discussed ad nauseam.

“Tony, I’ll see if I can help Chloe find whatever she is looking for and get her out here. Have a good evening.”

For a second, she’d been sure he was going to argue but he only nodded instead. “You too, Joy.”

Shoving away the wave of irritation she was feeling from the conversation, Joy hurried back into the house. “Chloe! Get a move on.”

Chloe poked her head out of her room. “I still can’t find my black shrug.”

“You’re going to have to do without it then.”

“Mom, you know I can’t do that,” she said as she pulled handfuls of leotards and tights out of a drawer. “I came home on the bus instead of running to the diner just to find the stupid thing.”

“And your dad came over here just to take you. He’s waiting.”

“He’s going to have to wait another second.” Chloe threw open her closet door, got on her hands and knees, and began pulling through a pile of clothes in the back corner. “Miss Diamante said we had to have our shrugs for today’s practice.”

Looking at the pile of clothes, Joy shuddered. How did one tiny teenaged girl make such a mess? She glanced at her watch. “If you don’t get a move on, you’re going to be without a shrug and show up late for practice.”

“You don’t understand how important this is.”

“I’m afraid I do but it doesn’t mean I can help you. I asked you last night to make sure you had everything so I could launder anything that was missing. You said you were good.”

“But—”

“Chloe, I’m not going to argue with you. Go on now.”

“Hold on. Oh! I found it!” Holding it in a hand, Chloe flew past her, tore down the stairs, and out the door. It stayed open behind her.

“Pick your battles,” Joy muttered to herself as she slowly descended the stairs. She stood in the doorway and waved as Tony pulled out and drove down the street.

Chloe might be a mess and Tony might be driving Joy crazy, but at least the two of them were joining forces to give her a break. Boy did she need one.

Relieved to finally have a few minutes to herself, Joy walked down the driveway and retrieved the mail. She flipped through the stack of flyers and catalogs, looking for bills—but then stopped when she noticed she received a letter.

It didn’t have a return address.

Curious, she tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter. And then froze.

Two sentences were boldly printed in block letters across the paper.

you are still mine. i’m never going to let you go.

Chills ran up her arms as she clenched the paper. Her hand tightened. She was tempted to throw it away, but the words were too frightening.

So was the realization that whoever had sent this now not only knew her phone number but the address of her house.

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