Page 64 of Everything She Feared

“Just wondering.”

“You seemed a little upset after they left,” Sara said.

Katie remained silent.

“Honey, I’m your mom. I should know what they asked you.” Sara placed two cans of corn in the cart.

“They asked me about how Anna gave me the necklace.”

“Oh.” Sara reached for peas. “What about it?”

“Like, why I didn’t tell them about it at first, then stuff about Anna breaking up with Tanner. And when and where did Anna give me the necklace, stuff like that.”

“I think we need some ketchup,” Sara said. “What else did they ask?”

They stopped in front of the shelves for ketchup. No one was near, except for an older woman far off, browsing.

“They asked me for the millionth time what happened.”

Sara paused. Ketchup was on sale.

“I see. Were they double-checking details, that sort of thing?”

“I guess.”

“What did you say?”

Katie lowered her phone, her chin wrinkling as she looked to the ceiling.

“Geez, Mom, do I have to keep talking about it?”

Sara looked down the aisle. The older woman remained distant from them. Sara lowered herself before Katie and stroked her hair.

“Sweetie, I know this is hard.” Sara blinked quickly. “It’s hard for me, too, but I’m doing this to help you, and it helps me, too. That’s why I need to know everything.”

“Everything?”

Sara drew back slightly.

“Yes.” Sara looked at Katie for a moment, then repeated, “Yes.”

“They wanted to know what I talked to Dr. Sally about and if there were things that I told her that they should know.”

“They asked you that?”

“Yes, and they asked if there were things you told me not to tell them.”

Sara swallowed.

“What did you tell them?”

“I said no, there was nothing. That’s what I’m supposed to say, right?”

Sara’s thoughts whirled.

“Excuse me.”

The older woman appeared beside them, wanting to pass. Smiling, Sara stood to make room. The woman rolled her cart by them, disappearing around the end of the aisle. The interruption ended Sara’s questioning of Katie and they resumed shopping. But for the entire time, Sara struggled to process her concerns over what Katie had told her.

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