CHAPTER 52

LUNCH WITH THE GIRLS

A preemptive call from her O-A, the first in six months, jangled Malila awake. Luscena Kristòf’s pale face with her vivid red lips swam before her. Luscena was assuming her tragic-loss face, Malila thought. Lucy was so good at her craft.

“Malila, my love? Can it really be true? You’ve come back to us!”

“G’mornin’, Lucy. Nice to see you too.”

“We have all been so terribly worried about you. Heccy, Alex, Tiff … all of us. You were gone so long—without a word.”

It sounded briefly like an accusation. Luscena&rsquo...

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