“Perhaps she's simply been busy.”
Mom reached for the photograph.
“I'll discuss it with her.”
Marian held it a moment longer.
Then gave it back.
“Of course.”
She collected her handbag and headed toward the door.
Before leaving, she looked at me.
“Emma, your mother is lucky to have such a devoted daughter.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
Her smile widened.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“It's wonderful that you still have emergency keys to the older houses. Not every family thinks that far ahead.”
I stared at her.
“How do you know that?”
For the first time, Marian appeared genuinely surprised.
Then she laughed lightly.
“Oh, Alex mentioned how helpful you were to Margaret.”
My mouth went dry.
Alex had been arrested.
Marian had just claimed he was merely an occasional delivery driver.
Yet she knew about a private emergency key Mrs. Wilson had entrusted to me years earlier.
