Chapter 18

Dana waited until the second week of September to call home.Watch Bethany pick tonight of all nights to come home early,she thought,sitting on the edge of the couch so she could watch the apartment door over her shoulder as she used the phone.Was it just her,or did it take forever for the line to ring through from New York to Virginia?Calls never seemed to take as long to connect when she’d lived in DC.

You’re just homesick,she told herself,listening to the distant ring.Come on,pick up.Come on,come on…

After an eternity,her mother answered.“Hello?”

“Mom,hey.”Dana sighed in relief.“There you are.I thought you weren’t home.”

“I’m here,honey.What’s wrong?”

Dana felt herself get defensive.“What does anything have to be wrong?Can’t I just call and say hi?”

With a laugh,her mother asked,“When’s the last time you did that?Besides,I can hear it in your voice.I’m your mother,remember?So what’s up?”

“Are you trying to sound cool?”Dana asked.“Because it isn’t working.”