Chapter 75

　　“Your mom’s going to be discharged in a day or two, Emma; I’ll be okay.” She looks determined. Jake looks at me, then her, confusion on his face. I hadn’t yet told him of Sophie’s plan to stay here another week.

　　“She’s following us in seven days,” I point out to him and see the twitch in the corner of his eye briefly; he doesn’t like this idea but knows it’s not his place to say anything. His jaw tensing, he gets up and leaves the room. I know him too well; he’s walking off so he doesn’t say exactly what he’s thinking.

　　“Sophie, yesterday a man called Ray Vanquis came here. I know he’s the one who did this. He was very aggressive; he may come back,” I tell her, scared to divulge the full story in case it makes her afraid. Maybe I should, so that she’ll come with us today after all. She swallows hard, her eyes shifting to the window; she looks nervous.

　　“Your mom told me not to tell you it was him,” she replies softly, and I nod, indicating I already guessed that.