Chapter 4

I blocked Derek's number, then spent the day crossing Bellwarren and humiliating myself asking one friend after another for a loan.

By evening I'd finally scraped together thirty thousand dollars.

At least my grandmother's surgery could move forward.

But just as I boarded the intercity train to Mossfield County, our neighbor Ruth Harlan called.

"Eli, come home. Something's happened to your grandmother.

"This afternoon a man called her and told her he and Naomi were engaged.

"He said Naomi had thrown you out but you wouldn't stop hounding her, and he told Eleanor to make you quit embarrassing yourself.

"Then he sent her picture after picture, and videos too.

"She passed out right there looking at them.

"She's at the county medical center now, but the doctors are saying she might not make it."

A violent ringing filled my head.

The phone slipped out of my hand and hit the floor.

By the time I reached Mossfield County Medical Center, they had already stopped working on her.

The physician looked at me with regret.

"She had a massive heart attack. We did everything we could."

I stood where I was as they wheeled my grandmother past under a white sheet.

The woman who raised me, who always saved the sweetest piece of pie for me, who used to put a hand on my head and call me her good boy, was never going to wake up again.

I dropped down beside the bed and couldn't produce a single tear.

The grief was so total that my body stopped registering anything at all.

I don't know how long it was before Naomi came in, straight off the road and out of breath.

She froze at the white sheet, then came toward me and tried to put her arms around me.

"Eli, I'm sorry. I got here too late.

"I didn't know your grandmother was this sick. If I'd known, I never would have touched that money."

I slowly raised my head and looked at her through bloodshot eyes.

"Get out."

Naomi wrapped both arms around me from behind.

"Eli, I know you're devastated, but I never meant for any of this.

"You can't undo it. Stop punishing yourself. I'll stay and help with the funeral."

Derek called before she finished speaking.

"Naomi, I miss you.

"My heart's acting up again. When are you coming back?"

She hesitated and looked at me as though I'd put her in an impossible position.

"Eli, there's nothing I can do here that'll change anything.

"I'll go check on Derek and come back first thing tomorrow to help with the arrangements. All right?"

I stared at her, barely able to believe it.

My grandmother was dead.

And Naomi still meant to leave me for the man who'd killed her.

I closed my eyes against the hatred.

"Go, Naomi.

"Don't ever show your face in front of me again."

As for what Derek owed me, I'd be collecting it myself, sooner or later.

Naomi assumed I was only talking out of anger.

"Take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything."

Then she hurried out of the hospital.

Three days later I finished my grandmother's funeral.

I sold the little house in Mossfield County and shut down every old number and account I had.

As my train pulled out for Port Aurell, Naomi went back to the empty property.

She stared into the bare rooms, then grabbed Ruth Harlan's arm.

"Where's Elliot?"

Ruth looked at her coldly.

"Eli's gone.

"He isn't ever coming back."