Her Calculated Comeback

" I said, m

One less burden to carry to California. A

ng away from me. "Your uncle k

house felt empty, but cleane

dn' t

lty was measured in dollar

he said, not meeting my eyes. "You can' t

t. I packed

nion steelworker, had secretly opened a small savings account

ized possession, a small silver oval containing a microchip. On it

trip on Lake Tahoe. I knew t

us ticket to

l and waited. The storm rolled in, violent and loud. When it passed, I

nished, but it was unmistakably his. I cleaned it

ed up. A security team fanned out,

ration, his eyes scanning the beach frantically. H

and walked

r this?" I asked, h

y fixed on the object in my palm. He rus

he breathed, taking it fr

the shore,"

on warring in his eyes. "What do y

in jacket tighter. The wi

looking at a hot dog vendor down the bo

He looked from me to the vendor, then back again. A s

he said.

silence. He kept glancing at me

r name?" he

ara

contact you? I owe you

te and stood up. I ga

nt to be, we'

g after me, the locket clutched in his hand